Grand Stand stood Her Majesty, Her Royal Mother, Prince Ernest, Lord Melbourne, the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, Lady Kinnaird, the Ladies Paget, and a large suit, while the roof was peopled with a gay and gallant colony. In front, a large semicircular area was kept clear, and after the hounds had been shewn on the lawn to the royal party, thither the deer-cart was drawn, and the quarry enlarged. As the doors were thrown open, out bounded a superb hind; a moment she paused, as fixed by the most unaccustomed sights and sounds; a moment gazed, more in wonder than alarm, upon such worshipful good company:

Then onward stretch'd. nor rested till

She made the shades of Hawthorn-hill.

His Royal Highness went well to Maidenhead-bridge, where he left, the scent growing weak, and the deer beginning to run short. Indeed it could hardly have been expected he would have gone so far, for the crowd, and various disagrèmens of a public day, within easy reach of the metropolis, are not exactly calculated to add to the pleasures of a run with hounds. The next time the Prince honours us with his presence in the field, I trust the result may be of a more decidedly sporting character;-of a more gratifying nature to himself the knowledge of his Royal Highness's courtesy and kindness assures me it cannot be.

MR. TUDWAY'S HOUNDS.

Having had so good a day with these hounds when I met them at Hardington Pillars, last month, and finding I was within fourteen miles of their fixture, on the 6th of April, which was at the Spread Eagle, at Stourton (Wilts), I gladly availed myself of another chance of a run; such things as good ones having been, since the dry weather has set in, rarely to be met with. The meet at Stourton is a good subject for a picture; it is on a green, immediately adjoining Sir Hugh Hoare's park, surrounded by rising ground, covered with the most luxuriant laurels and shrubs of all kinds; the church, which is very beautiful, on one side of the green; the inn, equally picturesque, on the other; and the residence of Sir Hugh Hoare's steward, also quite a fancy cottage, and in the most perfect keeping, bounding it on another side. In the midst of these unique and beautiful objects were the hounds, waiting the arrival of Mr. Tudway, looking all that they should, and adding a finish to one of the most interesting places I have ever seen. found immediately, in Deverill Long Wood, and had two-and-thirty minutes, with scarcely a check; the fox having taken a line, up-wind, as far as the upper side of Stourton Park; when he headed back, and bore towards where we found him; and we were picking out the scent with very slow hunting, just touching it here and there, for more than an hour; and, at last, marked him in a drain which crosses the Mere and Wincanton road, adjoining the residence of the Rev. Grove, whence we bolted him, and he ran into the mouths of the hounds.

We

On Wednesday, the 8th of April, they met at Bradley (Wilts), and had a good woodland run, for nearly two hours, and killed. Mr. Tudway has been most fortunate in his sport, considering the weather; but his country is very good, chiefly vale-land, abounding with pasture.

H. H.

THE HAMBLEDON HOUNDS.

The management of these hounds has now passed from Mr. King, to Mr. Long, jun., of Preshaw House (Hants); and John Squire, who has been first whip to Mr. King for more than ten years, is appointed huntsman, and is to have one whip under him. I have before stated, that Mr. Long is, in every respect, the right sort of man to take the lead in this hunt, and I cannot place him in a higher position, as a sportsman, than by wishing that he may shew as good sport as Mr. King has done, for a period of, I believe, nearly, or quite, twelve years; a better sportsman, or a judge of hounds, or one with more aptness at suiting them to his country, I think, it would be difficult to find, than the late master of the Hambledon hounds; and, to a lover of hunting, his style of making his wide casts is, at any time, worth riding out to see. The members of the Hunt Club have purchased the hounds of Mr. King, for £400; and are fortunate to get such hounds at so moderate a price. H. H.

THE AYRSHIRE FOXHOUNDS.

These hounds, managed and hunted by John Campbell, Esq., of Sornbeg, and subscribed to by a few gallant sportsmen of the county, shew most excellent sport. This fine pack consists of twenty couples, of good height and symmetry, with straight legs, deep chests, and heads well carried. The huntsman under Mr. Campbell, is a valuable aid to his master, a good sportsman, possessed of fortitude, acute perception, patience, sobriety, and activity. The whip is attentive, and a material assistant in keeping hounds together, knowing well where his services are wanted, and knowing his duty equally well in the kennel. As to horses, Mr. Campbell's stud is excellent, all in fine hunting condition, and in number beyond what is required for two days a-week. Eight of them are fully three parts bred, fit to carry fourteen stone up to any hounds; three are thorough-bred, equal to twelve stone. Altogether, the establishment is complete, and is an instance of how much good sport can be shewn to the gentlemen of a neighbourhood, with little trouble and expense, and without parade of any sort. The farmers in the county are beginning to find that to encourage sport, is of advantage to their interest in many ways, and that preserving foxes secures customers for their produce, by encouraging hunting. The ladies of the county are equally pleased, as it keeps many beaux amongst them to enliven society, to ride with them to the cover side, as well as lead the dance in the evening. Sornbeg is in high favour with them, as being the medium by which so much good society is kept in the county. He holds many elegant trophies of their friendship and esteem. When a Lady's Match is to be ridden, he is sure to be first favourite, and selected to ride.

At the meets are frequently seen the friend and generous patron of sport, Lord Eglinton, Mr. Lamb, Sir James Boswell, Bart., Capt. J. O. Fairlie, Capt. Taite of the fourth Dragoons, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Campbell, of Tees Banks, Mr. Hay, Dr. Whiteside, master of the Ayrshire harriers, Capt. Wilson, late of the Hon. E. I. Company's service, Mr. Boyle, Mr. Hamilton, &c., all good sportsmen.

The foxes in this county are the stoutest anywhere, often lasting

before the hounds, which may be called a swift pack, fifty to sixty minutes without a check, performing distances of from twelve to fifteen miles, from point to point, much to the distress of the horses; in some instances, to their entire loss. But still the lines are applicable :

"All hail to the land where foxes are flyers,

Where the fences are larger than any where else;
Where none value their necks, and if the horse tires,
Decline for the animal, not for themselves."

MR. ANDERSON'S STAG HOUNDS.

I have been told that many of the landowners and holders, in this part of the country, are not favourably disposed towards hunting; that some few may be so, I do not deny; but, at the same time, I most distinctly declare, that, as far as I was enabled to judge, a very great proportion of them are quite the reverse. I can but express my surprise and regret that farmers are so blind to their own interests, and gentlemen so illiberal, as to wish to put a stop to this truly "noble science." “Dii talem terris avertite pestem."

66

Saturday, March 14th. Turned out on the Common, going to the left of Scratch, by Barnet Common, to the back of the town, where we ran into view; the fastest twenty minutes I ever rode to; stopped the hounds ten minutes; went away a fair pace, nearly the same line, to Scratch, through the Wood, and from thence straight across the fine grass country to Hendon; bearing to the right down to the river Brent, where our deer laid up; after making two or three wide casts, he was viewed stealing away from the water, and, facing the open once more, he brought us to Kilburn, turning to the left to Primrose Hill, and was eventually taken near Hampstead, after a fine hunting run of two hours and a half, over a great extent of country, nearly all grass, with some very severe fencing. Amongst those who went the best, were Lord A. Paget, the spirited master of the pack, Captains Gerrard and Best, Messrs. Alfred Dyson, Darrell, Weston, James Mason, and the veteran Becher.-I cannot conclude without one or two remarks on this very promising establishment, which really appears to be kept up, by the liberal master, in a manner well worthy of imitation. In the first place, let me remind Mr. Dyson that I have seen him bring his hounds out more blooming and stronger in their condition, and a little more handy in their slow work. I am aware of the difficulties he has to contend with, the greatest among which must be, having several steeple-chase riders in his field. He should also have a little assistance from some one in checking the hot ones, it being more than any one man can do to hunt hounds (as he does it), and, also, have the command of a riotous field. I never saw anything more beautiful, in the way of horsemanship, than the riding, this day, of Mr. James Mason and Mr. Dyson. As a rider to hounds, I think Mr. D. superior to any one I have seen. He is the only riding man that never does them harm; he appears to know, by instinct, when they are going to throw up: enthusiastically fond of his hounds, very cool in difficulties, and possessing in an eminent degree the "suaviter in modo, fortiter in re," he appears to have been born a huntsman.