enjoy the friendship and the good-will of all. No hounds on the whole could have appeared in finer condition, a pretty positive proof that Davis is quite au fait in his profession-a fact by the by which no one ever yet questioned. We had expected a week in the New Forest, but as this has been set aside until our next campaign, we have only to hope that we may live to enjoy it.

March 26-Met at Bedfont; a splendid Field.-Uncarted between Bedfont and Stanwell: made off at a clipping pace for Hounslow Heath; headed back near the Magpies, making across near Harmondsworth, where he took a fancy to the gardens, and allowed himself to be taken.-A little law, and then started him again, when he led away direct for Stanwell Park, passing the Park into the Moor, bearing down to Poyle; then by Colnbrook, pointing for Langley, but, skirting Richings Park, made for Drayton Common, where we run in to him after a good fifty minutes.

March 28 (Easter Monday).-Met at Stoke Common.-The Field numbered several hundreds, good, bad, and indifferent: it included Prince George of Cambridge; Earls Roslyn and March; Lord Hillsborough; Colonels Bouverie, Glennie, and Vyse; Captains Vyse, Harcourt, Ridolph, Seymour, Bustard, and Beauchamp; George Wombwell, Esq., &c. The Common was well lined with every class of vehicles, many occupied by the fashionable families of the neighbourhood. The noble animal, on being uncarted, made direct through the crowd at a slashing pace, crossing the Common to Fullmer Bottom, taking covert in Duke's Wood, where a few of the tender chickens gave up; he then broke away at tip-top pace to Gerrard's Cross, over the Common nearly to Red Hill; taking the left through Chalfont Park, and leaving Denham Marsh on the right, went away to Troy, Maple Cross, and Mill End, and along the Moor to Rickmansworth, where the majority had cut it, but a slight check brought nearly 200 upon good terms again. He then made across the Moor, pointing for Watford, but, heading to the right, ran into Moor Park, where we took in an hour and thirty minutes.

March 30.-Met at Salthill.-The Meet, which was not publicly known, was honored by the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Albert, accompanied by General Wemyss, &c.; the Field, which was very large on this day also, again included Prince George of Cambridge and other distinguished characters.-Uncarted at Farnham Lane; made to the left of the village for Britwell; headed sharp back, crossing the railroad, with Salthill on the left, down to Chalvey; thence to the right to Cippenham, to Barge Farm, and along the lower lands to Dorney; headed back to the Thames (where the Prince gave up), crossed the river, and, leaving Bray to the left, took at Bray Wick-a good hour and forty minutes.

April 2.-Met at Brick Bridge; a small Field.-Uncarted, and made very quick across the country to Redstone Farm, continuing to the right to Westley, pointing for Binfield; the pace still continued good, and, passing Surlick Street, made over some rough fencing to Waltham St. Laurence, down to Shottesbrook; then took the right to the upper end of Hollyport, making for Bray Wick, but, heading back, took at Hollyport Green, after two hours tight work.

April 5-Met at Richings; a favorite Meet, and splendid Field.

Uncarted over the railroad near Langley, and were led off at a racing pace for the Park; then away to Middle Green, George Green, and Stoke, passing Wexham to Fullmer, and through to Gerrard's Cross Common, where he took soil-the pace to this point too severe to live with it-the check was consequently a lucky hit; broke away again for Chalfont, into the Park, and on for Mill End, and took near Rickmansworth.-Time, an hour and a half.

April 8.-Met at the Red Lion, Thorpe, with a Field of 150, and had another teaser.-Went away gallantly to the Park, took the river at Laleham, crossed it to Staines, and on to Bedfont Toll Gate; making then for Stanwell and Longford, bearing down to the left by Colnbrook to Richings Park, skirting the Park, and making for the railroad bridge; from which, being headed by some workmen, it cleared the parapet with a drop of twenty feet on to the embankment; then, with Langley on the left, crossed the lands to Iver, where we ran in to him, after a capital hour and a half.-The deer, notwithstanding the frightful jump it made from the bridge, was uninjured.

April 11.-Met at the Crown, Slough; a good Field; present, His Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe Weimar; Earl Roslyn; Captains Vyse, Bulkley, &c.-Uncarted in Stoke Lane, near Baylis ; made to Farnham Lane; headed back to the Church, leaving Stoke Park on the right, by Brocas Wood to Stoke Common and Fullmer, with Hedgerley Park on the left; made for Gerrard's Cross Common, on to Chalfont, making over the Hill to Mount Wood, Chorley Wood Common, and Chenies, where we finished, after an hour and three quarters sharp hunting over a difficult line of country, with but few up at the take.

April 14.-Met at Ascot Heath; turned out near the kennel, making direct for Wood End, crossing the Winkfield road to the Forest; kept ringing the Forest for 15 minutes, then out and into the Park near Sandpit Gate, passing by Hollygrove, crossing Queen Anne's Ride to Snow Hill, where the hounds threw up and lost, after thirty minutes hunting-Whipped a second immediately from the herd, which made for the Bottom, pointing for Old Windsor Wood; headed back, and after a sharp burst of twenty-five minutes took near Cumberland Lodge.

April 16.-Met at Knaphill.-Uncarted on the Green; made to the railroad rather slow; then took the left to the Scrubs at a better pace, a ring or two on the Scrubs, and then to Chobham, crossing the meadows on the right to Queen's Hill, pointing for Ottershaw Park, near which place, the scent so extremely bad, we left him, after an hour and a half surly hunting.-On the 18th (Monday) found him between Knaphill and Bisley Common; went off at a slapping pace to Clark's Farm; again over the meadows to Queen's Hill, by Ottershaw Park, to the village of Addlestone, nearly to Weybridge, through Lord King's Park, making for Chertsey, and took near Shepperton Lock-a fast hour and a quarter.

The hounds will soon undergo the process of drafting, and be reduced to the customary number. Many of the young hounds that will be brought into work next season are extremely handsome. Several brood bitches are also in the straw with promising litters.

Sunninghill, April 21, 1842.

THE SPORTING LIFE OF ENGLAND,

BY JOHN MILLS, ESQ.

AUTHOR OF "THE OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN."

MR. CONYERS' STUD AND KENNEL, AND RUNS WITH HIS HOUNDS-ANECDOTES-OTTER-HUNTING, &c.

"A good old Commander, and a most kind Gentleman."

LIKE a spoiled child, the young Spring smiles and frowns ere the piping wind ceases to ruffle her budding flowers with one rude kissmerry and sad; now sighing in mournful cadences through the dark still deep woods, then bursting forth in laughing gleams of sunshine on hill-top and valley's peaceful bosom, making the murniuring brook dance in the joyous light of her smiles, and sparkle like an endless succession of fairy lights. At one moment, cold as the breath of inhospitality, she nips the blossoms in her freezing grasp, and curls the unfolding leaves within each other: then, as if penitent for the injury committed, she weeps "a rainy sorrow," and warms in her embrace nature's young charms, while the songs of birds, trill'd in wild delight, herald the glad tidings of her contrition. But her very fickleness adds to her beauty. Did we not find a frown, we should be unable to appreciate a smile. Thus it is with Spring as in the brief season of life, that even the clouds and storms when they come not too close upon each other's pads-are visitations to be unregretted.

It was one of the brightest mornings that ever tended to raise a man on the pinions of high spirits that I started from the Great Metropolis and the busy hum of men to visit the stud and kennel of Mr. Conyers, at Copthall, Essex. "The Squire," as he is generally called, received me with great politeness, and, to my expressed wish of being shewn the horses and hounds, offered to accompany me over the respective establishments.

The stud consists of twenty-five, and, as in a great many others I have seen, there are those that have been the pace, can go it, and will in seasons to come. An old favorite grey horse called Canvass is one of the best-shaped hunters as can be seen in any stable in England: although aged, his short flat legs are as clean as when he was foaled, and his powerful thighs evince no shrinking from age or work: his crest, shoulder, and quarters are excellent.-Davy, a short thick-set dun, is an elephant in miniature.-White Stockings, a thorough-bred brown, is one of the right sort.-Hadock, a bay horse, is finely bred, and looks one that can live, and live well, from sunrise to sunset.Lottery is from a stock to do a good horse's duty, and is always ready to answer to the call.-A bay mare called Miss Barnard is perfect symmetry: I never saw a finer shaped animal.-There were other very fair horses, and, after taking a glance at each, we bent our way to the kennel.

The pack numbers sixty-four couples, and, although not possessing the charm of being very level, they are as superb a lot of hounds as the most fastidious connoisseur could wish to exercise his stop-watch and

compass judgment upon. Their condition does the utmost credit to Morgan the Huntsman, more particularly when the damp-situated and cramped kennel leaves but a bare possibility of keeping them in anything like a state to pull down an Essex fox. Much has been done to eradicate that plague-spot, lameness, from here; but hitherto every remedy has failed, and I believe will continue to do so unless the site of the kennel be changed to a more salubrious spot. This lameness in a hound is the same as rheumatism with us, and proceeds nine times out of ten from a damp situation and want of ventilation through the courts and lodging-houses. Bones and cement may be laid down by wagon-loads, but all to no purpose when the foundation of the kennel is upon a wet reeking soil.

The first draught was the pack that had been hunted the day previous, consisting of 18 couples, and among those that looked beautiful among the beautiful was Prophet, a black and tanned hound of famous mould.-Bashful and Beauty, very large and grey-pied sisters, are a couple of the most splendid bitches I have seen this season.-Purity is also a capital bitch; and Rustic, although too small for her companions, is of faultless shape.-Forester and Jovial, both stallion hounds, are worthy of becoming sires; and Rattler is a powerfully formed fellow, anything but crook'd-knee'd or foumart-sided.-There is a little bitch called Fairy, which should not have been entered from her diminutive size; but she is of excellent shape, and, as the Huntsman said, " of too good blood to be parted with."-The pride of the pack is Wildhare, a large powerful hound, with loins and legs of first-rate stamp. "Taking him all in all," I expect not often to see his equal.-Craftsman, a black and tanned hound, is the largest of the whole. I had the curiosity of having him measured, and my guess was tolerably near. said that I thought him about 25 inches, and the result was half an inch lower than that height.

I

After having the young hounds drafted, the litters, the stallions, and the entire show gone through with in detail, I stated my intention of seeing what the merry pack could do in active service at the next Meet, and, after partaking of the kind hospitality of their enthusiastic Master, I quitted the vicinity of Copthall.

During my pleasant visit to the Squire, he told me a string of anecdotes and adventures which would fill an octavo volume; and among those which amused me exceedingly was an account of riding a fox down unaided by a single hound. The particulars are these. Some years since Mr. Conyers was on his return from hunting with the Duke of Rutland's hounds, accompanied by the Hon. Charles Tollemache, when a fox crossed the road a few yards before their horses' heads. It should be mentioned here, that Mr. Conyers maintains "a Leicestershire fox is not nearly so strong as an Essex varmint," and it so happened that he had been expressing this opinion to his companion a short time before.

"There," said he, seeing Charley pop over the road, "I'll back my opinion by betting you five pounds I catch that fox myself."

"I'll bet you a hundred you don't," was the reply.

"No," rejoined the Squire; "but I'll bet you five."
"Done!" returned Mr. Tollemache.

Mr. Conyers clapped the rowels to his horse's ribs, charged the

fence, and away they went in pursuit of a fox, without hounds "to echo in conjunction." The no uncommon exclamation of "Hold hard! you can't catch him without the hounds, Gentlemen !" might be replied to by "How do you know that? it has been done:" for, strange to say, the Squire, after riding at the fox every time he went at his fences, got him into a large enclosure, and there rode him down, and, passing the thong of his whip round his neck, made frightened panting pug a captive. Determined to mark him previous to setting him at liberty again, Mr. Conyers cut the tip of his brush off, and the following year he was killed by Lord Lonsdale's hounds, and recognised as Conyers' fox" by the small deprivation of his extreme terminus.

It was a promising morning for the scent to be good as I accompanied the pack to Takely Forest, where I found the Squire's favorite grey horse Canvass appointed for my diversion. Without saying one word about mounting me, I discovered an animal at the covert-side above all price to his owner, and who, upon one occasion, refused £300 for him. This act of courtesy will be remembered by me as one of the most gratifying ever received in the field, and one which was as unexpected as it was-I beg to submit-duly appreciated.

Morgan threw his twenty-three couples of gallant hounds into the Forest, and in a minute herds of antlered deer swept across the rides, hares sprang from their forms, and scores of rabbits skipped to their burrows like bees to their hives; but not a hound took the least notice of these denisens. "Hark! a halloo ! Yes, by Heaven, they've found him!" exclaimed the Squire, with his eagle eyes flashing fire, and, driving his spurs home, he crashed through the wood towards the hounds. Then Morgan's cheer echoed again, as he laid every hound on like a workman who knew every secret of his trade. "Hark to Wildhare!" burst from his lips, as it bubbled from his heart to hear the tongue of his favorite ring first at sly Charley's move. "For'ard! for'ard! Tally-ho! tally-ho!" and away the fox streaked, as if a flash of lightning was in his brush, through the Forest to Wall wood, with the brilliant pack close to him, sending forth music enough to charm the hollow oaks.

Is it not the consummation of earthly happiness to have a good scent, a capital fox, a faultless pack, and a first-rate horse moving under you like a thing of air-free, buoyant, and bold as a falcon ! With myself it is; and when thus situated I envy not the pleasures of the gods, or the felicity of a Peri.

At Wall wood the hounds divided on a fresh fox, but got together again-with the good management of the Whips-on the hunted Charley in Hallingbury Park, where he led them through a hare warren. This manœuvre, however, was of no avail, the pack running him clean through, notwithstanding the foulness of the ground, without a check. On the verge of the Park we had a few seconds for a fresh supply of wind; but only a few-for Ruby soon hit off the scent, and, throwing her head up, gave the key-note, and away we went at a rattling pace to Hormead spring. Here pug boxed himself up in a hedgerow, and brought us to a check. Morgan let the hounds try to make it out by themselves, and then made a cast. The Squire now