330 Tally ho, 



way are now in the course of construction within a 

 short distance of the castle, which cannot fail to be 

 more or less prejudicial to the sport, probably less so 

 when finished than whilst the works are going 

 on. The location of a body of navvies in the 

 vicinity of a cover is bad for the foxes as well as the 

 game. 



Then on another leisure day a short journey by rail 

 from Melton will land you at Oakham, the chief town of 

 the smallest county in England — Rutland, or Redland- 

 shire, as it is described in history. A walk of a mile 

 will bring you to the hamlet of Barleythorpe, where 

 the kennels of the Cottesmore will be found, and as 

 Lord Lonsdale has unfortunately determined to give 

 up the hounds at the close of the season, an oppor- 

 tunity may not hereafter be afforded of seeing 

 this most complete establishment, and admiring 

 the fine pack of hounds, the excellent and admir- 

 ably-arranged kennels, the grand stabling, and the 

 first-rate and useful stud that has been provided 

 for Neale and his men. Good they need be to carry 

 so straight-going a man as the huntsman of the 

 Cottesmore, than whom no better sportsman or 

 more determined rider exists. Nor must he be an 

 indifferent animal if he is to carry Goddard, the first 

 whip, in his usual place ; he must neither shirk his 

 fences nor refuse to go the pace, and be equally 

 ready to charge a stiff flight of rails or a big brook 

 when they come in the way. The pack consists of 

 between sixty and seventy couples, and has had 

 capital sport this season, and to my mind, there is 

 no better pack of hounds or better country to ride 



