The First and Last Hounds in England. 341 



but we have plenty of good natural sport, and kill 

 from nine to twelve brace every season, besides having 

 good runs with those which get away from us under 

 the earns and into the shafts and adits of the mines." 

 The hounds only go out twice a week, and the western 

 part of the country, especially round about Buryan, is 

 considered by far the best. On the whole, this wild 

 and grand country is more beautiful to look at than 

 easy to ride across. The greatest drawback is the 

 want of covers, and consequent shortness of foxes, and 

 the difficulty of forcing them away into the open from 

 the cliffs — natural fortifications and strongholds, which, 

 like Plevna, are not easily to be got at. On a future 

 occasion I hope to see them to greater advantage ; the 

 occasion alluded to was the commencement of the 

 season, and therefore not favourable to sport. 



By a letter just received I learn that there has been 

 a meeting at Oakham of the landowners and gentle- 

 men of the Cottesmore Hunt, which was well and 

 numerously attended. Amongst those present were 

 Mr. Finch, of Burley-on-the-Hill, and his brother. 

 Lord Gainsborough, Sir Henry Fludyer, Mr. A. 

 Fludyer, Colonel Blackett, Major Claggett, Captains 

 Orme, Dawson, Ashton, etc. etc., and it was decided 

 that Lord Carington should assume the Mastership for 

 the period of four years, the Earl of Lonsdale lending 

 the hounds and giving the use of the stables, kennels, 

 etc., whilst subscribing the liberal sum of £500 per 

 annum to help to maintain this noble pack. Lord 

 Aveland has promised that foxes shall be preserved on 

 his domain, and contributes a liberal subscription. 

 Lady Willoughby has also intimated her intention 

 of having the foxes preserved in the covers on her 



