his further progress. Now comes the hearty shake of the hand, and the invitation to the hall, where we are to spend one month, or never again show our nose upon the estate. Well said, "old buck!" we take thee at thy word, and would fain follow thy loitering steps. The sun was sinking behind the distant hills, when we again entered the ivy-porch of our host. The evening was spent, as most anglers are accustomed to spend it, when preparing for a campaign against the finny tribe. The examination of rods and lines, the selection of flies, and the fifty other small matters which engage the attention of a sportsman, serve well enough to kill a country evening. If there be one thing which should deter the habitué of London from entering upon a country life, it is the continued and hermitlike monotony of the winter-evening. For a time, a man of education may submit to this seclusion with pleasure and profit; but man, unless misfortunes have rendered him misanthropic, is by nature a gregarious animal, and loves the society of his own species. This it is not possible for him to enjoy in a secluded village; and all he can expect, or hope for, to relieve the tædium vitæ, is an occasional dinner, to which he must, in all probability, ride some three or four miles; or the visit of some considerate friend who is willing to sacrifice his own comfort to increase that of another. Our friend and host, who had spent much of his life in the army, and had mixed freely in the gaieties of the metropolis, was now spiritless and melancholic. He had withdrawn from the army in consequence of ill-health, and, instead of finding the anticipated benefit in pure air and country-sports, was hipped, and harrassed with ennui, for want of that congenial society to which he had hitherto been accustomed. Partly from compassionate and partly from selfish motives it was, that we complied with the repeated solicitations of M-, to visit him in his hermitage. Great was our pleasure in escaping from the suffocating heat of London, and his still greater, in the prospect of subduing, for a time, the cursed genius of the place. Foreseeing hard work on the morrow, we were early in the down; and out, and bathing in the "morning red"* in time to quaff a beaker of foaming milk, presented to us by a smiling, rosy-cheeked maid, whom we rewarded for her trouble with a piece of silver and a kiss. Another hour slipped by pleasantly enough in viewing the pigs and poultry, horses, and hay-stacks of a neighbouring farmer, who, finding we were from "Lunnun" and a friend of "Squire M-'s," introduced us at once to the mysteries of the farm-yard. The wind was south-west, within a point or two, and just high enough to curl the water. Dark and threatening clouds bore up, and shut out the light of the morning sun; and there was every appearance of a coming day, such as a brother of the angle loves, and was wont of yore, to delight the good heart of Father Izaak himself. * "Morning-red."-This word we have Anglicised from Goethe; it is so very expressive and poetical, we could not forbear appropriating it to our own use :— "Auf, bade Schülert, unverdrossen Die ird'sche Brust im Morgenroth!" Faust. Der Tragödie erster Theil. We found M at the breakfast-table, impatiently awaiting our return; but, at the same time, half believing our love of the water+ side had induced us to forego our jentaculum. Rallying him on the novel idea of a piscator exposing himself latrante stomacho to the morning dews, we forthwith sat down to our meal, and in such right good earnest, that in ten minutes we were drawing on our waterproof thigh-boots, and presently after, hastening with keen expectation to the banks of the stream that ran merrily careering along the valley. Our path lay through honey-suckle lanes and flowery meads, regaling equally the senses of sight and smell. It is certainly extraordinary that so few persons are capable of appreciating the various beauties of nature, which abound to excess in this favoured isle, even after a lengthened residence in a crowded city, when it might be supposed the soul would yearn for unrestrained freedom, and the tranquillity of rural retirement. Yet have we seen men-aye, and men of good companionship, too!-yawn and whistle, and evince all the symptoms of the most overwhelming ennui, even though you bade them look upon the fairest prospect in Britain. We envy not the feelings of such men! There is real luxury in a cross-country ramble over hedge and ditch to a certain point, especially when that point is the bank of a trout-stream. Then the spirits rise sensibly several degrees, and the countenance assumes all the marked eagerness of expectation. Scarcely anything can create a keener anxiety than your true angler feels, from the moment he sets his tackle to the first cast of the line, in some untried, yet much-talked-of stream. He wishes nature had bestowed upon him a dozen hands, instead of two; the poor two, with their ten "pickers and stealers," can never keep pace with his galloping expectation, which would set the tackle by magic. But here we are, on the bank of the river; and now, my friend, be quick; for in such a time as this, "when the sweet wind does gently kiss the trees," the moments are precious. Look you now, the water is as clear as crystal, so we will e'en treat its inhabitants to a dainty dish of blue and yellow duns. "Not a fish stirring," quoth M-. "Never mind, my Plancus, we have known them rise out of compli ment to our piquante viands, when they have looked as sullen as a hungry alderman. Believe us, there is too much wind upon the water for these spotted gentry to dine on the natural fly, so e'en go down to the ripple near yonder overhanging willow; and if our judgment be not at fault, you will have fine sport." For ourself, we proceeded to try a dark, black-looking piece of water which seemed to say "I have a three pounder in imis vadis." Now for the first cast-so. Ye gentle breezes, we thank ye for placing our flies so lightly on the surface! Ah! hooked him by Jove! pshaw, a foolish dace. Well, another throw. Aha! there is a prize worth having here; but the rascal fights shy. One more so; now we have him! dash-splash-off he goes! This is a thumper, fourteen inches, at the least. Now he shows his yellow side, turning and plunging with all his might. Come, come, you villain-can't allow you an inch more line, or you'll have the rod too! But he dislikes close quarters. Off again! wh-r-r-r, goes the wheel. Now he plunges, and turns, and leaps out of the water, and tries his utmost to break away; and, in our nervous anxiety, we almost fear he will succeed. Now, boy, gently with the net, and kneel down under that convenient bush. (There's nothing in heaven or earth a fish has so strong an aversion for as a boy with a landing net.) Now he's within six feet of the bank, and we see him distinctly; a little closer-so. Whip the net under him-there, we have him! A magnificent fellow, indeed! What a back! two inches across, or more. We now felt on very excellent terms with ourself, and stood for some minutes feasting our eyes on the spangled sides and broad tail of the victim, as he lay flapping it in despair on the soft meadow-grass, by no means pleased with his change of element. We worked our way with various success down to our friend, who was dealing death and destruction amongst the grayling. Nothing like your small duns for that! Eight brace acknowledged our skill; nor was there one of a disreputable size. Your true sportsman never kills a small fish; none but pot-hunters do that. But here is a favourite hatch-hole close by, where many a lordly fish has swallowed death. An awkward place, however, to throw a fly, and that the trout seem to know: there are bushes round about; and over all, a tall elm spreads its dark branches. If we can cast clear of the trees, a gold Victoria to a pair of old boots, we raise a spirit" from the vasty deep" the moment our flies touch the water. So; confound the wind! we are fast on the opposite bush. A little judicious manoeuvring disengages the tackle, and we try again. Parbleau! and morbleau! the hole is literally alive with fish! Three or four rose at once, and we fairly hooked two. This is one of the greatest perplexities an angler has to contend with. "Between two stools we can't forget In labouring to land both, you save neither. There they go, like coupled hounds, each pulling a different way. You've all the joke to yourselves, gentlemen, for we have no power over ye! Now they pull and tug in unison, and with some effect, too, as our bending rod testifies. The little fellow with the bob-fly has scuttled away, and left his friend in limbo. After this "dreadful pudder," nothing more can be expected from this hiding-place. But what do we see? Large drops of rain are falling apace, and thus terminates our day's ex cursion. "Come under this tree, boy," said we, "and count the fish." "Three pair of trouts, sir," replied the lad, "and sixteen grayling!" "Go to, you young cockney numskull! did'st ever hear of a gentleman fishing for buckskin breeches with a rod and line? Three brace of trout, sir, and eight of grayling. Every thing is "a pair" in London; ducks and dancing shoes, garters and grouse, longhose and stuffed capons are, in cockney phraseology, all denominated pairs. But take up the fish, and let us be going, as a thunder-storm is at hand, and we shall be lucky in escaping a wet jacket." Off we trudged, as fast as our wearied limbs and heavy boots would permit us, and reached home about half a minute before our friend and host. The rain now fell in torrents; frequent lightnings gleamed through the sky, and the crash of heaven's artillery struck terror into the soul; but, ensconced in the quiet cot, reciprocating the sweets of friendship, and, above all, with a heart free from the defiling stain of guilt, what reason has man for fear even amidst the wildest fury of the elements? Our three-pounder we discussed at dinner; and, believe us, gentle reader when we say, we would that you could have partaken of it— for it was excellent! BLACKMOOR VALE HUNT COUNTRY. TO THE EDITOR. SIR,—I have read with some surprise a letter in last month's Magazine, signed "Fiat Justitia," in which the person using that signature proposes to give "a true and correct account of the existing differences in the Blackmoor Vale Country;" and in which letter it appears to me that anything but " Justice" is done to the proprietors of covers within that hunt; and in which it also seems to me that the "great facts" involved in these "differences" are designedly or ignorantly suppressed. The facts of the case are shortly these:-The Blackmoor Vale Country was first formed in 1826, consisting of covers situated in Dorset, Somerset, and Wilts, and was regularly hunted by masters of foxhounds from 1820 to 1840, when Mr. Drax became a candidate for that portion of the country which was occupied by Lord Portman; the country having (like the old Berkshire country) been unfortunately divided on Mr. Henry Hall's retirement from the country in 1837; two-thirds of the country at the northernmost part towards Frome and Maiden Bradley, situated in the counties of Somerset and Wilts, having been offered to, and accepted by, R. C. Tudway, Esq.; and one-third of the country lying south of the towns of Ilchester and Wincanton, situated in the counties of Somerset and Dorset, having been offered to, and accepted by, the Right Honourable Lord Portman. In the beginning of the year 1840, however, Lord Portman proposed to retire, his Lordship's health being unequal to the task of reaching the covers situated in this part of the Blackmoor Vale Country, and which covers are situated from fifteen to twenty-four miles from his lordship's seat near Blandford. Mr. Drax, after some deliberation on the part of the proprietors of covers in this portion of the Blackmoor Vale Country, was elected to hunt this southern part of it: I say advisedly after some deliberation, for there were some who felt very painful anticipations that all would not go "Merrily as a marriage bell." And so it turned out indeed; for, as Mr. Drax was elected master of this south portion of the Blackmoor Vale Country " at a public meeting of the members of the Blackmoor Vale Hunt, and of the proprietors of covers within the same, on the 23rd of January, 1840," behold! very soon afterwards Mr. Drax received, from no less than seven proprietors, notices not to draw their covers; and which notices were followed up, shortly after, on the part of two other principal holders of covers within his portion of the Blackmoor Vale Hunt; so that for upwards of three seasons past Mr. Drax has not presumed, or been permitted to draw the covers, or stop the earths, of nine principal proprietors. How is it then that "Fiat Justitia" has suppressed this most important fact? and how is it that this writer merely contents himself with saying, "Mr. Drax now hunts, in addition to his Charborough Country, a portion of the Vale of Blackmoor; I say a portion, because, as you are probably aware, some covers have been withdrawn from the hunt, in consequence of the late misunderstanding?" Yes! not only has Mr. Drax been refused permission to stop the earths and draw the covers of nine principal proprietors, but I here affirm that there are now other principal proprietors who have declared that Mr. Drax shall never again enter their covers to draw them! With this "great fact" before him (which "Fiat Justitia" either knew, or ought to have known), I ask Sir, whether it was either just or generous to insinuate that all this hostility towards Mr. Drax, on the part of this great body of proprietors, arose from and was occasioned by Mr. Drax's " having unfortunately quarrelled with a certain sporting owner of covers in the Vale;" this writer knowing well that nine proprietors had served Mr. Drax with notices not to trespass on their covers, for more than one whole year before this miunderstanding with this "certain sporting owner of covers" had in reality commenced, or been anticipated? There is only one other part of this case that I think it necessary to allude to, and that is to show the course which was pursued when Mr. Drax was removed from the occupation of the Blackmoor Vale Country on the 1st of November last. In order to understand this, it must now be stated that for ten years past there has been in existence a public tribunal, called "The Blackmoor Vale Committee of Management," duly appointed at public meetings of the hunt year after year; and that, on the 23rd of January, 1840 (the very day on which Mr. Drax was selected to hunt this southern portion of the Blackmoor Vale Country), "At a Public Meeting of the Blackmoor Vale Hunt, duly convened by "Sir W. C. Medlycott, Bart., in the chair, "Present"The Right Honourable Lord Portman, Sir A. Wood, Bart., Captain Yeatman, Charles Digby, Esq., Captain Goodden, W. F. Knatchbuil, Esq., R. C. Tudway, Esq., Captain Fitzgerald, Lieutenant-Colonel Bennett, John Hussey, Esq., Eveleigh Wyndham, Esq., Ferdinand Huddlestone, Esq., Hubert Hutchins, Esq., Samuel Pretor, Esq., Henry Messiter, Esq. (Honorary Secretary to the Blackmoor Vale Hunt), &c., &c., it was unanimously resolved "That, in the opinion of this Meeting, it is necessary and expedient that the Blackmoor Vale Country should be kept together as an entire and independent Country, and that this said Country should be vested in a Committee of Manage |