A Forest Rim With ^' The Queen' sJ^ 159 



visit tlie Royal kennels before tlie season commences, 

 to the form and condition of Baronet, a son of the 

 Heythrop Wanderer and Barmaid, as a specimen of a 

 magnificent young hound, the like of which any hunts- 

 man may be proud of. After which, if he will note 

 his companions, Reynard, Sepoy, and his half-brother 

 Sailor, I think he will admit that I have not over- 

 rated the quality of the animals to which I have 

 directed attention. 



Having, during the past yeai', visited many of the 

 best kennels in England, I am fully justified in saying 

 that I have not seen one that can produce a pack 

 better fitted by condition and quality to hunt any 

 " country," and to go the pace sufficiently fast to 

 satisfy the most exacting sportsman that flies across 

 the shires, or one who prefers a twenty-five minutes^ 

 spin at a racing pace to a good hunting run of an hour 

 and a half, which he votes a bore. Of the ability of the 

 Royal Buckhounds to hold their own I had ample 

 evidence on the occasion of their visit to the provinces 

 last year, when they showed the rustics how the thing 

 is done, and won golden opinions from some of the 

 best men who are to be found amongst the Melton 

 division. Nor is it to be wondered at that the Royal 

 pack should be found A 1, when it is remembered that 

 it can boast of some of the very best blood from the 

 kennels of the Duke of Rutland, Lord Middleton, 

 Lord Portsmouth, Sir Watkin Wynn, and Mr. 

 Garth ; and it is apparent that Goodall has spared 

 neither trouble nor exertion to make the hounds 

 worthy of their name. I may say that at no time 

 within my knowledge of them, ranging over a period 



