favourite in his parish, is respected by his tenantry, and beloved by his neighbours. Some country gentlemen, however, are the very reverse of this, and are most eccentric in their habits. We have heard a whimsical anecdote of the late Marquis of Winchester, who probably had no deeper scheme in his plan of life than to gratify his own unaccountable caprice by endeavouring to persuade people that he was mad, though he acted upon principles of great human prudence. Passing one day through Yorkshire, on his way to London, he was observed to have four coaches and a hundred horses in his retinue, and stayed ten days in that county at a house he hired there for that short period only. His custom was to dine at six or seven in the evening; and his meal always lasted until six or seven next morning, during which he ate and drank at intervals. Sometimes he listened to music, or fell into discourse with his friends, whilst his company had free choice to sit or rise, go or come, sleep in their chairs, smoke or drink. The dishes and bottles were left before them all the time. And when morning dawned, he would hunt or hawk, if the weather was fair; and if not, he would dance, go to bed at eleven, and repose himself till evening. Notwithstanding this whimsical irregularity, he is said to have been a man of good sense; and although some supposed him mad, it is rather to be inferred that his motive was to keep himself out of the way of more serious censure in those ticklish days, and preserve his estate; of which he took great care. It is but a few years ago since stage-coach driving by gentlemen of fortune used to be considered a sort of sporting accomplishment. There are many travellers living who remember those days, and will bear us out by adding "Yes! and I've tipped them many a bob as a coachman's fee; and they, in return, politely used to tip their beaver, and add a Thankee sir!' But steam-engines have now so completely outrun the stage-coaches, that tales of travel by such vehicles will, in a few years, become as scarce as gentlemen-coachmen; although many of those tales are exceedingly amusing, and well worth remembering. By way of suiting the action to the word, or rather the time present to our purpose, we record an anecdote told us a few years ago of a gentleman travelling from London by an Essex stage-coach. Two passengers set out from the Bull Inn, Aldgate, early on a December morning, long before daylight; and one of them not feeling at all sleepy, but wishing to make the journey as agreeable as possible, endeavoured, in the usual travelling mode, to stimulate his neighbour to enter into conversation. He therefore, at appropriate intervals, remarked-" A very dark morning, sir!" "Shocking cold weather for travelling, sir!" "Slow going in these heavy roads, sir!" None of which remarks receiving a word in reply, the sociable traveller made one more effort. He stretched out his hand, and feeling the other's habit, exclaimed"What a comfortable coat you have for travelling, sir!" No answer was made, and the inquirer, tired of talking to his speechless companion, fell into a sound sleep; nor awoke until the bright rays of a winter's sun accounted to him for the taciturnity of his comrade, by unfolding to his astonished gaze a large bear, muzzled and confined, in a sitting posture. With this anecdote we must close our subject; and will only add that all writers agree in the importance of encouraging national sports as entirely consonant with the habits of Englishmen, and both in an educational and political point of view their influence has always been acknowledged. They are often a safeguard against the vicious allurements of large towns, and the dissipations of youth. When the Athenians saw themselves raised above the other Grecian states, they gave up their out-door exercises, and became degenerate. Cicero says of them"They prided themselves more upon a victory at their games than did the Romans at a triumph;"* but when they relinquished such pursuits, their love of fame and glory was supplanted by a love of ease and voluptuousness, and they fell to rise no more. It was precisely the same with Rome; for her ancient greatness and noble spirit, that conquered the world, fell on the decline of her manly character. Let the State, therefore, watch over and encourage the national sports of Old England; for such are of more importance than the majority of legislators are disposed to imagine. THE ALBRIGHTON HUNT. TO THE EDITOR. In your last number, your correspondent "Charnwood" sent you some observations as to the future prospects of the Quorn hounds, now under the management of the Earl of Stamford, and whose zeal and liberality while master of the Albrighton hounds for several years past, at different periods, are universally admitted, and too well known to require further comment. The circumstances which induced his Lordship to give up the Albrighton hounds last year, kept entirely at his own expense (except coverts, poultry, and keepers' money, which were paid by the committee), it is not necessary to refer to; but, judging from past experience in that hunt, as far as personal kindness, anxiety to produce sport, and a total indifference to expense in accomplishing that end is concerned, the future prospects of the Quorn hounds under his Lordship's management may be confidently looked forward to, with a full assurance of success, and that even the palmy days of the late Sir Richard Sutton will be again renewed, if they cannot be surpassed. With such a prospect to the members of the Quorn Hunt, of which his Lordship is now the master, may I venture to state the "look-out" which awaits the Albrighton Hunt he has so recently left? Through the indefatigable exertions of that most excellent secretary, William Grazebrook, Esq., assisted by a few other individuals, a fresh subscription has been set on foot (a more difficult thing to revive than to keep afloat), and a sufficient amount obtained to enable this pack to hunt three days a week as heretofore, the earth-stopping, keepers, * "Gloriosior erat illos vicisse, quàm apud nos triumphasse." and damage money being paid by the committee; and the new master, Orlando Stubbs, Esq., satisfied as to the other expenses of "carrying on the war," with the aid of several members of the hunt, who are, as heretofore, anxious that the country should be thoroughly and regularly hunted. Nor must I omit to mention the liberality of the late master in aiding the new establishment, by his Lordship most kindly giving twenty-two couple of good working hounds towards forming the new pack, which, together with Mr. Stubbs's own hounds from Herefordshire, and some other additions, are likely to form a very substantial and effective pack. Of Mr. Stubbs as a master, and who hunts his own hounds, I am unable to speak from personal observation before the present season; but, as far as zeal, a light weight, and a bold and excellent rider are necessary, few can surpass him. For many seasons he whipped-in to his late father, Frederick Stubbs, Esq., while master of the Ludlow hounds, who also hunted his own hounds, and was considered a first-rate sportsman. During the last season Mr. O. Stubbs had the mastership of the Herefordshire hounds; but not finding the subscription sufficient to continue them on, he was prevailed upon to take the Albrighton country, on terms which it is believed are perfectly satisfactory to all parties, the hounds being kept at the latelybuilt and somewhat unnecessarily-expensive Albrighton kennels, which, being placed in a central situation, although the country hunted is very long, reaching from the north of Staffordshire into Worcestershire, a distance of thirty miles or more, will not require the hounds and men to sleep out but very seldom; and when on the Enville side, through Lord Stamford's further kindness in allowing them the use of his kennels at Enville, it will tend still more to save expense and long travelling homewards after hunting. As yet, Mr. Stubbs has not been very successful in cub-hunting, or at least in killing, though he has had some good runs with old foxes, having already killed several; but fortunately the show of cubs, in the Shiffnal country especially, is very promising, if not quite so good in other parts of the hunt; and I feel much pleasure in stating that a renewed zeal appears to be established in the preservation of foxes and support of these hounds. And if the really kind and judicious advice of your correspondent "Charnwood," at the conclusion of his communication, be but followed out, and farmers, keepers, rabbit-catchers, and others on whom chiefly depend the preservation of foxes, and the consequent very great and bountiful expenditure which is annually caused by keeping foxhounds in the country-will also do their best to retain this benefit, and not by destroying foxes, and thereby putting an end to fox-hunting, be "penny wise and pound foolish," all will go well as a marriage bell with the old Albrighton hounds, and I trust with other packs likewise. October, 1856. A SALOPIAN. сс |