The Wane of the Season, 327 



that those who ride with the " Queen's '^ recognise 

 the good feeling existing through the district, and 

 notify their intention of entertaining " the farmers in 

 the country over which they hunt '' by inviting them 

 to a banquet, a course pursued a year or two since, 

 which has resulted in ^^a strengthening of those 

 amicable relations, which in the interest of all con- 

 cerned in the sport, it is desirable to cultivate." I 

 heartily commend this notable example as the best 

 means of attaining the end I desire to advocate; 

 as I feel certain that nothing but good can result from 

 the bringing together those mutually interested 

 in upholding the noblest of all our national sports. 



The following incident is an illustration of the 

 advantages resulting from the existence of a good 

 feeling between landlord and tenant : — A friend of 

 mine, who holds under his Grace the Duke of Rutland, 

 sufiered considerable damage to the crops growing 

 in the vicinity of one of his grace's covers ; and 

 having named the circumstance to the noble duke, he 

 expressed his regret, and asked his tenant what he 

 could do for him. 



" Well, your grace,'' was the reply, " will you give 

 me permission to shoot one or two outlying covers in 

 such and such a locality ? " 



" Certainly." 



" And," said my friend, ^^ the very next morning 

 I received a written permission from the steward to 

 that effect." 



Little wonder, then, that when you draw any of the 

 Belvoir covers, you not only find as much game as 

 any one could desire, but an abundance of foxes as 

 well, showing clearly that when such friendly re- 



