At Badminton. 65 



habit, the lappels lined with cream colour, turned 

 back, and showing a waistcoat of the same ; a stand- 

 up collar, white cravat, tall hat, neatly and closely- 

 braided hair, and a " button-hole ^^ of the choicest 

 description — a charming costume for a handsome hun- 

 tress ; 'and the conviction is forced on my mind that 

 after all there is something very pleasing in the fact 

 of women entering so heartily and sociably into the 

 pleasures of the chase, a sentiment shared on the 

 occasion by several others, if I mistake not. Then 

 Lord Worcester, on Red Dragon, a superb chestnut 

 horse, arrives with 18 J couples of magnificent hounds, 

 followed by his two whips, and I count no less than 

 six servants, well mounted, wearing the green livery 

 of the hunt, riding in a row. 



Ready for action there are Lords Arthur and Fitzroy 

 Somerset, Miss Miles, and several well-mounted ladies ; 

 Sir John Neeld, in a phaeton, very well coached by 

 his daughter; the Messrs. Neeld, Granville Somerset, 

 Henry Sutton, Grace, Captain Fuller, Captain Methuen, 

 of Corsham Park, who is a staunch preserver of foxes ; 

 Mr. Harris, of Rowden Hill, Chippenham, on an Irish 

 horse of great power, whose lively habits are a caution 

 to behold. And I am told that foremost in the flight 

 is Lady Dangan whenever there is a splitting run; 

 that Lord Dangan, who resides at Draycot House, 

 Chippenham, goes right well; that Mr. Fernie, of 

 Dauncey, is a brilliant performer across country ; that 

 Lord Lansdowne goes the pace, and is a very straight 

 man to hounds ; that Colonel Ewart and Mr. Charles 

 A. R. Hoare ride hard, and will take a good deal of 

 beating ; that Colonel Miles, of Malmesbury, also goes 

 well; whilst Mr. and Mrs. Miers, Messrs. Brown, 



5 



