The New York herald., 1879-11-16
FOX HUNTING IN ENGLAND.
BRILLIANT OPENING or THE SEASON IN LI:IcEs-
TERsHIRE AND wARwIcKsHIRy.

BRILLIANT OPENING OF THE SEASON IN LEIcEs-
TERsHIRE AND wARwIcKsHIRg.
LONDON. Nov. L. 1872
The royal sport of England began in dead earnes,
yesterday. and it has begun promisingly notwith.
standing the depression about which we havo heard
much of late; and indeed. 1t only appears natural
that reductions of ten, fifteen twenty per cent.
which have been made in rents by many land
owners, should oblige not few to give up hunting
this season. But there is vast amount of wealth
in the hunting community. and there seems to be
not the least abatement either in the preparations
for the sport or in the enthusiastic interest In it.
Luxuries very became necessities. and sup.
pose that there many hundred devotses OF the
sort who. they called upon to reduce
penses would never for moment think of begin
ming by cutting of their hunters. Such thing
would not occur to them. But II is sufficient to say.
whatever the reason the moral of it. that. despite
every drawback. bad trade and agricultural depres
sion, the coming season promises to be brilliant
one II there be any fault found 1t IL because there
are too many foxes. which philosopher would say
is better than foxes at all; and another trouble is
the thick foliage which makes the fences blind.
This. however. is only temporary drawback. and
it is better than frozen out. as hunting men were
good part of last winter.
PROSPECTS LEIcEsTERsHIRE.
Leicestershire is famous as the capital of the
hunting world the resort of the hardest. most skill
full and daring riders. and from that quarter come
good reports. prospects of hunting season."
writes a correspondent. "never looked brighter on
tho eve of Kirby than they do October 1879.
comes to an end, and the first month Of recognized
fox hunting is about to open Foxes were never sc
plentiful. coverts better preserved. landowners
and occuplers so stanch to the good cause now
at least in Ieicestershire. Melton will be ~ full a.
nearly all the old names still on the roster.
with few welcome additions to the list. Tha
hedges have everywhere been dropping their leafy
wells with marvellous r'pidity during the past
week. under the influence Of frosty nights and SUBJ
seQuent showers" ii '' f
Yesterday. the first OF the season. was well nigh
perfect In the Northern counties. there being .
nearly southerly wind and cloudy sky. which is,
believe the ideal hunting morning.; but in Leices-
tershire the weather not favorable. The
bers of the Queen Hunt met at Kirby Gate. near
Leicester, and there present one of the largest
fields ever collected together The hounds started
about eleven in fine rain. and among those present
Mr. Coupland. and foremost Sir Beaumont
Dixie. Lady Florence Dixie. Lord Cslthorpe. Major
Goodch.ld. Sir A. Palmer. Mr.. Illsey. Mr.. Gieadows
Mr. Barclay. M. F.; Captain Barclay and Captain
THE SEASON IN wARwIcxsHIRE.
The hunting season was also ipaugurated yester-
day in Warwickshire by the opening meet nee Of tho
Mordaunt. Bart. Hospitality entertaining the field
at q sumptuous breakfast. The weather was dull
was a numerous and brilliant held. Walton coverts
were drawn blank. to be accounted for by two cubs
having been rolled over there the previous day.
Piper's Bar yielded fox. which was ru /, back to
Walton but scent being bad sport indifferent
The North Warwickshire opening meet Is at Stone
leigh to-day, where Lord Leigh viii provide
the customary breakfast. Both countries
well stocked with foxes. In the north
the meet at Lord Fitzwilliams. At Great Houghton.
was u very large one. There also fine muster
at Lord Galway's Serlby. where His Lordship
presented with address and his portrait. Mr..
Foljambe had his frst meet at Burton. the Rudord
met at the Kennels. the Bramham Moor at Bramham
Moor cross roads. Lord Middleston's in front OF
Dirdsall House. the York and Ainsty lin charge OF
Captain Slingsby, relative OF the Inflated Sir
Charles Sngsby at Sutton Hall. the South Notts at
Linby Windmill, the Duke OF Rutland's at Great
Gonerby and tho Bedale at Bedale Hail.
The Cottesmore and Belvoin begin sport to-day.
belieye.