and minutely inspect the pack. So, putting on my great coat, I mounted my pony and arriving before the hounds, went forward to meet them. They were coming along a hedge side, on a border, and I went down the lands to have a side view of them; I found them exceedingly level, in blooming and glossy condition, with their eyes bright and full of fire; no bristly backs, no drooping skins, every muscle finely developed, and supported by as much bone as a Welch pony sports. My eye became rivetted on a few of them, and on my asking Mr. Barnett how they were bred, he, in the kindest manner, afforded me every information. I put down the names of their sires in my note-book, and having with some trouble collected lists from all the kennels, I found his hounds are bred from the very best blood in the kingdom; viz. Lord Yarborough's, the Duke of Rutland's, and Lord Fitzwilliam's.

They had not been in the cover two minutes when a challenge was heard and cheered, and the cry announced a find. I went to the cross ride, where part of the field stood; a fox crossed-not a soul holloaed. On my expressing my delight at the quietness of the field, the person next me said, "O, sir, this wood is full of foxes; we never holloa till we get out of it; you will see two or three more cross in a minute ;" and surely there did. It is rented by two brothers of the name of Hogg, and if it was drawn blank they would both die of broken hearts before the week was over. The hounds were kept well together; at length a fox was viewed away for the Gil Rags country; they clapped to him; I saw them ascend the hill, when turning round I brushed a dew-drop from my eye, at the remembrance that I had had my day, and going over Gamlingay-field, on my way home, I turned to take a last, longing, lingering look at Potton-wood!

Engraved by DUNCAN, from a Picture by H. B. CHALON.

12

BRACER, whose portrait embellishes our present number, is a celebrated hound in the Linlithgow and Stirlingshire pack. He is by Bedford, dam Rapid, and is remarkable for his power and symmetry. The painting from which our engraving was made, is a sketch from part of the large picture of Mr. Ramsay (the Master) and his hounds, which we announced in our November number as being about to be engraved and published by subscription.

The Chase.

WINTER has visited us at a more seasonable period than of late years. We have had frost and snow at Christmas, and skating superseded hunting in many parts, particularly in the south of England. On the Continent the fall of snow was very considerable, and the winter very severe, while in Scotland they have had scarcely any.

As far as it has gone, we believe we may state that this has been a very good scenting season, and the sport, generally, better than usual. Of course it has not been of one uniform character throughout, but as a whole, we think it has been favourable to hunting. During the past month, indeed from Christmas up to the latter end of January, the weather has been of a most uncertain and variable description; boisterous winds and heavy rains over-night being frequently succeeded by sharp frosts and falls of snow in the morning. So determinedly has the frost set in on some occasions, and in some countries, as to induce masters of hounds to discontinue their advertisements of fixtures, while a few hours have produced such a change, as to enable hounds not only to hunt, but in many instances to have capital runs; and again the evenings of such days have closed with cutting frosts, confining them to kennel for two or three days more. We have now got over what is considered the most unfavourable period of the season for sport, though we regret to think that February, so smiling and pleasant, should be a forewarner that the best part of it is also gone. And here we may hint that as the shortness of the present month will compel us to go to press earlier than usual, we shall esteem it a favour if our friends and correspondents will dispatch their communications at such a period as will admit of their receipt in London on the 20th at latest. We hope such friends as have not yet favoured us will be induced to "throw their tongues" in time for our next.

As a contrast between this season and the last, we may observe that we have heard of fewer accidents than usual, which, if not attributable to the better riding of sportsmen, may not unfairly be placed to the credit of the weather in preparing the ground for their reception. We hope it will go on so to the end, and that beds of mud may break all falls.

We are happy to state that there is a prospect of handing down to future generations a portrait of one of the most distinguished sportsmen of the present day-Mr. Ralph Lambton. The following prospectus, now in course of circulation, will best explain the design.

"PORTRAIT OF RALPH LAMBTON, ESQ.

"Many friends and admirers of Mr. Ralph Lambton having expressed a wish that there should be a good portrait of that gentleman, and he having kindly consented to sit for one, it is proposed to raise by subscription, of two guineas each, such a sum as will accomplish the design in an efficient manner.

"The painting to be a full length portrait of Mr. Lambton in the dress, or evening, uniform of his hunt, and the picture to be of such dimensions as he may select, and to be presented to him in the name of the subscribers.

Mr. Francis Grant of London, a gentleman eminently successful in the fidelity of his portraits, is the Artist proposed, and gentlemen approving of the proposal are invited to forward their names, and pay their subscription, to any of the following gentlemen who have kindly undertaken to act as receivers.

Robert Fenwick, Esq. The Green-Monkwearmouth.

Benjamin Ord, Esq. Sedgefield.

George Scurfield, Esq. Stockton.

William Mills, Esq. Durham.

Edward Johnson, Esq. The Deanery, Chester le Street.

George Fenwick, Esq. Newcastle-on-Tyne, who has also consented to act as TREASURER.

"For the convenience of gentlemen in the South, subscribers' names will be received at Mr. Ackermann's, 191, Regent Street, London."

Many of our readers are doubtless aware that there have already been two large paintings of Mr. Ralph Lambton and his hounds, one by Ward, the other by Ferneley, and the former of which has been published; but the object of the promoters of the present painting is to have a likeness of Mr. Lambton alone, and we think a visit to Mr. Grant's studio will convince the most sceptical that the artist selected is fully competent to do justice to the original. It is intended that there should be an engraving made from the painting, but this will be effected by lending the picture to some publisher who will do it at his own expense.

The Duke of Beaufort, we are happy to see, adorns the list of masters of hounds, keeping on the late duke's Gloucestershire country and establishment at Badminton.

LEICESTERSHIRE.

IFEAR I have but little to communicate to you since last month, in consequence of the very severe and unsettled state of the weather. However, on the 9th December Mr. Errington met at Widmerpool, had a beautiful run from Ellas-gorse and lost near Scalford-gorse. The frost again set in severe, otherwise a splendid treat was to have been given to the inha

NO. LVIII.-VOL. X.

2 K

bitants of Melton and the neighbourhood, in consequence of the Duke of Wellington with many others being on a visit to Lord Wilton, and on Wednesday the hounds were to have met in Lord Wilton's park, immediately adjoining the town, but the frost was so very intense that all hopes of hunting were given up and the parties left for Bretby-park, the seat of Lord Chesterfield.

On the 14th, the hounds were again able to go out, the meet at Barkby, with little sport.

15th. Mr. E. at Six-hills-found at Walton-thorns, went away for old Dalby-wood, then for Broughton, and crossing the Nottingham road made for Claxton-village, then turned up the hill for the Thorns, where a short check ensued, after a fine run of thirty-five minutes. The scent however was shortly hit upon again, and away he went for White-lodge, then towards Sir Harry's gorse, which he left on the right, pointing for Melton, and was finally lost near Melton-spiny, after a fine day's sport. Lord Forester had also a fine run from Lenton-village the same day. Jan. 19.-Lord Forester at Weavers-lodge-I hear had a brilliant day's sport and killed.

Melton, Jan. 27th.

DEAR EDITOR,

I SHALL not trouble you with any prefatory remarks, but let my budget, which is a longish one, speak for itself, beginning with the

THE CRAVEN HOUNDS.

The satisfaction which Mr. Villebois affords his subscribers continues unabated. Both packs have been well got together; they are well-sized and in excellent order and appearance. Foote, though yet slow, is quicker than he was two years ago. The sport they have had this season has been more than ordinary; they have had six or seven as capital runs as man could wish to follow, and had killed twenty-five brace at the close of the year.

MR. HORLOCK'S HOUNDS.

These hounds, also, have been showing some capital sport, and more than one run has, I have observed, found its way into the papers. Through the true sporting feeling of Mr. Estcourt, M.P. a gorse has been established as a meet on Beckhampton-downs, which bids fair to rival every other in the surrounding country. This is the first season of its being drawn, and the gorse is scarcely high enough to conceal a good sized fox. The glorious run of fifteen miles, from point to point, which the hounds had from this gorse in December, was such as to insure a full meet on the next fixture, and therefore I made some considerable effort