mood, and formed quite a merry conversazione, instead of a stern meeting of big-wigs. Again were the desks wheeled off, and paper and pens laid for fourteen on the judicial dais. The Queen's Remembrancer, with a remembrancer of his own, in the shape of a wigged clerk with a bundle of parchments, appeared in the witness box this time; and at the head of the fourteen, close by the witness box, sat the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in a gown perfectly stiff with gold embroidery. Then came the Lord Chancellor and Earl Granville, the three chief judges in order of precedence, and the six puisnes according to seniority. The two clerks of the Privy Council, who played a very prominent part, were seated at the end of the lower dais near the Remembrancer, who opened the proceedings by swearing Mr. Gladstone in Norman French to tako care that the pricking was done fairly. He then commenced the counties alphabetically; and when Mr. Grevile had told the court how many of the present list were dead or disqualified, he demanded of the judges to propose one, two, or three names, as the case might be, to complete the requisite trio for '54. Each of the circuits was represented by one of the judges, who went it last summer, and now appeared armed with a large brief, containing the names of the gentlemen to be proposed, and all the letters of excuse and medical certificates which had been sent to him. The judges seemed quite to enjoy this glimpse of their old counsel days, and rose and read the certificates and commented on the excuses with a great deal of gusto and dry humour. Of course, all the knotty points were referred to Mr. Gladstone, and his lordly assessor, who had plenty of sly fun poked at him by his old legal comrades. So many on the list were excused or disqualified, or put back for a couple of years, that really some quiet country gentlemen, who perhaps hardly knew that they were on the list, must have very unexpectedly found "greatness thrust on them," and had troubled dreams of javelin-men and liveries, after reading their London paper on the ensuing Monday. The excuses were of the most varied kind, and did great honour in some instances to the versatility of the bucolic mind. Had the writers of the latter only pictured to themselves one tithe of the merriment which their reading occasioned, they would have tossed ink and paper aside, and boldly prepared to meet their fate. One, for instance, wished to be excused, because he would have a great deal more money when his mother died;" but as his learned proposer had " enquired and found that his mother was a very young woman," there was no escape for him. I hope she will pull out her cheque book in due season, and support the honour of the family. Another rested his claim to relief, simply on the grounds that he "was educating his children himself." This plea, however, met with as little pity as that of a certain lord, who urged that because he was "in waiting" on Her Majesty, he could not in reason be expected to perform the same office by her judges. There were some sad exposures of money difficulties. One poor lord had been wholly ruined-a very sad case indeed. Chancery proceedings had reduced another suitor for mercy, "from several thousands to less than £500 a year;" and another had been "obliged to put down his carriages and horses, and nearly all his servants, in consequence of the discovery of a fraud in a will," from which he had derived a large annual income. The poor fellows could not have appealed to a more merciful tribunal, and such dark passages in life contrasted strangely with the forced excuses

of men apparently in full vigour and pocket. Two or three of the "forcers could only vow that they had "a determination of blood to the head, and could not sit in a crowded court." They all tried to imply it, but one boldly said " that he was of a highly nervous disposition, and strongly recommended to avoid all excitement." I involuntarily pictured to myself a stout thirteen-stone gentleman, in a green coat with gilt buttons, and a checked handkerchief, writing this sad character of himself in his study, and then settling with his groom whether Rob Roy or Clinker was to go on to the meet next day. Some of them may be held as they describe; but as the shrivealty is, after all, no such very exciting and onerous affair, these symptoms were tacitly traced back, not to an unwonted activity in the jugular, but to a sudden sluggishness in the purse vein, and met with very little consideration in consequence. There was one astounding and elaborate certificate from a village apothecary, which dwelt largely on the patient's "viscera," and was proceeding to admit the Council, step by step, to his mucous membrane, when Mr. Gladstone hurriedly struck in, and accepted the excuse. A militia officer also greatly distinguished himself, and fired off a brace of pleas. In the first, he quoted an Act of Parliament, chapter and verse, which declared that no militia-man ought to serve; but alas for this military jurist! one of the oldest judges shook his head, and said that the act had been repealed. "He has also another ground," added the proposing judge, in a gravely comic tone, and that is" private and domestic matters of very great importance, which occupy a very large portion of my time." This set the whole court in a roar, in the midst of which the unhappy warrior was pricked without more ado. When the prickings were finished, the new list was read over, and I heard one of the crowd remark, that the head of one of the lists had been dead full seven months. However that may be, I liked the learned frolics of the fourteen wise prickers most amazingly, and I shall (D.V.) most certainly " put in an appearance at Westminster, on the next " Morrow of St. Martin's."

WILD DEER HUNTING IN THE FOREST OF EXMOOR.

BY LINTON.

"Exmoor," pur

Some few years since, I published a work entitled " porting to give a simple but truthful account of that beautiful portion of our fatherland, the Forest of Exmoor; as was it also my endeavour to place before my readers an accurate description of the noble sport of wild deer hunting, together with the origin of the hounds from their first establishment to the present time-adding some brief details in reference to the sport to be obtained on the only hunting ground in Europe, or the world, where the deer are literally roused from their native lair to be hunted by a pack of hounds.

At the period the book was issued from the press, I had only recently returned from my first visit to the forest, and I must in all

truth declare that I was so enthusiastic in my admiration at the novelty of the sport, the magnificent scenery which on all sides constituted the hunting grounds, the hospitality of those with whom for a brief season I found myself located, the marked peculiarity of character and general bearing of the farmers with whom chance and the fate of the chase had brought me in contact, and a feeling of heart's delight that all these pleasures could be enjoyed with much simplicity and trifling expense in "merrie England," though nobody will believe it, that I fear having here and there painted objects in somewhat too brilliant colouring, and in my haste and delight done but meagre justice to others. At all events, I plead guilty of committing some trifling errors, both as regards the names of places as of people, in my earnest desire graphically to describe scenes which more particularly struck me, and I may perchance have allowed circumstances to escape my memory which might have been valuable to sportsmen. Such as it was, however, the book went forth to the world; and the world, ever difficult to please, was in a measure satisfied. Not so the writer, however, when comparing the past in reference to the present, inasmuch as I have subsequently learned that which I had endeavoured faithfully to detail to be worthy tenfold the labour I took to detail it; that which I looked on with a hurried glance deserved to be more fully admired; that which was fast becoming, from want of means, or energy, or proper support, or want of publicity as regards its merits and enjoyments, a sport only to be remembered by those who year after year had gallopped over the purple moor in chase of a royal stag, or immortalized in sporting anecdote, was gradually and happily resuming its former place in the hearts of those connected with the splendid hunting grounds of Exmoor, and not less noticed by the few strangers, who, drawn there from the love of sport, are occasionally induced to visit the moorlands. Subsequently, however, to the publication of my little illustrated volume, I again visited the forest at the period of the spring hind-hunting, and I then published in the pages of Maga-in which I feel pleased in having held a place since my very boyhood, always endeavouring to uphold by anecdote or tale "sport," as I ever desire to see it followed, in a manly and well bred spirit, devoid of all immoral or coarser influences-a brief account of the real pleasure I enjoyed.

I also find that another, as enthusiastic possibly as myself, who signs himself "Ranger," has said a few words in the " Field" newspaper in reference to the stag-hunting in North Devon, and I conclude the information he details is in a measure culled from the pages of "Exmoor;" as I believe I am the only person (who has written on the subject) who has ever been permitted to extract from the MS. pages of the hunting journal which for so many years has been carefully kept in North Devon; and this permission was most kindly and courteously granted to me by Mr. Collyns, of Dulverton, for many years the secretary to the hunt under several successive masters, as also, and unvarying, attended on the hounds. However, I thank the "Ranger," should he have given evidence from my labours, inasmuch as I have but one desire in writing-simply that of amusing and informing others, and thereby endeavouring to excite the true spirit which ought to exist in the hearts of all Englishmen in regard to this noble sport. And while I hope to be enabled carefully to revise and correct " Exmoor," and issue it under a cheaper form-which my recent autumnal visit to the hunt has convinced me will

be acceptable-I may also declare that the thorough gratification which I experienced has once more induced me to draw the sword-—that is, wield the pen, in favour of the noble forest and its sporting qualities; and on this occasion I will throw away the scabbard, and fight a bold fight, in the hope that some one of my readers may be in a position, and have the grace, to bring even to the notice of our beloved Queen and her royal consort the indisputable fact that in the counties of Devon and Somerset the royal sport of stag-hunting has been enjoyed from a very early period, the red deer being found and hunted from the native hills exclusively in these counties; moreover that these noble animals in their natural state are found for the most part on or about the forest of Exmoor, till recently a royal forest, which in other days received the special protection of the crown, even from the year 1598, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth."

During the period it remained as a royal forest, protection was afforded to the red deer by Act of Parliament, which made the destruction of the deer a capital offence. But subsequently the property was sold from the crown, Exmoor became disafforested, and the law ceased to operate.

Since the above period, these noble animals, sole remnant of the race in their native wildness in Old England, to say nothing of the national sport they afford, have been gradually decreasing; and the yearly advantages seasonably afforded to the little forest towns of Linton, Lynmouth, Dulverton, Porlock,&c.—all charming as regards their natural beauties, which were wont to benefit from the periodical arrival of hounds, horses, and their followers-have in like manner suffered. And if some helping hand come not, with authority and generosity, the race bids fair to be exterminated, and that which ought to be a source of national pride will cease to exist, save in the memory of the past.

How can it be otherwise? True that Sir Thomas Acland, who possesses considerable property on the moor, and who is most justly esteemed, does his all to preserve the deer, and I fancy subscribes in support of the hounds; and, without desiring to deteriorate from his kindly acts, I may add, it would be strange were such not the case, as the name he bears is as much honoured in connection with the stag-hunting on Exmoor, and as familiar and possibly a wee bit more pleasant in sound to his tenants, than that of Cobden and the corn laws.

Mr. Lucas, of Baronsdown, equally known and equally respected, does also practically preserve the deer, and will possibly do far more some of these days, if any remain for him to preserve. Mr. Knight, of Simonsbath, is also a good man and true to the noble sport. And I am informed that the young Earl of Caernarvon, whose ancestors once with so much spirit supported the hunt and preserved the deer, has given orders to his keepers to the same effect. But orders are of little avail if not properly attended to, and so is it with some others. It is to be hoped, however, that he will ere long visit, in his manhood, the beautiful woodland residence of Pixton, which he loved in his boyhood"; and then one bright autumnal morning on the moor will do more to convince him, as any other man with an English heart, that Exmoor and wild deer hunting ought never to be erased from the sporting annals of his country.

There are also many farmers on the moor who are not particular as to the loss of two or three fields of turnips (I quote their own words) and

who can afford to lose them in support of a royal stag. While there are others who would do the same cheerfully, but who cannot afford it; and more who neither desire to follow so good an example, or who could afford to lose a bag of oats, but who would do so if only fairly remunerated.

Strange, but nevertherless true, two of the above sporting yeomen are named Frost and Snow. Now, Frost and Snow, both good men and good sportsmen, attended the Dulverton Races and the Dulverton Hunt dinner; and, although the eloquence of Frost was silent, and that of Snow vigorous in favour of preserving the deer, they evidently both melted to the mighty spirit of the chase and the champagne; and if they only do effectually that which they promised-and which I am sure they will perform-they will do much for the Hunt.

But the curse to all deer preserving, if I may use a strong and uncourteous expression, is the advent of a pack of monied bipeds, who yearly arrive from London, Bath, Bristol, or elsewhere, to visit the lovely scenery of Lynmouth, Linton, and the forest; people who know and care as much about sport, used as a general term, and far less than I do about sugar-baking. There they come, with their good ladies, and their good ladies' daughters, who may be seen from early morn until the setting of the sun, riding Exmoor ponies and donkeys in search of the picturesque, up and down the woodland hills and vales, accompanied by donkey drivers, who inform them, pointing to some more than usually wild and lovely scene, that there on that very spot many a gallant stag has been harboured, and many being forced therefrom, having made direct for Dulverton, have died after a splendid run in the waters of the Exe or Barle. And the young ladies stare with all their eyes, as well they may, in the vain hope of beholding possibly the ghost of the animal, and exclaim, "Marvellous ! wonderful! what, really living wild deer ?"—and they tell pa', and papa forthwith offers any price for a pair of antlers to adorn his three-foot-square entrance in the New Road or Whitechapel, and cares little what he pays for the same-and pop goes, not the weasel, but the poacher's rifle; and thus without protection will the forest soon become deerless.

means

Now, I am free to admit that I consider fox-hunting far and beyond and before all other of our national sports. I by no imply, however, by such assertion that I do not also most thoroughly enter into the charms of " wild deer" hunting, if so be the animal is found and forced from its native lair; and I do, without fear of contradiction, declare that it is worth travelling five hundred miles to witness the chase of a stag over Exmoor, on a fine clear autumnal day: nothing can well surpass the beauty of the scenery-nothing rival the fresh air and exhilaration of spirit-and except a flying fox from a gorse covert, nothing can exceed the excitement or the originality and picturesqueness of the sport; and being well mounted, with a good pilot to clear you from bogs, few the chases that exceed a run over Exmoor. And there, and there only, ought the royal stag-hounds of England to be stationed during the legitimate seasons for hunting the wild red deer, instead of a large annual account being paid to the Master of the Buckhounds, and a large annual charge for their support, that they may hunt a well-fed and well-trained animal uncarted, according to the term, for the principal benefit of metropolitan sportsmen, the majority of whom would be just as well satisfied to ride after a pack, on the drag of a red herring. I