THE PEMBROKESHIRE.

“HOLD HARD”

THE PEMBROKESHIRE FOXHOUNDS.

Many years ago the country now hunted by MR. J. FRED LORT-PHILLIPS was hunted by no less than eleven packs of Hounds, so that it was at any rate sufficiently hunted. After this the late MR. GEORGE LORT-PHILLIPS, of Lawrenny, uncle to the present master, hunted the whole of it at his own expense. It was after this divided into “North” and “South,” the northern portion being for many years hunted by MR. CHARLES ALLEN, well known throughout the country as the best man of his time after Hounds. After him, MR. E. VAUGHAN, of Fernhill, became master for five years, and he was succeeded by MR. W. ROCHE, of Butterhill. The southern portion was, for twenty-one years, hunted by COLONEL LEACH, of Corston, who kept the Hounds and Hunt Horses at Lawrenny. He was succeeded by MR. W. SUMMERS and MR. J. CARRE as joint masters. Three seasons ago (1888), in consequence of both packs being without masters, and there being little chance of anyone else coming forward to hunt the country, MR. J. F. LORT-PHILLIPS gave up the “North Warwickshire” to take this, his own country. On giving up the “North Warwickshire,” MR. LORT-PHILLIPS was presented with a large equestrian portrait of himself on “Landlord,” with Hounds around him. He sold the “North Warwickshire” to the country and formed the present pack, the “Pembrokeshire,” partly from the two old packs, but chiefly from the pick of the “Croome,” (he having previously hunted that pack for five years before taking the “North Warwickshire”) which were sold at the hammer. He also bought fifteen couple of the best of the “Taunton Vale,” having his choice from young and old, also the whole of LORD WILLOUGHBY DE BROKE’S young and old draft, and the old draft from the “North Warwickshire” and “Atherstone.” The “Pembrokeshire” country is very rough and wild, but essentially a sporting country, and, were it not for Milford Haven, which runs through the centre of it for fifteen or sixteen miles, would compare favourably with Ireland, and, as it is, it is by far the best hunting country in Wales. Foxes are very numerous but very hard to catch, as can be seen from last year’s account: thirty-two brace having been run to ground, besides thirty-one brace killed.

“THE FERRY”

The hunting of the whole of this country, as will be seen, is no sinecure, and only a man possessed of great energy, determination, and excellent health, combined with enthusiastic love of the sport, could undertake it. Great distances have to be travelled to some of the meets, and from Lawrenny, where the Hounds are kept, Milford Haven has to be crossed, as a rule, two days in the week, in fair weather and in foul, in a horse boat, often after daylight has gone, and it is no joke taking a pack of Hounds, with perhaps two or three horses across Milford Haven in the darkness, when the wind is high and the tide running strongly.

The high banks which serve for fences in Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire are apt to fill a stranger with dismay, but once accustomed to them, and on a horse that knows his work, they appear less formidable. A strange horse at first would, no doubt, be rather “out of it,” but he soon gets to know all about them; and I have heard it said (and with truth, I daresay,) that a horse that can go over these countries can get over any other.

It is not often that a huntsman, or M. F. H., has a High-Sheriff for whip. MR. LORT-PHILLIPS had, during his first season, the valuable assistance, as first whip, of MR. ARTHUR P. SAUNDERS-DAVIES, of Pentre, High-Sheriff, for the year, of Pembrokeshire.

“A PEMBROKESHIRE FENCE”