as good as the past-will make the wild red bird of the mountains nearly as plentiful as ever. The weather (a matter of great consideration to the grouse-shooter) has been very favourable throughout the past season, and many good bags were made in October, November, and in the last ten days of the season. But enough of preface; and now for the foray on the wild face of the mountains; and we will begin with his Grace the Duke of Athol's sport in his far-famed forest of Glentilt, where the wild red harts roam in hundreds, aye, thousands, over the wild and steep mountains, or thread the deep corries and numerous glens of the Tilt. The Duke had one grand and glorious day's sport among the harts in August last, and brought down twenty-six to his own rifle in one day-sport, we should say, unprecedented in the annals of deer-stalking, and, as Dominie Sampson of old would have said, "Pro-di-gi-ous!" but such was the fact. At Blair Castle his Grace and party of friends had good sport at grouse throughout the greater part of the season, and finished with a grand battue at Blair and three days' shooting among the wild woods of the Tilt in November last. Here is the total of these three days' sport in this part of the mountains, viz., 13th, 14th, and 16th of November, 1849 :-Pheasants, 55; partridges, 37; woodcocks, 10; white hares, 367; red hares, 696; rabbits, 22; red deer, 1; roe deer, 11; blackcock, 1; grouse, 22; in all, 1,222 head of game, which was first-rate sport at that season of the year for so wild a part of the country.

The Marquis of Breadalbane and party had good sport in his lordship's forest, called the Black Mount, and killed some very heavy harts; and on the Breadalbane moors the same party had some good fair sport at grouse and other kinds of game on these well preserved moors.

Alexander Campbell, Esq., let his famous moors at Monzie to Mr. Douglas Baird, of Gershirey, and Mr. Baird and friends had good sport on these Moors, and bagged 200 brace of grouse, 50 brace of black game, with lots of white and red hares, and other kinds of game peculiar to that district of country.

In the Glenartney forest Lord Willoughby's party had fine sport at deer; Lord Dupplin killed a very heavy hart in this forest in August last. Lord Cannington remained at Drummond Castle, and had some good sport at deer in Glenastney, and at grouse and other kinds of game on Lord Willoughby's moors up to nearly the very end of the grouse

season.

The Earl of Mansfield did not visit the moors at Rannoch till well on

in August, and was then very careful of his "grouse." But his lordship and his party enjoyed themselves right merrilie among the mountains up to the second week in October, the weather being all that could have been wished for during their sojourn, and the sport very fair. The slaughter of white hares was enormous, nearly 600 being brought to bag in one day; and a few days before Lord Mansfield left his moors, he was so fortunate as to make a good stalk at a "wild red knight of the mountains," and bring him to cart with his rifle.

Sir David Dundas, at Invergeldie, had great luck with the grouse, and killed 400 hares, besides a large quantity of black game and white hares.

The Abercairny party, at Conachan Lodge, had killed, up to the 11th November, 300 brace of grouse, 40 brace of gallant old black

cocks, and lots of other game, such as ducks, snipes, woodcocks, and hares, which amounted in all to 2,000 head-not bad sport for the first three months of the season.

On the Ochils the sport was good this season, and the grouse on these moors are now fairly recovered from disease.

On the north side of the vale of the Allan, and at Cromlie, Lord Dupplin and party had plenty to do for the first two weeks of the season.

At Carrin, on the south side of the vale of the Allan, Mr. Padwick and son had fine sport at grouse, and killed some 200 brace of birds, with a good sprinkling of black game, ducks, &c., &c., &c., in their game-book, and a large quantity of snipes. The sport at the latter is first-rate, as there is no better ground in Scotland for snipe-shooting than the marshes in the vale of the Allan, and Mr. Henry Padwick (I mean the "younger") is one of the best shots at the long-bills I ever saw put gun to shoulder. As a proof of this, the young gentleman, not yet of age, would go to the "Bogs of the Allan," and bring home his "20 couple" of snipes in a few hours' shooting, with a sprinkling of duck and other gear to adorn his game-bag.

At Glen Eagles Lord Duncan and party had very fair sport, and found that the grouse on the green hills of the Ochils were not to be despised, although the red bird gets very wild early in the season on his lordship's moors.

At Drumote Lodge the Honourable Fox Maule and Colonel Philip Dundas had excellent sport, and bagged between 400 and 500 brace of grouse, with lots of black game and other kinds of game, in the first five weeks of their season.

At Logiealmond Lodge Mr. Seton Kerr had very good sport, and continued on the moors till November, shot almost every day, and bagged 500 brace of grouse, 30 brace of black game, and some 200 hares.

At Glenalmond Lodge Mr. Patten had fair sport, and bagged 250 brace of grouse.

At Kinloch, in Strathbraun, Mr. Brown did very well on his moors, killing 60 brace of birds on the first day of the season, and continuing to kill from 20 to 10 brace daily, up to a late period of the season.

I could enumerate many other shooting parties that have had good sport this season; but enough has been said to show that the front range of the Grampians is a famed locality for the grouse-shooter. In bidding adieu to the mountains for 1849, we will do so with a few words from our favourite poet-Byron :

"Adieu, ye mountains of the clime

Where grew my youthful years!

Where Loch-na-Garr' in snows sublime

His giant summit rears!

Why did my childhood wander forth

From you, ye regions of the north,

With sons of pride to roam?

Why did I quit my Highland cave,

'Marr's' dusky heath and Dee's' clear wave,
To seek a southern home?"

Grampians, 17th Dec., 1849.

60

NOTES OF THE CHASE.

BY CECIL.

The golden era of the chase in Leicestershire is awarded to the period when the renowned Mr. Meynell hunted that country. He was the first to rescue the "noble science" from rude customs-to introduce system and order, combined with the best blood in the kennel, and the necessary accompaniment, condition; previously, as I apprehend, but little thought of. His friend and companion, the late Mr. Childe, of Kinlet, in Shropshire, known by the well-earned sobriquet of The Flying Childe, set the example of pace in riding to bounds.

Hunting in Warwickshire was in its zenith during the time of Mr. Corbet.

To whom shall be awarded the palmy days of Shropshire? Is Mr. Baker destined not only to rival his predecessors, but to establish a fame as yet unequalled in that sporting and truly aristocratic county? Judging from the sport he has already shown, the prospect is most fortuitous; and yet it will be no easy task to accomplish, so good are the names of those who have gone before him. You cannot enter the county, and converse with an old sportman on the subject of fox-hunting, but you will hear of the exploits of The Squire Forrester of Willey, and his no-less-celebrated whipper-in, Tom Moody, whose ardour for the chase is handed down to posterity in the well-known song which bears his name, invariably chaunted by some native amateur vocalist at all convivial meetings appertaining to the chase. Sir John Hill, the father of so many gallant sons, who attracted the notice of their sovereign in very early days during several seasons, presided over the management of his hounds. With the same sporting blood flowing in his veins, Colonel Hill also hunted this country, and although not a master of hounds, Lord Hill, the commandant-in-chief, patronized foxhunting on all occasions.

The late Sir Richard Puleston, celebrated as being the best judge of hounds in his day, likewise had his reign. Sir Edward Smythe kept these hounds some years; also his neighbour, Mr. Smythe Owen, a first-rate sportsman, and a capital man across the country.

Mr. Pelham had them during another term, and Sir Bellingham Graham, who had previously acquired in other countries a name as a sportsman, which was, if possible, enhanced by the probation of three or four seasons, undertook to hunt this country, together with the Albrighton, in the year 1824; Sir Bellingham being the only master of hounds mentioned who was not a Shropshire man.

The sport of the Shropshire and Wheatland hounds, up to the present period, has been quite first-rate, commencing with a good run from Meadowly Hill, on the 9th of November, when they found in the covert opposite Morville. The fox led them along the hill parallel to

Aston village, where he turned to the left for Upton Cressett and to Copthorn, straight to the Down Gorse coverts, which he skirted and went to ground in view near the Down House; pace first-rate. Found again, had another forty minutes, and lost from want of scent.

over.

On the following Monday, being the first day of the Shrewsbury Hunt Meeting, they met at High Ercall; a splendid country to ride They found in Cotterell's Gorse; but, being headed, it was some twenty minutes before he could be induced to break covert. A good pace for fifty minutes reduced the fox to his last shifts, when the impatience of the field drove the hounds off their line, and he was lost near to Witheford. The second fox was found in Witheford Wood. After rattling him in covert some ten minutes he broke away, took a line over a beautiful country, and in one hour, without a check, the hounds had their teeth in him: the field large, but reduced to a select few at the finish. At one time there were only three with the hounds—Mr. Webster, Mr. Eyton, and Mr. Baker.

On the following day the fixture was at Acton Burnell, the seat of the well-known sportsman, Sir Edward Smythe; where foxes, good cheer, ale, and hospitality invariably abound. As a matter of course they soon found in the Park; but the fox went to ground in a rabbit-spout, where he was left to his meditations. Found again at Frodesley Hill, had a pretty burst of twenty minutes' duration, and again to ground at Acton Burnell.

On the Friday in the same week they met at Atcham Bridge, where they found in one of the coverts; but the field having disposed themselves in all directions, got over the line of scent, and consequently the fox was very soon lost. Another from Longnor afforded a very fast burst of twenty-five minutes, passing Atcham, nearly to the Railway Station at Upton, where he must have gone to ground, as they could not hit him from the spot where they ran breast high to. They then proceeded to Sundorne, the seat of Mr. Corbet, one of the best preservers of foxes in England. There they were not long in finding; ran a wide ring to ground. Very fast for fifty minutes; and however well the hounds deserved him, digging, under any circumstances, is strictly forbidden by the Squire of Sundorne.

Thus ended the sport with these hounds during the hunt week, since which they have had two capital days; the last of which, for severity, is scarcely equalled in the annals of the chase.

On the 20th of November they met at Faintree. Not finding there, they drew one of Mr. Baker's gorse coverts; but he went to ground almost immediately. Found again at the Lodge Coppice; had a burst of thirty-five minutes, and tasted him without the slightest check. Found another at Meadowly; and after running him thirty minutes he went to ground.

The grand event, however, is now to be recorded. They met at the fifth milestone on the Baschurch Boad. The hounds were scarcely in the covert, at Merrington, which belongs to Mr. Slaney, one of the members for Shrewsbury, a most zealous sportsman, when the fox was viewed away by Pearce, the head whip: after taking a ring round the covert he pointed his head for Leaton Shelf, best pace; without a moment's hesitation he ran through the covert as straight as possible to Preston Gobalds, and away to Pinehill, Harmer Hill, and Middle Park,

nearly to Baschurch; still bearing to the left, he regained the covert in which he was found at Merrington; through it again to Leaton Shelf; he then crossed the river Severn, which, although bank full, Mr. Webster, of Preen, plunged into, leaving the whole field behind him; this was, however, an unprofitable daring, for, having tried a refuge in Bickley Coppice, the fox recrossed the Severn, near Montford Bridge, which afforded Mr. Webster another opportunity for exercising his amphibious qualities; from this point to Forton and nearly to Nesscliffe ; here he turned to the right by Fitz, with the pack close at his brush; through the gardens at Grafton, when he once more tried the earths at Leaton Shelf, and after a terrific run of nearly four hours' duration, he was run into near Leaton Knoll, the residence of J. A. Lloyd, Esq., a small portion only of the field being up to witness the termination; but of the select few were Mr. Baker, the present, and Mr. Eyton, the late, master of these hounds, Mr. Webster, and Mr. Harnage. Although not up at the finish, Mr. Lloyd, of Aston, went remarkably well; but all the horses were completely beaten, and had it not been for some friendly road which occasionally intervened, it appears impossible that any could have gone half-way.

To determine the exact distance gone over, where so many turns were made, would be quite impossible; but the computation generally acknowledged describes it as upwards of thirty miles.

The county of Salop unquestionably ranks amongst the most celebrated in England as the birthplace of first-rate sportsmen: independent of those already mentioned, poor Mytton must be added to the list; excentric as he was in many things, still he was a sportsman in every acceptation of the term.

The list of distinguished sportsmen, natives of Shropshire, might be extended to a very considerable length, especially if first-rate riders over a country are included; among the foremost must be enumerated the late and present Lords Forrester. Mr. Lloyd, of Aston, is said to be quite as good as his father was in his best day; and Mr. Lyster, of Rowton, is equally celebrated. At the advanced age of eighty-one years, Colonel Gatacre has recently been taken from his family and friends; nor are they alone the only persons left to regret his loss. A more estimable or more worthy example of the English country gentlemen cannot be found in any county, and truly proud may the Salopians be that he was one of them. In my juvenile days I was for many years a near neighbour to him, and have good cause to acknowledge many acts of kindness which I then received from him; for it was his nature to be kind to all around him. Nothing appeared to occasion him greater annoyance than hearing of malice and evil propensities in individuals, let their station in life be what it might; and he would rather that their bad deeds should be corrected by mildness and example than by rigour to return good for evil was his true Christian maxim. As Colonel Gatacre has left a son and grandson to inherit his estates and good qualities, there is every reason to feel assured that, although the course of nature, which must be obeyed, has taken him from this transitory world, they will compensate for the loss of so good a man. Although a heavy weight, Colonel Gatacre was a fine horseman, in his day rode well to hounds, and was a good shot, of which amusement he was particularly fond. Shropshire has also supplied their very experienced