74 
THE FIELD. 
[Saturday, 
very sober intentions of settling in tho world, nnd becoming 
very saving after a little relaxation. Wo will therefore 
release Jack from his toil, and send him forth on this pil- 
grimage of good intentions. Thus ho sets out on foot will 
his old or new me'*iiiwtes ; one perhaps with a couple o 
t h'Misa id pounds worth of dust nnd nuggets, others with («• 
huiuiml carefully stowed about them, ami wary of tin 
landslides, it may be, begging their way till they find them- 
selves safely housed iu the metropolitan city of Sydney. 
Strong in his reformatory notions Jack proceeds to look 
out for a fitting helpmate, and in the progress of his court- 
ship incidentally, and of course by accident, and with the 
very best intentions, diminishes his capital in the gaieties of 
tho metropolis. Wo have now brought him to a stage of 
his enreer, with which being himself fully satisfied, we 
shall leave him, with this simple misgiving Unit the remainder 
of his capital is not ultimately invested iu Australian acre 1 * 
or English securities. 
United to the Indy of his choice in one of tho churches ol 
the city, tho bridal party will bo scon in our sketch enjoying 
a short drive In that scene of fashionable resort, Hyde-park, 
devoted like ils prototype in London to the equestriun 
throng of those who ride and those who drive. If Sydney 
has not yet reached the three millionsof people of the capital 
of the world, yet exemption from tho tender mercies of 
assessed taxes niid tax collectors, favours every one who can 
get a horse or a vehicle of any kind in the enjoyment or 
exhibition of it. The whole world of Sydney, therefore, 
turns out in the afternoon and throngs the drives, nor is the 
display to be scorned by the fastidious home connoisseur 
Tho antipodean pioneers took with them an English love of 
horseflesh, and by the importations of some good blood 
have raised a colonial steed of merit. “Currency” horses 
and “ currency,” races are matters of honest pride to the 
Australians, and although tho export trade of cavalry horses 
to India has not flourished, yet there is a local supply ol 
steeds with which their owners are well contented. To say 
nothing of races, or the hardy stock on which the bushman 
muM depend in his vocations, kangaiouing is a good test ol 
the bottom of colonial horses. Fox hunting in the eyes oi 
the Australian Nimrod is a trifle to tho chuse of tho boomer 
kungaroo. 
Our nautical friends, however, are not so proficient in 
horseflesh as the readers of “The Field,” nor has our 
artist been called upon to portray any choice specimens of 
the noble animal. The carriuges in the bridal procession 
are Sydney cabs, such cabs bring the cast-off carriages of 
the Sydoe.N gentry, who, as they vie witli each other in dis- 
play, and neier purchase second-hand carriages, supply the 
cabmen of Sy dney with a better choice of carnages than falls 
to their London brethren, though in the duys of the ancient 
Javvies, the curriage of u royal duke or of a titled votary of 
fashion, would figure bocoronctted on the rank, the dim 
memory of which is embleinised iu the rococo heraldry with 
which Daubo King-at-Anns bedecks the cab panels, in de- 
fiance of all truditions and precepts of armorial science. 
To give dignity to the Sydney fly* enrolled for the occasion, 
another pair of horses is harnessed on, in consideration ol 
which the driver of the happy couple is prompted to enlist 
.ntlie celebration. There may be sporting men amoDg our 
readers who will recognise the fallen dandy driving the four- 
in-hand at the digger’s wedding. May no worse lot befall 
him. 
Of the bridegroom and his co-males we say nothing, their 
profession befits their fortunes, and their display becomes 
their taste, hut we will point out the features of the scene, to 
those looking forwurd to Sydney as a halting place some early- 
long vacation trip. To the left is the Roman Catholic Cathe- 
dral, and in the background are houses in the suburb of 
Woollamooloo. The next considerable building is the Sydney 
Museum, a collection containing many objects of interest, 
and greatly indebted, as all educationul institutions in the 
city are, to the fostering aid of Sir Charles Nicholson, speaker 
of the Legislative Council. Near it is the college, connected 
with the newly-formed University of Sydney. The road in 
front is Elizabeth-street. from the houses of which our view 
is taken. The central enclosure is Hyde Park. The youth- 
ful personages in front of the University, trying gymnastic 
exercises, expect to be rewarded with half-crowns, the small 
coin in the diggings corresponding with half-pence at the 
Artichoke or Crown aud Sceptre. 
The view is one from a collection of drawings formed by 
Mr. John Calvert, during his rnineralogical explorations in 
Australia, and who is belter known by his recent success 
us a home explorer iu the discovery of gold ores here and 
in the sister island, which is setting the mining world in 
commotion. 
THE OLD EARTH-STOPPER, OR THE FIND 
AND THE FINISH. 
CH Al’TEU II. 
The Last op the Old Breed. 
“Fourteen year’ ago," suid Tom Pitta, with his eyes 
resting on the gr ave old hound at his feet, blinking and 
winking in the glow of the Jolly Gardener’s blazing wood 
fire ; “ fourteen year* ago,” repeated he, “ this very month, 
and on this very day o' the week, we found and killed Sir 
Janies.” 
There was a slight sensation at this early 6tage of Tom 
Pitt's narrative, and Mistress Box raised her hands, and 
expressed a hope “ to be preserved.” 
“ Sir James, ma’am,” continued Tom in a measured, 
deliberate tone, “ hud shown us for six full seasons, aud in 
forty-one runs, how a good, strong, English-bred fox could 
preserve himself from before os Hue a pack o’ hounds as 
ever bristled for his blood.” 
Sam Waller, resolved as he had apparently been, to 
maintain a strict silence, quite unexpectedly brought one of 
his broad, bard-palmed hands upon the table, causing the 
mugs and jugs to hop and skip, and the spoons to jingle iu 
the glasses, and exclaimed in one of the strongest voices a 
blacksmith may be Imagined to possess, that “ he kucw 
what was up: there whs no deceiving him. Sir James, as 
he was called for many a long year, was the Gibbet Moor 
ox.” 
“True lad,” replied Tom, “ quite true.” 
“ I’ve viewed him many a time,” rejoined the excited 
proprietor of the smithy; “ay, many a time when a big boy 
I rode father’s ona-eyed pony on the sly, and hammered 
through a stirtuh run more than once. He was a long, 
lean, greyhound fox, pretty nigh as black as my hat, with 
a great tag at the end of hU brush as while as a snow-ball.” 
“That was Sir Jurors,” returned the ex wbJppcr in; 
“the last of the old breed.” 
Ham Waller looked satisfied of having earned a compli- 
ment, and merited instant acknowledgment, from the graphic 
manner in which he had described “the last ol the old 
n eed ; ” but much to his chagrin lire general und individual 
mention of tho company w«s completely ubsorhed in Tom 
’itt.x, nnd, for aught to any efffect M 'lie contrary, ho mi-lit 
■ well have maintained u remarkuhly strict silence. Sum 
Waller's mood took an uncharitable turn, aud lie felt 
that he could havo jerked the chair bearing — or almost 
bearing — the collective weight of Mistress Box and John 
Brown from under them. 
“ If Vanquisher could spoak,” observed Tom Pitts, “he’d 
tell the tale of Sir James’ lust run better than I cun, but as 
it is, ho must bo satisfied to listen while I give tongue." 
Vanquisher now rose from Ills recumbent posture on tho 
hearth, leisurely stretched himself, turned his stern over his 
back, and waving the tip with a gentle movement, stood 
gazing at tho speaker with an expression of perfect con- 
sciousness that he was about to become the theme of a story 
in which he proved the best among tho good. 
“ Wo all know,” said Tom Pitts, “who know anything 
of hunting, that a fox generally won’t break until he’s 
forced, and faces the open only when it ’s too hot to hold 
him ; but one that’s often met with a good dusting becomes 
shy and moves ut the first crack of the thong, or the moment 
the 4 cover hoik ’ is given. Now, so alive to the game of 
follow und find me was Sir James, that, after being often 
hunted, he never hung for an instant in Gibbet Moor, where 
he was always to bo found at home ; but out of the thirty 
ucres of thick gorse he haDged, making the sume points iu 
every run, aud beating us fairly by his strength and speed. 
As soon as a cover was reached, through it he went, from 
end to end, and thus he saved himself again and again ; for 
if foxe9 did not dwell when found, and hung when making 
their points, they would generally run hounds cleun out 
of scent, and rare indeed, should we have blood for the 
finish. 
“ The morning was dull, and a soft mild wind blew from 
the sou’-west, while the ground wus wet and rotten from the 
breaking up of a long frost, as we trotted on to Dulverton 
Green with a draft of eighteen couple and a half of as high- 
bred, level, and fine-conditioned hounds as could be found 
in England. He," continued Tom Pitts, with marked 
emphasis upon the monosyllable, as he pointed to Van- 
quisher, “ was one of 'em. Punctual to the minute for tho 
meet, the Squire came up on his gay-going hack, and 
mounting his hunter, the order for the first draw was, 
as we knew it would be, Gibbet Moor. 
“‘Well,’ suid he, in his good-humoured way, to Harry 
the huntsman, as ho rode by his side, 4 what account will 
ye give of Sir James, to-day ? ’ 
“ Ilarry shook his head as he raised his fore-finger towards 
the peak of his cap, and replied ns grave as a mummy, 
‘ People in these parts, sir, rlo say the hounds are not bred 
that cun run into him, and what’s more, never will be.’ 
“ ‘ Why so ?’ rejoined the squire. 
“ 4 Because,’ returned Ilarry, ‘ he bears a charmed lifo 
or something o’ that sort.’ 
“‘Oh!’ cried our master with a laugh, which always 
might be heard a full mile down a strong wind, 4 if that's 
all, he must do his best to-day to keep his brush and pads 
as lawful spoil from some of us.’ 
“ Upon coming within hearing distance of Gibbet Moor, it 
was remarkable how mute everybody became, and horses 
were ridden along the greensward by the side of the long, 
twisting lane which led to it, so that Sir James might not 
huve cause to suspect too early that it was time to widen 
the distance between us and him. 
“With scarcely enough noise to scare a wood pigeon from 
her roost, Harry took the hounds to the cover side and as 
each stood waving his stern, and looking as if ho could pul! 
him from the saddle with fiery impatience for the well-known 
signal, I thought I had never seen them so lull of steel and 
devil before. It was a way that Harry had to keep them a 
few seconds on the fret, just, as he said, to put the froth on, 
and show the discipline they were under, before throwing 
them into cover ; but at the first movement of his hand, in 
they swept like so many shot crashing through it. 
“ A challenge from Vanquisher told us in a twinkling that 
Sir James wus afoot. 
“ ‘ That’s it,’ hallooed Ilarry, ‘ have at him Vanquisher. 
Hark, har-r-rk, to Vanquisher ' 
“ In a cluster they went full swing. 
“ 4 Gone away,’ cried the Squire, 4 For’ard, for’ard,’ as 
Sir Jumes, with his brush held out stiff and straight, broke 
from the farthest end of the moor, and mude for his first 
point, Hatton Downs. 
44 Led by Vanquisher, and in a body, the hounds flew to 
the Squire’s halloo, aud getting on good terms with him, 
away they raced, with every hackle bristling fora kill. 
41 For forty minutes they burst him through the wide open 
country, a tally-ho every now and then letting us know that 
the seconds were more precious to Sir James than they had 
ever been before. At Hatton Downs, however, after flying 
straight through the brake, he turned short to the left, and 
running a wide ring caused a check. 
44 4 Let them aloup,' said the Squire as Harry was abliut 
to make a hasty cast. ‘See how beautifully they work,’ 
continued he as tho hounds spread like a lady’s fan with 
every nose close to the ground. 4 Pray let them alone.’ 
44 4 He’s headed back, sir, I think,’ replied Hurry, with his 
horn out ready for a twang. 
“ 4 1 don’t,’ quietly returned hli master. 
“ Vanquisher, ay, it was Vanquisher, that now feeling the 
scont, flourished his stern as he hit him off under a bank, 
and throwing up his head with a bell-liko note, ouco 
more they were full swing upon the line of Sir James. 
“ Thu field by this time hud beoome amazingly thin ; for 
the burst was so quick, that except a few of tho first flight 
men, none could live with ’em. Our master, however, was 
in his place, und” Tom Pitts drew a long breath before 
adding, 44 so were his servants. 
44 While at check,” continued Tom, “ I need scarcely tell 
ye that a fox is running, and when we hear of tho scent 
becoming stale, It would be often much nearer the truth to 
confess he got too fdr ahead for it to last. 
44 Now, the object which Sir James appeared to have in 
every run he’d afforded us, was to gain from the first as 
great a distance as possible between the hounds and himself, 
and like a bold, stout-hearted one as he was, never stopped. 
A check, therefore, with such a fox threw a wonderful 
balance in his favour, aud had not tho scent been bettor iu 
this run than in any of the forty lie hud bo gumely saved 
himself, 1 think the one at Hatton Down* would havo enabled 
him to add another to the successful reckoning. 
“The scent, however, was a burning one, and hounds 
carried such a head that I had seldom seen before, and 
never since. 
44 Men, now-n-days, judgoof sport by the pace they go ; but 
this proved faster, nnd a good deal too, than wus wanted by 
the best mounted lover of 4 quick things’ out. Horso 
after horse was ridden to a standstill. Hounds begun to 
tail by twos and threes, until we hud them in a broken line 
of half a mile ; hut Vanquisher still kept in front, ay, from 
the find to the finish. 
• 4 4 Be with them I will ’ was the Squire’s motto, and 
although he rndo not an ounce less than sixteen stono, he 
mightalwnys beseeuthereor thereabouts ; forwhuthetonk out 
of his horse by weight ho saved by judgment. As the duy 
closed fust around, two only lived with tho leading hounds : 
ho was one, I the other. 
41 .Sir James was now pointing for tho strong open earths at 
Hawkeridge, and unless pulled down within the next five 
minutes wo knew he must reach them. Two couple and a 
half of hounds were all that were loll before us ; but one was 
Vanquisher. 
‘••lie’s not a field before them,’ shouted the Squire. 
4 Look,’ and us lm spoke he pointed with his whip to what 
I saw were two magpies mobbing, as they often will, tho 
sinking fox. 
“ From scent to view at him they rushed, and dosperato 
as was the lust effort of Sir James to struggle to the earth 
which yawned within a dozen feet of his nose. Vanquisher 
caught him across the loins, and the dying gallant fox was 
deud.” 
“ Poor fellow ! ” sighed Mistress Box, with downcast eyes. 
44 Well ma’am," returned Tom Pitts, “ I don't know a 
better way for u fox to die. The gin, poison, and shot aint 
improvements to my wav of thinking.” 
After a ghost story, fraught with great terror, had been 
told by John Brown, which seemed to cuuso the landlady of 
the Jolly Gardener to cling to him involuntarily, the party, 
with one accord, rose from their seats und bade each other 
“ good night.” 
( To bo contin tied.') 
NOTES FROM MELTON MOWBRAY.— No. IV. 
To the Editor of 44 The Field.” 
Sir, — I suppose it will not bo necessary to inform you 
that the severity of the weather since my last has been tho 
cause of stopping all kinds of sport, with the exception of 
that followed by the lovers of thu ramrod and fowling piece, 
but as very few here take any interest iu that, the consequence 
has been a complete stand still. Straw rides have tuken 
the place for three weeks of long gallops, and failing legs 
havo had a chance of recovery. We had one sight of the 
hounds in the midst of the snow ; eighty-ono couple of tho 
Duke of Rutland’s pack went through tho town on the 1 4th 
at a sharp trot; they were taking n gentle breathing, accom- 
panied by the huntsman and two whippers-in. 
We have throe or four fresh arrivals, including the Hon. 
S. Berkeley, Lord Hutfield, Mr. Mft’almot, Mr. Lloyd, Lord 
Clanricardo ; but the town is far from being full, as I have 
seen it. We hope that the lute severe blast will bo found to 
have been beneficial to the farmer, for certainly the grass 
lauds of Leicestershire never looked so well in the month of 
January as now. The herbage lias sprung nicely under tho 
snow, and depend upon it that scent will he found to lie well 
during the remainder of the season. Tho following will be 
found to be about the correct thing up to the present time, 
always giving you to understand tlmt I choose the meet on 
the day when the majority of Melton men attend; for tho 
packs havo hunted every day since tho frost, nnd we hope 
now that nothing may occur to prevent h continuance. Those 
who arrived here so very late this season lmve not as yet had 
much to do; while, on the other hand, those who commenced 
in the month of October, were just about ready for a rest, 
and they have had it ; but enough liasuow been said on this 
head, so let me direct your attention to the first open day, 
Wednesday, tho 18lh Jan. The Belvoir Hounds met at 
Granby Gap, and hud a nice hunting run lor about hall'-on- 
hour; it was very had riding, and u considerable quantity of 
snow remained. Thursday tho 10th, the same hounds met at 
Harby Village, and found their fox at Hose Gorse. He went 
away at a good pace, and gave signs at once tlmt all those who 
had uny inclination to witness hi.- exit from this :fe would not 
only have to ride bard, but ulso to ride straight ; for after get- 
ting well uway lor a few minutes, and leaving Long Clawson on 
the loft, ho crossed a large and dangerous brook at a very 
awkward place, and th ties baffled the field most alarmingly. 
(This brook is better known to Leicestershire nu n under 
the name of “The Smite.”) Young Atkinson an . others 
charged it manfully, but only to ascertain ils depth. They 
then ran for Nether Broughton, and across tho beoutiful 
grass flat to Broughton Hills, then bearing to the left, he 
went for Wastmaby Castle, und up the hill, at a clipping 
pace, running on tho top for Old Dalby Wood, then to 
Willoughby, where he was lost, alter an excellent run, and 
with the ground in very heavy condition ; it took a good 
deal out of some of them, for there hud been no chance of 
keeping horses at strong work, to lit them for these severe 
runs, during the previous three weeks. 
Friday, the 20th, was a meet of the Quorn at “ Walton 
Cross Roads,” and which proved to be, from its central 
situation, being midway between Melton, Loughborough, 
and Leicester, one of the largest meets of the season ; a 
capital fox was found in Walton Thorns, und he ran over a 
good country to Grunstonu Gorse, at a very fast pace, and 
was finally killed iu the open. I am unable to detail 
all the particulars, and therefore will only add that the 
run wrs considered to have been far ubove the average of 
the season. 
Baturduy, the 31st, was something like a hunting 
morning, and drew out all the ladies, as well as gentlemen, 
to meet the Cottesmore ut Langham. The hounds were 
thrown Into Cold Overton Wood, mid immediately no less 
than five bold reynurds were aloot } they all went away, so 
that it was “Take your oiloico, gonllemen sportsmen, 
we are all ready for a spin however, the one who made 
his point towards Owstou Wood hud the attempted honor 
conferred upon him, but by some ox truord inary fault be- 
tween tho master of the hounds blowing hi* horn In one 
direction, and Uobill, tho huntsman, doing tho same in the 
wood, tho hounds were never got away after one ot the 
whole five. It can be called nothing better than a clover 
piece of bungling on somebody's part, and the probability 
is, that a first- rate day’s sport was spoiled. However, 
there was nothing for It but to try again, aud a tret off 0 
Raiiksboro* Gorse was tho next move, where four > oxe f 
wero ugulu uiool ; a flue dog-fox immediately broke cover, 
und gave early promise of a run, ho went straight abend for 
WhUsendino Pastures, then bore to the loll for StapleJ« r ^ 
Park (the residence of Robert Shorrard, Earl of Har* 
