Melton Mowbray, 197 



in whicli lie brings liis hounds into the field, as well as 

 to Mr. Weatherston for the state of the stud, as I 

 heard it remarked by an exceedingly good judge that 

 he had never seen the huntsman and whips of this 

 pack so well mounted as they are this season. 

 Amongst the many visitors I found located at the 

 George were Sir Henry Meysey Thompson, Mr. B. 

 W. Lubbock, Mr. G. B. Parker, Mr. A. A. Brand, and 

 Mr. Creyke ; at the Harborough, the Countess of 

 Cardigan, Lady Caroline Lister Kaye, Sir John 

 Lister Kaye, Mr. Cecil Kaye, Mr. Gilmour, the Hon. 

 Hugh Lowther, Mr. Ferdinand Roy, Mr. Delacour, and 

 the Messrs. Brocklehurst. The Earl of Wilton has 

 not as yet put in an appearance, but his stud of four- 

 teen highly-bred and beautiful horses stand ready for 

 him in blooming condition, and as fit as it is possible 

 for horses to be. It is a perfect treat to look at such 

 a string of splendid animals, and I do not know where 

 I should go to match them either for quality or condi- 

 tion. Egerton Lodge, the residence of the noble earl, 

 is said to be the most complete hunting-box in the 

 world. 



Beautifully placed in the midst of a charming 

 garden, at the foot of which flows the river, the range 

 of loose-boxes are a picture, and as you look from one 

 end you have a view of the whole fourteen stalls in a 

 line, every one occupied by such a nag as would delight 

 the heart of any sportsman. In due time I hope 

 to visit several of the crack studs, that of Mr. Lub- 

 bock for one ; and the long lot of the Messrs. 

 Behrens, numbering forty-one, of which I hear very 

 favourable opinions expressed. Lord Grey de Wilton, 

 Sir John Lister Kaye, and Mr. Gordon Bennett, 



