WITH THE PYTCHLEY. 



Being reminded tliat tlie days of hunting are num- 

 bered, and tliat if I wished to see the Pytchley at one 

 of their most renowned " fixtures " — Crick — I must 

 avail myself of the opportunity which presented itself, 

 as in all probability it would be the last time they 

 would draw this favourite covert during the present 

 season, I determined to start for Rugby, as the most 

 convenient road by which to reach this splendid pack. 

 After two hours^ fast running by the London and 

 North-Western Railway I arrived at the George, the 

 excellent headquarters for those desiring to hunt with 

 the Pytchley, the North and South Warwickshire, Mr. 

 Tailby^s, the Quorn, and the Atherstone, and who 

 wish to enjoy sport every day in the week without 

 the necessity of travelling any excessive distances. 



I had the good fortune to secure rooms in this most 

 comfortable and thoroughly well -managed hotel be- 

 fore the arrival of a contingent of " distinguished 

 foreigners,^^ who came down for the purpose of seeing 

 the meet at Crick, and of observing the style in which 

 the thing is done in the " Shires ; ^' some of these 

 gentlemen being associated together for the purpose 

 of establishing a pack of hounds at Beivre, in the 

 province of Namur, of which his Majesty the King of 

 the Belgians is to be president, the intention being, I 

 believe, to hunt the wild boar, for which purpose some 



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