and-twenty years ago, when scarcely a day went by but some unfortunate culprit was coupled up and flogged unmercifully for running hare. Such painful deeds of discipline are seldom practised now. Indeed, many masters of hounds never suffer the whip to be administered at all. A short time since I observed an individual arrayed in pink (I will not write the title he would be honored ? with in Leicestershire), as he was passing along a ride in covert, strike a hound most vigorously with his whip-for what offence I am at a loss to explain, except that the hound was trying to recover the scent of a lost fox. I could not help bestowing upon him an inaudible blessing ; thinking to myself, at the same time, if such an act had been perpetrated in the presence of many masters of hounds, their benedictions would have been anything but inaudible, nor would their language have been selected from the pages of Chesterfield. Persons who cannot keep their whips still would do well to leave the thongs at home. The steadiness of hounds is not promoted by chastisement, it is the effect of management-discipline it may be termed, unaccompanied with severity. What animal of the brute creation is there that is more capable of attachment than the hound? But attachment is not secured by harshness and ill-treatment, which sours the temper, depresses the spirits, and destroys the concord between man and the brute. When it was the custom to enter young hounds to hare, as it was some fifty years ago, it could not be wondered at that they should evince a liking for the pursuit of what they hnd been encouraged to hunt. These absurdities are now abolished, with other curious customs of the “olden time.”

There are, however, “no rules without exception ;' and possibly to maintain the truth of the antique maxim, perchance to fulfil the pleasure which arises from the reminiscences of former days—a feeling which often pervades the human breast, sometimes respecting events not purely orthodox—there may still be found some few packs of foxhounds to which the “ currant jelly" is not altogether repulsive- towards which the use of the whip is not only positively interdicted, but being left to their own devices even a rate is scarcely permitted to check a riotous hound. In proof of this, one day early in the present season, I inquired of a friend who had been to meet a certain pack gifted with this propensity, from whom I received this short but expressive reply : “ They found three foxes, each of which was transformed into a hare."

One of the improvements of modern days is the use of a caravan to convey hounds to covert, and home after their day's work. In extensive countries, or those where some of the places of meeting lie wide from the kennel, such a vehicle is of great utility. When hounds are compelled to go from their kennel on the day previous to hunting, the inconvenience of much road-work is entailed, and those only who have been in the habit of travelling home with a tired pack can form an idea how much they are jaded by the journey, especially when miry lanes form the greater portion of their route. The stimulus and excitement of the chase, which buoys them up through all difficulties, being at an end, the poor animals plod their way with weary limbs and dejected countenances. It is quite a mistaken notion to suppose that hounds will become chilled in a carriage ; in fact, it is quite the reverse ; the difficulty is to keep them sufficiently cool : lying so closely together as they are compelled to do, their individual warmth is increased.

There are some countries in which the presence of foot people is a

very great nuisance, for they spread themselves round the coverts, and mob the foxes in all directions. As to keeping them in order, it is impossible : remonstrance is perfectly useless; and not the least part of the mischief they occasion is that of hallooing the moment they see a fox, even if he be at a great distance from them. It is an easy matter to keep horsemen together while hounds are drawing or running in covert, because every man who is mounted will cheerfully attend to any request of the kind that is made, and not station himself at a point where a fox is likely to break ; but the foot people are a different and more headstrong class of subjects. Their sport consists in mobbing foxes, for then they can the better enjoy their own fun. The most effectual way of getting rid of them is to trot off three or four miles from the place of meeting, and leave them to their meditations.

The Vine hounds have been showing more sport this season than they have hitherto done during the last three or four years, and the establishment is manifestly improved ; conspicuously so with regard to the horses. The men are efficiently mounted, and there is no scarcity of foxes ; indeed, on several occasions they have been too numerous, and changing has deprived the pack of blood they have well deserved.

Their best performance was on the day on which they met at Clerken Green Gate, January 6th. The Duke of Wellington had intimated his intention of being present, and in courtesy to His Grace, the hounds were not thrown off till after their usual time ; but unfortuately the noble duke did not arrive, otherwise he must have been much gratified with the run. On approaching St. John's Wood, the hounds feathered on a stale scent, and as soon as they entered it, a challenge proved that it was the line of a fox waiting in the wood. The find was perfection! Without a moment's hesitation or punctiliousness, by tarrying for noble dukes, lords, squires, commoners, or hounds, as gal. lant a fox as ever wore a brush - broke away" in view of the leading hounds, across the lane, and over the fields to Church Oakley : here he bore a little to the left, and entered Oakley Park ; then bearing to the right, and crossing the corner of it, along the plantation ; he then pointed straight to Waltham Wood at a tremendous pace, and without hesitation--for he was too closely pressed-he quitted the covert at the upper end. All this time the chase was nearly up-wind : he then sunk the wind about a mile in the direction of Waltham Village, where he must have been headed ; from that point he made for Popham Wood, still keeping good the pace to Blackwood, where a check occurred which saved his life. Unfortunately getting upon a fresh fox, the hounds shortly afterwards marked him to ground in a drain at Stratton, By this misadventure time was afforded before the mischief could be rectified for the hunted fox to reconnoitre and retrace his steps homewards. He was viewed about some pig-sties, and stale as the scent had become, the hounds touched upon it in many places as far back as Steventon ; but as he was not one of the waiting order there was no chance of hunting up to him. Had it not been for the unfortunate change which prevented the hounds from killing him, it would have been one of the most perfect runs on record. The time was one hour and thirty minutes, and the pace first-rate. It is pronounced the best run that has been seen in this country for some years.

There is nothing so cheering to the heart of man as a good run : it infuses life into his soul, and makes him for a time forget " all the ills which flesh is heir to."

• I love it!
To wood and glen, hamlet and down, it is
A laughing holiday! Not a hill-top
But then 's alive!' Footmen with horsemen vie,
All earth 's astir, roused with the revelry,
All vigour, health, and joy! Cheer awakes cheer;
While Echo's mimic tongue, that never tires,
Keeps up the hearty din! Each face is then
Its neighbour's glass, where gladness sees itself,
And at the bright reflection grows more glad,
Breaks into tenfold mirth."

On the 9th of January the Hampshire hounds met at Herriard House, which afforded me an opportunity of seeing them. The hospitalities of the mansion were, as usual, proffered with liberal hand to all who felt disposed to partake of them. But that is not all; the coverts on the estate being well stocked with foxes, it is always a favourite place of meeting. The hounds soon found, but the fox had unluckily met with an injury, and was killed in ten minutes. He however served the purpose of blood, not only to the pack, but also a young aspirant to the honours of the chase, to whom the brush was presented, and highly pleased did he appear with this-" his first trophy.” The second fox was found in Bushy Copse, but he was one of that class that had been so well provided-for that he could not be induced to leave the woodlands, Hal-wood, Swallick Copse, and the coverts on the Herriard estate appeared to be the extent of his geographical studies, and he hung to them some three hours, running his foil most perseveringly. At length the hounds forced him across Hackwood Park to a small but strong covert at Tunworth, where, by dint of much steady hunting, they ran into him. Although a long and tedious affair, it was well calculated to exemplify the hunting powers of the hounds, and the experience of their huntsman. In this difficult department of the science that is, hunting a foil-running fox, Summers certainly excels

“ Nothing I admire
Beyond the running of the well-trained pack.
The training's everything : keen on the scent;
At fault, none losing heart-but all at work!
None leaving his task to another! answering

The watchful huntsman's caution, check, or cheer." On the whole, I am informed the Hampshire hounds have had much sport, and a capital run from Well, which tired most of the horses ; but I have not been able to learn the particulars. They also had a pretty scurry on the 13th January, from Greywell to Cliddesden.

During the last month Mr. Wheble's hounds have had a splendid succession of sport, and have been fortunate in killing their foxes-on one occasion, after three hours' hard work in Bradfield Wood ; which speaks very creditably for the pack. They had a good hunting run on the day of their meeting at the Hare and Hounds the 13th of December; again on the 20th, from the Three Crowns, Bucklebury; and a sharp burst of twenty minutes on each occasion of their meeting at Mortimer, which they did on the 23rd and 30th of the last month. The run of the

season, however, took place on the 3rd of January, on which day they met at the Blade-Bone, Bucklebury. Carbins Wood afforded å stout wild fox, which soon went away to Woolhampton, and back to Carbins Wood, straight through that covert, over "Bucklebury Common to Redhill, again facing the open to Hawkridge, as if Yattendon would be his point; but from Hawkridge he worked his way to Bradfield Woods, which he scarcely deigned to enter ; away again for Stanford-street, along the valley, leaving Bradfield on the left, through Englefield, over the open in the direction for Theale ; but being headed from his point by some plough-teams, he turned back to Englefield much beaten ; he however contrived to reach the hanging coverts leading to Beenham House, where the hounds ran into him after an hour and thirty-five minutes' very hard work. The distance is computed at sixteen miles ; the pace, therefore, must have been first-rate, and the country was heavy. I give this account as it was related to me: one informant states there were only four of the field who were with the hounds throughout ; another person accounts for some fifteen or sixteen. It would, perhaps, be invidious to mention the four gentlemen who were named to me, to the exclusion of the others ; though from pretty good authority I am inclined to believe they were the only ones who rode to the hounds throughout the run.

WANDERINGS BY MANY WATERS.-CONNEMARA,

KILLERIES, &c.

By the blessing of Pope Pius, Radetzky, Bem, Haynau, Archdukes, Prince Palatines, and Presidents of the Republic, we were all kept at home last year; and, in consequence, "our good public" rushed incontinently forth to enjoy--perhaps for the first time in their lives the beauties of their own and sister isle. Excursion trains were “all the go," and hissed throughout the land, and beyond it too, for Ireland had her attractions, and the lovers of the picturesque crowded to Killarney. Many a rod was there spliced; and in the lakes and neighbouring rivers, the angler first felt the sporting pith of the salmon's rush, and his wrist ached with unnumbered trout. The waters of the Green Isle have been tasted ; and numbers, greedy to have more, are preparing this spring to renew and better their acquaintance with streams so promising and well-tenanted ; but as all the world last year flocked south, so now, this season, the tide is turned, and sets north. Parliament and poor-laws have filled our heads with Galway, Connemara, and plantation schemes, and the current runs “thereaway;" and no better way could it run for the lover of the gentle craft in all its charms and varieties. The “ Old Gaffer" has led you along it “by many waters," but broke down just when he got to the central wilds of these very regions. Let him once more take up his hickory, and pursue his pilgrimage, giving a few words to those (for they are many) who are about to follow, this year, his track in the “ land of bays.”

I would first sketch out for the itinerant angler the best route to be taken, and the line of march which, in his excursion, would afford him most opportunities of abundant and diversified sport.

Landing at Dublin, thence by rail to Limerick, he must not stay in that great “ city of the violated treaty," but make Castle Connel, five miles distant (his fishing quarters), where he will find a good hotel, the broad river, cots, and fishermen waiting to do him service. There is no salmon-fishing in the world superior to the three miles of the Shannon at Castle Connel. The greater part, however, is strictly preserved ; and without the aid of a friend or introduction, Piscator must content himself with a long stretch of " commonage,” open to all comers, and where, by the bye, I have caught some of my biggest fish, and had some of my best days, although at the time enjoying the privilege of fishing the preserves. Here, then, let him bide as long as he finds sport; but before his departure from that part of the world, let him devote one day or more to Lough Derg, only a few miles off, and have a pull of cross-fishing at the Gillaroos. From Limerick to Galway : try his luck there at the tiers of salmon he will see stemming the stream at the old bridge. If the month be June, never fail to visit Clare Galway, a village not far distant, where the sea-trout swarm up, and, in vigorous play and numbers, will satisfy a glutton in the craft. About thirty or forty miles from Galway is the Costelloe, in which, if he can obtain permission, he may try a day at the salmon. The river is of much repute ; though, from my experience of it, I should hesitate travelling the distance again to renew its acquaintance. From Galway to Flinn's Half-way House travel by car—there is nothing to repay a cast. But now the traveller is in the midst of lakes and their connecting streams, in all of which he may fish right and left, and rejoice in sport. Very large trout, remember, are taken in the lakes with the minnow. Let no man omit a visit to the Inver, a river of small size, some five or six miles distant from Flinn's, full of sea-trout in the season, and not illfurnished with stray salmon. If, instead of Flinn's, the angler take up his abode at the better accommodation of the inn at Ma'am, “just across the shouther of the hill,” let him by no means neglect the Erive at his door, which runs into Lough Corrib, and in full waters may supply a triton or two to task his skill. And now I have sketched the traveller's route to where mine broke off, and which, with its minute details, you, Mr. Editor, were pleased to insert in a series of papers in your interesting miscellany-to complete the tour, I would guide him one stage further, starting from Ballinahinch, where I last rested. It will make the “finish" of a right good sporting excursion in Connemara. En avant !

Escaping from the fast-in every sense of the word, “ fast”-hospitality of Ballinahinch, I trudged along the road to Clifden. Though à good-looking stream runs by your side, you need not be tempted to splice your rod or try a cast. The Clifden river promises but ordinary sport ; and its waters vary so much—dry, shallow, or swollen, according to summer-heats or mountain-storms—that the fishing is as precarious as the “skiey influences” which regulate it. Here and there you meet deep pools, into which some noisy scaur precipitately tumbles, whirling