The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-24 00:00:00

THE SeN, Lk/NDO.N, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 24, 1866.

Hunting Notes from the Shires.

At a meeting lately convened by the members of
the Pytchley Hunt, Captain Anstruther Thompson
expressed his intention of giving up the hounds for
various reasons, not one of which, I need hardly
add, was a pecuniary one. Sincerely do I regret
it, and truly will his loss be felt by every man who
loves hound and horn in the midland counties.

The cessation of hunting in Cheshire has sent
many men down here to finish the season, and new
faces congregate at the covert side in large numbers;
all the old ones, however, are still to the fore, ex-
cept, indeed, one well-known face, which has been
missed for some time past. I allude to that of the
lion. F. Villiers, whose illness for the last three
months entirely prevented his participating in what
he so thoroughly enjoys. lam glad, however, to
be able to say, thathe is rapidly recovering, though
he will be unable to hunt again this season.

" After a storm comes a calm ;" so we may say
" after a frost comes sport"—at least in the present
instance, it has been so, for since last Friday we
have been having some excellent runs.

Coton House was the fixture for the Atherstone
on Friday last, and a large concourse was there,
many of whom looked as if the frost had in nowisa
injured their appearance, nor indeed that of their
horses. We found a fox at Coton, and ran him the
old line across the brook towards Harboro' Magna,
and from thence slowly ou to Newbold Revel. Here
Dickens, for some inexplicable reason, swung his
hounds round into tne park, instead of going over
the railroad to a holloa, which was without doubt
the line of the fox. We lost him, of course, and
Woolney Gorse being the next draw, we also lost a
greater portion of field, it being six miles from
this spot to the gorse ; accordingly about forty of
us trotted on, and quickly found a fox. After some
little rattling in the covert he went away a regular
burster up wind, over three or four heavy ploughs,
heading in the direction of Bramcote. Mr. Fel-
lowes got the best start, but at such a pace did they
go for the first ten minutes that he could not catch
them. Mr. Richard Cook, Mr. Muntz, Miss Talbot,
Mr. Woodmass, and Mr. Chemberlayne were, how-
ever, handy. Leaving Bulkington to his right he
went to Shilton, and crossing the line, with Bar-
nacle on his right, he went down to the canal ;
here there was a check, and here I may say the wily
gentleman beat us, for after slowly casting on
within four miles of Coventry, the hounds were
taken home.

Saturday the Pytchley were at Clipston Wind-
mill, with a large field to meet them—indeed, every-
, one seems to be making the most of the last week
of the season, or nearly so, as Northampton Races
close the Pytchley. Allford Thorns, Lord Spencer's
covert, found us our first fox. Breaking away at
the top end, he crossed the ravine, and made as if
for Marston ; but turning sharp to his left, and
leaving Sibbertoft well to histight, he crossed the
road, and went into Longhole Wood, out the other
side of Longhole, and on to Naseby Covert at a
spanking pace, but nine hounds being with him.
Here a great many went tcrthe left of the covert,
all except Captain Thompson, Mr. Topham, Mr. F.
Longhorn, Mr. Mills, Col. Pearson, Mr. Robertson,
and your humble servant. Skirting Naseby Covert,
as we came to the corner of it we saw the leading
hounds at leasthalf a mile ahead. Captain Thomp-
son here turned back to get the rest of the pack,
and the remaining six above mentioned tried to
catch the hounds, which they succeeded in doing,
but not before reaching Naseby Wooleys ; here
Dick blew his horn some distaste in the rear,
another fox getting on foot ; but Mr. Topham, who
was first all through, seeing the nine hounds, who
had been joined by three or four more, never swerve
for a moment, but carry a head right up a lane the
other side of the spinney, held them on, and hitting
it off in a field to the right, we went down to Portly
Ford. Here we were joined by Lord Spencer, and
Tom the first whip; and a second after we viewed
the fox stealing across a field to our right, heading
for Thornby. The next few minutes was slow
hunting. and let up the rest of the field. Eventually
he was run into a drain by the side of the road at
Thornby ; Rally and another hound went in after
him and bolted him, coming out on the other side
almost at his brush ; and running him into the
Laurels at Thornby, this gallant fox breathed his
last. Time, 47 minutes, 32 of which were as fast
as anything we have had this season. After this a
second fox jumped up in a stubble field, as we were
on our way to draw Cottesbrook, but this was a
very short and not very fast thing. I left them try-
ing to hit his line off in the neighbourhood of Guils-
borough. After this they had, I believe, a third
run, the result of which I did not hear. Altogether
it was as good a days' sport as anyone need wish for.
On Monday the North Warwickshire met at
Rugby Station, which, of course, meant Hill More-
ton Covert. Now, how far this policy is a good one
I must leave wiser heads than mine to determine ;
but it seems to me that if the meet were Hill More-
ton Village the footpeople would be drawn away
from the covert-side, where foxes are always uneasy
at the least disturbance, and the roughs who inhabit
that locality would be less likely to play a trick by
running a terrier through the covert in the morning.
Independently of there having been footpeople
round the gorse for three hours before the hounds
came up, the farmer had locked his gates, and made
up his fences, which did not augur well for a find,
and after the hounds being thrown in and try-
ing every inch of it, the melancholy twang
of the horn announced that we must go elsewhere.
Away we trotted, therefore, to Bilton Grange,
where we boon found a fox, running him across the

brook towards Bunker's-hill ; but a bad scent saved
him, and, after vainly trying for his line, we went
off to Leicester's piece for another. Here we got
on a vixen, and ran her round to Bilton again, when
she turned up to her right, and took refuge in some
gardens in the village of Dunchurch, where I need
hardly say she was no further molested. From
there on to Causton we drew the laurels and spinney,
and were on the point of going away, when a fox
was tallied stealing away over the railroad towards
Lawford. -As he faced the wind the first ten mi-
nutes was run very sharp ; but as soon as he turned
down wind again the scent failed.

llrednesday the Pytchley were at Lillbourne, and
an excellent day's sport was enjoyed by a numerous
field. Intelligence having been received that a fox
had been killing some of Mr. Buchanan's lambs,
Captain Thompson was requested to draw the spin-
neys in rear of his house. Now, although I have
heard of foxes having been said to kill lambs, I
never yet saw anyone who could bring such a charge
home to poor Reynard. There is no doubt a fox
will gnaw a dead lamb if he finds him near his
abode ; but sheep-dogs and others are usually those
who commit these depredations. Lord Naas, Lord
Hopetoun, Sir Charles Toham, Lord Denbigh, Sir
Charles Mordaunt, M.P., Mr. Duff, and many
ladies were present, together with a field of about
300.

Poor Vulp was soon found, and before his lamb-
worrying propensities were brought to a close, he
gave us a capital hunting run, notwithstanding
his early breakfast. Away he went along the El-
kington Bottom, crossing the Watling-street-road
as if for Yelvertoft, the unfortunate hounds pressed
upon and overridden by the crowd in a most un-
merciful manner ; so much so as to provoke the
usually good temper of the master—indeed, were
he not gifted with the most extraordinary command
and patience, it is hard to say what would have
been the consequence. Leaving Yelvertoft to his
right, our fox crossed the canal as if for Winnick
Covert, but bearing here to the left, he went on as
if for Guilsborough ; he was, however, headed in the
bottom, and, turning sharp to his left, he went for
Cold Ashby. Here he was viewed crossing a pad-
dock at the back of the village, from whence he
took refuge in a garden, with a high wall round it
dividing it from the road. The wall was too high
for the hounds to jump; but Dick was off his horse
in a moment, and seizing the nearest one to him
he lifted her over the wall ; whilst the whip in like
manner assisted the others. They were soon at him,
and pulled him down in the field next the garden ;
two hours and five minutes, with anything but a
good scent, the latter portion of the run being plen-
tifully interspersed with ploughs. I watched with
the greatest possible pleasure, not unmixed with
wonder, the very perfect way in which Lord Naas
rode to hounds—ever with them, never making a
mistake, or going in a wrong direction ; always
wide of them, and saving his horse on every pos-
sible opportunity. I should say there is not another
man in England of his lordship's weight that can
touch him over a country.
From Cold Ashby we trotted off to look for
another fox at Yelvertoft Hill-side. One was
viewed away across the canal, heading for Winnick.
Leaving Winnick to the right, he went into Wat-
ford Gorse, out at the bottom, and on to Vander-
plank, through Vanderplank and on as if for Long
Buckly. Here we had a good deal of cold hunting,
the fox dodging backwards and forwards. After
running for about one hour and fifty minutes, I left
them, the hounds still hunting on slowly for Guils-
borough. As I turned my horse's head towards
home I was joined by Mr. Richard Cook, of Stret-
field, than whom, with Mr. Congreeve, few go bet-
ter to hounds in the Shires. Many a time this sea-
son have I seen either one or the other alone with
the hounds, where men on three-figured importa-
tions from Piccadilly have been nowhere. Well, the
season, with the exception of a few days, is over,
and I lay down my pen with regret. I have en-
deavoured to give my readers a truthful account,
unbiassed by other opinions, of the doings in the
Midland Counties, and if these jottings have served
to drive dull care away, or if my humble efforts to
further the great cause of fox hunting have done
one iota of good, it is at least a step in the right
direction, and amply repays the difficulties with
which but too often I have had to contend.—The
Field's Special Commissioner.

England, the Fenians, and the Habeas Corpus

(From the New York Times)

With a promptness worthy of imitation, the
British Government bas resorted to the extremity
of suspending the writ of Habeas Corpus, so far as
the sub-kingdom of Ireland is concerned. It is a
fact ever to be regretted by the generations that are
to earn and pay the enormous debt of these United
States, that President Buchanan did not, in No-
vember, 1860, do the same thing. Had he at that
time suspended this writ, there would have been no
rebellion ; Twiggs would have died a hero instead
of a base traitor; the army in Texas would have
been permitted (as they always desired) to adhere
to the true flag ; blatant Beauregard would have
preferred his pay in the regular service to the doubt-
ful supplies of the Davis revolutionists, and there
would have been no attempt at rebellion. What
then ? This simple suspension of the Habeas
Corpus in 1860, with an order to Lieut.-General
Scott to " regulate matters" where disturbances
might occur, would have most certainly prevented
the first and fatal overt act—the bombardment of
Sumter. That prevented, the prospective rebellion
would have failed. Davis might have plotted and
raved ; Toombs might have declaimed and urged
on the crowd ; Twiggs would not have changed his
name and fame for that of Benedict Arnold ; Breck-
inridge would not have gone down to his grave
weighed with the infamy of perjury ; Lee would
not have reluctantly surrendered a sword that should
have been garlanded with a grateful nation's laurels ;
Stonewall Jackson might have exhausted his Hu-
guenot zeal for that which he deemed the right, but.
still on the right side ; and the seas would never
have been reddened by the fiery tracks of Alabamas
and Shenandoahs. The mere act of suspending the
great writ, of putting the land and the sea under the
iron rule of military law, would have fallen with crush-
ing effect upon the elaborate framework of the rebel-
lion ; and the entire machinery of insurrection, the
very soul of the revolution, would have melted and
passed away under the wise hand of a real Govern-
ment. Thus we should have saved many thousand
millions of wasted substance, three thousand mil-
lions of public debt, and, what is infinitely greater,
the precious lives of half a million of noble men,
whose stalwart forms and generous spirits made the
actual wealth of our great nation. Patriotism,
public sympathy, and private sorro w mourn over
the known and unknown graves of these martyrs to
the imbecility of a man whom fortune had thrust
into a position to which he was not only unequal, but
in which he was the facile tool of ambitious dema-
gogues and incipient traitors.
We paid in life and treasure, through four years
of devastating war, through bloody battles that
have no parallel in the world's history, through the
trial and the doubt that such a gigantic struggle in-
volves, through the coldness of professed friends and
the active malice of old and new enemies--through
these and all cognate means and artifices of dis-
couragement—we paid the penalty that every great
nation must pay, when adverse circumstances bring
it to a trial of its strength, and its leaders are found
unequal to the emergency. Jealousy of our power
and hatred of our form of Government joined hands
abroad to work for our downfall. National and
international laws were twisted to suit the occasion.
A rebellious mob that had not a harbour on earth,
nor a national flag on the sea—that did not even
claim maritime status, was eagerly recognised as a
belligerent, furnished with ships and arms, and
granted harbour in almost every neutral port. We
protested, invoked precedent, quoted laws ; but all
for nothing. The most willing and most prominent
offender placed his shipbuilding hand upon his neutral
breast, and rolling his cotton-coloured eyes upward,
said, " Thou canst not say he did it." But still Laird
built at Birkenhead, and his coadjutors furnished at
Funchal, and Alabamas and Shenandoahs went forth
to their work of destruction, while aohu Bull
washed his meek hands and gave thanks that he
was not like other men. And he NMS not.

The -whirligig of Time brings about its revenges.

The American Union is practically restored, and
the British Thunderer now roars you as gently as
any sucking dove. But the fiery spirit engen-
dered by our intestine war has left among us a mass
of inflammable material, that is now, like Hudibras's
sword, eating through its scabbard for the lack of
something else to hew and hack. The Irish element
--reckless, senseless, wild, impulsive, generous, and
always turbulent—is restive under the restraints of
peace. Prompted by experience in the field under
M'Clellan, Sherman, and Grant, and seeing how
positively the determined and phlegmatic North
crushed down, by its iron will and unyielding de-
termination, the rebellious South, these Irish (now
called Fenians) have assumed to beard the British
Lion, and would (if they could succeed) tear from
the diadem of Queen Victoria her third jewel—the
emerald set in the ring of the sea.

It is true, we look upon these proceedings as par-
taking largely of the ludicrous—indeed so absurd
are they generally thought to be, that any serious
interference by our Government would seem even
more ridiculous than the vagaries of the Fenians
themselves. But, however absurd, they continue
to make themselves believe that they are in real
earnest, and look upon their machinery of govern-
ment as something partaking of actuality, that
ought not to be laughed at. They have their
centres, and consequently their circles and circum-
ferences; they have set up the skeleton of a Go-
vernment, and have certain ghost-like officers
known as (or rather called) Secretary of -War,
Secretary of State, and—what is more important-..
a Secretary of the Treasury. They have taxed
those who would stand it, and levied forced or
voluntary contributions from the credulous and the
ignorant, in the stable and the kitchen, to sup-
port this bastard Government ; they have sent en-
voys extraordinary to Affghanistan, to the moon,
and to Ireland (the latter travelling incognito;)
they have held hundreds of meetings, and made
thousands of speeches ; they have wrangled, and
quarreled, and fought with fists in scores of places
(outside of Ireland) ; they have belaboured each
other with all the pungent vituperation for which
their race is notorious ; they have swamped the
wide columns of the newspapers with ex parte state-
ments of their differences ; they have gone through
the ridiculous motions of holding a Congress—the
grand central power of legislation and direction for
the Republic of Ireland, held—not in Ireland—but
in Pittsburgh, a safe four thousand miles from the
shores of Galway, and as many hundreds from any
water upon which a British man-of-war is allowed
to float.

The effect of all this blather in America upon
the victims in Ireland can be briefly stated. The
British Lion, apprehensive that there may possibly
be some fire where there is so much smoke, takes
this new Irish bull by the horns, gently growls out
a suspension of the privilege of the habeas Corpus,
frisks his royal tail over the Green Isle, stamps his
imperial foot, and Fenianism in Ireland is a matter
of history. Yet they will bluster and cavort here ;
they will speechify, brag, beg—do anything but go
over to Ireland and fight. They will denounce
British tyranny, and be especially eloquent upon
violations of law. All the while they will be la-
bouring to embroil this Government with that of
Great Britain, to bring about some collision that may
make " England's necessity Ireland's opportunity."
But coolness will rule. We have no reason to
favour England ; but we have every reason to be
jealous of our own honour. Tha_t England winked
at Alabamas is no example for us. We are to deal
justly and honourably by all peoples, even by our
most active enemies ; and particularly we must be
careful that no actual military expedition against a
nation with which we are at peace should be organ-
ised and set in operation within our jurisdiction. The
reader will naturally say that this Fenian folly is
simply contemptible ; that there is not a possible
shadow of fight in the whole crew. That may be
so ; but 3,000 miles away the picture may have a
different aspect, and men who do not know the real
character of the blustering braggarts who are en-
gineering the movement, may be deceived into
giving them credit for courage and sincerity. The
sooner that error is dissipated the better. As for
Ireland herself, she is now reaping the bitter fruit
of the wicked and selfish machinations of her pre-
tended friends on this side of the water.