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Curnrningb School of Veterinary {Viedicine at
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North Grafton, MA 01536

HISTORY OF THE
MEYNELL HOUNDS AND COUNTRY

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CONTENTS OF VOL. II.

CHAPTER I.

'AGB

" Hounds, please ! " — Cub-hunting — Good Run from RoUeston — Run
of the Season from Loxley^ — Hunt Meeting— The Coming of Age
of Lord Bagot — Good Run from Longford Car — Steeplechasing . . 1

CHAPTER 11.

Fresh Faces — The Opening Day — Good Run from Sutton Gorse — A
Fox killed on the Ice at Sudbury — An Unmanageable Field —
Good Run from Duustall — End of the Season .. .. .. 17

CHAPTER ID.

The Opening Day— Good Yoxall Day— The "Beauty" Ball— Good
Run from Barton-Blount — Fast Gallop from the Penny waste

CHAPTER IV.

Lord Waterpark — Presentation to Lord Waterpark — Lord Waterpark's

Speech . . . . . . . . . . 43

CHAPTER V.

Lord Waterpark's Last Season — Good Evening Gallop from Foston —
Capital Cubley Day — Great Run from Shirley Park — A Sheep-dog
kills the Fox — End of Lord Waterpark's Diary— Hunt Meeting —
Discussion about the Kennels — The Question of Expense — Election
of " Squire " Chandos-Pole — Friary Cricket Club Fancy-dress Ball 49

CHAPTER VI.

The Squire — Miss Chandos-Pole — Great Run from Rolleston to
Bagot's Park — Plantagenet again — Mr. Tom Smith of Worcester
Kennel Lore — The first time Boden's Thorns was drawn — The
Ingestre Accident — Mr. Dudley Fox .. .. .. .. .. 71

VOL. II. a 2

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VII.

PAGE

Mr. F. Cotton — His Walk to Perthshire — His Match Avith the Marquis
of Queensberry — Merryman — Great Brailsford Run — Major F. W.
Peacock— End of the Season 1882-1883 92

CHAPTER VIII.

Some Men and Other Things — " Bill " Power — Deaths of Lord Vernon

and ]Mr. Bass — Reminiscences of Forty Years with the Meynell . . 108

CHAPTER IX.

Sport in the Eighties — Captain Holland — Good Run from Shirley Park
—Mr. E. A. J. Maynard — Good Day from Walton — The Green
Covert at Egginton — Mr. Chandos-Pole's Private Pack — Mr.
Hamar Bass becomes Joint-Master . . . . . . . . 120

CHAPTER X.

The Joint-Mastership of the "Squire" and BIr. Hamar Bass, M.P. —
G. S. L. on the Hounds — Wonderful Run of Five Hours — Death
of the Third Lord Bagot 135

CHAPTER XI.

The "Squire's" Last Season — Two Canards — Wonderful Run from
Snelston — Resignation of the " Squire " — Report of the Special
Committee ,. .. .. .. .. .. .. 142

CHAPTER XII.

Mr. Hamar Bass, M.F.H., M.P.— Death of Mr. R. Sale— A Good
Opening Day — Three Good Gallops — A Derbyshire Scurry — The
Annual Meeting — Derbyshire Hunting Song . . . . . . 153

CHAPTER XIII.

Rolleston — The Great Frost — End of the Season — Mr. H . S . Charrington 169

CHAPTER XIV.

Foston — Mr. Gerald Duncombe — Captain Dugdale — Mr. Frank Cooper 176

CHAPTER XV.

Loxley — The Fox crosses the Trent to Donington Park — Mr. Frank

Newton — Election of the Deputy-Master — Mr. F. A. Brace .. 185

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVI.

PAGE

Mr. Richard Fort, M.F.H.— The Great Moddershall Oaks Run—
The Great Wiuster Run — Captain Jacobson — The First of Sir
Peter Walker's Point-to-Point Races — Stephen Burtenshaw . . 196

CHAPTER XVII.

The Year of the Great Frost— Sir Peter Walker's Dinner to the Meynell
Hunt— The Wettest Season ever known— End of the Season 1894
-1895— Mr. Caldecott— Great Run from the Bath, Hoar Cross—
The First Day on which Stephen carried the Horn— The Great Hill
Run to Elton— Good Run from Bentley Car— Mr. Charles Garnett
and Mr. Hartley .. 210

CHAPTER XVIII.

Mr. Fort's Last Season as Deputy-Master— Accounting for Seven Foxes
in One Day— Sir Peter Walker's Point-to-Point Races— Mr. Fort's
Resignation— Hunt Meeting— The Ladies' Cricket Match .. 229

CHAPTER XIX.

Mr. Bass's Last Season— Hunt Meeting— Resignation of Mr. Bass-
Presentation to Charles Leedham — Death of Mr. Bass — The
Meynell Puppy Show — First Puppy Show Luncheon . . 246

CHAPTER XX.

An Unlucky Season— Blithbury— Five Foxes in Shirley Park— Mr.
Blount's Foxes— A Hilton Day— Accident to Colonel the Hon. W.
Coke— From Croxall to Elford Gorse— Death of Lord Vernon—
Good Run from Carry Coppice— Bye-day at Shirley Mill— A Good
Day from Foston— The " Squire's " Hounds in Bagot's Woods—
From Kingston Wood to Hound Hill — Sport Moderate— A
Newborough Day— A Good Old-fashioned Thursday— Death of
Colonel Levett— Colonel Levett— A Radburne Day— The Bob-
tailed Doveridge Fox— Barbed Wire— A Good Five-and-forty
Minutes — A Hilton Day — Harry Bonner resigns . . . . 258

CHAPTER XXI.

Steve " — A Couple of Hounds dug out of a Drain — Good Brailsford
Day— A Bishton Fox— Wedding Present to Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Cooper — A Good Cubley Bye-day — A Batch of Youngsters — Sport
improves— A Terrier kills the Fox — A Clinking Gallop from
Reeve's Moor — Great Day with the " Squire's" Hounds — A Hard
Day from Longford — The Last Day of the " Squire's " Pack .. 307

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXII.

PACK

Finis Coronat Opus — Good Run from Boden's Tiaorns — A Long Blith-
bury Day — A Darley Moor Day — A Nice Sudbury Day— Mr.
Duncombe Master for the Day — Good Day from Foston — An
Unruly Field — A Good Day from New Inn — A Fox-killing Day^ —
Presentation to Stephen Burtenshavv — The Meynell Entry — The
Goose with the Golden Eggs . . 333

APPENDIX I.

Masters and Committees . . . . . . . . . . 361

APPENDIX II.

Subscriptions and Compensation .. .. .. .. .. 367

APPENDIX III.

Rules for Future Guidance of Committee . . . . . . . . 368

APPENDIX IV.

Meynell Hunt Rules and Standing Orders . . . . 369

APPENDIX V.

List of Masters, Huntsmen, and Hounds , . . . . . 372

INDEX 413

LIST OF PHOTOGKAVURES.

VOL. II.

Mr. H. C. Meynell Ingram

Mr. Hugo Meynell (1759-1800)

Lord Bagot ..

Lord Waterpark ..

Lord Scarsdale

Kedleston ..

William third Lord Bagot

Mr. Hamar Bass, M.F.H.

Colonel R. W. Chandos-Pole .

Meet at Sudbury, 1889 ..

Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart.

Mr. F. C. Newton . .

Mr. Richard Fort, M.F.H.

Meynell Point to Point Race .

Charles Leedham ..

The Kennels, Sudbury

Mr. J. W. Philips ..

Colonel Levett

SoMERSAL Hall

Meet at Etwall, 1900

Frontiqnece
On Title-page

Facinfj page

10
44

06
112
140
154
158
162
170
190
196
232
250
256
278
292
320
350

MAP.

Map illustrating Three Runs with the Peak Fox

Facing page 202

HISTOKY OF THE
MEYNELL HOUNDS AND COUNTRY

CHAPTER I.

" HOUNDS, PLEASE ! " — CUB - HUNTING — GOOD RUN FROM
ROLLESTON — RUN OF THE SEASON FROM LOXLEY —
HUNT MEETING — THE COMING OF AGE OF LORD BAGOT
— GOOD RUN FROM LONGFORD CAR STEEPLECHASING.

1877-1878.
The Field, 1877 :—

The longest date back in Cecil's Stud Book is to 1779, where mention is made
of a bitch called Rosamond by Mr. Meynell's Roister out of Lord Ludlow's Tasty,
and it must be a source of satisfaction to Lord Waterpark, Mr. Clowes, and
especially to the late Mr. Meynell Ingram's family, who so nobly gave the country
the pack in 1871, to note that the present Meynell pack trace back to an extra-
ordinary degree to the hounds belonging to the famous Mr. Meynell of over a
hundred years ago, for history does not give us the pedigree of Roister, exceptmg
that he belonged to Mr. Meynell and had a daughter called Rosamond in 1779.
To her many of the Meynell hounds trace to-day, and, as an instance, I take a
hound mentioned in Bell last week, in connection with Lord Galway's entry, viz.
Baronet, by Bachelor out of Winsome by Rookwood, son of Reginald by Mr.
Foljambe's Reginald, who was got by the Brocklesby Ruler out of Brazen by
Belvoir Furrier out of Bauble by Sparkler — Buxom by Belvoir Bluecap — Skilful
by Brocklesby Chaser — Sybil by Osbaldeston Ranter, son of the famous Furrier —
Songstress by Warbler, son of Jason by Joker — Troublesome by Belvoir Topper
— Rarity by Brocklesby Ranter — Stately by Mr. Meynell's Sparkler — Tawdry by
Trickster — Caroline by Castor — Harlot by Hymen, son of Milton Hymen and
Rosamond entered in 1779 (at, say, twelve months old), so born exactly a
hundred years ago, and got by Mr. Meynell's Roister — Lord Ludlow's Tasty. In
the above long pedigree there is a great deal more interesting matter to study,
for it traces to the same source as the Drake Duster, viz. to Mr. Savile's Carver,
VOL. II. B

2 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1877

to wit. Bachelor, the sire of Baronet, was got by Druid, son of Bclvoir Druid,
who was got by Sir Richard Sutton's Dryden — Tuneful by Trouncer — Skilful by
Mr. Foljambe's Stornier — Fortune by Fencer, son of Fatal, son of Factor (sire of
Destitute, the dam of the Drake Duster), and Factor was got by Mr. Savile's
Carver. Then, through the Osbaldeston Furrier and Belvoir Blue Cap, the
Meynell Baronet of to-day traces down to two of Mr. Meynell's hounds of 1792,
as Furner was by Saladin, son of Sultan, son of Mr. Meynell's Gusman by his
German — his Blowzy, who both lived in 1792 ; and Belvoir Blue Cap was by
Clasper, son of Craftsman, who was got by Mr. Osbaldeston's Chorister —
Songstress by Saladin, the sire of Fumer, and so on to German and Blowzy. An
extraordinary good bred hound is Barjonet, and the above gives plenty of reason
why Lord Galway patronized him last season. In exchange the Meynell
patronized Lord Galway's Reginald, the best son of the last Belvoir Rallywood,
I think, now in England, bar, perhaps, the Quorn Watchman, who may be his
equal.

[Baronet proved subsequent^ that his breeding deserved all the praise bestowed
on it, for was he not the sire of Marmaduke, who was the sire of Merryman,
who was the sire of Colonel, who has done so much good to the pack ? If a
puppy did a bit of good work out cub-hunting, and you asked Charles what it
was, in nine cases out of ten his answer would be, " One of those Merrymans.
They all hunt."— J. L. R.]

Also Belvoir Warrior is represented, so that three of my crack sires of the
<lay — Why Not, Wanior, and Reginald — are the sires of four couples and a half
of the Meynell entry for this season. The other visitors are Sir Watkin Wynn's
Random by his Regent — his Sportive. Regent by Milton Regent, son of Blue Cap,
son of the Drake Bellman, his dam Rally by Brocklesby Nettler, and Sportive was
by Grove Sparkler, son of Singer, son of Belvoir Singer, her dam Caroline by
Grappler, son of Lord Henry Bentinck's Craftsman. The other visitor is Belvoir
Gallant by General — Nimble : General by Milton Gambler — Fairmaid by Fair-
play ; and Nimble was by Ringwood, son of Lexicon — Ruby by Fairplay — Ready
by the second Belvoir Rallywood. Fairplay, who comes in twice in this pedigree,
was by Mr. Foljambe's Forester — Syren, the dam of Singer, and she was by the
Drake Duster. Of the home sires besides Baronet above mentioned, there are
Contest, Rallywood, Farmer, Linkboy, and Miracle,* represented as sires of
the entry. Contest, who is not now in the kennel, was by Belvoir Contest —
Frolic by Alfred, son of Alaric, son of Falstatf, son of Brocklesby Flasher by
Druid out of Fairmaid by the Osbaldeston Furrier. Rallywood, also now out of
orders, was by the last Belvoir Rallywood (son of Senator) out of Trinket by
Merrimac, son of Reginald, son of ]Mr. Foljambe's Reginald, and, therefore, like
Baronet, Rallywood traced to Mr. Meynell's hounds of 1779. Farmer, who is
still at the Meynell kennels, as a third season liunter, is by Lord Yarborough's
Blazer — Frantic by Belvoir Falstaff (son of Fairplay) — Lively by Lord Henry
Bentinck's Larkspur — Gladsome by Alaric above mentioned, and so on to
Osbaldeston's Furrier, and, as the Brocklesby Blazer was by their Bachelor —
Flourish by Nelson — Freedom by Mr. Foljambe's Finder, it would be difficult to
find a more beautifully bred hound than the Meynell Farmer. Linkboy, also in
the list as a four-season hunter, is a rare bred one by Manager, a hound I
recollect seeing in the Worcestershire kennel, where he was on a visit. The^

* This hound was lent by Lord Waterpark to the Marquis of Waterford, and,
■while in that nobleman's kennels, attracted Lord Coventry's attention as being one
of the handsomest hounds there.

1877] CUB-HUNTING. 3

dam of Linkboy was Lavish. Manager was by Merrimac by Reginald, son of Mr.
Foljarabe's Reginald, and so down to the notable Rosamond of 1779, whilst the
dam of Manager was Tuneful by Ravager, son of Belvoir Prompter by President
by Brocklesby Plunder — Flighty by Fatal, son of Factor, the sire of Destitute, the
dam of the Drake Duster. Lavish, the dam of Linkboy, was by Chorister, son of
Comus, by Hercules out of Columbine by Foreman, son of Brocklesby Flasher*
his dam Fairmaid by the great Furrier. Miracle, not in the list now, was by
Councillor, son of Conqueror — Music by Merrimac, so of the same strain down to
the gi-eat ancestress, Rosamond. I think the above few remarks show the extra-
ordinary high breeding of the Meynell hounds, and if any pack in England
wants fresh blood of the most recherche character, I could hardly recommend a
finer quarter.

Subscriptions this year were £3314 13s. bd. ; com-
pensation £228 7s. 6d.

The committee elected on January 4th, 1878, was as
follows: Lord Bagot, Hon. E. Coke, Mr. T. W. Evans,
M.P., Mr. M. A. Bass, M.P., Captain A. C. Buncombe,
Mr. T. J. Levett, Mr. S. AV. Clowes, M.P., Mr. W. Boden,
Lord Waterpark, Lord Vernon.

Richard Summers having gone as huntsman to Mr.
Tailby, James Tasker succeeded to his vacant place,
Charles Hawkes coming as second whipper-in.

There w^ere complaints of the scarcity of foxes, which
was probably remedied in the usual way, for, in the course
of two or three years, mange broke out. And this was
prevalent all over England wherever cubs were turned
down.

The new-comers were Mrs. Jervis-Smith, who came
with a great reputation from the West country, and Mr.
C. A. Wallroth, who came to Mickleover. He played for
Harrow against Eton in 1870, and in the ajitumn of that
year matriculated at Brasenose College, Oxford, playing
in the Oxford eleven in 1872, 1873, and 1874. In 1876
he married and settled down at Mickleover, where he
has been ever since. No one has seen more of the fun
than he has whenever hounds ran, and there is no cheerier
comrade to go hunting with.

They began cub-hunting on September 3rd, in Bagot's
Woods, as usual, killing a cub on each of the two first
mornings and a badger on the third. About the best run

4 THE MEYNELL HOUXDS. [1877

they had was on October 24th, when, after a certain
amount of work to begin with, they ran from Baker's pit,
by Loxley Hall, through the Alder Car, by Highfields
nearly to Woodford, on to Smallwood, under the Forest
Banks to Woodside, through the woods, by Tomlinson's
corner, back into the Banks, and came home.

They brought eighteen brace of cubs to hand al-
together.

The regular season began, as usual, at Sudbury, on
Monday, October 29th.

From Lord Waterpark's diary : —

Lake Bank and coverts in the Park blank. Found in tlie Coppice, ran by
Vemon's Oak to Cubley, and lost. Did not find again at Sudbury. Got away
on good terms with a fox from the Ice-house Covert at Foston, rattled him round
by Aston, and killed him in the Decoy at Fuston.

Tuesday, The New Inn. — Needwood, Byrkley Lodge, Black Brook, and the
Cupandition coverts blank. Found in the Hare Holds, ran to Castle Hayes, and
lost. Coverts there and Bank by Coton blank.

Thursday, Badburne. — Went away at once from the Rough with an old fox,
ran hard over the brook by Trusley, and round by Dalbury back to the Rough,
and on up to the Parson's Gorse. Here there were several fresh foxes, one of
which we hunted back to the Rough, and lost. Went to Sutton Gorse, got away
on good terms with a cub, and killed him in ten minutes.

Saturday, Blithhury. — Found in Pipe Wood, ran a wide ring, and to ground.
Cawarden Spring blank, as usual. Found in the Black Flats, hunted him into
Pipe Wood, where we rattled him about half an hour, and left him dead beat,
hounds being halloaed away on a fresh one. Ran fast by Laurence's Wood, over
the brook, up to Cross Hayes, where they checked, but hit it off again and ran
into the Brakenhurst, and here the scent failed altogether.

Monday, November 5th, Newboi'owjh. — Three or four foxes on foot at Holly-
bush, ran one into Bull's Park, and along the Banks, and lost him. Found in the
Chantry, raced him through the Birchwood, and to ground in view in a pit-hole
not far from Cross Hayes. Found again in Jackson's Bank — three or four foxes
on foot — and came home.

Tuesday, Eaton Wood. — A good fox went away at once from the far end,
ran by the Haven House to Somersaland on to Sudbury, and lost him. No scent.
Drew all Sudbury blank. Found in the Cummery Wood at Foston, ran by
Church Broughton nearly up to Barton, and lost. Came l>ack to Foston, found
again, ran a fox hard for a quarter of an hour, and killed him. Went to the
Lemon Hole, and hunted a fox very well to Sudbury Park, and gave it up.

Thursday, Muyginton. — Killed a cub in Broward's Car, went away with
another, through Ravensdale Park and up to Turnditch, and lost. Found in
Wilde Park, ran hard up to Langley Gorse and on to the Vicar Wood.

Saturday, Loxley. — Found fox in Carry Coppice, but he was headed back
as he broke covert, and the hounds met him and killed him. Went to Philips'
Gorse, found, and ran back to Carry Coppice and lost. Wretched scent. Trotted

1877] GOOD RUN FROM ROLLESTON. 5

off to Gratwich Wood, hunted a fox through Handleasow Wood and Gratwich
village on to Loxley, and pottered after him for some time, hut could do no
good.

Monday, November 12th, Brethy. — Drew Gorstey Leys, ran a ring by Fore-
mark back into the wood, out for Calke, and to ground in a drain in the wood.
Found again, and ran ringing about between Foremark and Gorstey Leys all daj',
and could not kill a fox.

Tuesday, Shirley Park. — A good lot of foxes in the covert. Ran one about
for an hour, and killed him. Drew the Reeve's Moor at Longford, found and ran
very fast by Culland up to Brailsford, and came to a check by the road — seventeen
minutes very pretty up to tliis — hunted him on slowly by Langley village into
the Parson's Gorse, where he went to ground. Found in Longford Car, ran up
to Hollington and round l)y Alkmonton and back to Longford, and stopped the
hounds. Capital day's sport.

Thursday, Stenson Loch. — Arleston Gorse, Stenson fields, Spilsbury's Coverts,
Egginton Gorse, and Burnaston blank. A fox jumped up out of a hedgerow near
Etwall, ran him up to Mickleover, and lost him. Found in the Rough at
Radburne, ran up to the Parson's Gorse, and a ring by Langley village into
Langley Gorse, through the covert up to the Derby road, back into the gorse,
and killed.

Saturday, BUthfieJd. — Found in Blithe Moor, ran hard for fifteen minutes and
killed. Ran a fox for one field from Forge Coppice to ground. Killed a very
bad fox from Newton Hurst. Found a fox in Newton Gorse, ran very fast up to
the Rectory, on by Admaston up to Abliot's Bromley, where he was headed and
turned to the left, and went to ground in a gravel-pit on Newton Hurst — forty
minutes.

Monday, November Idih, Wychnor. — Ran a very bad fox round and round
the Rough for fifty minutes and killed. Found near Gorse Hall (Dunstall) — no
scent, and lost directly. Found again in the Scotch Hills (Rangemore), ran to
the Deanery Covert and back, and killed.

Tuesday, Tutbury Station. — Found at the back of the Hall, ran down the
meadow by Park Hill, back by the village over the railway, back by the gorse to
the Hall down the meadows again, and killed near Park Hill — an old fox. Time,
one hour and a half. Found in Hilton Gorse, ran fast to the woodyard at Fostou,
turned to the right and back to Hilton. Came away with a fresh fox, ran him to
Barton, and stopped the hounds.

Thursday, Kedleston ToUgate. — Found at Markeaton, ran by the brook side
to Langley Gorse on to Langley Common, and lost. Found in Langley Gorse,
did nothing. Chopped a fox in Frost's bottoms. Found in Colvile's Covert, ran
by Allestree and Darley down to the river, which he crossed, but there was no
scent, and they could not get on with him.

Saturday, ('hartley. — Found on the Shaw, ran a ring by Turner's Gorse over
the Park and back to the Shaw, and nearly the same ring again, and lost. Not
an atom of scent all day. Found foxes in Handleasow Wood, and again in
Gratwich AVood. Hunted a fox from Ciller's Rough to ground at Gratwich
village.

Monday, November 2Qth, Ansloio. — Found in the Henhurst, very little scent,
hunted slowly by Tatenhill, and lost. Found in Knightley Park, ran round the
covert for half an hour, and killed. Found at Rolleston by the village, ran by
Craythorne down to the osier-beds at Dove Cliff over the river (here hounds
divided, unknown to us, and five and a half couples ran a fox back towards the
New Inn), on to Burnaston, leaving Egginton Gorse on the left, and up to

6 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1877

Bearwardcote,* wliore we first got to the houiuls, having had to go round by the
bridge. After this it was slow hunting up to the Ivough at Radburne, through
the covert, and out towards Truslej', where we stopped the hounds.

Tuesday^ Eaton Wood. — Found and ran up a few fields beyond Marston
Park, where our fox unaccountably disappeared. Found in the little covert at
Marston Park, ran over the foiled ground and could do nothing, Veiy Httle
scent. Came back to Wardley Coppice, ran into Eaton AVood, out by the Haven
House, crossed the road by Bowyer's farm, and to ground in a drain at Marston
Woodhouse, bolted him, ran him fast back to Eaton Wood, and killed him.
Fomid in Birch Coppice, ran through Eaton Wood, out by Clownholme, and came
home.

Thursday, Elvaston. — Spent the whole day hunting eight or nine of the
worst foxes that ever were seen round and round the place. No scent, and could
not kill one.

Saturday, Newton village. — Drew the Coley coverts blank. Got on a travel-
ling fox near Swan's Moor, hunted him by Blithfield nearly to Blitbbury, and lost
him ; he must have got to ground in one of the many pit-holes about. Found
in the Ox Close, ran a ring by Colton, and to ground in Nichol's Pit. Drew
Blithe Moor, found and ran up to Admaston, turned back and hunted slowly by
Forge Coppice nearly up to Hart's Coppice, and came home. Long, hard day —
scent very catchy.

Monday, December Srd, Draycott Cliff. — Found in the far wood, hunted up
and down the banks all day with no scent whatever.

Tuesday, Bradley. — Found at the Lime Kilns, ran up to Bradley Wood,
where he got to ground. Had a nice hunting run from Shirley Park to Bentley
Car, and killed.

Thursday, Iiadbiirne. — Found in the Rough, ran a bit of a ring, and to ground
m the Parson's Gorse. The rest of the Radburne coverts blank. Found in
Sutton Gorse, ran by Hilton, leaving the gorse on the left, up to Church Brough-
ton, and stopped the hounds, as we were to keep away from Barton. Found at
Foston, and ran back to Hilton Gorse, where scent failed altogether.

Saturday, Walton village. — Found at Catton, ran into Croxall Bank, and
killed : the fox had every chance of going away, but would not leave the covert.
Got on another fox that had gone away, walked after him for a bit, and lost him.
There was a fox in LuUington Gorse, but he got to ground in the covert. Found
in Homestall Wood, but the fox was headed back and killed within a few yards
(^f the covert. Found again at Catton, and killed, just such another fox as the
first.

Monday, December 10th, The New Inn. — Found at Needwood, ran down into
the village of Tatenhill, and could make nothing more of him. We heard, later
on in the day, that our fox was seen to come out of some buildings after we
had gone. Drew the Henhurst and other coverts about blank. Found again at
Needwood, and ran to ground in a pit-hole on Stockley Park farm. Found again
in the Hare Holds, ran a ring, back through the Cupandition Covert, on by Castle
Hayes village, into the gorse, and along the hillside to Hanbury, and over the
hills to the New Lodge, where we had four foxes on foot, and hounds divided.
Bad luck, as we had seen our fox twice, dead beat, only just before the hounds.

Tuesday, Braihford. — A thick fog; found in a httle spinny opposite the
house, raced him for twelve minutes to gi'ound in a tree at Radburne. Found

* Mr. Bird, Mr. Crossmau (I thiuk). and Charles were the first to i^et up to
them. — J. li. R.

1877] RUN OF THE SEASON FROM LOXLEY. 7

in the Rough, very jwor scent, could do Httle. The same at and from Sutton
Gorse. Killed a lame fox at the Ashe, went away with another, and hunted him
slowly all about Sutton — bad, ringing fox.

Thursday, Etwall. — Found in Hilton Gorse, ran a capital line, but not fast,
up to Foston, where he waited for us, and we hunted him to ground at Leathers-
ley. Found at Foston below the house, ran up to Barton, and killed in Saint's
buildings. Found in the covert close by, ran down to Sudbury into a drain by
the village, bolted him with a terrier, and killed him.

Saturday, BJithbury. — Found in Pipe Wood — very little scent — ran to
ground in Jaggard's farm. Drew the rest of the Blithbury coverts and Forge
Coppice blank. Found in Blithe Moor, ran to ground in the pit-hole by Forge
Coppice.

Monday, December llth, DunstaU. — Killed one very bad fox, the only one
in the place. Drew covert after covert without finding, till we got on a fox that
had just gone away from the Scotch Hills, ran him by Yoxall Lodge in the
Brakenhurst, and lost hira. No fox in the Brakenhurst.

Tuesday, Cubley Gate. — There were a brace of foxes in the covert by Coxhead
Lane, hunted one up to Shirley Park, where several fresh foxes were on foot,
and we kept changing, and at last scent failed altogether in the covert. Found
at Longford, in the Car, ran down to Alkmonton Bottoms, wliere he turned to
the right, and pointed as if for Shirley Park, but kept bearing to the right, down
to Culland, and on to Brailsford, where we checked, and after this hunted him
slowly into Langley Gorse, where he went to ground. Very good run — thirty
minutes to the first check.

2'hursday, KedJeston village. — Found in Spring Car — no scent — lost directly.
One fox only in Breward's Car ; hunted him round by Turnditch back to the
covert, and lost him. Ravensdale Park and Wilde Park blank, and had to go
home on account of the fog.

Saturday, Chartley. — Found in Handleasow Wood, ran by Field up to Leigh,
and on to Checkley, and could make nothing more of it ; probably our fox had
got into some buildings. Drew Philips' Gorse and Carry Coppice without finding.
Found in the Park Covert, ran along Carry Lane as far as the covert, turned to
the right, and ran almost down to the railway, back over the road, and through
the Park Covert, on, leaving Kingston village on the right and Housalem Coppice
on the left, as if he meant going to Blithfield, but bore to the left, and crossed
the Uttoxeter road by the Lodge, ran by the back of Abbot's Bromley as far as
the bridge on the Hoar Cross road, where he turned back, and went to ground
— only just before the hounds — in the pit by Forge Coppice. Time, fifty-
eight minutes ; distance, not much less than twelve miles. Best run of season
so far.

Monday, December 2Ath, Newborough. — Holly Bush, Chantry, Birchwood
blank. Found in the lawn, hit — no scent, wild, blustery day — and soon lost.
Found again in the covert by Cross Hayes, ran through the Brakenhurst, along
Jackson's Bank to the back of Newborough, where he either got under a heap
of sticks, or into some farm buildings.

Wednesday, Sudbury. — Snow.

Thursday, Foremarlc. — Snow.

Saturday, Bagofs Woods. — Snow.

Monday, December 31s^, Wychnor. — Found in the Rough, ran a few fields
towards Barton, back through the Rough, over to Yoxall Lodge, and on to
Byrkley Lodge, then back nearly into Yoxall Lodge Hills, and into the Brakenhurst,

8 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1878

ran through the covert by Tloar Cross village nearly up to the new Hall,
but turned to the right over the hill, then to the left through the Birchwood, over
Bromley Park to the corner of Lord's Coppice, turned to the right round Daisy
liank by Park gate into the chantry, over the brook, and killed at Newborough
end. Time, two hours and ten minutes, and a capital hunting run.

Tuesday, (Juhley Stoop.— The gorse, Bentley Car, and covert by Saint's
blank. Found at Sapperton, ran very fast nearly up to the kennels at Sudbury,
turned to the left, back over the park, and ran back to Sapperton, where we
viewed him, dead beat, in the covert. Plounds, however, were hallaoed away on
a fresh fox, and we ran back to Sudbury Park, by Hare Hill and Boylestone on to
Saint's, and through Alkmontcm Bottoms, and lost him. Found in the Longford
Car, ran very nicely to Boylestone, where scent failed altogether.

Thursday, Radhurne. — Drew the Parson's Gorse blank. Found in Langley
Gorse, and ran to ground in a drain by Weston. Drew the covert there and the
Vicar Wood without finding. Found again in Langley Gorse, ran to Radburne
village, and lost. Poor scent. Drew the Rough, hunted up to the Parson's
Gorse, and back to the Rough, but could not get on at all.

Field, January 12th, 1878 : —

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

On Friday, the 4th inst., a highly important meeting of the members of this
Hunt was held at St. James's Hotel, Derby, when there was a very large attend-
ance, the principal room being crammed with noblemen and gentlemen from all
parts of the county of Derby. The object of the gathering was to consider the
resignation by Mr. S. W. Clowes, who has for some period been associated in
the joint Mastership of the Hunt with Lord Waterpark.

The Chairman (Lord Bagot), in commencing the business, explained how
matters stood, and said it would be the duty of the members to appoint a new
Master, or new Masters, for hunting the country.

The Hon. E. K. W. Coke then observed that, in order to start the fox, he
would make a few remarks. Lord Waterpark and Mr. Clowes had held the
Mastership for three years, and he now regi-etted to state that it had been
intimated to the Hunt committee that they did not intend to hunt the country
any more. Mr. Clowes retired without reservation of any kind ; but Lord Water-
park had intimated that he only wished to retire under certain conditions. (Hear,
hear.) Lord Waterpark was quite willing to continue to hunt the pack if the
requisite funds were provided. (Cheers.) It was quite patent that the expenses
of the Hunt were much in excess of the amount they had been able to provide
for the Master. The loss had hitherto been borne by Mr. Clowes and Lord
Waterpark jointly, but the latter would not be prepared in future to bear the
burden of the balance of excess on a certain sum. The annual expenditure of
the pack was very large, and he thought they would hardly be able to subscribe
more than £2500 a year to help the Master in the future. From the statement
of Mr. Watson, the hon. secretary, it appeared that, in addition to the £2500 to
the masters, there was rent of coverts, £85; repair of coverts, £48 15s.; com-
pensation for poultry, £228 7.s. &d. ; and earth stopping, £6G. Then there was
the cost for the repairs and painting of the kennels, which, however, would not
jirobably be so much in the future. Altogether they had spent £3889 Is. bd.,
whilst their income had been £3223 Q>s. 9tZ., leaving a balance due to the bank
nf £665 14s. Bd. Thus they were not in a very satisfactory condition, but still

1878] HUNT MEETING. 9

they had not expended so much over their income but what they could give their
masters £2500, as heretofore ; but they could not, he thought, do more.

Mr. Clowes here remarked that this balance on the wrong side would disappear
next year, and they could, he thought, safely vote £300 of next year's receipts
to meet the present deficiency. He believed Lord Waterpark would not continue
to hunt the country single-handed, without the stipulation being £3000 instead
of £2500. This he (Mr. Clowes) believed would be forthcoming, as he knew of
two sources from which nearly £300 would be obtained, leaving only an extra
£200 to be provided for by the country. (Hear, hear.) After referring to the
causes which had induced him (Mr. Clowes) to resign, he said he believed Lord
Waterpark's continuance to hunt the country would give general satisfaction.
(Cheers.)

Sir William FitzHerbert then proposed that Lord Waterpark be requested to
act as the sole master of the pack on the terras mentioned. They would not,
he thought, feel the expense much more, for nearly all the extra money was
promised, and all would, he had no doubt, be forthcoming to make up the amount
from £2500 to £3000. (Cheers.)

A member in the body of the meeting here rose, and warmly seconded the
proposition, which was carried by acclamation.

Lord Waterpark, in rising to reply, said that such a high character had been
given to him by his friend the late joint-master, that it was his duty now to tell
them that Mr. Clowes had removed the credit due to himelf to his (Lord Water-
park's) shoulders. (Laughter.) They had acted for several years together, and
they knew pretty well that the Hunt could not be successfully carried on for
less than three thousand pounds. He had no desire to put money in his own
pocket ; he simply wished to hunt the country in the same excellent manner it
had been hunted in the past. (Cheers.) He regi-etted extremely that Mr. Clowes
had decided to give up, but he would do his best to hunt the country well — at
any rate, during the next three years. (Applause.)

On the motion of the Hon. Wenman Coke, seconded by Mr. G. F. Meynell,
the old Hunt committee was re-elected, with the addition of the name of Mr.
Clowes.

Lord Vernon then proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Clowes and Lord
Waterpark for having so handsomely hunted the country in the past, and he
warmly eulogized the plucky spirit which had been exhibited by both. (Cheers.)

Mr. Richard Sale had great pleasure in seconding the proposition, and it was
unanimously adopted.

Mr. Clowes and Lord Waterpark having appropriately replied, the proceedings
terminated with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

From Lord Waterpark's diary : —

Sahirday, January 5th, Bramshalh — Philips' Gorse blank. Found in
Carry Coppice, and ran to ground, after a bit of a ring, in a pit-hole, where cubs
are constantly bred. Drew the Park Covert blank. Gratwich Wood the same.
Found in Handleasow Wood, ran almost to Field, turned to the left, through
Fradswell Heath, and on in the direction of Sandon, but turned back and lost by
tlie Castle.

Monday, January 7th, Foremark. — Found in Gorstey Leys, ran up and down
the wood for some time, and a nice little ring out to ground near the house at
Foremark. Went back to the wood, found again, ran to Anchor church, and

10 THE MEYIs^ELL HOUNDS. [1878

lost. Found in Ingleby Heath, ran fast, up-wind, to Repton Shrubs, and slowly-
back to Gorstey Leys, and came home. Poor scent all day.

Tuesday, Sudbm-y.— Y ound by the Lake Bank; ran to the Yelt Farm at
Doveridge, on by Hill Soraersal, below the kennels, and to ground in the Breach.
Bolted him, ran through the pleasure grounds, down to the river, wliich he
either crossed or went on to Foston. Found in the Coppice, ran through the
Bottoms, over the Park, by Sapperton, on to Barton, and lost in a heavy storm.
Good fox. Bad scent.

Thursday, Brailsford, — Found in the Covert by the Pool Head, ran over the
turnpike-road by Wilde Park, and into Langley Gorse, where our fox disappeared.
Found in White's Covert, ran nearly to Brailsford Gorse, crossed the road ; ran
by the church and the Culland House, by the Burrows, and to Langley Common
Gorse, through the Vicar Wood, by Wilde Park and White's Covert, and lost on
the foiled ground at the back of Brailsford village. Capital day's sport.

Saturday, Bagofs Woods. — Found, and ran out of the woods, by the back of
Abbot's Bromley, by Forge Coppice, and to ground in a tree by the Warren
Covert at Blithfield. Spent the rest of the day in the woods.

Monday, January lAth, Mackworth. — Found at Markeaton ; ran up to
Langley Gorse, and killed. Found again at Allestree, ran a ring and back to
ground in the covert. A brace of foxes at Darley osier-bed, hunted one
through Allestree, and Breward's Car, on to Muggintou, where the scent failed
altogether.

Tuesday, Tuthury Station. — Found at Hilton, ran down to Foston, and back
to the gorse. Came away with a fresh fox, ran again to Foston, got up to our
fox in Lemon Hole, ran him up the meadows, a ring round nearly to Sapperton,
into the Cummery Wood and killed him. A good day's sport.

Thursday, Bangemore. — Did not find till we got to the Oak Covert, ran
through the Rocket Oak, and to ground in Tatenhill Lane. Found in Hanbury
Park Covert, and ran nearly to Castle Hayes, back through Byrkley Lodge and
Yoxall, and to ground in a pit by Longcroft. Capital run of an hour and thirty-
five minutes. Hounds running hard at times.

On Saturday, January 19tli, hounds came to Blithfield
for a special event — the coming of age of the Hon. William
Bagot, who celebrated the occasion personally, like a true
Bagot, by going out hunting, though he looked in to see
that all was well at the great dinner to three hundred
people in Abbot's Bromley, on his return, and met with
an enthusiastic reception. There were all sorts of grand
doings — presentations and addresses on the one part, and
good cheer, provided for all classes, on the other, winding
up with a ball on Monday night at the Hall. Amongst
the guests were the following : Lord and Lady Bagot, the
Hon. William Bagot, the Hoc. Walter Bagot, the Hon.
Misses Louisa, Constance, Katherine, and Lilah Bagot, the
Hon. and Rev. H. C. and Mrs. Bagot, Col. the Hon.

Lord Bagot.
From a photograph

by
W. and D. Downey.

>♦'»»•♦♦•••»»♦♦«,

1878] THE COMING OF AGE OF LORD BAGOT. 11

Charles and Mrs. Bagot, tlie Hon. A. W. Bagot, Miss
Alice Bagot, Mr. R. Bagot, Mr. A. Bagot, the Dowager
Countess of Aylesforcl, the Countess of Dartmouth, the
Marchioness of Waterford, the Hon. Georgiana Legge, Mrs.
and Miss Bromley-Davenport, the Hon. C. Finch, the Hon.
L. A. Ellis, the Hon. E. W. Coke, Col. R. Buller, Lieut.-
Col. Thorney croft, Mrs. Thorney croft, and Miss Thorn ey-
croft, the Rev. E. Lane, Mr. M. A. Bass, M.P., and Mrs.
Bass, Mr. and Mrs. Piatt, Mr. H. Bass, Miss Boothby, ]\Ir.
Mountford Blurton, Mr. John and Mrs. Blurton, Mr. H.
Tomlinson, Mr. Gardner, Miss Gardner, Mr. J. Gardner,
Miss Wrigley, Mr. and Mrs. Pickering, Dr. Monckton, Mrs.
Monckton, Mrs. W. Monckton, Mr. E. W. and the Misses
Turnor, Miss Deggett, Mr. A. A. Flint, and the Misses
Flint, Mr. Keats, Mr. and Miss Bunting, Mr. R. Walker,
Mr. and Mrs. J. Walker, Mr. and Mrs. Hyde, Mr. and the
Misses Green-Smith, Mr. W. and ]\Ir. G. Burnell, Mr. and
the Misses Gilbert, Mr. Trevor Holland, Mr. T. Charles and
party, Mr. Stanley and party, Mr. Cope, Mr. Nicholls
and party, Mr. Kendall, Mr. and Mrs, Jones, and Mr. W.
Lloyd (Ruthin), representing the Welsh tenantry, etc. The
Yeomanry Band was in attendance, and played a choice
selection of music, and dancing was kept up with great
spirit until about five o'clock the following morning.

Of the day's sport on Saturday at Blithfield, there is not
much to relate except that it was very bad.

From Lord Waterpark's diary : —

Monday, January 2Ut, Eanhury. — Hunted a fox for two hours round and
round between Hanbury, Castle Hayes, and Faiild, and killed him.

Tuesday, JDoveridge. — Found in Eaton Wood. No scent. Could do nothing.
The same with a fox from the Thorn Coppice. Found in Sudbury Coppice, ran
by Vernon's Oak, and Cubley Lodge down to Boylestone, and on to Sapperton,
and lost.

Thursday, Stenson ZocA;.— Found in Arleston Gorse, ran to ground in a few
fields. Found again, but the fox went up the line, and, as trains were continually
passing, we did not follow him. Stenson Fields, Spilsbury's Coverts, and
Egginton Gorse blank. Found at Hilton, ran to ground in Clamp's Pit. Got on
another fox that was on foot, hunted him through the Foston Coverts, and to
ground in the same pit.

Saturday, Chartley. — Snow.

12 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1878

Monday, Jammry 28th, Bradkij. — Too much snow to draw at Bradley.
Found in Brailsford Gorse, ran very fast up to Bradley, and back to Ednaston,
and lost. Found in a spinny near the brook at Cnlland, ran up to Brailsford,
back by Culland, up to Shirley Park, rattled him round the covert three times,
and ran down to Longford, and stopped the hounds at the back of the Rectory.
Very good scent, and a capital day.

Tuesday. — Rolleston blank. Found in the Henhurst, ran a ring out towards
Stretton, and to gi-ound in view by the hunting-gate going into the Henhurst.
Found again, and ran to gi-ound at East Hill Rough. Drew Dunstall blank.
Found in the Rocket Oak, and killed. No earths stopped by the Henhurst-
keeper, and gates locked.

Thursday, Sutton Mill. — Frost,

Saturday, Kingston village. — Ditto.

Monday, February Uh, Drakelowe. — Found one fox in Lullington Gorse —
no scent, and lost in a few fields. Drew every place blank that side !

Tuesday, Cubley Stoop. — Found at Snelston, ran all round the place twice,
crossed the river by Toad Hole Bridge, turned to the right and killed him in the
river, not far from Mayfield Mill. One hour and twelve minutes. Found at
Marston Park, and ran to ground in a few minutes. Found again in Wardley
Coppice, ran through Eaton Wood, nearly up to Birch Coppice, and checked.
Our fox had turned back, but a fresh one jumped up in a field, and we ran him
very fast up to Sudbury Coppice, and by Hare Hill, and across the corner of the
Park, through the Bottoms, and gave it up near Hill Somersal.

Thursday, Radhurne. — Found in the Rough, ran a ring and back to it, and
hunted slowly along the Trusley brook side, over the Long Lane, and had to
give it up. Not an atom of scent. Went down to Sutton, found in the gorse, ran
round by the Ashe, and back to the gorse, and on by Trusley and Nun's Field,
almost down to the Spath, and back by Sutton to Radburne. No scent, and
a poor day's sport.

Saturday, Chartley. — Frost.

Monday, February llth, Fast Lodge.— Found at Needwood, ran by Stockley
Park, a ring into Knightley — eighteen minutes, and only one ploughed field — and
on to Rangemore, where we came to a long check, and could only hunt him
slowly on to Dunstall, where, I think, he got into the garden. Byrkley Lodge
and Parson's Brake blank. Found by Marchington Clifif, ran out below the
Banks, back through them, and over by Agardsley into Bull's Park, through the
Greaves, where hounds divided, and, curiously enough, each lot ran a fox into
the Parson's Brake, where hounds got together again, on by Hollybush, over
Agardsley, leaving Field House Coppice on the left by the Hare's Back nearly to
Hart's Coppice, by the Park side [to the Lawn Meadow, over the Park, and back
into Lord's Coppice, and stopped the hounds.

Tuesday, Foston. — Ran a fox from the Lemon Hole for an hour and seventeen
minutes, and killed it in the gardens at Foston. He never went further from
home than Sudbury Park. Sapperton blank. Four foxes in Longford Car. One
ran down to Cubley Church with four and a half couples of hounds before Jim
could get to them to stop them, and the fox was in the same field then as the
hounds. We hunted the other nearly up to Shirley village, and on almost to
Ednaston. Here he turned to the right, ran under Hollington as if for Longford,
but turned by Culland PTall, and went up to Brailsford, where we had a long
check. Hit it off again, ran by the church and village, back through the Culland
coverts, and on by Ednaston village, over the road and the Ednaston coverts,
and gave it up, as there was very little scent, and it was nearly five o'clock, and

1878] GOOD RUN FROM LONGFORD CAR. 13

the fox had set his head for the hills. We were hunting him two and a quarter
hours over the very best part of our country,

Thursday, Kedleston. — A fox jumped up a few fields from Champion Car,
ran through Breward's Car, and to ground in a drain near Weston. Mercaston
Wood, Ravensdale Park, Brailsford, and Culland blank. Found in Longford
Car, ran up to Potter's (without going into the covert), turned to the right up to
Bentley Car, and down through Alkmonton Bottoms to Rodsley, on, about half-
way between Shirley Park and Longford, to HoUington, where hounds checked
for the first time, after running best pace for forty-seven minutes. After this,
hunted slowly on nearly to Barton and lost at Mamerton. I heard afterwards
that it was a fresh fox from HoUington, which a man put up in a field. The best
run we have had this season.

Saturday, Kingston village. — Found in a little covert beyond Woodcock
Heath, ran by the village into Bagot's Woods, and spent the rest of the day about
Lord's Coppice.

Monday, February 18th, Hoar Cross. — Drew Rough Park, the Hoar Cross
coverts, and the Birchwood blank. Found in the Brakenhurst at two o'clock, a
bad fox, ran him about for some time, and killed him. Drew Yoxall blank.

Tuesday, Brethy. — Found in Repton Shrubs, ran him about the wood, and
killed him. Hunted a fox with a very bad scent from the covert under the
Pistern Hills down to Calke, and lost him. Found again in Gorstey Leys, hunted
him for an hour and ten minutes, and killed liim.

Thursday, Sutton Mill. —Found a very bad fox in the Ash Covert, which
would not go away, and we left him. Ran a fox from Hilton Gorse down to the
Pennywaste, over the turnpike road, along the meadows, and back to the Gorse,
forty-three minutes, and killed him in the covert. Found at Foston, or rather
hunted a fox that crossed the road as we were going there, and killed him.

Saturday, Loxley. — Found in the Alder Car, and ran to ground at the back
of Blount's Hall. Found again in the Park Covert, ran by the left of Kingston
village, nearly up to the Thatched Lodge, turned back through Kingston Woods
into Bagot's Woods, where we had several foxes on foot directly and no scent.
Went to Blithfield, found in Stansley's Wood, ran a wide ring through Kingston
Woods, back to the Warren Covert, and killed him. Forty-seven mmutes.

Monday, February 25th, Marchington. — Found in the Far Wood. No scent,
and soon lost. Found again in the Dog Kennel Wood, ran hard along the Banks,
out to Holly Bush, back over Agardsley, by the Daisy Bank, through Hart's
Coppice, and killed by the Park Lodge. About fifty minutes. Did not find again
till we got to Lord's Coppice. Then ran a ring, and to ground in a drain.

Tuesday, Bradley. — Found in the Lime Kiln Gorse, no scent, hunted round
by Hulland and lost him. Found again in Bradley Wood, ran up to Shirley
Park, on by Ednaston village, up to where Jarratt's Gorse used to be, and back
to Bradley, where we viewed him, but he got to ground in a large rabbit-hole.
Good hunting run of two and a half hours.

Thursday, Stenson Loch. — Hunted a fox from Arleston Gorse in the direction
of the Pastures, but could not get on, owing to the want of scent. Did not find
till we got to Egginton, and then a fox went away from the gorse at once, ran
him by Bumaston up to the lunatic asylum, and after that hunted him slowly
nearly to Arleston, where we went to a halloa by the gorse, but our fox had
turned short back.

Satta'day, Blithbury. — Found in Pipe Wood, ran a ring and lost him, drew

without finding, till we got to Stanley's Wood, and then ran into the woods.

Monday, March Ath, Elvaston. — Found in the plantation by the Golden

14 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS, [1878

Gates, the fox turned short back at the end of it, and was killed, A brace of
foxes in the gorse, ran one about, and killed him. Aston, Chellaston, and Arleston
blank,

Tuesday, Sudhury. — Found in the coppice, ran nearly to the Lake Bank,
down the meadows to Palmer Moor and back to Sudbury, Not an atom of
scent. Found again in the Alder Car, ran nearly up to Bentley Car and lost.
Killed a fox — probably a vixen, as she would not go away — in Bentley Car.
Ran a fox from Potter's for three fields, and stopped on the plough, Sapperton
blank.

Thursday^ Dalhury. — Sutton and Hilton blank. Chopped a vixen in the
Ice-house Pit at Foston. A fox jumped off the top of a hovel all among the
hounds near Sapperton, and escaped into the covert through which it went, but
there was no scent. Longford blank,

Saturday, Charthy. — Found in the Shaw Gorse, and ran to ground in a pit-
hole near Field. Killed a fox in the gorse. Found on the Moor, ran up to the
turnpike road — no scent. Drew the Birch Coppice, Ciller's Rough, Gratwich
Wood, the Park Covert, at Loxley, and the Alder Car blank,

Monday, March 11th, Wychnor. — Blank, Found a vixen below the road at
Dunstall, and left her. Hunted a fox that had gone away from the Easthill
Rough, but had to give it up, Henhurst blank. Found in Knightley Park, ran
through the Rocket Oak, and to ground by the roadside near Tatenhill.

Tuesday, Cithley Gate. — Found in the covert by Cockshead Lane, ran hard
up to Bentley and on to Cubley Lodge, over the road and back to Snelston,
leaving Marston on the left and Cubley on the right, ran through Raddle Wood
down to the village, and across the Park nearly to Clifton, and back again by the
village ; we must have changed foxes once, if not twice, up to this. Got on a fresh
fox, and ran by Stydd to Cubley Gorse, and on by Cubley Stoop up to Marston,
and finally lost by Marston Park. Capital day's sport, and we were running for
over three hours, and hard at times.

Thursday, Machworth. — Markeaton blank. Found at Allestree, ran to Darley
and back to Allestree, through Colvile's Covert and Farnah, up to Breward's
Car, and killed. Found in Langley Gorse, ran at first as if for Radbume, turned
short back and ran up to the Derby end of the Vicar Wood, hunted slowly back
by Langley, and lost.

Sattirday, Kingston. — Found in Woodcock Heath, ran through the covert by
Windy Hall,* back to Kingston.

Monday, March l%th. The New Inn. — Found at Needwood, ran fast by East
Lodge, at the back of the New Inn to Byrkley, through Kingstanding and the
Parson's Brake into the Greaves — about thirty-five minutes ; got on our fox again
going back to Needwood, but could not get on with him. The Hare Holds pro-
duced a fox which we hunted to Castle Hayes, and lost.

Tuesday, Eaton Wood. — Found in Sedsall Rough, ran about for some time
and gave it up near Marston — a vixen, no doubt. Got on a fox at once in the
Aldermoor at Sudbury, ran it nearly to Sapperton, and to Foston, and killed him
by the railway.

Thursday, Foremarh. — Ran a fox veiy nicely from Gorstey Leys into Repton
Shrubs, where we changed, and hunted another fox about in the covert for some
time, till he went over the Park, and we killed him. Drew the gorse blank,

Saturday, Chartley. — Ran a lame fox a few fields from the Shaw, and killed
him. AVent back, found another, ran him by Turner's Gorse to Weston, over a

* Probably Wanfield Hall.

1878] STEEPLECHASING. 15

capital line, but there was no scent. Hounds got away close to a fox from the
Moss, but could not hunt him five fields. Drew Gratwich blank.

Monday, March 25th, Brook House.— A regular woodland daj\ Hunted a
fox about for a long time, and eventually killed him by the Lawn Meadow.

Ttiesday, Newton ?;j7%e.~Found in Newton Gorse, hunted slowly by Blith-
field up to St. Stephen's Hill, and lost. Did not find till we got in the woods,
■then ran about some time and killed in the Cliff Bank.

TImrsday, Brethy Mill. — Snow.

Saturday, Bagofs TFboo^s.— Found in Bagot's Woods, ran a ring out towards
Blithfield, back through the wood, and on to Loxley, where we lost at the bottom
of Carry Coppice. Philips' Gorse, Park Covert, Aldermoor, Baker's Pit blank.
Bitterly cold day, and a great deal of snow on the ground.

Stopped by frost or snow eight days during the season. Hounds out, one
hundred and eleven times; foxes killed, forty-three brace; foxes run to ground,
twenty-two brace. Killed in regular hunting, twenty-five brace.

UTTOXETEPt STEEPLECHASES.

April, 1878.

This annual event came off on Monday, and was very successful from a sport-
ing point of view, but there was a falling off in the attendance as compared with
some former years. This falling off was no doubt to be accounted for by the
state of the thermometer ; the weatlier was bitterly cold, a piercing wind blow-
ing across the course and penetrating the thickest garments, while an occasional
hailstorm somewhat varied the prevailing uncomfortable ness. The day was
generally observed as a holiday at Uttoxeter, and special trains from the
Potteries, Stafford, Derby, and other places brought a large number of visitors.
There was a good attendance of local gentry. The stewards on this occasion
were Mr. M. A. Bass, M.P., Mr. S. C. Allsopp, M.P., Mr. J. A. Piatt, Mr. A. 0.
Worthington, Mr. G. W. Mould, Mr. T. H. Smith, and Mr. B. H. Buxton. The
various arrangements were carried out with admirable completeness. Mr. Bunt-
ing officiated as starter, Mr. A. A. Flint and Mr. T. S. Keates were active as
■clerks of the course, and Mr. W. Carless, of Stafford, was the judge. The course
was kept clear by two mounted officere of the county constabulary. There were
seven events on the card, and the majority of them were fairly well contested.
Appended are details of the running : —

The Uttoxeter Hunt Steeplechase, of forty pounds, for hunters duly qualified,
and which have been hunted with the Meynell, North Stafford, South Stafford,
Dove Valley, Atherstone, Albrighton, or Earl Ferrers' hounds during 1877-1878.

Mr. J. A. Piatt's ch. g., Tynemouth, aged (Captain Cotton) ... 1

Mr. G. W. Mould's br. g., Schoolboy, 6 yrs 2

Mr. Walter Mynor's b. h., Confidence, aged 3

Schoolboy won by three lengths, Confidence second, but both were dis-
qualified for not going the right side of a post, and the stakes awarded to
Tynemouth. Five ran.

16 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1878

The Farmers' Steeplechase of twenty pounds for first horse, eight pounds for
second, three pounds for third.

Mr. W. Bathew's b. h.. Harvester, 6 yrs. (Mr, (J. Bathew) ... 1

Mr. J. Holmes' Verax 2

Mr. Weston's br. h., The Duke, 7 yrs 3

Harvester won easily by five lengths. Eight ran.

The Yeomanry Steeplechase, of twenty pounds, for horses that were ridden
during permanent duty at Lichfield in 1877.

Mr. Walter Mynor's b. h., Confidence, aged (Owner) 1

Mr. Wood's br. m., Miss Clifton 2

The two horses ran pretty well together for the first time round, but in the
second round Confidence took the lead and won easily. Two ran.

The Red Coat Steeplechase of five pounds each, with twenty pounds added^
for duly qualified hunters that have been hunted with and are owned by sub-
scribers to the Meynell, North and South Sta8"ordshire, Dove Valley, Atherstone,
Albrighton, or Earl Ferrers' hounds.

Mr. Mould's br. g., Schoolboy (W. Bond) 1

Mr. J. A. Piatt's ch. g., Tynemouth, aged 2

Mr. Mynor's b. h., Elford (late Rocket) 3

Tynemouth led for the first time round, but ultimately Schoolboy took the
lead and won by ten lengths.

The Tradesmen's Steeplechase of twenty sovereigns. Entrance free. For
horses the bond fide property (three months previous to the race) of trades-
men, farmers, or their sons, and residing within twenty miles of Uttoxeter, and
that have never won a flat race, hurdle race, or steeplechase, value ten pounds.
Four years, eleven stone ; five years, eleven stone, eight pounds ; six and
aged, twelve stone, three pounds.

Mr. W. Bathew's br. h., Harvester, 6 yrs. (Mr. G. Bathew) ... 1
Mr. Whiston's nas. bk. m., Lady Sykes .. 2

Four others also started, but Harvester and Lady Sykes were the only two
in the race. Harvester came in first by several lengths.

A Galloway Steeplechase for fifteen pounds, for Galloways not exceeding
fifteen hands.

Mr, J. Wright's ch. g., Rockingham, aged (Haiper) 1

Mr. Cooke's b, m,, Patty, 5 yrs 2

Mr. T. Webster's br. g., Peacock, aged .3 ,

Won by half a length.

A Pony Steeplechase for a Silver Cup, value ten pounds, or money. For
ponies not exceeding fourteen hands, the property of persons residing within
fifteen miles of Uttoxeter,

Mr. W. D. Fox's br. g., The Baker, aged (Morris) 1

Mr. Cook's br. m., Little Queen 2

Mr. S. Cottrell's br. m., Fan, aged 3

1878] ( 17 )

CHAPTER 11.

FRESH FACES — THE OPENING DAY — GOOD RUN FROM SUTTON

GORSE A FOX KILLED ON THE ICE AT SUDBURY AN

UNMANAGEABLE FIELD— GOOD RUN FROM DUNSTALL —
END OF THE SEASON.

1878-1879.

Lord Parker, and Lady Parker, who was the sister of
that fine sportsman, Colonel Harford, came to Field House,
Marchington, Staffordshire, in 1878. He was no stranger
to the country, as his father. Lord Macclesfield, owned a
great deal of property and the extensive woodlands round
Croxden Abbey, just over the border of Meynell-land. He
was one of the rapid set at Oxford, which circulated round
the Marquis of Hastings, and others of a like kidney, and
no end of stories are told of their doings. Perhaps one
of the most amusing was about Lord Parker's buying a
pound of treacle in a grocer's shop and having it put into
his hat, which he promptly clapped on to the head of the
curly-haired shopman, whose conceited manner and am-
brosial locks had made him objectionable to his lordship
and his set. There was no form of sport at which he
was not an adept, and a thorough master of every detail.
Neither did he confine himself to any one country, for he
has shot tigers in India, as well as stags in Scotland. As a
rider to hounds he was a far better man in his prime than
ever he was in his earlier years, but of the science of hunt-
ing he was a past master, and well he might be, for there
was no better sportsman, or more perfect specimen of his
class, than his father, Lord Macclesfield. A curious incident

18 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1878

in connection with the latter is worth mentioning. It
was always the custom in his time for hounds to come
to Shirburn Castle, his seat in Oxfordshire, on the open-
ing day. The year after his death, out of consideration
for the feelings of his family, they met elsewhere, but
hounds ran their fox to Shirburn, and killed him close to
where the old Earl was buried. This almost goes on all-
fours with the story of the white-brushed Bradley Wood
fox preceding the hearse when the great Hugo Meynell
was carried to Bradley churchyard.

"Pis for Parker, come, gladden your eyes,
Like a bird o'er the fences her ladyship flies."

And so she did. In fact, no one, when she was at her
best, went any better than she did.

She came to a tragic end, having fallen over-board in
the night on her return from Australia, and was not
missed till next day. It is a curious thing that no less
than four tenants of Field House should have died
suddenly. Lord Alexander Paget got into a carriage to
•drive home from the Moors in Scotland, with three others,
and when the carriage arrived at its destination there
were but three in it. The bright spirit of the fourth had
taken its flight silently as they drove. Lord Parker was
found dead in his bed in his London house ; her ladyship
lost her life as above-mentioned ; and Lord Hindlip, who,
as Mr. Charles Allsopp, lived previously in the same house
at Marchington, died suddenly after an operation for
cancer.

This season was rather an eventful one in the annals
of the Hunt, for, with the advent of Admiral Cumming to
Foston, that steady flow of new blood into the country,
which has gone on ever since, seemed to begin. This
practically worked a revolution, and gradually a pluto-
cracy took the place of the squirearchy, who, partly from
old age, and partly from bad times, practically retired
from the field. It has been so in every grass country,
but, for a long time, the Meynell country defied change.

1878] FRESH FACES. 19

and its Hunt was a happy little family party, differing, it
is true, in rank and position, but united by one strong
common bond of local interests. At one time the whole
of Derbyshire and Staffordshire society seemed to be knit
together by ties of relationship, and a strange resident
appearing at the covert side was very much in the same
position as " Snob" in Leicestershire, in Aiken's inimitable
sketches.

By degrees all this was changed. No doubt every-
thing is much smarter than it was in Hoar Cross days, and
the hunt servants are better mounted and better turned
out. When Fred Cottrell was second whipper-in it was
some time before he was allowed a red coat ; in fact, it
was rather a favourite joke in the country that a subscrip-
tion should be got up to buy him one ! One thing is quite
certain, and that is that there is a great deal more money
spent and wanted, which is perhaps unavoidable under
modern conditions. A iDropos of subscriptions, this
year's amounted to £3482 95., and the compensations to
£166 7s. 6d.

The new-comers were Mr. Kempson, to Co ton, and Mr.
Hodgson, afterwards at Small wood, to Tixall, a charming
old house near Ingestre. Mr. Kempson was a nice light
weight, who afterwards distinguished himself quite as
much at polo as in the hunting-field. He never went to
school, being delicate, but to a tutor's, where his father
allowed him a pony, so that he had never missed a season
from the time he was a small boy till he went abroad to
shoot big game in the Rocky Mountains in 1898. His
wife, who was Miss Firman, and who had given up hunt-
ing for some time, went with him, and became as fasci-
nated with the wild, unconventional life as he did. So
much so, in fact, that, after staying at home one season,
they let Densy, the house he built near Sudbury, started
off again, and at this time are still abroad. Mr. Kemp-
son is one of the most beautiful horsemen imaginable,
and has the art of seeming perfectly at home on the
wildest young one. As a breeder of hunters he has been

20 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1878

very successful, many of his home-bred and home-made
ones having realized high prices at Tattersall's. In
making, breaking, and rearing these young ones, he was
very ably assisted by Wilkes, his stud groom and factotum,
a very fine horseman, and quite a character.

Mr. Hodgson, on the contrary, is a welter weight, but,
on Sampson or Bluebeard, no one could pound him. He
is a very keen cricketer, having matches at Smallwood —
which he purchased about fifteen years ago — every Satur-
day in the summer.* Colonel Levett lived there before
him. When Mr. Hodgson bought the property, he built,
on one of the most beautiful sites in the country, a very
stately, red-brick mansion of noble proportions. Still he
spends most of his time in Scotland, now that he has given
up hunting, being devoted to shooting and fishing.

There were many complaints in other parts of England
of mange in foxes, and sundry reasons were given for it.
Sir C. de Crespigny attributed it to foxes eating rats.
But so far it had not appeared in the Meynell country.

This was a most extraordinary season, for, after a
fortnight's frost, they just managed to put in a day at
Sudbury on January 1st, running fast for fifteen minutes,
and bursting up a fat fox in the open. Then the frost
set in with greater severity than ever. On the r2th the
Limited Mail, with no less than four engines attached
to it, was snowed up for two days at Inverness. On
February 5th there was an inclination to thaw, and every
one went to the Meynell Hunt Ball, at which the Prince
Imperial was present. He was staying with Lord Harring-
ton at Elvaston. There were two hundred and twenty
people there, and it was a great success. On Friday
hounds came to Elvaston, and the Prince was out, in
pink, which carried a little Derbyshire mud home on it.
Not that he seemed to mind the fall, which he got near
Aston, one bit, getting on again, and following his selected
pilot. Lord Petersham, as if nothing had happened.

* Mr. Webb -was the previous owner; from him it passed to the Uttoseter
Bank, who sold it to Mr. Hodgson.

1878] THE OPENING DAY. 21

The night before, at the Hunt Ball, there were
present, besides Lord Harrington's party, Earls Ferrers
and Loudoun, Lord Waterpark, M.F.H., Lord and Lady
Petersham, Lady Skelmersdale, Sir Henry and Lady Wil-
mot, Captain and Lady Florence Duncombe, Lady Chet-
wode, Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. Clowes, Mr. and Mrs.
Curtis, the Misses Thornewill, Mr. M. A. Bass, M.P., Mr.
and Mrs. F. Cotton, Mr. S. C. Allsopp, M.P., Mr. and
Mrs. F. Kendall, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Worthington, Mr.
and Mrs. Broadley Smith, and many others.

On Friday night there was a grand ball at Elvaston.

This is, however, rather putting the cart before the
horse.

The hounds began cub-hunting, in Bagot's Woods, on
August 26th, and they killed a cub, or a brace, every
time they went out for the first four mornings, bring-
ing sixteen brace to hand altogether.

On the opening day, at Sudbury, on November 4th,
there were present Lord Waterpark, M.F.H., Captain
Duncombe (of Calwich Abbey), Lord and Lady Parker
(of Field House, Marchington), Mr. Clowes (of Norbury),
Lady Gwendolin Chaplin, Mr. R. W. Chandos-Pole,
Colonel and the Misses FitzHerbert, Mr. and Mrs. Jervis-
Smith (of Clifton Hall), Mrs. Frank (of Ashbourne Hall),
the Hon. Mrs. Col vile, Miss Cumming, Miss 0. Thorne-
will, Messrs. Broadley Smith, A. W. Lyon, T. P. Kempson,
S. C. Allsopp, M. T. Bass, M.P., Thomas and John Smith,
W. and H. Boden, R. and F. T. Feilden, F. Cotton and
Mrs. Cotton, G. Meynell, A. H. Colvile, A. 0. Worthing-
ton, B. H. Buxton, J. and C. Cumming, Tonman Mosley,
Firman, F. S. Kendall, Colonel James Cavendish, Captains
A. F. Dawson (Barrow Hill), Goodwin, Fowler-Butler,
Lord Bagot, Major Fleming, Messrs. John Chandos-Pole
Charles Forster, Alexander, Crossman, Fox (Elmhurst),
Hodgson (Tixall), and old Tom Leedham.

Charles Hawkes having gone to Lord Zetland, Walter
Scorey succeeded him as second whipper-in, and a very
good one he made.

22 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1878

From Lord Waterpark's diary : —

Monday, Novemher 4th, Sudhury. — Found at the Lake Bank, ran up the
meadows to Foston, back almost to Sudbury and then down to Sapperton,
through the covert, and lost between Aston and Foston. Found in the gorse in
Sudbury Park, ran fast over the Park by Mackley, through Sapperton back to
ground, in view, in Sudbury Park. Spent the rest of the afternoon trying, in
vain, to catcli one of the many foxes in the coppice.

Tuesday, The New Inn. — Found at Needwood, ran through the Parson's
Brake into the Greaves, down the Banks, out at Forest Side, and to gi'ound at
Hound Hill. Drew Woodford Rougli blank, then found in the woods, ran through
Kingston over to Loxley, back by the High Wood, and stopped the hounds at
Woodford,

Thursday, Eadburne. — Killed a cub in the Rough. Trotted oft' to Sutton
Gorse, chopped an old fox, went away with another, hunted him slowly round
by Etwall Cottage, and lost : poor scent. Found in the Spath, ran fast down to
Potter's, turned back and hunted slowly back by Sutton up to Dalbury : hounds
here set to work to run hard, and killed their fox by the cheese factory at Etwall.
Good run of an hour and a half.

Saturday, Blithhury. — Found in Pipe Wood, ran under Pear Tree Gorse
down the brook side to Forge Coppice, a ring round by Abbot's Bromley, back to
Forge Coppice, and lost. Blithe Moor blank. Found in Blithfield Gorse, ran
very fast for fifteen minutes to gi-ound in a pit-hole not far from Colwich Station.
Viewed a fox (to my belief the hunted one which had come out when the
hounds moved away) coming into a covert close by, ran him round by Bellamore,
and killed at Colton.

Monday, Novemher llth, Anslow.—OuQ fox, or at most two foxes, in the
Henhurst, no scent, and I think he got to gi-ound in the dingle by the roadside.
Did not find again till we got to Bannister's Wood, killed one fox in the little
gorse, ran another through the Rocket, and to gi-ound at Dunstall. Found in
the Holly Wood, ran to Byi-kley and on by Kingstanding and Hanbury Park to
Needwood, and lost.

Tuesday, Shirley Park. — Snow.

Thursday, Kedleston. — Chopped a fox close to the village, ran another by
the gardens over the Park back to the village, round by Weston, where we
changed in the covert by the brook side, and went on with a fresh fox by
Langley, nearly up to the Parson's Gorse, and here he was headed in the road,
ran a ring round, and got to ground. Found in Langley Gorse, ran at first as if
he meant Radburne, but bore to the right and ran over Nun's Field up to
Brailsford, over by Wilde Park to Mercaston, and from thence bore to the right
by Kedleston village up to Ireton Wood, where we had him, dead beat, in the
covert and came to a long check: however, he sneaked out unseen and we
hunted him slowly on to Allestree and gave it up, as he had gone on, there was
no scent, and it was very late.

Saturday, Chartley. — Found in Handleasow Wood, ran a short ring and to
ground near Gratwich village. Did not find on the Shaw, but in Fradswell
Heath, rang a ring back through the gorse, over the park, through Handleasow
Wood by Benyon's farm, over the brook into Kingston Woods, and then two
rings out towards Blithfield back to the woods.

Monday, Novemher \%th, Newhorough. — Found in the Birchwood, ran hard
for ten minutes to ground in a pit. Hoar Cross, Rough Park, and Brakenlmrst
blank. Found in Jackson's Bank and ran for two hours over some of the best

1878] GOOD RUN FROM SUTTON GORSE. 23

part of the Forest country, and finally stopped the hounds at five o'clock at
Yoxall Lodge.

Tuesday, Doveridge. — Found in the Lady Coppice, ran into Eaton Wood,
back to Doveridge, and hunted slowly on by Somersal. A fresh fox in the osier-
bed, ran him well by Hill Somersal nearly to Sudbury, and to ground by the
Breach. Found in the Twelve Lands, and the fox ran straight to the same
culvert at the Breach that the last fox went into. Spent the remainder of the
day hunting some bad foxes at Sudbury, none of which will go six fields from
the coverts.

Thursday, Stenson Lock. — Only one fox in Arleston Gorse — scent very bad ;
hunted him to Stenson Covert, and lost. Found again at Egginton Green
Covert, could only run a few fields, and the same with a fresh fox from the
gorse.

Saturday, Loxhy.—YonnA in Carry Coppice, ran to ground in the earth.
Ran a fox well from Philips' Gorse round by Mr. Blurton's, back into Carry
Coppice, where be got to ground. The rest of Loxley blank. Found in
Laurence's Wood — a very bad fox ; but he too got to ground.

Monday, November 25th, Walton village. — Drew every hole and corner of
the country blank, till at last, at three o'clock, we found one fox at Drakelowe,
and then could scarcely hunt him.

Tuesday, Bradley.— Found in the Lime Kiln Rough, ran a ring under Atlow
and to the covert by the Hall and on to Yeldersley, back by Bradley Wood,
over the road, under Atlow, and killed at Bradley Pastures. Found again in
Shirley Park, ran in covert some time.

An account of the next day appeared in print, and
was as follows : —

SPLENDID RUN WITH THE MEYNELL HOUNDS, 1878.

On Thursday, November 28th, the meet was at Etwall village, and a windy,
boisterous night, succeeded by a cold, cutting easterly wind, was not looked upon
as very promising for sport. However, shortly before eleven o'clock, Charles
Leedham trotted up with his old dog-pack, lookmg in blooming condition, and
after a few minutes' law for the late ones, the noble master (Lord Watei-park)
gave the word for Sutton Gorse. The field was a large one (far too large for ua
to give in detail), but we noticed, besides Lord Waterpark, Lords Shrewsbury
and Parker, Colonels Buller (2), Coke, and Milligan, Sir John Hardy, Messrs.
C. and G. Allsopp, Godfrey Meynell, Chandos-Pole, W. and H. Boden, A. H.
Colvile, Hon. W. Bagot, Broadley Smith, Bird, C. Foster, Wood, D'Arcy Clark,
J. Smith, PhUlips, Worthington, Sale, Buxton, Salt, and many strangers. At
11.45 our fox was halloaed away, and Charles quickly getting them on the line,
he ran fast by Dalbury, leaving Radburne well to the right, by Langley and
Vicar Wood, skirting Kedleston vUlage to Weston, and from there to Breward's
Car. Time to here, fifty-five minutes, with only one check when he had run
thirty-three minutes. Here Charles viewed him, dead beat; but other foxes
being afoot, time was unavoidably lost, and we had given him up, but afterwards
found, from the information of some boys, that a fox had gone to ground a few
minutes before, with two or three hounds at his brush in Ravensdale Park. The
distance of the run was six to seven miles, as the crow flies, and eleven or more
as they ran. It was all over a capital line, and the fox a real wM Derbyshire
one, such as led them their famous gallop when " Old Tom " was huntsman in

24 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1878

1870,* and which was so gi-aphically described by Mr. M. T, Bass. At Brailsford
a fresh fox was found, and, after two rings with him, the writer left for home, but
shortly after the " Whoo-whoop !" borne on the easterly breeze told him that
•blood had rewarded the pack for the excellent sport which they had shown us.

From Lord Waterpark's diary we learn that this last
gallop lasted twenty-five minutes.

Diary continued : —

Saturday, £Uthfield.—Y ery frosty morning, could not hunt till 12.30.
Found in Stanley's Wood, ran over Newton Hurst into the woods by Dunstall
Pit, through Lord's Coppice and Black Gutter Coppice to ground on Bromley
Hurst. Found in Black Gutter Coppice, ran two or three times fast through the
woods— scent capital— and finally killed him in the Rhododendron Covert at
Blithfield. Good day.

Monday, December 2nd, Cuhley. — Many foxes in the gorse, chopped one.
Ran another nearly to Bentley, and back to Cubley, then another ring round and
killed in the field next the gorse. Went to Sudbury, found many foxes, got
away with one at last, but he came back, and we could not hunt him over the
foiled gi'ound.

Tuesday, The Neio 7>i?2.— Found at Needwood, ran towards Hanbury and
back, and round about for some time. Found again at the Holly Wood, ran by
Rangemore nearly down to Wychnor, and stopped the hounds, as they were going
to shoot at Wychnor the next day.

Thursday, liadburne.— Found in the Potlucks, ran up to the nursery and on
to the Parson's Gorse, where the fox turned short back and we could do no more
with him. Went to Longford, found in the Car, ran about and back to the
Car, went away with a fresh fox, ran him to Alkmonton and on by Bentley Hall
to Cubley and gave it up.

Stopped by {rost fifteen hunting days.

Of the only day snatched out of the fire, or rather
frost, before they were again stopped for twenty days,
R. F. gave the following account in the Field.

Field, January Uth, 1879: —

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. "

" First open day at the kennels " has been the advertised notice during the
late severe winter, and the frost having sufficiently disappeared on New Year's
Day, a good muster of the right sort were in attendance at the appointed hour,
11 a.m. The master (Lord Waterpark) first directed the coverts immediately
surrounding Sudbury Hall (seat of Lord Vernon) to be drawn. This is generally
looked upon as a certain find, but this morning reynard had not selected it as a
resting-place, which is not to be wondered at, as the lake and ornamental waters
that run through it have during the frost been largely attended by ladies and
gentlemen skating by daylight, moonlight, and artificial light (not the electric

* The writer evidently means 1868.

1879] A FOX KILLED ON THE ICE AT SUDBURY. 25

light). The coppice was the next order, where very soon the welcome " Tally-
ho " of J. Tasker (first whip) proclaimed that he had gone away. It was soon
evident that the scent was good, as the pace that the merry pack (bitches)
rattled him through the bottoms was a regular burster, and the fine music
appeared to cheer the whole field with glorious excitement. The fox first
pointed for Sudbury Park, but, being turned by some country yokel halloaing, he
directed his way towards Eaton Woods ; this caused a momentary pause. The
huntsman (C. Leedham) soon had them on the right line, and, led by Rally, a
first-season lemon and white bitch, they ran him in splendid style, so fast that he
was unable to reach his intended harbour. After trying the cottagers' gardens
at Somersal, he resorted to the protection of Mr. Bowden's stackyard. This was
of no use, as the ladies, with their experienced huntsman, were quite equal to his
wily ways, and he had to surrender his carcase to a " who-whoop," finishing a
capital run of about twenty-five minutes, during which a wide brook and some
stiflf thorn fences had to be surmounted. The first rank of horsemen consisted
of Lord Petersham, Messrs. A. W. Lyon, Chandos-Pole, and T. Kempson. They
then had another run from the coppice, killed a fox in Sapperton Gorse, and ran
one away from there, which they lost, ending a very pleasant and good day's
sport. The excellent condition of horses and hounds after so long a frost is very
creditable to those in charge of them.

R. F.

The following account appeared in print, as follows : —

A BYE DAY WITH THE MEYNELL HOUNDS ON THE SNOW.

Sir,— Heartily tired of inactivity, the master ordered the pack to be brought
out on Wednesday morning, January 28th. Like many other events that
it is intended to do on the quiet, this appeared to be pretty well known.
Notwithstanding the rigour of the weather, several ladies graced the meet with
their presence ; some in carriages, but the greater number preferred the solidity
of terra firma. It was a most novel and grand sight to see forty-two couples of
well-proportioned hounds drawing through the different coverts three inches deep
in snow, and forcibly reminded me of a popular ballad in my younger days —

"Never mind the weather, how the wind does blow.
For in spite of wind and weather we will jump, Jim Crow."

A fox was foimd in Sudbury Coppice. He broke cover in the du-ection of
Vernon's Oak, making for Cubley, crossed the Ashbourne road in the du-ection of
Bentley Car. Here he was turned by a man at work hedging, who, upon being
asked why he did not halloa when he saw him going in the opposite direction,
replied, " Lor, who would have thought of yer hunting this 'ere weather." After
a check of a few minutes they were in full cry again by Middleton Park, through
Boylestone, Hare Hill, back through the Bottoms towards Aldermoor plantation,
where they raced into him in the middle of the fish-pond, on the ice — no small
weight for it to bear, eighty-four hounds, averaging fifty-six pounds each, and five
or six people, making altogether near upon three tons. He was a large dog fox,
thoroughly beat with his forty minutes' plodding through the snow, in some places
two feet deep. All out agi-eed that they had never witnessed such an event
before, and it is not likely that they will do again.

(Signed) R. V.

26 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1879

Diary continued : —

Friday, February 7th, Elvaston. — No scent, several foxes on foot, but could
not catch one. Found two or three at Chellaston, ran to Aston, and lost. The
Prince Imperial was with us.

Saturday, The Kenneh. — Found in the coppice, ran nearly to Cubley Gorse,
turned to the right by Bentley, and lost him beyond Alkraonton Bottoms. Drew
the Car at Longford, and ran very nicely up to Shirley Park, where we lost our
fox in a heavy storm of rain. Came back to Longford, got on a fox that was on
the move, ran a ring round by the house, through Hollington and Culland up to
Brailsford church, where another heavy storm again stopped us.

Monday, February 10th, Wychnor. — Blank. Found in the White Wood, ran
about, and lost. The same thing, with a bad ringing fox, from Yoxall. Hounds
slipped away with a fox from the Brakenhurst, ran through Jackson's Bank round
Byrkley Lodge nearly to Rangemore, and killed in Smith's Hills at Dunstall.
About twenty-five minutes very fast.

Tuesday, Norbury. — Chopped one fox in the little covert by Cockshead Lane,
ran another down to Sudbury Coppice, where we checked some time, but got on
him again and hunted him slowly across the Park to the back of the village, and
could make no more of it. We heard afterwards that our fox had lain do%vn by
the park fence and went back over the Park as soon as we had gone away.
Found at Foston, and ran nearly up to Hilton Gorse, where we stopped the
hounds, not wishing to disturb the covert.

Thursday, Kedleston Toll Gate. — Drew Darley osier-bed blank. Found at
Allestree, ran a ring, and to ground in the covert. Found again in Colvile's
covert, ran hard up to Breward's Car, and could make nothing more of him.
Drew all the other coverts at Kedleston blank. Very wet day.

Friday, Tutbury Station. — Killed a fox in Hilton Gorse, ran another up to
Sutton cross roads and back, fast, along the brook side to Hilton village, where
he beat us, and we must have left him amongst the buildings. Found at
Egginton, ran a ring, and into Etwall village, where our fox served us the same
trick as the last. Went to Foston, found in the covert by the Pennywaste, ran a
ring round, back through the coverts, and then on perfectly straight to Boyles-
tone ; here our fox turned to the right, and we hunted him down within a field of
Potter's (thirty-five minutes) and on to Mamerton, and lost in a storm. Capital
day's sport. The first whip hunted the hounds.*

Saturday, Chartley. — Found in Handleasow Wood, ran hard for a bit, and to
ground in a pit-hole. None of the earths stopped ; fresh keeper. Went to the
Shaw ; hounds slipped away over Fradswell Heath and ran round by Birchwood
Park, and back to Handleasow Wood and Gratwich Wood before we got to them ;
then ran hard over the Park and on in the direction of Sandon, where we lost
him. We left our beaten fox behind in the Long Ridge Covert, I fancy, as scent
changed completely after that, and he had only been just before the hounds across
Chartley Park. Wonderful scent all day.

Monday, February VJth, East Lodge. — Found at Needwood, ran hard by
Stockley Park up to Hanbury Park Farm (sixteen minutes), where the hounds
divided, part sticking to the hunted fox, and running him to ground, where ho
was got out and killed by C. Allsopp, the other half of the pack getting on the
heel scent of another fox, and running up to the patch of gorse where he had been
disturbed by some men shooting. Went away with a fox from the Plaster Pit

* Charles Leedham was attending hia uncle's funeral.

1879] AN UNMANAGEABLE FIELD. 27

Covert, ran by Coton, and across the hills below Hanbury, by the New Lodge,
through the Parson's Brake, into Holly Bush, very fast from there into Bull's
Park, where we changed and hunted into the Greaves, and back by Hanbury and
Castle Hayes to ground. The fox was so beat he could scarcely crawl, and
scratched into the earth, which was badly stopped.

Tuesday, Boylestone. — Kan a fox from the spinny at the back of the Dairy
House Farm into Potter's, and killed him ; went away with a fresh fox from
Potter's, ran a short ring, and to ground in the spinny where we first found.
Longford Car blank. Found in the Reeve's Moor, ran up to Shirley Park, and
to ground in the covert, after rattling him several times round and having him in
the middle of the hounds.

Thursday, Eadlmrne. — Snow.

Saturday, BUthhury. — Snow.

Monday, Fthruary 24th, Foremark. — Snow.

Tuesday, Eaton Wood. — Snow.

Thursday, Stenson Lock. — Arleston, Hell Meadows, and Spilsbury's blank.
Found a vixen in Egginton Gorse, and left her, and ran another vixen to
ground from Little Gorstey Leys. Ban a fox from Hilton Gorse almost down
to Tutbury, when scent failed in a heavy storm of rain. Chopped a fox at
Foston.

Saturday, Kingston. — Found in Woodcock Heath, ran through Loxley into
Philips' Gorse, where he waited for us ; came away with him, ran through Carry
Coppice and back to ground in the covert. Killed a very old dog fox, after
running him about ten minutes, from the Alder Car. Went to the woods, ran
a fox hard for twenty-five minutes, and killed him.

Monday, March 3rd, Bradley. — Did not find till we got to Brailsford Gorse,
then ran down to Mercaston and, by Wilde Park, nearly to Langley, where there
were three foxes on foot, and we hunted one back towards Brailsford, and lost
him. Brailsford coverts blank. Chopped a fox at Culland. Longford, Alkmonton
Bottoms, and Bentley Car blank. Found in a little covert at Bentley, ran by
Cubley and Barton for forty-five minutes, and lost between Sutton and Church
Broughton. Poor scent.

Tuesday, Bolleston.—Dove Cliff" osier-bed, Rolleston, Henhurst, Sinai Park, and
East Hill Rough blank. Found in the Oaks at Rangemore, ran through Bannister's
Wood and Knightley Park up to Needwood ; from there scent improved, and
hounds ran hard into the Greaves, and killed him in Bull's Park.

Thursday, Etwall. — Almost the largest and most unmanageable field I ever
saw out with these hounds. Found in the Ashe, ran a ring up to Etwall and on
to Burnaston, where the fox was headed in the road, and turned to the left, and
we hunted him by Mickleover and Littleover up to Normanton, and we had to
leave him, as, though he was viewed, dead beat, scent failed altogether. Killed a
fox in the Black Covert at Radburne, went away with another, ran up to the
Nursery, on by the Common Gorse as if he was going to Markeaton, turned to the
right by Mickleover Windmill, and hunted him on to Normanton, where he again
beat us. We heard afterwards that our fox was found dead in a sough in a
brickyard, within afield of where we lost him.

Saturday, B^'amshall.— Bid not find in the gorse or at Loxley, as we had
disturbed all the coverts only a week ago. Ran a fox from Handleasow Wood
nearly to Gratwich Wood, back along the Park through Fradswell Heath over
the dingle up to the road by Birchwood Park, where he bore to the right and
came back to Fradswell Heath, and ran on up to Milwich and nearly to Sandon,
turned back again to Fradswell and went a second time up to IMilwich, where we

28 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

[1879

lost him. He must have got to ground somewhere, as we cast all round and

hit him off. We v
changed foxes at least once.

could not hit him off. We were manning two liours and a quarter, and must have

Monday, March lOth, Forcmarl:— Found in Gorstey Leys, ran a ring out
and hack towards Ticknall, hack through the wood and by Ingleby Heath up to
Carver's Rocks, where he was viewed, dead beat, but managed to beat us.
Several foxes in Repton Shrubs, ran one to Gorstey Leys, but scent failed
completely over the foiled ground.

Tuesday, Boveridge.— Found three or four foxes together in Eaton Wood, ran
one very fast, up to the Birch Coppice, and on by Brown's farm, over the brook,
and killed him in the Wilderness. Thirty minutes. Found in Sudbury Coppice,
ran under the kennels, over the Park nearly to Sapperton, and on to Church
Broughton, and here he beat us. Went to Sapperton, got on a run fox, in all
probability the same fox we had lost at Church Broughton, ran him up to Sudbury
—in view all across the Park— and killed him in the Coppice.

Thursday, Mercaston Stoop.— Found a fox in a fallow field under Ravensdale
Parkj hunted him slowly round and back to Wilde Park and lost him— no scent.
Went to Langley Gorse, ran rather prettily up to the Squire's Gorse at Radburne
and on to the Nursery, and lost. Found in the Rough, ran towards Sutton, turned
back through the Rough, and hunted up to Long Lane, but could do nothing more.

Saturday, Blithhary. — Found in Laurence's Wood, ran over Bromley Park,
through Hart's Coppice, and the Dog Kennel Wood, into the Banks, out by
Buttermilk Hill, and along under the woods to Friar's Coppice, and into Bagot's
Woods. Ran him about for some time and had him, dead beat, but were
halloaed over the road to a fresh fox, and ran through Kingston Woods and back
several times, and came home.

Of :\Ionday, March 17tli, " Needwood," iu the Field,
wrote the followinof account : —

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

For the last three weeks we have had an uninterrupted period of excellent
sport. Almost every day has afforded a gallop, and many of them have been
first-class, making up as far as possible for the long time we were stopped by the
memorable frost of 1878-9. Amid so many good and satisfactory gallops, it is
hard to select one ; but, perhaps, taken all round, for hunting, pace, and finish,
the run of Monday last was as good as any. The master, Lord Watei-park, was
unfortunately not with us at the meet at Newboro' village. Owing to reports of
a vixen and cubs, the Chantry and Birchwood were passed, and we first drew the
I'rakenhurst. Exactly at one o'clock the first challenge was heard, and shortly
after a full chorus proclaimed bold Reynard at home. To the end of the covert
he takes us, and here for a moment they dwelt ; but old Legacy soon put us
right, and out they go for New Church, but, doubling back, they push him out
on the Hoar Cross side, by Hoar Cross village, on to Birchwood, and then by
Bromley Park. Here was some pretty hunting and fair fencing. At a good pace
they go into Bagot's Park ; but on this usually excellent scenting-ground we
could only go a fair pace; but when we got to Birch Coppy scent improved, and
" Forward, away ! " is the cry, to the right by Marchington woodlands, by Small-
wood Manor. Here he turned sharp round to the left, and in Floyer's Coppy the
welcome " who-woop " told us that blood had rewarded the gallant bitch pack

1879] GOOD RUN FROM DUNSTALL. 29

for the excellent sport they had shown us. The time was one hour, forty
minutes ; between five and six miles from extreme points, and between twelve
and thirteen as we went.

Needwood.

Diary continued : —

Tuesday, Darley Moor. — Found in the HoUy Wood at Snelston, ran round by
Clifton, back by Snelston, and on towards Norbury. There were three or four
couples of hounds forward, which spoiled the run. A brace of vixens at Cubley,
which we left. Bentley Pit and the Sudbury coverts blank. Found at Sapper-
ton, ran a ring round Sudbury Park, back to Sapperton, and killed in the covert ;
went away with another, a vixen, and ran her to ground in the Park.

Thursday. — Radburne blank. There were three foxes in Sutton Gorse, but
there was no scent, and they would not go away, so had to leave them. Hilton
Gorse blank. Foston the same, with the exception of the line of a fox that must
have been gone a long time from the Ice-house Pit. Ran a fox from the coppice
down to Mallabar's farm, where he got in a trap in the fence, and the hounds
killed him.

Saturday, Newton village. — Ran a ring from the gorse to Drointon Wood,
and short back to the gorse, and then hunted him slowly up to Great Heywood,
where he beat us. Came back to Chartley, found on the Shaw, ran a couple of
rings round, and to ground between Fradswell and Sandon.

Monday, March 2ith, Haubury. — Did not find till we got to the Hare Holds,
ran up to the road by Needwood, turned short back through the Hare Holds,
and hunted him slowly round by Hanbury to Kingstanding, and killed. Very
poor scent. Found in the Greaves, ran along the Banks into the woods, where
hounds divided into several lots, and we came home. Wretched cold day, with
snowstorms.

Tuesday, Kedleston. — A worse day even than yesterday. No scent, and
ground Hke iron. Found one fox only in the Kedleston coverts, walked after
him by Mercaston Stoop towards Brailsford, held the hounds on to the gorse, but
could make nothing more of him.

Thursday, Foremark. — Ran very well from Gorstey Leys down the meadows
towards Repton. He turned short back by the ferry, and retraced his steps, and
got to ground in some rocks by Ingleby Hall. Killed a lame fox, after running
him a few fields. Found a third fox in Gorstey Leys, ran up to Repton Shrubs,
back to Carver's Rocks, and killed.

Saturday, Chartley. — Found in Handleasow Wood, ran fast up to Leigh,
where our fox got on the railway and beat us. Philips' Gorse blank. Found in
the Shaw, ran twice over the Park, and lost by the corner of the gorse. Went
to the Moss, found, but a heavy storm of sleet came on and destroyed all sceut.
Very good scent with our first fox, but indifferent afterwards.

Monday, March Z\st, Dunstall.

The following account appeared in the Field : —

It is not often at the end of March that it is the lot of fox-hunters to see such
a clinking run as that on Monday last (March 31st), from Dunstall Hall, It is
long since we called upon these coverts in vain, but things looked very bad
when Gorse Hall and the coverts in the meadows were all blank, and it was not

30 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1879

till the little spinny near Sir John Hardy's farm was drawn that the little red
rascal was fotuid. The first to catch sight of him was Lord Parker, and, like
mad, he galloped to give the good news to the huntsman, but the cheery
lialloa from Jim brought the hounds out almost before he got to him, and to see
them stream away towards the Allotment Farm looked as if some work was in
store for us, and the indififerently-mounted sportsman may well have thought
of Mr. F. Cotton's lines on the Meynell Hunt —

" If you've only a hack, don't hunt with this pack,
Or get down you assuredly will."

Past Kangemore he takes us, and for Yoxall Lodge Park. Here the scent
across the dusty fallows rather failed, but once in the Park they got on good
terms with him, and ran him fast, by the house, across the road, into the Braken-
hurst. Once in this big wood it is often a question when one will get out, but not
so to-day, and through it they take him and out on the Hoar Cross side. Here
Charles thought he had borne to the right, but Lord Berkeley Paget viewed two
or three couples of hounds in front, and his friendly halloa fortunately saved us a
lot of time. On they go again, very fast, across Hoar Cross Park, and from this
point the run varied from most (as generally the best part of the run is the first),
but the cream of this was the last twenty minutes, when we took him from Hoar
Cross Park by Cross Hayes and the Gullet's Farm to ground in a pit-hole at
Bromley Hurst. Names are better avoided, but without fear of offence, we may
say that a noble lord [Lord Berkeley Paget], the huntsmen, and two gentlemen,
one in red [E. J. Bird], and the other in black [J. Kempson], cut out the work,
and landed almost together over the Hoar Cross brook, which stopped so many,
while in close attendance was a noble lord and his lady [Lord and Lady Parker],
who has recently come into this country, a gallant colonel [Col. Levett], the
whip [Jim Tasker], and some seven or eight other well-known followers of these
hounds [Rev. A. H. Col vile, A. 0. Worthington, F. Newton, Gerald Hardy, S.
Troutbeck, Hon. W. Bagot, and C. C. Cumming]. This little contingent was all
that remained of the seventy or eighty at the start, to hear the who-whoop, to
congratulate Sir John Hardy on finding so good a fox, and to hope that Lord
Watei-park's second year of management would show as many more such gallops.
It was almost straight, seven to eight miles (probably a mile or a mile and a
half more as we ran), and lasted just forty-five minutes.*

Needwood.

Diary continued : —

Tuesday, Brethy Mill. — Found in Repton Shrubs, ran a quick ring round,
across the Park, to ground in the covert by the training-ground. Carver's Rocks,
Smith's Gorse, and all the Calke coverts blank. Found in Gorstey Leys, ran
about for some time, but scent was bad, and we could do nothing.

Thursday, Draycott Cliff. — Found in Bull's Park, ran into Bagot's Woods,
and were running about there all day.

Saturday, Bagofs Woods. — Spent the whole day in the woods.

Monday April 1th, Chartley. — Found in the Shaw, ran all about Chartley,
and marked him to ground in a pit on Blurton's farm. All Loxley blank.

Tuesday, Kingston village. — Found in Kingston Wood, ran into Bagot's

* The names in brackets have been filled in recently, and did not appear in
" Needwood's " account.

J879] END OF THE SEASON. 31

Woods and over the Park. Ran a fox from the middle of the woods out by
Heatley, back through the Woods and Friar's Coppice, almost to Loxley, and
lost him.

Thursday. — Rangemore blank. Also Needwood and the Hare Holds. Found
at Castle Hayes, ran by Hanbury into the Greaves, and along the Banks, and to
ground at Hound Hill. Spent the remainder of the day between the Banks and
the woods.

Stopped by frost and snow forty days during the season ! Hounds out,
ninety-five days ; foxes killed, thirty- two and a half brace ; foxes run to ground,
twenty-two and a half brace.

32 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [187»

CHAPTER III.

THE OPENING DAY — GOOD YOXALL DAY — THE " BEAUTY^ "
BALL — GOOD RUN FROM BARTON-BLOUNT — FAST GALLOP
FROM THE PENNYWASTE.

1879-1880.

This year was remarkable for the lateness of the harvest.
They did not begin cub-hunting till September 13th, and
wheat was still standing in the fields at Hoar Cross on
November 3rd. This was not quite so bad as one year
previous to this, when Mr. Feilden at Coxbench sowed a
crop of beans one year, cut them the second, and harvested
them in the third, the last-mentioned operation being
carried on in January in a hard frost !

This was also the year of Mr. Hamar Bass's marriage to
the Hon. Louisa Bagot.

On October 27th hounds found a fox in the Potlucks,
Radburne, ran by Sutton and Barton, and killed in the
road at Church Broughton, after a good hour and twenty
minutes. When they began regular hunting at Sudbury
on November 3rd, they had killed ten brace of cubs.

" Needwood " is again to the fore with a description
of the opening day, and he mentions, amongst those who
were present, " Lord Waterpark, Mr. Clowes, Mr. Meynell,
Lord and Lady Parker, Colonel Buller, Colonel and Lady
Gwendolin Chaplain, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Allsopp,
Colonel and the Misses FitzHerbert, Mr. and Mrs. Jervis
Smith, and Messrs. A. W. Lyon, J. Levett, Tonman Mosley,.
A. 0. Worthington, Kempson, A. H. Colvile, Broadley
Smith, F. H. Cotton, Cumming, W. Boden, T. H. Smith,
and many others, not forgetting old Tom Leedham, whose

1879] THE OPENING DAY. 33

cheery face must have been at well-nigh half a century
of first days at Sudbury Coppy." Hounds ran well from
Sudbury Coppice for forty-three minutes to ground in the
Lime Kilns at Snelston ; chopped a brace in Cubley Gorse ;
ran a third to ground in the same earth as the first, and
wound up with killing a fox from the Cinder Hills,
Snelston, at Eaton Wood. A very good opening day.

Diary continued : —

Ttcesday, Blitlibury. — Found in Cawarden Spring, ran a wide ring by Blytlie
Ford, through Pipe Wood down to Ridware and to ground in a pit-hole — the fox
not a field before the hounds, good run of an hour and twenty minutes. Hunted
a fox, with no scent, from Blithe Moor to Moreton Gorse, and lost him.

Thursday, Hadburne.—Usin slowly from the Rough up to the Parson's Gorse,
where we got on a fresh fox, which would not go two fields, and killed him.
Went to Langley Gorse, killed a cub and came away, after giving the rest a good
rattling. Mercaston Wood and Brailsford blank. Found at Culland, ran nicely
up to Brailsford village, where he turned to the left and ran up to Ednaston
village, where we came to a check and could do nothing after.

Saturday. — Loxley blank. Philips' Gorse the same. Went to the Shaw, but
•did not find till we got to Turner's Gorse, ran a ring, back over Chartley Park
by Fradswell down to Gayton village, where we had a long check, and our fox
turned short back. Got on him again on our way back to Chartley, ran him
through Handleasow Wood into the Shaw, where he was viewed, dead beat, but
two or three fresh foxes on foot saved his life.

Monday, Nooeniber IQth, The New Lin. — Drew all the Needwood Coverts
without finding, till we got to Hanbury Park, where there was one fox, ran him
nearly down to Rolleston Park, where he turned short back and ran back to
Needwood, but we could do nothing more with him. Not much scent. Byrkley
Lodge blank. Found in the Deanery Plantation, ran through Bannister's Wood,
nearly to Dunstall, turned back, and came by the White Wood into Yoxall
Lodge, on to Byrkley, where he doubled short back and got to gi-ound under an
oak tree in Yoxall Lodge.

N.B. — This day and last Saturday should be transposed.

Tmsday, Bradley. — Found in the Lime Kiln Covert, ran by Kniveton up to
the Haven Hill above Bradbourne, and back almost to Bradley, and lost. No
scent. Found again at Bradley, but lost in a heavy storm. Bradley Wood
blank. Found several foxes at Shirley Park, but could do nothing.

Thursday, Stenson Lock. — A good show of foxes in Arleston Gorse. Killed a
cub. Hell Meadow Covert blank. Found in Spilsbury's Covert, ran through
Egginton Gorse by the station and back by the Plall, and lost. Very poor scent,
except just up-wind. Foimd at Hilton, and ran to ground in Clamp's Pit.

Saturday, Neivhorough. — Frost.

Monday, November llth, Chartley.— Dvavj the Moss, and, whilst doing so, a
fox slipped away from Drointon Wood ; could not run him. Found in Newton
Gorse, ran by Drointon village, over the Moss and over the Park, by the Castle,
down the railway to Ciller's Rough ; hunted on over the river, and lost. Drew
Gratwich Wood and the Loxley Coverts blank.

34 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. HST?

Tuesday, Cubley 6'<oop.— Found in Bentley Car, ran a ring back to the
covert, and killed. A brace of foxes at Longford ; hunted one through Alkmonton
Bottoms, by Potter's Covert, down to Sapperton, and killed a fox (I doiAt if it
•was our run fox) in the covert. Went away with another, ran two rings by
Sudbury, and marked him to ground in the Park. Poor scent all day.

Thursday, Kedleston. —¥o\mCi in Frost's Bottoms, ran a ring, and lost by
Wilde Park. Found again in the plantation at Weston, ran by the Vicar Wood,
and to gi-ound in a drain in the village; bolted him, and ran to ground again at
:Mercaston, got him out, and killed him. Found in the New Gorse, and killed.
Went to Brailsford Gorse, and hunted a fox down to Longford. Very little
scent.

Saturday, Anslow. — Frost.

Monday, November 24th, BHthfieJd.— Sharp frost, and the roads a sheet of
ice. Found in Blithe Moor, but could do nothing with him. Stanley's Wood
and Newton Hurst blank. Came into the woods, and hunted till dark.

Tuesday, Fostou.— Found by the house, and ran down the meadows, where
the hounds viewed the fox, and caught him. Ran a fox from the top coverts by
Foston Mill, leaving Sapperton to the right, back by the house down to Hatton,
and lost. Found in Hilton Gorse, but a workman headed the fox two fields from
the Gorse, and he turned back, and was killed. Went to Sutton, ran a ring very
fast and back to the Gorse, where hounds divided, five couples going on over the
Trusley road and killing their fox by the church. Stopped the remainder of the
pack.

Thursday, Foreuiark. — Found in Gorstey Leys, ran a ring out, back through
the wood, and on to Calke Park, where they could not get on for the deer. All
the Calke coverts blank, also Hartshorn Gorse. Found in Repton Shrubs, ran
down to Carver's Rocks and back, but scent failed altogether.

Saturday, Wychnor. — One lame fox, which ran to Barton, and disappeared.
Only a single fox at Dunstall, though we drew all the coverts, and hounds could
not hunt him. Found in Bannister's Wood, and ran to ground in a rabbit-hole
at Dunstall. Not an atom of scent all day.

Monday, December \st, DraheJowe. — Frost.

Tuesday, Doreri.d(/e. — Frost.

Thursday, Radbarne. — Frost.

Saturday, Newburo u;/h. — Frost.

Monday, December 8fh, BHthbury. — Frost.

Tuesday, Darlcy Moor. — Frost.

Thursday, FJi'astoii.— Frost.

Saturday, Anslow. — Frost.

Monday, December 15th, Drakeloive. — Frost.

Tuesday, Doveridge. — Frost.

Tlmrsday, Badburne. — Frost.

Friday, Badburne. — Charles took the hounds to covert, though it was quite
unfit to hunt. Found a fox in the Potlucks, ran him up to the road at Dalbury,
and came home.

Saturday, Neivhorough. — Ran a fox twice round the Chantry, and killed him.
Found in Roost Hill, ran across to Bagot's Woods, where hounds divided ; got
them together, and came home. Ground ver}^ hard.

Monday, December 22nd, BHthbury. — Found in Pipe Wood, ran a ring by
the Black Flats, and to ground in a pit-hole above Blythe Ford ; fox fiit, and dead
beat. Found in Laurence's Wood, ran through Pipe Wood, where he turned
short back, by Pear Tree Gorse over the brook, and, leaving Cross Hayes to the

1880] GOOD YOXALL DAY. 35

left, ran into Brakenhurst ; here hounds divided, and no doubt we left our run fox
in a culvert under the road at the top of the Brakenhurst. Went on, running
hard, through Yoxall Lodge Hills and Byrkley Lodge over the road by the New
Inn, through Knightley Park, and stopped the hounds going for the Henhurst.
Capital run, ground very hard and hardly fit to ride.
Tuesday, Cubley Gate. — Frost.
Friday, Kedleston Oate. — Frost.
Saturday, Anslow. — Frost.

Monday, December 29th, Brakeloive. — Found in the osier-bed, not much
scent, hunted slowly for an hour and ten minutes, and killed. The other Drake-
lovve coverts, Lnllington, and Homestall Wood blank. Found at Catton, ran a
ring nearly to Walton Wood, and lost. Walton Wood blank.

Tuesday, Doveridge. — A most awful day, after an equally bad night. Found
in Eaton Wood, ran by Sedsall Rough and Marston Park into Cubley Gorse ;
here our fox turned back, but there was no scent, and we lost him. Bentley
blank. Found at Potter's, ran down to Burton, and on by the Spath, but could
do nothing. Drew the Foston coverts above the road blank.

Thursday, January 1st, 1880, WilUngton. — Found in Spilsbury's plantations
(three foxes), ran by Burnaston very fast into Egginton Gorse — fourteen minutes ;
got him out after ten minutes or so, and ran him to ground in a sandpit by the
house at Burnaston. Trotted off to Sutton, ran a brace of foxes into some rabbit-
holes, which were not known of before, in the gorse, got one of them out, ran
him down two fields from the covert, but he came back, and the hounds killed
him. In the mean time another had gone away ; hunted him round by Etwall
down to Sutton village, and lost him. Hilton Gorse and the Lower Foston
coverts blank.

Saturday, Yoxall village.— Found in Uough Park, ran very fast up to the
Brakenhurst, and killed — twenty minutes. Found in the Bath Covert, ran to
ground on Jaggard's farm. Went to the Birchwood, found in the bottom corner,
ran by Roost Hill up to the Chantry, turned back, and went straight and fast
over Bromley Park into Hart's Coppice, where we had a brace of foxes before
us ; went on with our hunted fox over the park, into, through, and out of Lord's
Coppice, back over Bromley Park into the Birchwood, through the Chantry, and
killed at the top of the hill above Newborough, First-rate day's sport. Last run,
about an hour and twenty minutes.

Monday, January 5th, Chartley.— Found in Dromton Wood, ran by the
village of Drointon down to the plaster pits, on by the Castle and Turner's Gorse
into the long Ridge Covert, and back on to the Moss, and came to a long check
—fifty minutes up to this— in the road at the top of Drointon Wood, got on
him again, and killed him at the edge of the Moss by the railway crossing. Good
hunting run. Drew all the Loxley coverts and Philips' Gorse blank.

Tuesday, Cubley Gate.— Found in the Holly Wood at Snelston, ran a ring,
and into the Holt, and up to the road at the top of the hill, and here, owing to
the fog, and it being a bad hearing day, hounds unaccountably slipped us, and we
never saw them again till we got up to Bradley Wood. The fox was said to be
twenty minutes before them, so we left him, and came down to Shirley Park.
Killed a fox in covert, came away with another, but there was very little scent,
and we could not get on with him. Found in the Sweet Oils at Longford, ran
through the Reeve's Moor, up to Hollington, turned back, and ran fast, through
the Car, nearly up to Potter's, but he turned and twisted like a hare, and beat us
on the foiled groimd.

36 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1880

The following account appeared in print : —

THE MEYNELL PIOUNDS.

These hounds had a great day on Thursday, January 8tli. The meet was at
Etwall (K. Cotton, Esq.), and, being the day after the Derby ball, there was a
very large assemblage, both of horsemen and carnages, at the meet. Amongst
others may be mentioned Lord Queensberry, Lord Petersham, Lord and Lady
Parker, Lord B. Paget, Colonel Buller, Lord Shrewsbury, Mr. S. W. Clowes, a
strong contingent of soldiers from the depot, and many others too numerous to
mention, while the fact of Mrs, Langtry being present in a carriage did not
detract fi'om the interest of the scene. Very little time was lost before a move
was made, and Sutton Gorse was the first covert drawn. In a few minutes a
welcome halloa from the north corner proclaimed that he was away. A crowded
gateway or two gave the hounds a chance to get away, and, once fairly settled
to the line, they ran in good earnest over a very pretty line of country towards
Langley, but, unfortunately, being headed, he turned short back, past Sutton, to
Burnaston, where a check occurred. Getting on the line again, they ran over
the railway at Egginton Junction, where there were some deep fields, which not
only delayed the hounds, but caused some grief in the field. One gentleman, in
trying to clear the railway fence, " like a bird," found that rails and sleepers are
rather hard falling, but as he continued to the end, we hope he was none the
worse. After some slow himting near the line, they recrossed it, and getting
iOn better terms with their fox on the grass, ran him fast back to Sutton, where
he went to ground in a drain almost in view of the hounds, and a terrier being
handy, they were rewarded with a richly deserved fox. Time, three minutes
under the hour. A move was then made for Radburne, and a fox was soon on
foot in the Rough. After a break-away at the far end, he came out almost in
the face of the field, and the hounds being close to him, we were away in a
moment. Pointing for Sutton, they ran very fast by Dalbury to the Ashe,
where a slight check occurred, but soon recovering the line, they ran past Sutton
■church to Trusley, over some splendid country, the pace being very good, and
the line nearly straight ; here they bore to the left, and leaving Dalbury Lees to
the right, went as if for Longford, but did not go into the covert, and, crossing
the brook (which some found deeper than it looked), ran past Barton Park tu
Potter's Gorse, where another slight check was rather welcome. From this point
they did not go quite so straight, and there is a doubt if a fresh fox was not on
foot soon after this, as there seemed to be two lines at Alkmonton. However,
Charles Leedham persevered, and, by a brilliant cast, hit ofl' the line again near
Bentley ; time up to this point, one hour. From Bentley they ran at a nice pace
past the Car to Cubley Gate, as if for the covert, but skirting this shelter, he
breasted the hill, and pointed for Eaton Wood ; but bending to the right again,
hunted slowly past Marston Park nearly up to the Birchwood Park lime kilns,
•where the scent gradually failed, and not wishing to disturb the Snelston coverts
so late in the day, the hounds were stopped, after running one hour, forty minutes,
without any check to speak of but the one mentioned near Bentley. The distance
from Radburne to the place where the hounds stopped is fully nine miles, and,
as they ran, considerably over twelve. The country over which they ran is some
of the best in Derbyshire, and, though deep in places, was good riding, and there
was hardly a single ploughed field in the line. Where so many went well, it
would be invidious to make distinctions, but it is only fair to mention that Lord
Queensberry was well in the first flight throughout, while Lord Petersham and

1880] THE "BEAUTY" BALL. 37

Messrs. Clowes, FitzHerbert, J. Smith, and Buller were seldom out of the front
rank, and some of the military contingent, whose names I do not know, went
straight and well. Hoping you will be able to find room for this,

I remain yours, etc.,

A Looker Ox.

Diary continued : —

Friday, Elvaston Castle. — Found at Billington Hill, ran nearly down to Aston,
through Chellaston, where the hounds killed a fox in the covert, up to Elvaston,
and another ring round back into the gardens. Spent the rest of the day there.

Saturday, Ansloiv. — Killed a fox from Dove Cliff osier-bed. Drew Rolleston,
the Henhurst, Sinai Park, etc., and Rangemore blank. Found a fox in the Holly
Covert, which ran to Byrkley, and got to ground under a tree. Byrkley blank.
A dearth of foxes over the whole forest side. They had been shooting at Range-
more and Henhurst.

Mrs. Langtry was staying at Doveridge with Lord and
Lady Hindlip for the ball. On Sunday she was asked if
she would like to go to church, so the story goes, and her
answer was, " Oh no, I could not ; there would he such a
sta7'e ! "

Mrs. Cornwallis West was also at the ball, staying,
the writer thinks, at Shipley, so the three rival beauties —
Mrs. Langtry, Mrs. Cornwallis West, and Mrs. Mundy of
Shipley (now Lady Shrewsbury) — all met at the ball.
It would have taxed the wits of Paris to have awarded
the prize.

A correspondent says of this day : —

Monday, JSlitJifield.— After drawing three of the Blithfield coverts blank,
Coley Wood found us a good fox, going away for Great Haywood, evidently
intending to give us a treat over Shugborough and Cannock Chace, but, being
headed in the road, he set his face for Blithfield, and, at a rattling pace, down to
Moreton Brook. Here the ranks got thinned. You could have counted on four
fingers those who got safely over, but not those who were in, or those who sat
rather tight in their saddles on the wrong side of this brook — one unfortunate
lady and gentleman especially looking much the worse for their dip. From
Newton the hounds could hardly own the line, and hunted slowly to Chartley,
where this fox was lost. While changing horse, and having a pull at one's flask,
the hounds had gone to draw the covert near Chartley Park. Soon a cheery
soimd was heard — " Gone away ! " Pointing for Loxley, he was headed ; turning
to the right, he went back to the park, and once more tried to go to Loxley with
no better luck. Headed, he now pointed for Blithfield, only again to be headed
at Blithford, turning to the left over the meadows by the River Blythe to Gratwich
and again to Chartley Park. Here the hounds ran up to their fox, and racing
him without the slightest check by Fradswell, Coton, Milwich, and Sandon Wood.
Pointing for Orange Hays, being almost dark, the hounds were with difficulty

38 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1880

stopped, and I hear that C, Leedham, and a gentleman in a bkek coat [Mr. T.
Kempson], whose name 1 could not catch, were the only two who saw this
grand run.

Gkey Hokse.

Diary continued : —

Tuesday, Sudbury Coppice.— K\\ Sudbury blank. Walked after a fox from
Sapperton up to Potter's, where he waited for us; ran a ring back almost to
Boylestone, and on to the Dairy House, and back towards Boylestone, and gave
it up — no scent at all on the plough. Found in Longford Car, ran nearly to
Alkmonton, turned to the right, and went fast up to Shirley Park, hunted him
across the Park up to Osmaston village, where a man misdirected us, and we lost
our fox. Found in Shirley Park, ran very fast over the road by Yeldersley
Lodge almost to Bradle}', turned back, through the corner of Yeldersley Rough,
■and into Shirley Park again.

Thursday, Kedleston Oate. — Frost.

Friday, Kedleston Gate. — Darley blank. Three foxes at AUestree; ran one
into Colvile's Covert, back through AUestree, out towards Markeaton, where he
bore to the right, and ran through the Vicar Wood on towards Mercaston, turned
by Weston, and we finally lost him near Ireton Wood. There were four or five
hares in every field, and not much scent. Frost's Bottoms and Ireton Wood
blank. Found at Farnah, ran into Breward's Car, through which our fox had
gone ; but we could not hunt him the other side. A very wet day,

Saturday, East Lodge. — Killed a lame fox at Needwood. Ran another from
Hanbury Park Covert, through Kingstanding, back to the dingle at Needwood,
and killed him. Cupandition, Hare Holds, Castle Hayes Gorse blank. Found
close to Hanbury, and ran round and round between there, Coton, Castle Hayes,
and Needwood for two hours — good hunting run, not much scent.

Monday, January 19th, Kingston village. — Frost.

Tuesday, Bradley. — Frost.

Thursday, WilUngton . — Frost.

Saturday, Brethy Mill. — Frost.

Monday, January 2Qth, BUthbury. — Frost.

Tuesday, Eaton. TT'oofZ.— Frost.

Thursday, Kedleston. — Frost.

Saturday, Draycott Cliff. — Frost.

Monday, February "I/id, Kingston village. — Frost.

Tuesday, Bradley. — Frost.

Thursday, Etwall. — Frost.

Friday, Etwall. — Found at Egginton, ran fast up to Hilton, where our fox
unaccountably disappeared in the village. We heard after that he had got into
an outhouse, and nearly frightened a man to death when he went in there. Left
a fox in Sutton Gorse, as he declined to leave it. Hounds killed a fox in the
Rough at Radburne, went away with another, ran nearly up to the Parson's
< rorse, bore to the right to the nursery, turned back by the village, ran over the
road up to Langley Gorse, on nearly to Markeaton, and stopped the hounds by
the Vicar Wood.

Saturday, Bretby Mill. — Had a quick ring from Repton Shrubs by Repton
Park through the corner of Carver's Rocks back to the Shrubs, rattled him about
in the covert, then over the park twice, up to the gorse and back to the Shrubs.
And here, no doubt, pait of the pack killed a fox, as when they got together again

1880] GOOD RUN FROM BARTON-BLOUNT. 39

many of the hounds were covered with blood. Found in Carver's Rocks, ran
very fast through Smith's Gorse and the Pistern Hills to Spring Wood, ran about
for some time, went away and hunted within a mile of Ashby, where scent failed
altogether.

Monday, Februari/ 0th, BHthbury. —Hnntedi a fox, with a very bad scent,
from a little covert near Cawarden Spring up to Wolseley and lost him. Coley
Coverts blank. Found in the osier-bed below Swan's Moor, could not run a yard.
Drew the Moss at Chartley, Newton Gorse, Newton Hurst, and Stanley's Wood
blank.

Tttesdai/, Eaton Wood.— Had a capital forty-five minutes, round by Dove-
ridge, Wardley, Marston Park, nearly to Cubley Gorse, up to the lime-kilns at
Birchwood Park, and killed. Found in the Holly Wood, ran round about
Snelston for two hours, and lost on the foiled ground. Cubley Gorse and all
Sudbury blank.

Tlmrsday, WiUmgton. — Drew the Potlucks, but did not find till we got to
Arleston, then ran hard over Sinfin Moor to ground at Chellaston. Good twenty-
three minutes. Killed a bad ringing fox at Aston. Went to Billington Hill,
found a wretched fox, ran him down to Shardlow, and killed him. Spent the rest
of the day in the gardens at Elvaston.

Friday, Foston. — Found below the house, ran through the top coverts,
nearly to Sapperton, over Sudbury Park, under Boylestone Hill, where hounds
tlivided, part killing the run fox and part going on with one or two fresh ones
that jumped up in a ploughed field, and running through Sudbury Coppice, and
over the park nearly to Foston, and lost him. Sapperton blank. Found by Barton
House, ran by Church Broughton, up the brook side within a field of Potter's
Coverts. Hounds divided soon after the start, and three hounds killed an old
(log fox, and another lot went on to Boylestone, where we stopped them, and got
them all together again by the Dairy House. No doubt the fox we killed was one
of the fresh foxes that had jumped up in the first run, as three hounds turned
back with him, and had probably stuck to him all the time. Went to Longford,
found in the Car, ran nearly up to Shirley Park, bore to the left, to the Holly
Wood at Snelston, then back by Stydd and Yeaveley down the brook side to the
Car at Longford — about fifty minutes — on by the Hall and back up to Shirley
Mill, and stopped the hounds. Very hard day and horses all beat.

Saturday, Draycott Cliff. — Found in Bull's Park, ran up and down the
banks for nearly two hours, and killed in the open below the banks. Drew
Tomlinson's Corner, Hart's Coppice, etc., blank. Hunted a fox that had gone
away from Field House Coppice into the Birch Wood, but he must have been
gone some time.

Monday, February \&th, Chartley. — One of the wettest, wildest days I ever
was out hunting. Viewed a fox going into Longridge Wood, hunted him about,
but there was no scent. Found again in Handleasow Wood, but could do nothing.

Tuesday, Bradley. — Found in Bradley Wood, ran under the road, and
parallel to it, up to Bradley, by the back of the house, and Bradley Bottoms up
to Brailsford Gorse — about thirty minutes and fast. Several foxes in the gorse ;
went away with a fresh one, ran up into the hills, and eventually ended the
other side of Kniveton.

Thursday, Kedleston. — Ran through Farnah and Breward's Car, from Ireton
Wood, where we found, past the Lilies, and, leaving Kirk Ireton just to our left,
lost our fox near Biggin. Very few of the field pursued at all. Found in Ravens-
dale Park, ran fast into Breward's Car, by the Lilies, to Turnditch, where our
fox was chased by a dog, and turned back. Killed a fox in a patch of gorse by

40 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1830

the new gorse. Found in White's Covert, ran very nicely up to Brailsford
Gorse, where there were three or four foxes, and hunted him slowly on towards
Bradley and lost him.

Saturday, Hoar Cross village.— Drevf all the coverts there, Birch Wood,
Chantry, and Field House Coppice blank. Found in Hart's Coppice, ran a ring
over Bromley Park into the Hog's back, where he waited for us and was all
among the hounds, but a storm came on and saved his life, ran all through the
woods and across the park back to Hart's Coppice, over the park again and to
ground under a tree. Spent the afternoon in the woods, and gave them a good
doing.

Monday, February 2Srd, Walton village. — Drew everything that side with-
out finding a fox, except one at Lullington, which they chopped. The foot
people had disturbed a brace of foxes at Catton, before we got there.

Tuesday, IlolUngton. — Found at Culland, ran up to Burrows and to Long
Lane village, where four and a half couple of hounds slipped us over the road,
and we did not get to them till just as they killed their fox between Osliston and
Thurvaston. Went to the Keeve's Moor ; the fox came out once and went back
through the horses, and then went away for the Car ; here hounds divided, nine
couples going on with the run fox, and running nearly to Shirley Park,
killed him by themselves in the brook below the Holt at Snelston. The first
whip, who went to stop them, could never get within four fields of them, and
they had eaten their fox when he got to them. In the mean time the rest of the
hounds went on with a fresh fox from the Car, _ ran him very hard to Potter's
Covert, where he disappeared most unaccountably, and must have got to gi'ound,
as we viewed him into the covert, and he had not time to go through. As we
were going back towards Longford to see after the body of the hounds, we were
halloaed on to a fox, which took us by Barton House and Church Broughton
down to Foston, ran up the meadows nearly to Tutbury and back, two or three
rings round Foston, and to ground 'in a rabbit-hole. Soon got him out and
killed him, and there was also a vixen, in cub, in the same hole, and a couple of
rabbits. The last run was an hour and fifty minutes. Extraordinary scenting
day and a very unlucky one.

Thursday, Dalhury Lees. — Langley Gorse, Vicar Wood, Markeatou, and
Black Covert at Eadburne blank. Killed a vixen, not in cub, though she could
not run, from the Potlucks. The Rough and Parson's Gorse blank. Went to
Sutton, found, ran over the brook, very fast indeed, up to Thurv^aston, where our
fox laid down in a pithole, or else a fresh fox jumped up, went on, at the same
pace, by Long Lane and Nun's Field, up to the road by Langley, and came to a
check. Up to this the fox had been going up-wind, but now turned down the
wind. Capital gallop up to this, and very fast. Hunted him slowly on to the
Nursery Covert at Hadburne and lost him.

Saturday, Wyclmor. — Blank. Found in Lyon's Covert — very poor scent,
hunted him up to Dunstall, and lost him, Dunstall, Rangemore, and the Holly
Wood blank. Unlucky in kilhng a vixen at Byrkley. Found a fox in Braken-
hurst, but he would not go further than Yoxall Lodge, though we rattled him
about for an hour,

Monday, March \st, Kingston village. — Found in Woodcock Heath, ran for
four hours and five minutes in the woods, and over the park and to Blithfield
and back, and killed.

Tuesday, Cuhley Gate. — A most diabolical day, and it never ceased raining
and blowing. Cubley Gorse, Shirley Park, Snelston, Longford, and Potter's
blank, A brace at Sapperton, but there was no scent whatever.

18S0J PAST GALLOP FROM THE PENNYWASTE. 41

Thursday, Elvaston.— The gardens and Billington Hill blank. Were halloaed
on to a travelling fox, ran through Aston, nearly to Chellaston, back to Elvaston,
and could make no more of him in the gardens. Found in the Hell Meadow
Covert, ran fast up to Findern, turned to the right, by the Pastures, back to the
covert, and from there to Egginton Gorse — good gallop of forty minutes. Forced
him out, after some time, and ran him to gi'ound under a tree near Wiihngton.

Sahmlai/, New Inn.— 'Need^oodhhnk. Found in the Hare Holds, ran by
Castle Hayes Gorse and Farm as if he (or rather sJie, I should imagine, as she
tried every earth about the place) meant going to Eolleston, but turned to the
right, by Stockley Park, and to gi'Ound under the road, by Needwood— thirty-two
minutes. Hounds got away in view of a fox from the Greaves, and killed him
in ten minutes. Found again in the Far Wood, and ran about for a long
time.

Monday, March 8th, Bramshall village.— The gorse blank. Found in the
Shaw Gorse, ran hard for ten minutes up-wind, nearly to the Castle, and came to
a check, hit it off again and hunted him slowly on to the Moss, and out over the
road back by Longridge Wood. No scent down-wind, though hounds could just
show that he had made his way back towards the Shaw. Found in Handleasow
Wood, ran two rings by the village and Gratwich Wood, and stopped the hounds,
as we found it was a heavy vixen.

Wednesday, Braihford. — The pool head, White's Covert, and the gorse
blank. Bradley Bottoms and Bradley Wood the same. Found a brace in
Shirley Park, ran round the covert once, and to gi-ound. Went to Culland, ran a
lame fox for ten minutes, and killed. Drew Longford Car blank.

Thursday, Etwall. — A brace of foxes in the covert by the road side opposite
Burnaston, ran a ring into the gorse ; found it was a vixen, and let her go.
Another heavy vixen in Little Gorstey Leys. Sutton blank. Two heavy vixens
at Radburne ; went away with a fox towards Truslej^ but turned one field short
of the brook, and came back to Radburne, and marked her to ground under <a
heap of wood. Hilton Gorse blank. AVent to Foston, got on an outlying fox
two fields from the Pennywaste, ran very fast up to Sudbury Park and across it,
and out by the Alder Moor, by Vernon's Oak, and nearly to Boylestone, where he
bore to the right, back into Sudbury Park, and to gi-ound in a tree. Bolted and
killed him. First rate gallop of thirty-five minutes, and very fast.

Saturday, Bepton. — Found in Carver's Rocks, ran fast up to Repton Shrubs,
through the covert over the park and back to ground in view. There was a
very heavy vixen in Gorstey Leys, whose life we just managed to save. Anchor
church and the osier-beds blank.

Moiiday, March 16(h, Blithhury. — Found in the Black Flats, ran fast up to
the river by Rugeley, where the hounds drowned the fox, and he sank. A brace
of vixens in Laurence's Wood. Rough Park blank. Found at Yoxall, ran fast
through the Brakenhurst, and to ground in Roost Hill. The Birch wood blank.

Tuesday, Eaton Wood. — Ran from the wood to ground in the Up Field
Coppice. Went back to the big wood, found again, and after running about for
some time this fox got to ground in the Red Niche. Trotted off to Sudbury,
found in the coppice, ran nearly to Cubley, and over the brook up to Bentley
Car, and lost him. Very little scent, biit we got away.on bad terms with this
fox. Cubley Gorse blank.

Thursday, Kedleston. — Found at Allestree, ran over a very nice line nearly
to Markeaton, and on by the Vicar Wood to Langley Gorse, where he ran us out
of scent. All the Kedleston coverts blank, till we got to some new plantations
under Cross Hands, where we found a brace of foxes, ran one back to Breward's

42 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [I88O

Car and a ring round into Ravensdale Park, and hunted him slowly on, with no
scent, to ^lercaston Stoop, and lost him.

hiattmlmj, Braycott Cliff.— Yonnd. in Bull's Park and ran about the woods
all day.

Monday, March 22nd, Charthy. —KiUed a fine old dog fox in the gorse. Foimd
in the Birch Coppice, ran through the corner of Drointon Wood, and turned to
the left down the brook side, as if he meant going to Blithfield, but recrossed the
Blythe and ran through Newton Gorse, and came to a check on the other side ;
got on his line again and hunted him through the Moss and to ground in an old
drain in the middle of the park. Very nice run. Gratwich Wood, Loxley, and
the gorse blank.

Tuesday, Kinyston. — Ran into Bagot's Woods, and had a good woodland
day, running out at times into the open.

Thursday, Brethy Mill. — The Shrubs blank. Foimd a lame fox in a planta-
tion close by, and killed him in three minutes. Did not find again all day.

Saturday, Buttermilk Hill. — Found in the far wood (Forest Banks) and ran
up to Marchington Clift", where our fox turned back, and we could do no more
with him. Tomlinson's Corner, etc., blank. Found in Black Gutter Coppice,
ran hard across the park and through the woods, until the fox disappeared
nn-steriously by the gi-avel ride.

Monday, March 29th, Wolseley Bridge. — Found three or four different foxes,
and lost them one after another immediately. Absolutely no scent on the
Chace.

Tuesday, Tliatched Lodye. — Foimd and ran fast through the woods, out over
the park, up to Field House Coppice, where he was headed and turned short
back, through Hart's Coppice, over the park again, and to gi-ound in the middle
of the woods. Good gallop and wonderful scent, considering how hot and dry it
was. Ean another fox out of the woods, through Friar's Coppice, and to ground
nnder a ti-ee. Then found in the Cliff Banks, and ran down to Smallwood, and
a ring back to the woods.

Tuesday, April 6th, Buttermilk Hill. — An extra day after the elections.
Found in the Dog Kennel Wood, ran through the Cliff Banks and along tlie
Forest Banks as far as the Swilcar Wood, turned back and killed him under
Buttermilk Hill. Found again in the middle of the woods, ran a ring through
them, then out byDunstall down to Abbots Bromley, on through the Warren
Covert at Blithfield, down to Blithe Moor, turned to the left here, ran nicely to
Forge Coppice, and killed him in the village of Abbots Bromley. Capital run
and good ending to the season.

Stopped by frost, twenty-eight days ; hounds out, ninety-three days ; foxes
killed, thirty-three and a half brace ; foxes run to ground, fourteen and a half
brace ; killed in regular hunting, twenty-three and a half brace.

( -ts )

CHAPTER IV.

LORD WATERPARK — PRESENTATION TO LORD WATERPARK

LORD WATERPARK'S SPEECH.

1880-1881.

It is hardly possible to read these excellent diaries with-
out seeming to get to know the writer, and without
sympathizing both with his triumphs and his disappoint-
ments. He had his fair share of both, but his tenure of
office began well, and it ended well. It is a curious
thing in the history of Charles Leedham, that he always
seemed to show the best sport at a transition stage. Thus
it was brilliant the first year that he carried the horn,
under Lord Waterpark and Mr. Clowes, not quite so good
the second and third. During Lord Waterpark's last
season, and the first two, especially, of Mr. Chandos-Pole's
mastership, it blazed out again. Then, when Mr. Fort
became deputy-Master, for two seasons, the flame burned
fiercely, flickering down from that time till the close of
his career. This may have been purely accidental, but
it is an odd coincidence.

Henry Anson Cavendish, Lord Waterpark, brought no
mean capability to bear on his chosen task, for he had
served his apprenticeship in the diplomatic service, and
possessed an excellent head for business. Both these
thinffs served him in ojood stead, and enabled him to fill
a difficult position with credit and distinction. No one
who has been Master of the Meynell Hounds will deny
the difficulty of the situation, for there is no country

44 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

in which it is harder to give satisfaction. That Lord
Waterpark should have held that position for nine seasons
without giving offence to any one speaks volumes for his
tact and discernment. And he was no figure-head master.
On the contrary, he had every item and detail at his
fingers' ends, and, above all, he showed sport. As he said
himself, at the end of his career, he had had (or rather
the Hunt had had, for that is how he put it) good
seasons and bad seasons, but the former preponderated.
Take a few runs, as samples, selected at hap-hazard from
the nine years. There was the Loxley run on November
30th, 1872. One hour and fifty minutes, fifteen miles,
with a kill at Rake Edge, in the North Staflbrdshire
country, well to the north-east of Cheadle. Then there
was one, two days before, from Hilton Gorse to the
Holly Wood, Snelston, about ten miles in fifty-three
minutes. On the 4th of January, 1873, they ran from
Loxley Park Covert nearly to Moddershall Oaks, thirteen
and a half miles, very straight, as were all these runs, and
whipped off. It was a pouring wet day. Oddly enough, we
ran from the same place (practically) to Moddershall Oaks
twenty years afterwards on the wettest day on which the
writer ever was out. In the same year, 1873, occurred
the great Sudbury run, with a kill at Wootton Lodge,
fourteen and three-quarter miles in an hour and three-
quarters. That was no bad gallop either, from Barton -
Blount (on the day Mr. Broadhurst was brought home to
be buried) by Potter's, Longford, Culland, Brailsford,
Wild Park, Kedleston, through Meynell-Langley Gorse,
to Langley, in fifty minutes. This was on November
14th, 1876. There were, no doubt, plenty of others as
good, but these seem to be fair samples of the sport he
showed — good enough for any one.

The presentation,* of which an account is given below,
and the speeches which accompanied it, make it super-
fluous to say more.

* It has been thought better to insert the account of the presentation in this
chapter, although its proper place, chronologically, would have been in Chapter V.

Lord Waterpark, M.F.H.

From a photograph

by

W. W. Winter, Derby.

OBITUARY.

LORD WATERPARK.

The death took place at his seat.Doveridge, Stafford-
shire, on Saturday morning, of Henry Anson Caven-
dish, fourth Lord Waterpark in the peerage of Ireland.

Lord Waterpark was tlie only son of the third baron
by his marriage with Elizabeth Jane (Extra Lady of
the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria), daughter of
Thomas, first Viscount Anson, and sister of the first
Earl of Lichfield. He was born in 1839 and educated
at Harrow. Lord Waterpark was in the Foreign
OflBce for a few years after leaving school, but loft
the Service after his succession to the title in 18C3. For
many years he took an active part in local affairs,
and was a member of the Derbyshire County Council.
In 1893 he was appointed vice-chairman of that body,
and he became chairman six years later. He resigned
in 1901. He was once a prominent figure in the
hunting field, and for a time was Master of the Meynell
Hounds. He maintained his interest in the pack to
the end, and frequently presided at the annual busi-
ness meetings.

Lord Waterpark married, in 1873, Emily, daughter
of the late Mr. John Stenning, and had a family of
two sons and three daughters. His second daughter
is the wife of Mr. George Ashton Strutt, of Brailsf ord,
Derbyshire, elder son of Mr. George Herbert Strutt,
of Bridge Hill. His elder son, the Hon. Henry
Cavendish, a subaltern in the Kiiie Brigade, died in
1897 tinmarried, and the successor to the title is his
younger son, the Hon. Charles Frederick Cavendish,
a lieutenant in the Royal Navy, who was born in i
1883. The heir presumptive is now Mr. Henry
Sheppard Hart Cavendish, a great-grandson of the I
second baron through the latter's second son.

PRESENTATION TO LORD WATERPARK. 45

1881.

On Tuesday, December 20th, the hounds met at Sudbury, and the occasion
was selected for a presentation to Lord Waterpark, in recognition of the great
services he had rendered to the Hunt. He had been Master, in conjunction with
his brother-in-law, Mr. S. W. Clowes, for six years, while for three years he had
been alone in ofBce. Mr. George Allsopp was the originator of the idea, and the
result of his efforts was a sum of about five hundred and forty-five pounds.
This was expended in the purchase of a magnificent service of antique and
modern silver plate, comprising twenty-seven pieces. This, wth an album con-
taining the names of one hundred and twenty-seven subscribers, was the
testimonial which Sir W. FitzHerbert, "the father of the Hunt," presented.
Lord Vernon had, most hospitably, issued invitations to " all friends " to break-
fast at the Hall on the occasion, and there was a tremendous muster of horsemen,
carriages, and foot people. Lord and Lady Vernon received their guests in the
saloon, where there is a picture, by Gainsborough, of George, second Lord
Vernon (the hunting lord), while in the entrance hall hung the portraits of
Samuel Lawley, his horse, and five couples of hounds. On a table the presenta-
tion plate was laid out for inspection, and this consisted of a beautifully chased
punch-bowl, a large silver salver, tankards, dinner, tea, and coffee service. The
following inscription was engraved on the salver, and engrossed on the title-page
of the album, " This album, together with a salver and other pieces of plate, was
presented to Henry Anson Cavendish, Lord Waterpark, on his retirement from
the Mastership of the Meynell Hunt, by his friends, and subscribers to the Hunt,
whose names are hereto afSxed, in recognition of the good sport shown during
the years of his Masterslup." There were present. Lord Waterpark, Lady
Waterpark, the Earl and Countess of Harrington, Lord Berkeley Paget, Captain
and Lady Florence Duncombe, Sir W. FitzHerbert, Bart., Sir M. Blakiston, Bart..
Su- John Hardy, Bart., Sir T. P. Heywood, Bart., the Hon. E. K. W. Coke, the
Hon. W. Bagot, the Hon. Mrs. Hamar Bass, the Hon. Miss Bagot, Mr. H. C. and
the Hon. Mrs. Okeover, Mr. M. A. Bass, M.P., the Hon. Mrs. Clowes, Mr.
Chandos-Pole, M.F.H,, Col. Reginald BuUer, Admiral and Mrs. Cumming, Capt.
Cumming, Major Fountain, Major Levett, Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Allsopp, j\Ir. G. H.
Allsopp, Mr. A. 0. Worthington, Mr. C. M. Campbell, Capt. Bindley, Mr. E. J.
Bird, the Misses Thornewill (2), Miss Chandos-Pole, Miss Beckett Denison,
Major Gascoigne, Mr. J. H. Gascoigne, Mr. H. Evans, Mr. Gerald Hardy, Mr.
and Mrs. Bott, Mr. Cecil Salt, Mr. J. W. Philips, Miss Hall, Miss Wilmot, Mr.
and Mrs. T. Robinson, Mr. A. Grossman, Mr. B. H. Buxton, Mr. and Mrs. H.
Young, Mr. R. Sale, Mr. G. D'Arcy Clarke, Mr. J. Bailey, Mr. Hobson, Mr. C. A.
Ludlam, Mr. John Smith, Mr. G. J. Mitchell, Mr. R. A. Eddie, the Rev. A. H.
'Colvile, Mr. W. Boden, Mr. H. Boden, Mr. J. Close, Mr. J. Tomlinson, Mr. T.
Smith, the Rev. C. J. Hamilton, the Rev. C. Boden, Mr. J. S. Hughes, Mr. H.
W. Boome, Mr. Pidcocke, Mr. T. P. Kempson, and many others.

While the breakfast was proceeding, Lord Vernon rose and said, there was a
friend of his present. Sir William FitzHerbert, who was always to the fore in
hunting matters, and there was no restraining him that morning. (Hear, hear.)
He was very anxious to get out hunting, but he had a certain amount of business
to do before he left the table, therefore he would ask him at once to impart to
them the nature of that business.

Sir. W. FitzHerbert, who was cordially received, remarked that he could not
very well find a proper word to address the assembly. He might call them

46 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

fellow-sportsmen, but there were some present wlio would not exactly come
under that designation. However, their system of sport was almost patriarchal,
and he happened now to be called the " Father of the Hunt," so that he supposed
all the members of the Hunt might be considered his children. (Laughter.) He
felt that he was standing in a very proud position in being spokesman that day,
but one of the reasons for it was that he had arrived at beyond the limit of three
score years and ten ; and though, in the hunting-field, one or another of them
was often willing to get before the others, he did not think any one was par-
ticularly willing to be before him in that respect. (Laughter.) Before he
proceeded to the business which had called them together, he might say that
he felt sure they were all very much obliged to Lord Vernon for his kindness iu
receiving them under his hospitable roof. (Applause.) And he could, perhaps,
inform some present of what they did not know — that Sudbuiy Hall was the
cradle of the Hunt, and that for many years it was carried on with great success
and gi-eat ardour at a time when the country went as far as Seal Wood, and
perhaps up to Haddon Hall, while the previous day he heard it might be supposed
to have also taken in a part of Leicestershire (hear, hear), so that it was something
like the Duke of Wellington's Army, it could go anywhere, and do anything.
He believed at that time they used to be up at six o'clock in the morning,
and got through their business very early. He must now proceed to the real
business of presenting the plate to Lord Waterpark, as a testimony of their good-
will towards him, and in recognition of his ability, and the services he had
rendered them for so many years. (Applause.) And, in connection with this
presentation, he could not help saying how much they were all indebted to Mr.
Clowes for the handsome way in which he conducted the hounds after the death
of Mr. Meynell. and gave everything such a good tone. (Applause.) As to the
plate itself, he would not say more than that it combined a sort of domesticity as
well as a memorial, and it would, he hoped, for many years be regarded as a
keepsake in remembrance of that day, and that it would also be an heirloom in
Lord Waterpark's family. (Applause.)

In acknowledging the presentation. Lord Waterpark said, the first accents
they must hear from his lips were those of gratitude, deep and lasting, for the
honour so kindly paid to him. He begged to return his best thanks to that very
numerous and distinguished company, and also to Sir William FitzHerbert for
the kind way in which he had brought his name before them. He looked on
that meeting as the crowning honour of the support and kindness he had received
from them all during his nine years' Mastership of the Meynell Hunt. He was
only too conscious that anything he had done was amply repaid by the vote of
thanks accorded to him on a previous occasion, and he could assure them that
when he looked upon the plate in the next room he was quite at a loss how to
thank them sufficiently. He could not recall any service on his part which had
deserved such a substantial proof of their kindness and liberality. He saw that
the inscription on the salver said the plate was presented in appreciation of the
good sport he had shown them during his Mastership. He should like to show
them how little he individually could take credit for that good sport. They
found him a pack of hounds certainly second to none in the kingdom. (Hear, hear.)
All he had to do was to keep them up to their standard of excellence, and he
hoped he had not failed to do so. (Applause.) Then l)uildings were required, and.
they put up most magnificent buildings in the very centre of the country, and
left nothing to be desired in the way of accommodation for men, hounds, or
horses. Then the covert owners, landowners, farmers, and others, all gave him
hearty support in the preservation of foxes, and he was glad of that opportunity

LORD WATERPARK'S SPEECH. 47

of thanking them one and all for the assistance they invariably gave him.
(Applause.) Nothing, therefore, really remained for him to do but to find good
servants and to mount them well, and he thought that, altogether, he was
peculiarly fortunate in the servants he got. There was one who was more
particularly connected with their sport, who deserved a word of praise from him,
they would easily recognize their old huntsman, Charles Leedham, in the person
he alluded to. (Applause.) No man ever had a better or a more conscientious
servant ; and while on this subject he should Hke to say one word, not of advice,
though they might take it as such if they liked. No huntsman was infallible ; he
believed every one did his best ; but they were all too prone to find fault and
not to see the difficulties a huntsman had to contend with. He wondered how
often he had heard a remark of this sort in the field, " Oh, of course, the fox had
gone that way " (laughter), but he always noticed that remark was made when
the huntsman had made his cast on three sides of the field and there was only
one side left, on which it was possible for the fox to escape. (Hear, hear.) He
hoped he had mounted his men well, and, perhaps, as regards the horse question,
it was the only one on which a master could take the credit to himself. They
had had good seasons and, he would not say bad, but middling seasons ; they
had had hard winters and open winters, straight running foxes and bad running
foxes, good scent and bad scent — every pack of hounds was liable to this, but he
thought he might say, without fear of contradiction, that they had had as good
sport as their neighbours, (Hear, hear.) He wished them to remember, and
they were not in the least likely to forget, how that excellent sportsman, Mr.
Clowes, was associated with him during the first six years of his Mastership.
He brought an experience to the work which he (Lord Waterpark) did not
possess ; and at the end of six years when, to the regret of every one, he retired
from the Mastership, Mr. Clowes left him with the benefit of that experience, and
he hoped he had made the most of it. (Applause.) They all owed a gi-eat deal
to Mr. Clowes, and he thought it was only fair that honour should be paid to
whom honour was due. One word respecting another gentleman, who assuredly
deserved all their thanks as well as his own — Mr. George Allsopp. (Applause.)
He believed he was correct in saying Mr. Allsopp was mainly instrumental in
getting up that testimonial, and, anxious as he was sure they all were to give
him some recognition of his services, he did not think they could easily have
found any one else in the country to take up the matter so thoroughly, and to
carry it through so successfully. (Applause.) He thought it must be acknow-
ledged by all that the meeting of that day and the presentation was a success.
As in riding to the hounds, so in the subscription list, a good start was everything,
for nearly every one would follow a good lead. Well, Mr. George Allsopp got
a good start, and he kept pegging away, sparing himself no trouble, and the
result was that brilliant finish — for he (Lord Waterpark) looked upon it as such ;
he succeeded in getting a testimonial, which was worthy in every respect of the
liberal supporters of the Meynell Hunt. He again thanked them for such a solid
and valuable proof of their esteem and friendship. He should never forget that
day ; and he could assure them that the collection of plate should be preserved
in his family as an evidence of the good-fellowship which fox-hunting promoted
amongst all classes. It would be a lasting record of the many friends he had had
the good fortune to make during the years he had had the honour of being their
Master. He thanked them sincerely and with all his heart. (Applause.)

Mr. George Allsopp, who was received with applause, said he was very much
obliged to them for the kind way in which they had received his name ; but
before they separated he wished to mention another matter. They all knew

48 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

very well that Lord Vernon had the welfare of the Hunt enth-ely at heart ; they
could not have a better proof of that than what they had seen that day.
(Applause.) For the part Lord Vernon had taken in the arrangements of the
day, and for the kindness with which he had placed his house at their disposal,
he, perhaps, might be permitted to return to him and to Lady Vernon their
grateful thanks, and he did so on the part of every one. (Applause.)

Lord Vernon said he should indeed be a most degenerate successor of those
who from that house in former days conducted the hunting arrangements of that
country if it were not a pride and a pleasure to him to receive the members of
the Meynell Hunt and their friends on an occasion when he could fully share
with them the feelings of recognition to Lord Waterpark for the valuable service
he had rendered to the members of the Hunt, partly in conjunction with Mr.
Clowes, and partly by his own unaided efforts, in the past nine years. It was a
characteristic of Englishmen that they always appreciated the services of any
man who gave his energy to any good work in which he was engaged. Lord
Waterpark had brought not only energy, but a great deal of business tact to the
duties connected with the mastership of those hounds. (Hear, hear.) He might
say that during the whole of his life it had been his pleasure to be intimately con-
nected with Lord Waterpark's family, and he rejoiced with, as he thought he might
say, a dear friend of theu-s in his success, and in the honour conferred upon them
through him. (Applause.) He trusted that in the future it might be his privilege,
some time or another, again to receive the members of the Hunt, if it was a
convenience to them to meet in his house. He could assure them it was a great
pleasure to Lady Vernon and himself to receive any of their neighbours there ;
but circumstances had affected him, as they had affected numbers of individuals
in the country, and his door had been necessarily closed for that reason. He
was very glad indeed to be the means of enabling them to gather together to do
testimony to his friend. Lord Waterpark, and he could only hope that his
successor might at the end of his term of service — which he trusted would be
longer than his (Lord Vernon's) life — be able to meet the members of the Hunt
and to receive their thanks in that house for services equally valuable which he
would most assuredly render them. (Applause.) He thanked them for the
honour they had done him.

1880] ( 49 )

CHAPTER V.

LORD WATERPARK's LAST SEASON — GOOD EVENING GALLOP
FROM FOSTON — CAPITAL CUBLEY DAY — GREAT RUN
FROM SHIRLEY PARK — A SHEEP-DOG KILLS THE FOX
— END OF LORD WATERPARK's DIARY — HUNT MEETING

DISCUSSION ABOUT THE KENNELS — THE QUESTION OF

EXPENSE — ELECTION OF " SQUIRE " CHANDOS-POLE —
FRIARY CRICKET CLUB FANCY-DRESS BALL.

1880-1881.

They began cub-hunting on the 30th of August, and, in
spite of heat and dry ground, killed nearly every day in
Bagot's Woods. One day they had fifty and a half
couples out, and another day they brought out every
hound they had. Sport was pretty good, and they killed
twelve and a half brace of cubs.

From Lord Waterpark's diary : —

Monday^ November 1st, Sudbury Coppice. — Ran a fox for above an hour
round and round the coverts, and killed him, having previously ran one to ground
in a rabbit-hole by Cubley Lodge. Found again in the bottoms, ran by Hill
Somersal and the corner of the Birch Coppice into Eaton Wood, back to the
Lady Coppice, and killed in the North Shrubbery, by the terrace at Doveridge.
Found in the Hare Park, ran up to the Lake Banks at Sudbury, and on to Foston,
over the road nearly down to Sapperton, and lost.

Tuesday, Blithbury. — Found in Pipe Wood, ran about for some time, and
lost. Hunted a fox from the Ten Acres by Rugeley Townend nearly to Blith-
field, and lost. Found in Blithe Moor, ran a ring, and to ground in a pit-hole.
Poor scent all day.

Thursday, Radhurne. — Found in the Rough, came away for Dalbury, turned

to the right up the brook side nearly to Long Lane, over by Thurvaston, crossed

Long Lane as if for Culland, bore to the left through the Reeve's Moor, by the

bottom end of Longford Car nearly to Alkmonton Bottoms; bore to the left

VOL. II. E

50 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1880

here by IMamerton Hill Top and Dalbnry Lees Farm, and back to within a field
of the Kough, and lost him on the foiled ground : one hour and fifteen minutes.
Found in Sutton Gorse, ran to Etwall, and nearly up to Egginton, and came home.

Saturday, The New Inn. — Found at Needwood, ran fast nearly to Parson's
Brake and Kingstanding, and back to ground in a drain by East Lodge. Killed
a real bad fox by Shaw's house at Rangeraore. Ran a fox from Bannister's
AVood down to Dunstall, and lost him. Found again in the Oaks, ran all about
the coverts at Dunstall for some time, and finally killed at the back of the house.
Found again, and ran our fox till he was dead beat, and left him.

Monday, Novemler Sth, Bramshall village. — The gorse blank. Found iu
CaiTy Coppice, ran down to Field and back to the Park Covert, where our fox
waited a long time. Got him away at last, ran towards Chartley, turned over
the brook below Windy Hall Covert, ran along the brook side nearly to Blith-
field, turned to the right nearly to Newton Gorse, and on by the village to
Swan's Moor, where scent failed, and we lost him. Did not find again.

Tuesday, Foston.—Yery sharp frost. There was a halloa from the top
covert at Foston, but hounds could never speak to the fox, and I think it doubtful
if there was one. Found at Sapperton, ran up to Sudbury Park, and lost.
Trotted oft" to Cubley, found at once, ran very fast by the Cinder Hills into the
Holly Covert at Snelston, and lost him : a man put us wrong, and I think our fox
had gone on to Shirley Park. Drew Snelston, and went back to Cubley, but did
not find again.

Thursday, Kedleston village. — Did not find till we got to Ravensdale Park,
ran a ring into the new covert below Cross Hands, where the fox had waited,
hunted him into Breward's Car, out and back several times, and lost him by
Champion Car. A lot of foxes on foot. No scent. Langley Gorse blank. Found
close by in a little osier-bed, but could do nothing. Parson's Gorse blank.

Saturday, Anslow. — Found a fox in the Henhurst, but soon lost him. The
other coverts there blank. Knightley Park and Rolleston the same. Found in
Byrkley Lodge, ran very fast to ground in the pit by Tatenhill.

Monday, November 15th, Newton village. — Found in the Coley coverts,
chopped one fox, went away with another, ran a ring at first, nearly to Haywood,
bore to the right, ran by the osier-bed below Swan's Moor almost to Hixon, on,
leaving Drointon village to the right, into Chartley Moss, through the Birch
Coppice and the corner of Handleasow AVood down to the brook below Gratwich,
which was in high flood and impassable for horses : came to a long check, held
them round the Loxley side of the brook, but could not hit it oft". A man then
halloaed us back to the other side, but the fox had been gone too long, and must
have crossed and reerossed the brook, and travelled on into the N. S. country.
Found at the Shaw Gorse, ran towards San don, and were stopped by a blinding
storm of snow.

Tuesday, Bradley. — Found in the Lime Kiln Covert, went away to the right,
nearly up to the Ashbourne road, then turned down-wind towards Atlow, crossed
the brook by Atlow Mill, left Hognaston to the right, and ran straight by
Netherton Hall up to Brassington ; here the fox went through the churchyard
and bore to the left up to Brassington Rocks, where we expected he would have
got to gi-ound ; but no, on he went, running parallel with the High Peak Railway
for some time, and then crossed it, and shortly after hounds came to a check at
Minninglow Hill, and though we cast all round, could make nothing of it. Time
up to this check, one hour and fifteen minutes. A wet, stormy day, and it never
ceased raining, and scent kept getting gradually worse — never very good at
any time.

1880] GOOD EVENING GALLOP FROM FOSTON. 51

Thursday, Willington. — Found in Arleston Gorse, ran a ring over Sifinn
Moor back to the gorse, and this entertainment we repeated several times ; got
on a hunted fox in Hell Meadows Covert, ran fast up to Spilsbury's, turned to the
right, and lost him near Burnaston. I should have said that the first fox from
Arleston crossed the canal, ran down to the river, and no doubt crossed to
Anchor church. Egginton Gorse (nearly entirely burnt down) blank, and Little
Gorstey Leys the same.

Saturday, Newhorough.— Nearly frost enough to stop hunting. All the
Holly Bush coverts blank. Found in the Birchwood, ran fast by Roost Hill
nearly to Brakenhurst, turned to the left, up to the New Church road, down
through the end of the bank opposite Holly Bush, in front of Eland Lodge, and
killed him within fifty yards of the Six Road Ends, in the road. Capital twenty-
five minutes. Drew the Parson's Brake, Kingstanding, Needwood, and Byrkley
Lodge blank.

Monday, Novemler 22nd, Chartley. — Frost.

Tuesday, Bentley Brickyard. — Frost.

Wednesday, Bentley Brichyard. — Found a lot of foxes in Bentley Car, ran
one by Alkmonton Bottoms through Longford Car, by Shirley village and into
Shirley Park to ground. Came back for Longford ; a fox crossed us as soon as we
left Shirley, ran him back to Longford, and nearly to Potter's, and lost. Drew
Potter's, the Fishpond Covert at Barton, and Sapperton blank. Found in the
top coverts at Foston, had a ring by the Penny waste to Hatton, and down the
meadows to Foston, over the road, by the Ice-house, back to the covert where
we found him, over by Jackson's plantation, turned to the left by Heath Top and
Church Broughton, and stopped the hounds going for Sapperton. Capital gallop,
nearly every one gone home.

Thursday, Kedleston Toll Gate. — Found at Darley, ran to Allestree and to
Colvile's Covert, to ground in a rabbit-hole. Ran a fox from Broward's Car to
Turnditch, and lost him. Found in the New Gorse, ran into Ravensdale Park,
and killed. Found in Mercaston Wood, but did nothing.

Saturday, Walton village. — Foimd in Walton Wood, ran to Calton, and a ring
back again, then another ring by Edengale osier-bed and Croxall, and from there
nearly straight to Caldwell and on to Linton ; here the fox was headed within
two fields of Seale Wood, turned back, and we killed him at Caldwell. Time,
two hours and thirty-five minutes. Hounds ran fast at times.

Monday, November 29th, Kingston village. — Found in Kingston Woods, ran
into Bagot's Woods and all through them, then across the Park, over Buttermilk
Hill into the Forest Banks, and lost. Found in the Dog Kennel Wood, ran out by
Gorstey Hill, and lost immediately. No scent at all. Got on our run fox of the
morning in the Cliff Banks, ran him down to the Park Lodge, and killed him in
the garden.

Tuesday, Doveridge. — Found in the Upfield Coppice, ran to gi-ound in a
broken-in drain by the Woodhouse. Killed a fox with a broken thigh from Eaton
Wood, ran another down to Clownholm, back through the wood and to ground
under a thorn bush above Carrington's house. Found at Sudbury, ran towards
Cubley, where the fox was headed back, and lost him.

Thursday, Etwall. — Got on the line of a fox that had gone away from Sutton
Gorse, ran him well up to the village, then hunted slowly on by Hilton and
Egginton station, and gave it up. Did not find till we got to Burnaston, where a
fox jumped up in a field, ran him fast up to Burnaston village, and on by
Bearwardcote to Radburne — twenty-five minutes, fast ; here he was headed and
went down to the Black Covert and so round to the Rough, and another ring

52 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1880

down to tlie Black Covert, where scent failed. Went to the Rough, got on our
hunted fox, which we had evidently left there when we went through it before,
ran him down to Dalbury, and killed him in the road.

Saturday, Wyclinor. — Found one bad fox, ran him up and down for half an
hour, and kUled him. Killed another in Mr. Lyon's covert ; the brute went out,
and turned short back into the hounds' mouths. Found in Smith's Hills, could do
nothing; the same with another fox at the back of the church. Never was out
on a worse scenting day.

Monday, December 5th, Chartley. — Several foxes in Handleasow Wood, which
they would not leave, and at last the ground got so foiled that we came away-
Found in the Shaw Gorse, ran up to Birchwood Park, where hounds divided.
Found in Birch Coppice, ran hard for ten minutes, and killed by the keeper's
house. Drew the Moss, Drointon Wood, and Newton Gorse blank.

Tuesday, Bradley. — A brace of foxes in the old Lime Kiln Covert, ran up to
the dingle by Miss Child's house, where our fox waited for us, ran him back to
Bradley Wood and on to Yeldersley Lodge. Here he doubled short back, and,
after running hard for twenty minutes, killed him in the open. An hour and
forty-five minutes from the time we first found. Found in the osier-bed at
Bradley Bottoms, ran into and through Brailsford Gorse, over the brook to
Ednaston, turned back and ran nearly to Mercaston, then bore to the right
through White's covert and on to Weston, and killed him in the field adjoining
the covert. Capital run of sixty-three minutes.

The following printed account appeared of the next
day : —

Thursday, December 9th, brought a large field to Willington, including many
strangers from the S. Notts., and other hunts, and amongst these we noticed,
besides the master (Lord Waterpark), were Lord and Lady Parker, the Hon. Mrs.
Colvile, Miss Nicholas, Mrs. D'Arcy Clarke, Lord Petersham, Messrs. BuUer,
Chandos-Pole, A. H. Colvile, Broadley Smith, W. and H. Boden, S. C. Allsopp,
A. Worthington, Bird, F. S. Kendall, Cumming, T. W. Evans, M.P., and a host
of others. The first draw was from Spilsbury's Covert, where we soon found
Reynard, who ran from the lower to the upper covert and back, and from this
point put his head straight, running across the Midland line to Stenson Wood ; he
got to ground under the railway, and was subsequently got out quite dead. We
then drew the Potlucks and the Green Covert, and then on to Egginton Goree,
which is partly cut down, but a fox was at home, and, after a narrow escape of
being chopped, he went out on the Burnaston side for Burnaston House ; and
here we had a check of three or four minutes, but from this he went straight, and
as fast as hounds could go by ■Vlickleover Asylum, down to Hell Meadows and to
Stenson Wood, where they killed him, the run lasting twenty-eight minutes, the
last fifteen very fast. It was now three o'clock, and many turned their heads
homewards, but the master gave the word for another draw, and finding again
in Mr. Ashton Mosley's covert, they had a brilliant twenty minutes to the
Pastures, and another beaten fox in front would most likely have met the fate of
his brethren in the morning, but dark coming on, hounds were whipped off", and
thus terminated two of the most brilliant consecutive days which have been seen
with the old Meynell hounds for several seasons.

Needwood.

1880] CAPITAL CUBLEY DAY. 53

The first being the Bradley Tuesday, described above
in Lord Waterpark's diary.

From Lord Waterpark's diary : —

Saturday, Draycott Cliff. — One fox only in the whole of the Banks, no scent
in covert, and soon lost him. Found in the Cliff Banks, ran about the woods, over
the Park, back over Buttermilk Hill, and out, through Tomlinson's corner, nearly
to Newborough and into the Greaves.

Monday, Decemler 13th, Blithlury. — Found in Hay End Wood, ran a ring
by Pipe Wood and Gold Hays Fields down for Pipe Ridware, back by Hamstall
Ridware, and on to Purley Hill, and lost. Found in Rough Park, and ran to
ground in Ridden's Pit. Killed a fox in the Bath Covert at Hoar Cross, found
again in the Chantey, ran back to the Lawn Pit, and lost.

On Tuesday, at Cubley, in addition to those out on the
previous Thursday, there were Mr. Clowes, Lord Petersham,
Messrs. Coke, Bird, Firman, F. Cotton, T. P. Kempson,
Nuttall, Sir John Hardy, Col. FitzHerbert and daughters,
G. H. Allsopp, H. Bass, M.P., etc.

They found in Cubley Gorse, ran very fast up to the
Lime Kilns at Snelston, right through the corner of the
Holly Wood, pointing for Shirley Park, swung to the right
within three fields of Longford Car, where there was a
leash of foxes in front of them. Into the Car they
went, and nearly caught the fox in the churchyard
beyond, but he struggled on to the Shrubberies, and there
they caught him, after a good hunt of just an hour. The
first part was very fast, and the hunted fox probably went
on to Bentley Car. They found again in Reeve's Moor,
and ran by Hollington up to Nun's Fields, and on to
Trusley. No sooner were they over the brook than they
ran hard to Radburne Rough. Hence the fox was viewed
away more than half beat, and they ran him well to the
Nursery Covert, brought him back from there, over the
road, through the Black Covert, and, running from scent
to view, bowled him over in the open four fields beyond
the Great Northern and Mickleover Railway, after a
capital run of one hour and a quarter, with no check worth
mentioning.

Every one was delighted with the sport the hounds

54 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1880

were showing, and people remarked that it had never been
better since the very first year that Charles carried the
horn in 1872-1873.

Diary continued : —

Thursdaij, Kedleston village. — Found in Breward's Car, ran a ring by the
Lilies, back to the Car, rattled him about in the covert some time, and killed him,
and, curiously enough, part of the pack chopped another fox at the very same
moment and within twenty yards of where the other fox was killed. Ravensdale
Park and the New Gorse blank. Got on a disturbed fox by Mercaston, hunted
him back to Breward's Car, and ran him down to Weston, where he must have
got to gi-ound. Wilde Park and Brail sford blank.

Saturday, Brethj Mill. — Frost.

Monday^ Decembtr 20ih, Bramshall. — Frost.

Tuesday, Shirley Park. — Frost.

Thursday, Hadburne.—Voimd in the Rough, ran nearly to Langley village,
turned back by the Squire's Gorse and the Nursery, and came to a check at the
back of Radburne village — thirty minutes up to this ; hit it off again and hunted
slowly by Burrows up to Brailsford, and lost. Found in Culland — a brace of
foxes ; ran nearly to Burrows, turned to the left to Brailsford, on through AVhite's
covert nearly down to Mercaston, turned back by Brailsford again and hunted
him into the gorse, where he got to ground.

Friday, Hoar Cross village. — Yoxall blank. Found in the Deanery Covert,
and ran to ground at Dunstall. Drew the coverts at Dunstall and Rangemore
blank. Knightley Park, the Holly Covert, and Byrkley Lodge the same. Went
to Brakenhurst, ran a ring out and back, and lost him. Jackson's Bank blank.

Monday, December 27th, Bramshall. — Snow.

Tuesday, Marston-Mon tgomery. — Snow.

Wednesday, Mar ston- Montgomery. — Found in Eaton Wood, walked after our
fox down to Doveridge, but tliere was absolutely no scent, and hounds could
never speak to it. A brace of foxes at Cubley, but could do nothing. It never
ceased pouring the whole day.

Tlmrsday, WilUngton. — One fox went away from Arleston Gorse, Avhile
hounds were close at another ; he then went away, but turned back in the third
held, and was killed. A brace in Hell Meadows Covert. Got away with one, but he
came back, and then we got on the line of a fox that must have been gone some
time, and we could only Imnt him up to Spilsbury's. Did not find at Egginton
or Sutton Gorse. Drew the Spath, but men were working in part of it. Found
in the Pennywaste, but this fox had been gone some time, ran him down the
meadows to Tutbury, when darkness (4.15) put a stop to further proceedings.

Saturday, Brethy Mill. — Ran one fox about in Repton Shrubs, and killed him.
Another went away, and we hunted him, with a veiy bad scent, through Carver's
Rocks, Smith's Gorse, the Pistern Hills, into the South Woods. Here we
changed, I think, and ran back to Carver's Rocks, changed again, and came back
to the Pistern Hills, and lost on the foiled ground. Did not find at Bretby.

Monday, January 3rd, Blithfield. — Drew the whole of that side of the
country blank, and did not find till we got into the Woods, and then there were
no end of foxes on foot, and hounds divided into several lots; got them together,
and came home.

18811 GREAT RUN FROM SHIRLEY PARK. 55

The following account appeared in the Field : —

On Tuesday, January 4th, these hounds met at Shirley Park. A dull sky,
with a south to south-westerly wind, gave us every hopes of a scent, and a
scent we had, such as does not often happen. By a mistake on the part of his
groom, your correspondent's horses were taken to a wrong point, which lost him
tliree or four precious minutes, and though in any case — as even the flyers of the
Hunt admitted, that the Meynell dog pack were for once too fast for them — he
would probably have soon been left behind, yet, as much as he writes is on the
authority of others, if any other pen held by one who did see it sends you an
account of this fine rim, by all means give it the preference. One of the most
extraordinary features of the run was, that those who were left behind in Shirley
Park found, on getting out of the covert, that all was blank, all had disappeared ;
there was no long-dragging line of rough horses and ponies, but everything had
gone, and left no trace behind it. How far is the point from Shirley Park to
Foston cross roads, the Ordnance maps will decide. Some laid it at seven and
a half miles, and some at ten, but if we say eight we shall not be far from the
mark. It was then just 11.30 when Charles Leedham's cheery halloa brought his
dog pack on the line of this gallant fox. They raced him from Shirley Park by
Rodsley, on for Longford, right through Longford Car, by Alkmonton Bottoms to
Bentley, and here a fox, apparently a draggled one, was seen pointing back for
Longford, but hoimds and huntsman race on, heedless of a halloa from the
Master of the Dove Valley Harriers.* On they go, but not into Bentley Car, by
Middleton Park ; from this point they went almost to Boylestone, pointing for
Barton, running on within five or six fields of Sapperton. They raced across
this fine grass country, and leaving Church Broughton to the left, they threw up
their heads at Foston cross roads. I have called it eight miles from point to
point, and it was certainly between eleven and twelve as hounds ran. It was
done in fifty-three minutes, without the huntsman casting his hounds, or even
helping them, from find to finish ; and when I add it was over the cream of the
Derbyshire grass country, I have, I think, fairly described a run which is seldom
equalled, never surpassed. It is dangerous to say who saw it, so many think
they see every run as well or better than their neighbours ; but all admit that
Lord Petersham, Messrs. Bird, B. H. Buxton, J. and C. Gumming, T. Kempson,
Broadley Smith, Bond,t and the huntsman (who went well throughout), were
well in it, and from Longford, Lord Waterpark, Messrs. Meynell, Walter Boden,
A. Col vile, and others. Knowing hands were close in attendance, and should
I have missed any name, the satisfaction they must have had in being tliere will
more than compensate them for the omissions of

Needwood.

Diary continued :-

After the above run drew Sapperton, Potter's, and a small covert at Bentley
blank. Found at Cubley ; the fox ran two fields and turned short back and laid
down in the covert, where we left him. It was evidently a fox that had been
hunted in the morning and got stiff.

* Mr. F. Cotton.

t Old Jack Bond, a famous roughrider, well known with the Meynell — the
Dick Christian " of the Hunt.

56 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1881

From Lord Waterpark's diary : —

Thursday, January Qth, 1881, Elvaston Castle. — Drew the gardens, Belling-
ton Hill, Aston, Chellaston, and Arleston Gorse blank. Found in the Hell
Meadows Covert, ran towards Findern High Fields, turned to the left through
Findern village, and Spilbury's Covert, on to Egginton Gorse ; here our fox mu.st
have waited, as scent improved, and hounds ran hard, by the Blakeley osier-bed
up to Etwall, turned back by Burnaston, and went to ground in a drain within a
field of Spilsbury's.

Frost from January 6th to 31st.

Monday, January dlst, T)ie Kennels. — Ground still very hard. Drew all
Sudbury blank. Found in Eaton Wood, ran by the top of Clownholm down to
Wardley and back to the wood, then a ring round Doveridge back to Eaton
Wood and to Doveridge again, and stopped the hounds as they were running in
three lots.

Tuesday, Bagofs Woods. — Frost.

Wednesday, Bagot's^Woods. — Sent the hounds into the woods for exercise for
a couple of hours, though it was not really fit to hunt. Found lots of foxes, no
scent.

Thursday, Badhurne. — Found at once in the Rough, ran down to the brook
at Trusley, turned along it up to Long Lane, crossed it and bore to the left, and
ran a ring down to Langley village, where hounds checked a minute. Hit it off
over the road and ran nearly to Mackworth, and then bore to the right to the
common gorse where they checked again, thirty-five minutes up to this. Scent
now changed, and hunted slowly on over the railway by Mickleover Station, and
finally lost him by the windmill. Found in the Sand Hills, ran to the Rough, and
lost. Hunted a fox from Sutton Gorse down to the village, where he got to
ground in a drain, bolted him, and killed him as he tried to get through some
wive fencing. Got on an outlying fox at Foston, but could not run him at all.
No scent the latter part of the day.

Saturday, Drakehwe.— Found in the Grove, but the fox got headed by the
foot people, and killed. Did not find again till we got to Catton, ran a ring back
to the covert, and lost him. A brace of foxes at Lullington, ran up to Caldwell
and stopped the hounds, as it was late. Nasty day, and no scent.

Monday, February \Uh, Chartley. — Snow.

Tuesday, Bentlcy Brichyard. — A dreadful day, blowing and raining. Found
in Bentley Car, ran at first as if he meant going to Sudbury, turned to the right
above Cubley over the road by Alkmonton Bottoms nearly to Potter's, back by
Boylestone and into the Car, and here fancy we changed foxes. Went away
again towards Shirley Park, bore to the left and ran nearly up to the turnpike
road by Cubley Gorse, and to gi-ound by the brook side close to the village.
Good hunting run of one and a half hours. Tried to hunt a fox from Cubley
Gorse, but the day got worse again, and scent failed altogether.

Thursday, Kedleston Gate. — About another such a day as Tuesday. One fox
went to ground in the covert at Allestree ; another went awaj^, but they could not
hunt him. Found in Breward's Car, but could do nothing. Had a nice gallop
with a fox from Culland — twenty-five minutes ; to ground in Brailsford Gorse.

Saturday, East Lodge. — Needwood and the Holly Wood blank. Found in
the Deanery Covert, ran fast to Tatenhill and back into Yoxall ; hunted slowly
from there to Rangemore, and lost. Found behind the house at Dunstall, ran
about for some time, and left him somewhere by the stables at Rangemore.

1881] A SHEEP-DOG KILLS THE FOX. 57

Monday, February \Uh, Chartley.—K good deal of snow and frost. Found
in Handleasow Wood, ran hard over the park to the Long Ridge Covert, turned
to the left by the corner of the Moss, and from there straight to Carry Coppice at
Loxley, to ground in the main earth. All Loxley blank. Found in Kingston
Wood, ran round the covert three times, out by Heatley, nearly to Newton and
back, into Bagot's Woods, to ground by the gravel ride.

Tuesday, Bradley.— Hoo much fog, and too hard to draw there. Went down
to Shirley Park, ran hard in covert for half an hour, and then got to ground.
Killed a fox in Longford Car, went away with another, ran a ring and then went
straight up for Shirley Park, left it just on the right, and hunted up to a farm-
house near Snelston, where our fox most unaccountably beat us. However,
very shortly after, a man came up and told us that a sheep dog had won-ied our
fox, which was dead beat, and the fox was at that moment lying dead in the farm-
house ! Found at Snelston, but the fog came on so thick we had to stop
hounds.

Thursday, WilUngton. — Found in Hell Meadows, ran a ring up to Burnaston
and on to Egginton Gorse, then round by Blakely osier-bed up to Etwall, and
from there to Bearwardcote, back by Burnaston, and killed at Egginton. Found
below the road, near the village at Egginton, and ran down the meadows to
Tutbury, where he beat us. Drew all Foston blank,

Saturday, Neiuhorough. — Holly Bush blank. Ran one fox from the Birch-
wood to ground in a pit-hole four fields from the covert. Came back, got on the
line of another fox, hunted up to him in the Chantry, ran him down to the lane
below Black Gutter Coppice, and killed him, thirty-five minutes from the Chantry.
Found in Black Gutter Coppice, ran two wide rings, but could not get on over
the foiled ground, hunted slowly down to Blithbiu-y and on towards Blithfield,
and lost.

Monday, February 2\st, Blithhiiry.—AW the coverts there blank, and Rough
Park the same. The farmers openly said the foxes had been killed owing to no
notice being taken of their claims for poultry losses. Foimd in Brakenhiu-st, ran
down Black Slough, and killed the fox in the river.

Tuesday, Doveridge. — Snow,

Wednesday, Doveridge.— Found in the Lady Coppice, ran into Eaton Wood,
through it, and to ground under a thorn bush above Wood's house. Ran from
the Birch Coppice, through Eaton Wood, by Marston and Cubley, and to gi'ound
in Bentley Car. A lot of snow on the ground and very bad going.

Thursday, Badburne.— Snow about the kennels nearly all gone, but when we
got to Radburne, found a lot, and no one at the meet. Found in the Sand Hills,
ran fast down to Dalbury and back to ground on Finney's farm. Went to the
Rough, ran up to the Parson's Gorse, nearly down to Langley village, on to the
Nursery, and a ring nearly to Mackworth, then through Langley Gorse and
the Vicar Wood, by Wild Park up to Ravensdale Park, to gi-ound. About two
hours ; good hunting run, and the ground everywhere about three inches deep
in snow.

Saturday, Foremarh. — Found in Gorstey Leys, ran a ring, back to the covert
and down to Ticknall. No scent. Found at Calke, ran by the Pistern Hills on
to Smisby, and on through the South Woods into Ferrers' countrj^ and lost in
a tremendous snowstorm.

Monday, February 28th, Chartley. — Frost and snow.

Tuesday, Bentley Brickyard. — Frost and snow.

Thirsday, Kedleston village. — Drew the coverts by the village, Allestree,
Darley, the Vicar Wood, Langley, and the Parson's Gorse blank. Found in

58 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1881

Longford Car, just as a very heavy storm of snow came on, and lost by Alkmon-
ton school. Very little snow, curiously enough, at Kedleston, but a great deal
elsewhere.

Saturday, Drahelowe Cross Roads. — Found at Lullington, ran into the Ather-
stone country. Several foxes at Catton, which kept running round and round.
Found late at Walton "Wood, but did nothing.

Monday, March 1th Tliatched Lodye. — Han about in the woods some time,
and on to Kingston Wood, and went on with a line towards Loxley, but hounds
could not run a bit. Very wet and stormy, and no scent. Found a vixen in
Carry Coppice, and ran her to ground in the pit by Blurton's farm. Did not find
again.

Tuesday, Bradley.— Bid not find till we got to Shirley Park, and then could
not run at all. Drew Ednaston, Brailsford Gorse, Culland, Longford, and Bentley
Car blank, and came home.

Thursday, WilUngton. — Found a vixen in Hell Meadows Covert and stopped
the hounds. Egginton blank. Found in Sutton Gorse, ran very fast up to
the Parson's Gorse — fourteen minutes — then on by Langley Church nearly to the
Nursery Covert, back to the Parson's Gorse, and killed. Twenty-six minutes and
a first-rate gallop.

Saturday, Dunstall. — Found behind the house, ran round and round for
about an hour, and killed. Found our next fox in Mrs. Lyon's Covert, ran a
short ring back through the covert, then through Yoxall and Berkeley Lodge
nearly to Eangemore, skirted the Deanery plantation, back within a field of the
covert we found in, on by Holly Bank and the Whitewood, and killed in the
road, within fifty yards of the Yoxall Lodge Hills. Good hunting run of fifty-five
minutes.

Monday, March lUh, Chartley. — Found in the Shaw Gorse, ran hard for ten
minutes, and then saw it was a heavy vixen, and stopped the hounds. Got on
the line of a fox off the Moss, hunted through the Birch Wood, and then ran
hard over the park back by Handleasow Wood, and lost by Gratwich village.

Tuesday, Kennels. — All Sudbury blank ! Cubley Gorse the same. Stopped
the hounds from a vixen at Snelston. Found in Eaton Wood, ran by Wardley
down to Cubley Brook farm, and lost. Poor scent.

Thursday, Etwall. — Found a fox in a tree by Sutton brook, ran through the
gorse and could make no more of it. Found in Eadburne Eough, ran very fast
by the Rectory down to the Black Covert, and from thence straight down to
Markeaton, and killed in the Ashbourne and Derby road. A first-rate gallop of
twenty-five minutes. Drew Markeaton, Vicar Wood, Langley Gorse, Parson's
Gorse, Sutton, the Spath, and Sapperton, but did not find again.

Saturday, Bretly Mill. — Found in Repton Shrubs. No scent, ran a ring and
into Carver's Rocks. Found in Smith's Gorse, ran back to the Rocks, and on
towards Foremark, and lost. Gorstey Leys blank. Found at Calke, ran a rin
round the park.

Monday, March 2\st, Kingston village. — Did not find till we got into Bagot's
Woods, and then stopped the hounds from two or three vixens. No scent.

Tuesday, Walton village. — Found in Walton Wood, and ran nearly up to
Lullington, and lost. Did not find again.

Thursday, Foremarh. — Gorstey Leys blank. Found in the Pistern Hills, ran
to Smith's Gorse, and lost. Drew Several Woods and Hartshorn Gorse blank.
Found in Repton Shrubs, ran to CarA^er's Rocks, and thence very fast up-wind to
Foremark. Ground very hard and dry, and hounds could not run at all except
when a fox went dead up-wind.

1881]

END OF LORD WATERPARK'S DIARY.

59

Saturday, Ansloio. — Did not find in the Henlmrst, but in a small covert just
outside, ran back through the Henhurst, up to Anslow church and on to Stockley
Park, then down to Kolleston, by Craythorn, nearly to Horninglow, up the valley
to Anslow, over Stockley Park again, between the Hare Holds and the Cupandi-
tion Covert, left Hanbury on the right, and ran to Kingstanding and on into
Jackson's bank. Hunted him out of the Brakenhurst into Hoar Cross Park, and
here some three couples of hounds went on through Nichol's Covert with, what I
believe to have been, the nia fox, and the body of the pack turned back into
Brakenhurst, and went on towards Rough Park.

Monday, March 28th, Newton village. — Newton Gorse, Chartley Moss, and
Gratwich Wood blank. Found in Handleasow Wood, ran nearly to SheiTatt's
Wood, turned back by Birchwood Park, ran up to Fradswell village, by Turner's
Gorse, over the park, through the corner of Handleasow Wood, over the railway,
and viewed him on the hillside by Windy Hall Covert. Here we had a long
check, but himted on slowly to Carry Coppice and back to Chartley, and lost.

Tuesday, Hanbury. — Hare Holds, Castle Hayes, and Banks blank. Did not
find till we got to the Swilcar Wood, then ran about between there and Butter-
milk Hill some time, got away over the park, through the woods, out by Dunstall
pit, through the corner of Lord's Coppice, by the back of Abbots Bromley, over
Bromley Park fast, through the Birchwood, by Hoar Cross village into the park,
where he beat us, and must have got to ground.

Thursday, Newhorough. — Birchwood and Hoar Cross blank. Did not find
till we got to Black Gutter Coppice, and then got on the line of a fox and hunted
him in the direction of Blithbury, but there was no scent. Came back to the
woods, found, but could not run a yard.

Saturday, Buttermilk Hill. — Found in the Cliff banks, ran through the
woods. No scent, and so storm}', you could hear nothing. Drew Kingston,
Chartley, and Blith field blank.

Monday, April Ath, Rangemore. — Found two, if not three, foxes, ran one to
gi-ound in the Rocket Oak, and another in a pit-hole between Tatenhill and
Dunstall, Drew Dunstall, Lyon's Covert, Yoxall Byrldey, and Brakenhurst
without finding again.

Stopped by frost, twenty-five days ; hounds out, one hundred and two
days; foxes killed, thirty and a half brace; foxes run to ground, seventeen
brace.

SUMMARY,

Season.

No. of days

stopped

Foxes

Foxes run

hounds out.

by frost.

killed.

to ground.

1872-73

108

12

54

23

1873-74

116

14

70

47

1874-75

111

31

70

43

1875-76

117

17

87

52

1876-77

119

5

68

42

1877-78

111

8

86

44

1878-79

95

40

65

45

1879-80

93

28

67

29

1880-81

102

25

180

61

34

Total

972

628

359

60 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1881

1881.

A meeting of subscribers to the Hunt was held at the
St. James's Hotel, Derby, for the purpose of taking some
steps to carry on the hunting of the country, and of
appointing a new Master in the place of Lord Waterpark,
who resigns after nine years' service. Amongst those
present were the Earl of Shrewsbury, Lords Scarsdale,
Waterpark, Vernon, Parker, Sir William FitzHerbert, Sir
John Hardy, Colonel the Honourable W. Coke, Colonel
Levett, M.P., the Honourable E. K. W. Coke, Mr. Arthur
Bass, M.P., Mr. G. F. Meynell, Captain Buncombe, Mr. T.
W. Evans, M.P., Colonel C. J. Cavendish, Mr. A. 0.
Worthington, Mr. H. Boden, Mr. Bird, Mr. Burton, Mr.
S. C. AUsopp, Mr. G. Allsopp, Major Fountain, Mr. Bott
(Church Broughton), Mr. Kempson, Mr. Henry Evans,
Mr. Coleman (Park Nook), Mr. C. A. Wallroth, Mr. Georo-e
Wheeldon (Derby), Mr. Buckston, Mr. F. S. Kendall, Mr.
T. Smith (Clifton), Mr. Gumming (Foston), Mr. R. Sale
(Barrow), Mr. G. Travers, Mr. G. L. White, Mr. Wood
(Wirksworth), Mr. Eichard Waite (Duffield), Mr. John
Smith (Derby), Mr. O'Callaghan, etc.

Sir William FitzHerbert proposed that the Hon. E.
K. W. Coke, who, in the absence of Lord Bagot, has been
acting as chairman of the committee, should take the
chair.

Mr. Coke thought that Sir William FitzHerbert, who
was the father of the Hunt, and a well-known sportsman
on his side of the country, should take the chair.

Sir William excused himself by reason of being on the
sick list, and Mr. Coke was then voted to the chair.

The Chairman said that, amongst other things, their
business that day was to hear a report which had been
drawn up by the committee. They had to deal a little
with the past, a little with the present, and a little with
the future. In order that they might put themselves in
form and start the fox, he w^ould call upon the secretary
to read the minutes of the last meeting.

5881] HUNT MEETING. 61

Mr. F. L. Sowter accordingly read the minutes of the
meeting at Derby, on January 4th, 1878, when Lord
Waterpark was appointed sole Master on the resignation
of his colleague, Mr. Clowes.

These minutes having been confirmed, Mr. John
Smith, solicitor, read the special report which had been
draA\Ti up by the committee. It stated that, " on the com-
pletion of the kennels, stables, etc., at Sudbury, a debt
was left of £5324 5s. 3c?., which sum they still owed the
bank of Messrs. Crompton, Evans, and Co. This large
outlay on the buildings was a great advance upon what
was first contemplated, but this was unavoidable, and was
occasioned by the great rise in the price of building
material and labour just at that time. Lord Vernon,
upon whose property the kennels were built at Sudbury
Firs, had agreed upon a twenty-five years' lease, but, con-
sequent upon an increased expenditure, he allowed an
extension to forty years."

All that was said at this meeting about the kennels
will be found in the chapter which dealt with them. So
there is no need to repeat it, and we can pass at once to
the end of the speech, where he said, " The term for which
Lord Waterpark undertook to hunt the country had ex-
pired, and his lordship had intimated his wish to retire
from the Mastership. The whole body of sportsmen
shared in the regret in this decision of Lord Waterpark.
(Cheers.) Captain Buncombe had offered to hunt the
country for four days a week on condition of receiving
two thousand five hundred pounds per annum, two
thousand of which must be guaranteed by the committee
out of the subscriptions. The term of office of the com-
mittee had also expired, and it was necessary that a fresh
committee should be appointed."

The Chairman said they would deal with the past first,
and he might say the appeal made to the country for the
purpose of reducing the old debt had been responded to
liberally, and a list was on the table ready for any one to
sign their names. (Laughter.)

62 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1881

Sir William FitzHerbert wanted to know, in case of
the interest not being paid punctually, what sort of a
position they would be in. They had now the remnants
of a sixty years' lease, but, in case of a mortgage, they
would lose part of this right.

Mr. John Smith said the proposed mortgage would
stipulate that the money should not be called in so long
as the interest and the sinking fund were regularly paid.

The Chairman, in answer to another question, re-
marked that some of the members of the committee
were of opinion that their personal responsibility for
the large sum of five thousand pounds had continued long
enough.

Sir William FitzHerbert having put further questions
to elucidate the position, Mr. Charles Allsopp remarked
that there were many who hunted with the Meynell
Hounds who never subscribed, and he thought they ought
to be called upon to contribute a little for the sport they
enjoyed without expense. (Hear, hear.)

The Chairman said, with regard to certain questions
which had been asked, he would just read an extract from
a letter from Lord Vernon's solicitor to his lordship. The
lawyer stated, " The terms seem to me most convenient
and favourable to the Hunt, and are such as no investor
uninfluenced by friendly feelings would consent to." This
had reference to Lord Vernon's assenting to the lease
being extended to sixty years, and to advancing the
Hunt four thousand pounds on the security thereof, to
enable them to pay off a debt of £5324 55. Sd. to Messrs.
Crompton and Evans, the balance of which was met by
subscriptions of fifty pounds each from the committee, and
divers sums from other people.

Lord Vernon desired to make a personal statement.
Although not a very active participator in the sport, it
was impossible for one who had taken a great interest in
former days not to continue to take an interest in the
sport of those who hunted in later times. It was because
he felt certain that there had been some misconception as

1881] DISCUSSION ABOUT THE KENNELS. 63

to the part which he had taken with regard to the
arrangements made between himself and the Hunt that
he was taking this opportunity of saying a few words in
order that they might know his own story in the negotia-
tions, and then he would leave the matter to their own
judgment entirely. After the death of Mr. Meynell it
was agreed that there were but two points where the
kennels could be erected, and, as there was likely to be a
difficulty with regard to the erection of kennels at Tut-
bury, he placed himself in communication with his friend
Lord Waterpark in regard to the erection of kennels and
stables at Sudbury. He consented to the erection of
kennels at Sudbury on the condition that they should not
be a nuisance to himself and family, and that the build-
ings should be of an architecturally presentable character ;
but the first estimates were, to his mind, simply absurd.
He told Mr. Coke that if the cost of the kennels exceeded
five thousand pounds he should hold himself responsible
for the balance. He also stipulated that his architect
should be employed. Just at the period when the work
was being done, building materials and the price of labour
rose fifty per cent., so that a building which had been
previously estimated to cost five thousand pounds would
cost ten thousand pounds. Besides that, a number of
alterations were made in the plans, and, as a set-off" against
these things, he extended the lease from twenty-five to
forty years, and recently, in making the new arrange-
ments for reducing the debt, he had further extended the
lease to sixty years without any equivalent at all. Lord
Vernon said he did not disguise the fact that the com-
mittee and himself had not been quite of accord lately,
but he consoled himself by the knowledge that he was
amongst gentlemen, and that the course of true love did
not always run smooth. He had no other interest but
the interest of the Hunt, the respectability of which he
desired to see continued under the same circumstances as
in the past. (Applause.)

Sir William FitzHerbert said that it seemed that their

64 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. 11881

plant had cost something like thirteen thousand five
hundred pounds, whereas the first idea was something like
five thousand. Lord Vernon wished to have a certain
amount of architectural form in it, but he (Sir William)
thought a great deal might have been done towards
making a presentable exterior by good proportions. These
stables and buildings were not for perpetuity, for the
time was only sixty years ; but, at all events, it seemed
to liim that a great deal of money had slipped through
their fingers.

The Chairman said, on the part of the committee, he
must admit that the first estimate of five thousand pounds
was simply ridiculous, and he went on to speak of the
excellent accommodation provided at the kennels. Hunts-
men and stud grooms did not care to live in small cottages
nowadays. They were also highly favoured in having a
park so handy in which they could exercise their horses
and dosfs. With reoard to the retirement of Lord Water-
park, it was a most painful thing to every one connected
with the Hunt, but, at the proper time, more direct refer-
ence would be made to the matter. The Chairman further
referred to the financial position. The subscriptions last
year were three thousand four hundred and sixty-three
pounds. The payment for covers, keepers, and poultry
was always an increasing figure. Farmers, who at one
time did not think so much of the odds and ends, now
sent in more claims for poultry, and in these bad times it
was only right they should look to matters of detail.
The payments the last year on this account were seven
hundred pounds. The sinking fund (on the kennel debt)
would in future amount to two hundred pounds a year,
and, with interest on the loan, the amount would be
increased to four hundred pounds. To this must be added
two thousand five hundred pounds to be paid to the
Master, bringing the total amount required to three
thousand six hundred pounds a year. The gross income
last year was three thousand four hundred and sixty-three
pounds, so that, on the same estimate, the deficit would

1881] THE QUESTION OF EXPENSE. 65

be one hundred and thirty-seven pounds. It was also his
duty to inform them that the Hon. Mrs. Meynell Ingram
would discontinue her large subscription and make com-
paratively a small one. He was afraid they should lose
two hundred pounds a year on that subscription. That
would make the deficiency three hundred and thirty-seven
pounds. Therefore, if they gave the Master everything
they had, after meeting the necessary expenditure, it
would only be two thousand one hundred and twenty-
three pounds. Unless the subscriptions increased con-
siderably, they should only have that sum to spare.
Captain Buncombe had offered to take the hounds for
three years, to hunt the country for four days a week,
for the sum of two thousand five hundred pounds, two
thousand to be guaranteed by the committee out of the
subscriptions. It was also his (Mr. Coke's) duty, as chair-
man of the committee in the absence of Lord Bagot, to
read a note he had received from Mr. R. W. Chandos-
Pole. " In the event of Captain Duncombe not taking
the hounds, I shall be very glad to do so. As regards the
subscriptions, give me as much as you can. Wish that I
could afford to do without any subscription." (Cheers.)
With reference to these two gentlemen, the Chairman said
they were both friends of his own, and both were equally
eligible to undertake the Mastership. Mr. Pole was a
fine sportsman, and Radburne was a place thoroughly
identified with the Meynell Hunt, and its name ran
through their mouths whenever they mentioned the
Meynell Hounds.

Lord Scarsdale asked if Mr. Pole's note was in answer
to any suggestion, and, if so, who made the offer.

The Chairman said there had been no official offer
made to Mr. Pole. If such had been made, it would have
gone through him, he supposed.

Captain Duncombe said it would disembarrass gentle-
men in their choice if he left the room. But, before he
went, he wished to say that he saw from the statements
made that the committee would not be in a position to

VOL. II. F

66 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1881

guarantee more than two thousand pounds. He was
therefore prepared to do it for two thousand guarantee,
and, if the subscriptions kept up, they could then, if they
were able, give him something further.

Some discussion then ensued as to what should be the
exact terms for the Master.

Mr. Henry Boden asked whether it was reasonal:)le that
any man should be expected to hunt the country four
days a week for two thousand pounds. He held it to be
impossible at the present rate of prices.

Lord Waterpark corroborated Mr. Boden in this re-
spect, and said he had discovered the Mastership was a
rich man's amusement, and that two thousand pounds a
year was not sufficient.

After some further discussion it was unanimously
decided that, whichever gentleman was chosen Master,
a guarantee of two thousand pounds a year should be
given, and as much beyond that sum, up to five hundred
pounds, as was available should be handed over to the
Master.

Sir William FitzHerbert then proposed Captain Dun-
combe as Master, and Colonel Levett, M.P., seconded.

Lord Scarsdale nominated Mr. Chandos-Pole, saying
his election would be a thoroughly popular one. He
{Lord Scarsdale) was not a hunting man himself, but he
hoped they thought him a good preserver. (Hear, hear.)
Of Mr. Chandos-Pole men spoke as of a thorough sports-
man. He was, moreover, popular with the landowners
and the farmers, which he deemed to be a most important
qualification.

Mr. Meynell seconded.

Mr. E. Sale said he could quite corroborate Lord
Scarsdale in what he said about Mr. Pole's popularity
with the farmers. It was so on his side of the country.

On the show of hands being taken, Mr. Chandos-Pole
was elected by nineteen votes to fourteen given for
Oaptain Buncombe.

After dealino; with the election of the new committee,

Lord 5carsdale.

From a photog^raph

by

W. W. Winter.

vd
.191 niW .V/ ;//

1881] ELECTION OF "SQUIRE" CHANDOS-POLE. 67

and leaving the question of adding two tenant farmers,
such as Mr. Tomlinson, of Bradley Pastures, and Mr.
Finney, to the newly elected committee to settle, Colonel
Cavendish moved, and Lord Scarsdale seconded, a vote
of thanks to Lord Waterpark for the manner in which
he had hunted the country in the last three years, and
spoke of the courtesy which had always characterized his
lordship's Mastership.

Lord Vernon also bore high testimony to Lord Water-
park's services.

Lord Waterpark, who was received with cheers,
returned thanks. He said he was very glad they appre-
ciated his humble endeavour to show sport. He had
endeavoured to hunt the country as fairly as he could,
and as well as he could, and the way they had received
the vote showed that he had not entirely failed. They
would understand that, after nine years, he could not
give up the Mastership without strong feelings of regret —
in fact, he had never regretted anything so much in his
life. But there were private reasons, which would not
interest them, but which interested him excessively.
(Laughter.) He should look back on those nine years as
the most pleasant of his life. The duty of a Master was
not altogether an easy one, particularly in the field , but
he thought his lines had been cast in very pleasant places,
and perhaps he had the pleasantest field to deal with. He
had always said he had the best country and the best
pack of hounds, although that was, perhaps, rather a bold
thing to say. If he had ever ofi'ended them he hoped he
had long; since been forsfiven. No doubt he had halloaed
at them when they got a bit forward, but the words of a
clever alphabet of the Meynell Hunt — if he might quote
them — said,

"W stands for Waterpark, master of hounds,
Both his field and his temper he keeps within bounds."

(Laughter.) If ever he said a cross or disagreeable word,
he was sure they would have forgiven him long ago.

68 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1881

Although he was retiring, he should continue to promote
fox-hunting in the country. He had made a great many
friends, and he hoped he might say not a single enemy.
(Applause.)

It was afterwards proposed by Lord Waterpark, and
seconded by Sir John Hardy, and resolved, that " the
thanks of this meeting be presented to the landowners and
occupiers of land for the kind manner in which the
interests of the Hunt have been cared for by them during
the past three years."

A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the
proceedings.

MEYNELL HUNT ALPHABET.

By F. Cotton, 1881,

A is for Allsopp, a very hard man ; he can hammer a turnpike

as few people can.
B is for Berkeley, who's always in front. Boys, make him your

mentor when learning to hunt.
C is for Clowes, with his beautiful seat. O'er the biggest of countries

he's not to be beat.
D for the clangers some fancy they see in a fence that is really

not up to the knee.
E for the elders, the core of the hunt ; who delight in the sport,

though not always in front.
F for the FitzHerbert family stands. They can all ride like blazes,

and haven't they hands !
G is for Goodwin; the faintest of praise does bold Richard accord

the most brilliant of days.
H is for Hardy of Dunstall, Sir John. " Pray, where are the

hounds, sir? Which way have they gone?"
I is myself ; though I'm hard up, of course, I don't care a jot

while I've got a good horse.
K is for Kempsun, who joined t'other day. He's a very nice horse-
man, and long may he stay !
L is for Lyon ; right fitly he's named. Like his namesake, for

courage he justly is famed.
M is for Meynell. Times many and oft have we all of us heard

Godfrey's whisper so soft.
N is for Needwood, whose Forest resounds at autumn's grey morn

with the music of hounds.

1881] FRIARY CRICKET CLUB FANCY-DRESS BALL. 69

O is for Osmaston, staunch friend and true ; when we draw Shirley

Park we're nigh sure of a view.
{ is for Parker ; come, gladden your eyes, like a bird o'er the
pj fences her ladyship flies.

I is for Pole, too, tho' welter his weight, he's a beautiful horse-
V man and always goes straight.
Q the quandary we're in when we lie 'neath our horse in a ditch,

ne'er a comrade is nigh.
R is the Rover ; tho' many may smile, when we hunt him and kill

him, we love him the while.
S is for Shrewsbury, young at the sport. But he really means

business. He's quite the right sort.
T is for Tom Smith, when riding his roan, he's a rum un' to follow,

we'll all of us own.
U for the 'Unters, as H-less ones call them ; for the H's I'm sorry ;

by Gad ! how they maul them.

V is for Vernon ; of foxes no dearth shall we find at headquarters

while he is on earth.
/' for Waterpark, Master of Hounds. His field and his temper
T^ * he keeps within bounds.

) for "Worthington also, who sees most runs through, and enjoys
\ them the best when his pals see them too.
X is the excitement we all of us know, when it's Hoic ! Holloa !
Forrard ! Away ! Tally-ho !

Y are the young ones, without whom the chace would soon cease

to exist, for we grow old apace.
Z are the zealous true lovers of sport. Let us drink to their
health in a bumper of port.

1881.

In January a very successful fancy-dress ball was
given by the Friary Cricket Club. Mr. Walter Boden, J. P.,
Captain Lucas, Captain Parry, and Mr. J. Marriott were
the active workers in the affair. The following description
appeared at the time : " The guests were received at the
foot of the stairs by a Chinese mandarin of high degree,
and two or three friars of olden time with their cowls well
pulled over their faces. Sturdy beefeaters guarded the
staircase and marshalled the company into the ball-room.
. . When we arrived the ball-room was about half filled,
and very brilliant and interesting was the scene, but most
difiicult was the task of recognizing friends, especially the

70 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1881

policeman, for whom, as he marched up the room, all made
way, supj)osmg he was on a matter of duty. This was
perhaps the best disguise of the evening, as the Chief
Constable * discovered when, ordering him to do some com-
mission, he found he was his brother Chief Constable of
the Borough ! f Great amusement was caused by the
various costumes, one of the best being a Parsee, whom
some of the gentlemen of the Yeomanry might have
recognized. It was very funny to see the cardinal of
historic name J tuck up vestment, and valse with a peasant
girl from Normandy. Equally remarkable was it to notice
the calm way in which a lady consigned herself to the
arms of Mephistopheles, who, by-the-by, had made himself
uglier 'than he is painted.' The dresses were, on the
whole, handsome, fresh, and admirably represented the
characters they were intended to portray. It would be
impossible to mention all, but we cannot resist alluding to
the 'Incroyable' and ' I'lnconnu.' . . . The gipsies were
numerous and effective ; they would have been dangerous
as fortune-tellers. It was a happy thought, prettily
carried out, that a daughter should be ' pearl ' and a mother
' mother of pearl.' "

* Captain Parry. f Colonel Delacombe.

% The Kev. W. Chandos-Pole.

( 71 )

CHAPTER VL

THE SQUIRE MISS CHANDOS-POLE — GREAT RUN FROM

ROLLESTON TO BAGOT's PARK PLANTAGENET AGAIN

MR. TOM SMITH OF WORCESTER KENNEL LORE — THE

FIRST TIME BODEN's THORNS WAS DRAWN THE IN-

GESTRE ACCIDENT — MR. DUDLEY FOX.

1881-1882.

Colonel Chandos-Pole, or the " Squire," as lie is more
often called, was educated at Eton, and was in the
Volunteers when the King was married in 1863. He
joined the Grenadiers in October, 1871, as ensign and
lieutenant, retiring as lieutenant in 1878. In 1868 he
joined the Derbyshire Yeomanry, and has now commanded
them for the last three years, taking the keenest interest
in the corps and all that concerns it. He succeeded his
father in 1873, and became Master of the Meynell Hounds
in 1881. The letter which was read at the meeting is so
characteristic of him that it is worth repeating : " In the
event of Captain Duncombe not taking the hounds, I shall
be very glad to do so. As regards the subscriptions, give
me as much as you can. Wish that I could afford to do
without any subscription." Previous to this, like many
other famous Masters, such as Squire Osbaldeston, Mr.
Meynell Ingram, and others, he had served his apprentice-
ship as huntsman with a pack of harriers, which he kept
at Radburne. One day, when out hunting with the
Meynell, he got a very bad fall, went home, had out the
harriers without knowing in the least what he was doing,
and never came to himself till the hounds had just found,

72 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

when, naturally, lie went home promptly. Luckily, by
keeping quiet, he suffered no ill effects. Not so, however,
later on, for he injured his eye while engaged in cutting
down a tree, and eventually lost the sight of it. It was
when this eye was injured that he compiled his portion of
the Hound List which accompanies this Work, Mr. Clowes
having done the previous part. The Hon. George Allsopp
added to it. At the end of the Squire's first season as
Master of the Meynell, the following letter was received
by all subscribers : —

Longford, February 15t.h, 1882.
Deak Sir,

Finding there is a very general feeling in the hunting-field that, on
the occasion of Mr. Chandos-Pole's marriage with Miss Beckett-Denison, some
appropriate acknowledgment would be very popular with the members of the
Hunt, as well as with others who enjoy the sport, I feel sure I am acting in
accordance with theu' wishes in asking if you are willing to subscribe towards a
fund in order to purchase a suitable wedding present in recognition of Mr. Pole's
great success as M.F.H. during his first season, and also as a mark of the kindly
feeling existing between him and all those who hunt with the Meynell Hounds.
Subscriptions may either be paid to Crompton and Evans, Union Bank, Derby,
to credit of " The Chandos-Pole Wedding Fund," or they can be remitted to me,
addressed to care of Mr. J. Smith, St. James's Chambers, Derby ; and it is
suggested that the amount of each subscription should be limited to a pound.

I am.

Yours faithfully,

W. Coke.
P.S. — It is proposed that the subscription list shall close on the 23rd instant.

The upshot of this appeal was the presentation of a
large silver bowl and two beautiful silver cups.

Great was the rejoicing at Radburne and all over the
county, where the young bride won all hearts, while in the
hunting-field her riding elicited universal admiration, and
even Charles was fain to admit that she was well versed
in the craft. Well might the farmers of the Meynell
country paraphrase the verse of their confrere in Cheshire,
and exclaim —

" I seed the Squire of Radburne too, a loikly lad to roid,
I seed a soight worth aw the rest, his farencly young broid."

In November, 1882, Miss Dorothy Violet Chandos-Pole
was born, and the prospect of many happy years lay fair

THE SQUIRE. 73

before them. But, alas! the handwriting was on the
wall ; only a few months later the young mother caught a
€hill, typhoid supervened, and it was with a deep sense of
personal loss and intense sadness that each one followed
her to the t]uiet resting-place in Radburne churchyard. It
may have been some comfort to the Squire to feel that he
had the sympathy of the whole countryside, more particu-
larly perhaps of the farmers, with whom he was immensely
popular.

" There is not a farmer in the Forest but would go
through fire and water for him," a cheery Staffordshire
yeoman once said to the writer, while his own tenants
would do as much or more. And well they might, for he
knows all their troubles, and their well-being is his, while
the rents, which are low, have never been raised for
generations on the estate. A ride home with him after
hunting is a partial explanation of their affection for him,
for he knows every one and all about them too, and never
forgets to ask after whatever is of the most interest to
them at the moment. Besides this, he never forgets a
face. (Jharles used often to say that one day the Squire
and he were riding home together when the former
suddenly stopped to speak to a man who was breaking
stones by the roadside.

" Who was that, sir ? " Charles asked.

" Don't you remember ? That good fellow who helped
us dig a fox last year in the Brakenhurst ? "

" I should not have known him from Adam," Charles
used to say, " but Mr. Pole knew him in a minute. Gave
him something too."

This is only a trifling incident, but little straws show
which way the wind blows.

Charles was also fond of telling us about the late
Mr. Jaggard, of Hamstall Eidware, as good a specimen of
a yeoman as ever lived. His cart, with him and his
daughter in it, used to be a familiar sight ploughing
through the deep rides of Pipe Wood or Rough Park long
after infirmity prevented him from riding. However, he

74 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

had got his back up about something, and the foxes in his
coverts were doomed. It was some bother about a poultry
claim. There was to be a hunt with some harriers after
an outlying deer and a breakfast in his house preparatory
thereto, and Charles dropped a hint to the Master that he
would do well to go. This he did, and Mr. Jaggards
temporary resentment was not proof against the Squire's
winning manner, and foxes were found in their accustomed
haunts as before. Very likely the proposed destroyer was
glad enough of an excuse to remit the sentence, for he
dearly loved a hound.

Wonderful sport they had in these years (which will
appear in due course later on) with the Meynell hounds,
but any one who has once carried the horn has a yearning
to handle it again, which no mere following of any hounds
can satisfy. And so it is not to be wondered at that the
Squire brought a pack from Limerick, bought from Mr.
Gubbins of Galtee More renown, to hunt those portions of
the Meynell territory which wanted it. A very good pack
they were too, full of drive, remarkably stout and hard
runners, with good noses and a rare cry. It was a great
loss to the country when he resigned the mastership of the
Meynell and went with these hounds to the Cattistock
country, where he enjoyed ten happy years, and brought
five hundred brace of those wild, strong foxes to hand.
In 1897 he was back again at Radburne, bringing his
dog pack with him, having sold the bitches to Lord
Digby.

With these dog hounds he hunted the rough country
lying to the north of Duffield, and a little bit of the old
North Staffordshire district west of the Dove, drawing
Cotton Wood (of which Mr. Wade of Mickleover, a good
sportsman and staunch fox-preserver, had the shooting,
together with the other Crakemarsh coverts), Chipperlee,
Nott Hill, and the vast woodlands to the north-west of
Croxden Abbey. This was the best part of a country
which, roughly speaking, was bounded on the east by the
Derwent, on the south by the road from Duffield by

THE SQUIRE. 75

Turnditch to Ashbourne, thence by the Dove as far as
Uttoxeter, and then approximately by the road from there
to Cheadle. The Dove Valley harriers also occupied part
of this district, and hunt it all, so far as is possible, now.

But it was very up-hill work. The first season resulted
in nineteen blank days, but still he persevered as per-
sistently as ever did the Kev. John Eussell, who met with
a similar experience in pursuit of the otter. And in the
next season he fared better, but in the last he had no
fewer than nine blank days running !

In 1898 the bells rang out joyously at Radburne, and
a great welcome was given to him when he brought home
his bride, Inez, youngest daughter of Colonel Arent of
the 2nd Brandenburg Uhlans, No. 11. The Derbyshire
yeomanry, who were met on the boundary line of the
estate by the tenantry, escorted them home.

In 1900 he sold his hounds to Mr. John Hargreaves,
master of the Blackmoor Vale, where they gave a good
account of themselves, and showed excellent sport. Old
Wedlock, who is almost white, and a wonder in her work,
remained at Radburne, where this year she had a litter of
twelve puppies. This calls to mind the story of a sporting-
little boy, who translated " stant litore puppes," " a grand
litter of puppies ! "

To his mere riding such a thorough sportsman as the
Squire would not value a compliment, yet Charles always
maintained stoutly that he was the best welter weight in
England ; pish-ing and pshaw-ing if any of the usual noted
ones was mentioned as being nearly his equal, only allowing
that one " was pretty good for ten minutes," or another
" could go for a bit on one horse." At one time he used
to ride at the Derby shows, in the jumping competitions,
on some of his wonderful weight-carriers, and they always
won — on their merits, too. In fact, in the writer's humble
opinion, he and the late Squire Drake (father of the
present Squire) were the two most finished horsemen
he ever saw, and their style in crossing a country was
very similar, while both appeared to have the art of

76 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

making a horse take off exactly where they wanted him
to. When it is borne in mind that the Squire of Radburne
has not walked under sixteen stone for the last twenty
years, and now probably can add another two stone to the
burden his horse has to carry, it is a wonderful performance
of both man and horse that they should be able to go
where the hounds go. Of course such hunters as he rode
could not be picked up for nothing, nor without a very
substantial consideration. It is an open secret that
Thunder (the horse on which he was painted in the picture
which faces this chapter, and which was presented to him
by the Hunt when he gave up the Meynell hounds) cost
five hundred pounds. But he refused seven hundred
pounds for him, and well he might, for there was but one
Thunder. He was a big, quality, bay horse, rode like
a pony, could jump anything, could really race, and could
go all day. It would probably be difficult for his owner
to say what was the best run he ever saw, but he delights
in talking about a day with his own hounds in Mr.
Coryton's country on Dartmoor, while a smile invariably
lights up his features as he tells you of a gallop with Sir
Watkin Wynn's hounds from Aldersey to the Peckforton
Hills.

It is not altogether surprising that his daughter, who
appears in the presentation picture as a little girl, should
tread in his footsteps, for the Poles are " hunting bred."
But it is surprising and a pleasure to see her going over
a country without the least fuss or flurry, but simply
following hounds wherever they may go. She resembles
Miss Mildred FitzHerbert (now Hon. Mrs. Moncreiff) in
her way of riding to hounds more than any one who has
been here before or since, and it is doubtful if even she
knew more about hunting. Miss Chandos-Pole, like her
father, is particularly fond of jumping timber, so much so,
in fact, that, when she was quite a little girl, she and Mr.
John Hargreaves (who is such an extraordinarily hard
man to hounds) used to amuse themselves by reckoning
up how many of the low, but strong, gates of the Cattistock

MISS CHANDOS-POLE. 77

country they had jumped in a day. It is not every one
who has had the curious experience which fell to her lot
on the last day with her father's hounds. While the Squire
was digging out his fox near the Common Nurseries at
Kadburne, her horse, Rattler, was being dug out of a
dyke.

A propos of the Squire's horses, people still talk of one,
which they call " Townshend's grey," as being something
quite extraordinary.

The writer well remembers a wonderful jump of
Thunder's in the seventies. Mr. Henry Boden should
remember it too, for " the Squire " asked him to get out
of his way in a road near Brailsford to allow him to have
a go at some double post-and-rails. Mr. Boden remon-
strated, but Thunder solved the problem by breaking the
top rail of both flights, and by landing without a fall.
The rails were new and strong. There was barely room to
go in and out, but they were very wide to fly, especially
with only the width of a narrow road for a run at them.

This very inadequate account cannot perhaps be
brought to a close better than with a few lines which
ended the tale of his last day with his own hounds.

" Sutton Gorse, alas ! held no fox, and thus, long after
six o'clock, the musical notes of the Squire's horn, blowing-
hounds out of covert, fell with a saddening cadence on the
still evening air.

" ' And the labourers at work, and the lord in his hall,

Have a smile and a jest when they hear of the sport.

In ale or in claret he's toasted by all,

For they never expect to see more of the sort.

Then, long may it be ere he's forced to retire,
Por we breed very few like the galloping squire.'

" So sang the fox-hunting poet of another squire in a
distant shire, but the spirited lines apply with equal force
nearer home. Would that the wish, which concludes them,
were still possible, instead of the retirement of an out-and-
out sportsman of the old school being an accomplished
fact."

78 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1881

This was a year brimful of varied interest. In the
first place Mr. (now Colonel) Chandos-Pole was a new
Master ; and, secondly, sport was of the highest order.

The committee appointed March 18th, 1881, was as
follows : Lord Bagot, Hon. E. Coke, T. W. Evans, Esq.,
Capt. Duncombe, Colonel T. J. Levett, W. Boden, Esq.,
Lord Waterpark, Lord Yernon, E. W. Chandos-Pole,
Esq., M.F.H.

The subscription came to £3670 145. Od., while the
amount paid in compensation was £195 Os. 9d.

Cub-hunting season was good ; ground soft, and scent
in the open fair generally. They had one good run from
the Henhurst to the Brakenhurst, and another from Birch-
wood Park to Orange Hays Wood. They killed fifteen
brace of cubs.

There were some good days in November, but one
day in particular, when a lot of Meltonians came, is worth
noting, for the fact that they met at Willington, and did
not find till they got to Pennywaste !

In Colonel Chandos-Pole's diary, from which the above
has been culled, there occurs the following entry : —

" Found in covert in Rolleston Park, ran a ring up to
Stretton, back through Rolleston Park, over Rolleston and
Tutbury road, by Tutbury to Castle Hays, to Fauld, to
Coton, to Draycott, by Houndhill, Marchington, into
Forest Banks at Buttermilk Hill, and ran him by High
Trees up to Bagot's Woods, where we stopped hounds and
went home, as we had three fresh foxes in front of us.
Nearly twelve-mile point — the first part very fast. A
very fine line. One hour up to Houndhill."

This was on November 19th. Colonel Chandos-Pole
will remember it well, for, in addition to its being such a
capital gallop, he jumped either into or out of the road
near Anslow, over a great high, white gate, on one of his
wonderful weight-carriers. It was the sort of jump that
one does not easily forget. There was an account of this
run in the County Gentleman, but it hardly gives a good
idea of its excellence. However, any printed account

1881] RUN FROM ROLLESTON TO BAGOT'S PARK. 79

at the time is usually better than one from memory, so
here it is.

County Gentleman, November 26th, 1881: —

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

Sir, — On Saturday last a large field met these hounds at Anslow. Hounds
looked exceedingly well, and fully illustrated how much attention and breeding
have to do with the appearance and condition of a pack, while the Hunt servants
were as well mounted as any other in England. Many ladies had driven to the
meet, and I noticed in the field, in addition to the Master, Lord Harrington, Lord
and Lady Parker, Sir John Hard}', Hon. G. Vernon, Mr. and Mrs. Allsopp, Mr.
George Allsopp (who, like his brother, was on a wonderfully good weight-carrier) ,
Messrs, Walter Boden, Buxton, Bird (2), Grossman (2), Clay and Son, C. Gumming,
D'Arcy Clarke, Fox, Ludlam, Meynell, Firman, Kempson, Levett, Phillips, Smith,
Wood (2), Worthington, Walker, and a goodly gathering of farmers, staunch and
true, amongst the number being Mr. Gretton — not Mr. Isonomy. Much regret
was expressed that Lord Waterpark, the late Master, owing to illness, was not
able to be out to see the admirable working of the hounds, of which he had taken
so much care. It was whispered in the field that Mr. Geo. Allsopp had collected
between five hundred and six hundred pounds towards the Lord Waterpark testi-
monial fund, and that a piece of plate will be purchased and presented to his lordship
at a breakfast given by Lord Vernon, at Sudbury, on December 20th. The sum
is a large one, and shows the popularity of the late Master, as well as the respect
felt for him by the country. But to proceed to the chase. The order was given
for Dove Cliff", but that place being drawn blank, as were also the Osiers, a move
was made for RoUeston, where quickly all were on the move, for the joyous and
cheery note of Charles Leedham proclaimed that Sir T, Mosley had provided a
fox, which proved to be a rare stout fellow. He ran a large ring, at one time
nearly to Burton, as if to visit Messrs. Allsopp's large establishment. After being
headed several times, he at last set his neck and old mask straight, and took us
to Castle Haj'es, past Walker's farm. Chapel House, and on past Coton to
Marchington, all the time running over grass and keeping the forest banks to
the left. Near Marchington hounds got a little further behind their fox, owing
to scent failing, but they persevered and carried the line into Bagot's Park, where
they changed on to a fresh one. In fact, there was at least a brace of foxes on
foot, as hounds were whipped off, after an excellent run of one hour and thirty
minutes. As we moved off home every one seemed much delighted, but no
doubt there were many who were so unfortunate as not to get well away, and
lost sight of Leedham, who hunted his hounds so admirably. No Meltonians
were out as on Tuesday, and only one man on a kicking horse.

Black Gap.

From this time on good runs are as thick as black-
berries, but it is only possible to pull out the plums from
the pudding, of which this is one : —

" November 22nd, Bradley. Found at Ednaston, ran

80 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1881

fast by Yeldersley Kough to Bradley Bottoms, to Hulland,
and lost. Found at Snelston, and ran fast towards Cinder
Hills, and back to river. Over river below Mayfield Mills,
by Calwicb, over the top of Weaver Hills, to ground at
Wootton Lodge. Severe run. Twelve horses left at
Uttoxeter. Bird's horse nearly died. I rode Satan home,
and got home at eight o'clock."

But then, again, on the 24th (Etwall), we have —

'* Found again in Rough immediately. Could not run
much at first, but, luckily, hounds got a good start, and
got settled down well, through Parson's Gorse, by Burrows,
by Brailsford, by Ednaston village, by Shirley village, to
Shirley Mill, where 1 think we changed to a fresh fox, and
raced back by Hollington, through Culland, by Burrows,
to Parson's Gorse, to Rough, and away again, a ring by
Parson's Gorse, Langley Common, Pildock, to the gardens,
and lost. Found again in the Rough, and ran fast to the
Long Lane, where Charles stopped them. The best day
I ever saw. Over a very fine line."

The next day, Friday, the Master was hunting with
the Bramham Moor, so, presumably, he travelled to York-
shire on Thursday night, and back again to Radburne the
night after, or possibly the next (Saturday) morning, in
time to hunt with the Meynell that day at Bretby, for he
mentions that he had to wear the wet, dirty clothes which
he had worn in Yorkshire the day before.

Day after day, all through the season, they had run
after run — in fact, they hardly went out without having
one.

On January 23rd they had a real old-fashioned hunt
of three hours and ten minutes. The diary says —

" Found an old dog fox in Chartley Park, and caught
him at Park pales ; coursed him to death. Found in the
Shaw, and ran to Gratwich Wood, Grindley Wood, Moss,
across the Park, through Handleasow Wood, Gratwich
Wood, Gratwich village, Shaw, Birchwood Park, Gratwich
Wood, and back, leaving Birchwood to the left, up to Leigh
Station, and, turning back, ran him, by Checkley, nearly to

1882] PLANTAGENET AGAIN. 81

Philips' Gorse, and killed him at Fole Hall. A grand hunt,
and for the time we were running, and the country, fast.
A good many beaten horses."

On the next day the hounds went to Darley Moor, and
again had a capital day — these days, be it understood,
being nothing but fair samples.

" Ran a fine line by Osmaston from Holly Wood up
towards Bradley, and lost near Snelston. Found a second
in Holly Wood, and lost near Cinder Hills. Found in Lime
Kiln, and ran tremendously fast towards Cubley, by Mars-
ton Park, back to Snelston, and killed an old dog fox.
Very fine, fast run. Never saw hounds go so fast for
forty -five minutes. Whole run, one hour."

Of this day after the ball (on February 2nd), " Planta-
genet," in the Field, tells us, and discourses pleasantly
of the Meynell country in general. He made his start
from Burton, which did not strike him favourably, and
arrived in due course at Radburne, where a huge field
had assembled. Amongst others, there were present :
"Squire" Chandos-Pole, M.F.H., Mr. John Chandos-Pole,
Miss Chandos-Pole, Miss Beckett-Denison, the Hon. Mrs.
Colvile, Miss Bagot, the Misses Leigh of Amington, Lord
and Lady Parker, the Duke of Portland, Lord Harrington
(Master-elect of the South Notts.), Lord Berkeley Paget,
the Hon. E. Coke, Sir John Hardy, the Hon. E. Pierre-
point, and others from the Quorn ; Mr. and Mrs. Firman,
Mr. and Mrs. D'Arcy Clarke, Colonels Buller and Milligan,
the Revs. R. FitzHerbert and A. Colvile, Mr. Arthur Holme
Sumner (Master of the Cotswold), Messrs. Buller, Godfrey
Meynell, J. Bird, Hamar Bass, Allsopp (2), J. B. Wood,
H. Broadley Smith, R. Gladwyn, P. Cooper (ex-Master of
the South Notts.), Roden, F. Rendall, West, R. Sale, Walker,
Hodgson, Kempson, Gumming (2), Jervis-Smith, A. Eddie,
John Smith, Fountain, A. Grossman, Waite, and Hall.

The Master drew several small places to get the crowd
away from the Rough before drawing it. Charles took his
time over it when he did get there, and, having apparently
tried every inch of it, reluctantly took the hounds away.

82 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1882

No sooner were they out of sight than the fox slipped
quietly out and stole off.

It is odd, in the annals of the Meynell, how often this
has happened. In the time of the present Squire's grand-
father, old Tom drew this very covert blank, and its owner
insisted on its being tried again — much to the huntsman's
disgust — and there proved to be a brace of foxes there.
Again, as one amongst many instances, the Mavesyn Rid-
ware osiers were drawn blank by Charles, when the present
Squire, then Master, saw a fox steal out and go back. On
drawing it again, it was discovered that there were several
foxes there.

To return to " Plantagenet," and the day which he
described. To quote his own words : " Thus our best
chance of a good run was lost, and the dulness of a
slightly frosty morning had by this time given place to
bright sunshine, that gave little promise of conditions
favourable to hunting as the day advanced. Parson's
Gorse proved to be blank also, but from a narrow plan-
tation, close at hand, scarcely wider than a hedgerow,
Walter whipped a good fox up, and, if he could have
halloaed loud enough, hounds might have got away close
to his brush. Hoarse from a severe cold, however, the
Whip could hardly utter a scream, and half the field never
knew what had happened until they saw a score of pursuers
in wild career disappearing down the valley towards Dal-
bury. The pace was merry enough for a time, hounds
settling down and racing over the grass with a will. Run
hard as they might, however, they could not get away
from the leading division, in which were the Master, Miss
Beckett-Denison, Miss Leigh,* Lord Harrington (who rode
with his arms in straps, as if broken collar-bones or dis-
located shoulders were nothing to him), Mr. Pierrepoint,
the huntsman, and Mr. Tom Smith of Worcester, who soon
made up for a bad start, and got to the front, as he always
does, whatever he may be riding. This day he was on a
recent purchase of Lord Harrington's, and, with a clever

* Now IMrs. Fort.

18821 MR. TOM SMITH OF WORCESTER. 83

hunter under him, the fence must be big indeed that can
baulk one of whom some ardent admirers say that he is
' the best man in England.' Jumping a stiff bit of timber
into boggy ground, he nearly got stopped, and at least
one, who followed there, found himself floundering up to
his horse's girth, then up to his own boot-tops, in mire.
Meanwhile hounds, having swung left, across a ridge, and
swept down the next hill, had got into the osier-beds below
Radburne. With a merry burst of music, they took up
the line, through that, out at the far end, and on at speed
to the middle of Mr. Chandos-Pole's Park. There, on
ground foiled by hundreds of feet, they came to a long
check. Leedham made a wide cast forward without avail,
and, coming back to complete it, hit on the line, when our
hunted one, turning short round, had retraced his steps
towards the Rough. Through the covert they hunted it
again, began to run a little harder on the hill beyond,
checked once more on some freshly ploughed land, and
could make nothing more of it, though they persevered
in a way worthy of all praise to the last — these Meynell
dog-hounds proving that they are as good in work as they
are in looks, and that is saying a great deal.

" Drawing Sutton Gorse blank, they then went on
towards Foston, while the loss of a shoe necessitated my
return to Etwall. Here a tenant of the soil was o'ood

o

enough to enlighten me as to the reason for a recent
scarcity of foxes in his neighbourhood. ' If thoi ride
over ten or twelve pounds' worth of ship in wawn weaak,
and doant paiy no recompense, thoi can't expect to foind
fawxes.' "

The remainder of the day was not of much interest.

On the Saturday they met at Bretby Mill, and had a
rare good gallop at a great pace from Repton Shrubs, past
Foremark, through Robin AVood to Stanton village, six
miles as the crow flies, and the bitches ran clean away from
every one except Mr. Frank Rendall, Lord Harrington, Mr.
Henry Boden, Charles, and Lord Ferrers' first whipper-in.
Lots of people never saw hounds again that day.

84 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1882

" Plantagenet " then goes on to talk about the
hounds, saying, " No hound in past years did more good
to the kennel than the Duke of Beaufort's Foreman, who
got Facer, Flasher, Freeman, Fairy, and Fancy from Red
Rose, daughter of Mr. Lumley's Render and Amulet,
who was of Brocklesby Pirate blood through the famous
Stormer. The Badminton badger-pye tells of this descent
to this day, and none are better. The oldest hound in
the present pack is Stella, who came with Leedham from
Hoar Cross to Sudbury, and is the only one left of that
generation. Now, in her ninth season, she works hard
still, and does honour to the blood of Brocklesby Flasher,
which she inherits through Ferdinand, Fairmaid, and her
sire Miracle, The veteran among stud hounds is Charon
by Draco out of Constance ; Draco by Fairplay, son of
Alfred, who was by Alaric, the best of that Falstaft' and
Agnes litter entered in 1852. . . .

" Charon is a hound of rare stamp, and his constitution
is proclaimed by the way in which he shows work still.
The six-year-old Conqueror, by Milton Sonnet out of
Caroline, is a lengthy hound of more style than Charon,
but not quite so powerful all over, perhaps. Guardian, by
Guider out of Notable, is another of the old blood, with
rare legs and feet, compact, and showing much quality.
Marmaduke, of the same age, has great depth of ribs,
though a little flat on the side, and a beautiful forehand.
He can hunt a fox anywhere, and is great on a road, where
the shrill notes of him and his sire, the celebrated Baronet,
would often be heard alternately when all other tongues
were silent. He is from Matchless, daughter of the Alfred
already named, and thus distantly related to Charon.
Baronet, who was so much used elsewhere, was by Bachelor,
and Bachelor was by Druid, son of the Belvoir Druid.
Watchman, by Melton Ransack, is a nice little dog of Fitz-
william character all over. Benjamin, by Belvoir Whynot
(five years old), is a trifle throaty, but does not lack quality
for all his power and substance. Congress, by Contest out
of Mischief ; Granby, by Belvoir Gallant, a hound with rare

1882] KENNEL LORE. 85

neck, shoulders, legs, and feet ; Norval, by Sir Watkin's
Random out of Notable, a short-legged dog of great
power ; Remus and Romulus, by Grove Reginald, are all
good ones of the same year. Advocate, now in his fourth
season, by Quorn Alfred out of Legacy, old Morgan used
to say, was better than his sire. He is certainly a very
handsome one, full of quality, with beautiful neck and
shoulders, plenty of bone, and great length. The three-
year-olds Boaster and Byron, by Baronet out of Willing,
are very grand ones, and their excellence in work is attested
by the fact that not one of this litter (two and a half
couples in all) entered in 1879 has yet been drafted.
Among younger ones that are likely to do much good
hereafter are the two-year-old Convict, by Linkboy out of
Claribel ; Gallant, by Granby out of Liberty ; Almoner,
now in his first season, a big, light-coloured hound by
Artist of Badminton Foreman and Fairplay descent out
of Laudable, who was Lord Waterpark's great favourite ;
Florian, by Mr. Rolles ton's Stormer out of Folly ; Harper,
by Belvoir Rockwood out of Mr. Rolleston's Honesty ;
Landlord and Latimer, by Granby out of Lawless. Almoner
is the most deceptive dog imaginable. His deep ribs and
great bone take off from his apparent height, so that he
does not look above the average standard, though he
exceeds it by nearly half an inch. Harper is the only
draft. AVhen with the South Notts, he would never leave
Shepherd's horse ; to give him a last chance, he was sent
to Leedham, and entered the first day he was taken out."

On Monday, February 6th, they had an excellent day
from Blithbury. Finding in Pipe Wood, they went away
at a great pace towards Blythford and Cawarden Spring,
♦•atching their fox by Col ton House, after a capital thirty -
five minutes. There was no time for peering about for the
best place. If a man meant to be with them he had to
take whatever came in his way. Without losing any time,
Charles threw his hounds into Laurence's Wood, and away
they went as hard as they could go by Blythford, across
Bromley Hurst and Sunnyside Farm, on to Hoar Cross,

86 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1882

losing their fox in the Brakenhurst after a fifty-five
minutes, which settled most of the horses ; in fact, Charles's
horse, and one belonging to Dr. Lionel Smith, of Uttoxeter,
actually died from the efiects of their exertions.

Tuesday, at Bradley, was quite as good, for they found
their first fox at Bradley Wood, and ran very fast to
Ravensdale Park, where they lost him after a good forty-
five minutes. But a l^etter run still was in store for them,
for, finding at Shirley Park, they killed their fox between
Kirk Ireton and Wirks worth, after a brilliant run of one
hour and forty -five minutes, and had eighteen miles back
to kennels on the top of it.

This does not quite tally with the dates in the Master's
diary for 1881-1882, so it is probable there is a mistake
in the year in my correspondent's account, which some-
times happens,

Blithbury and Bradley seemed to be a haj^py combina-
tion, for on February 27th they met at the former place,
and finding at Black Flats, they ran by fits and starts for
two hours and a half. As they ran over the Warren at
Blithfield, two hounds were close at his brush, but he
managed to give them the slip, and was lost close to Forge
Coppice.

The next day at Bradley was better still, for, finding

in Bradley bottoms, they ran very fast through Yeldersley

Rough, nearly to Shirley Park, turned to the right through

Bradley Wood, up Atlow to Tissington, by Bradbourne,

up to Brassington Rocks. It was forty -five minutes up to

the first check, and about two hours altogether. It was

a very fine run indeed, and was much talked about at the

time.

1882.

Saturday, March 4th, at East Lodge, Needwood Forest, brought to a conchi-
sion as good a week's sport as has been seen by these hounds in this season,
which will ever be remembered as one of the best (if not the best) on record. A
large field assembled at Mr. Albert Worthington's breakfast, including Lord
Berkeley Paget, Sir John and Lady Hardy, Hon. G. Vernon, the Hon. Mrs.
Colvile, Mr. Bass, M.P., and Mrs. Bass, Mr. and the Hon. Mrs. H. Bass, and,
as representing the third generation, Miss Nellie and Master W. Bass, Miss A.
Thornewill, Miss Mosley, ]Miss Leigh, Mrs. Bird, Colonels Buller and Milligan,

1882] THE FIRST TIME BODEN'S THORNS WAS DRAWN. 87

Mrs. EatclifF, Messrs. Bird, Buxton, A. H. Colvile, Broadley Smith, Eddie,
C. Gumming, Fox, G. H. Allsopp, Bateman, J. B. Wood, R, and L. Hardy,
Grossman, Ludlam, H. Levett, Bladon, etc.

Good sport as has been generally shown with these hounds, the Saturdays on
the Forest have been spoilt by fog, frost, rain, and all the elements combined.
But on this particular Saturday, Nature smiled on the lawn meet, and we had a
thoroughly enjoyable day's sport. Charles, for some reason, only drew the New
Inn and the Duchy Goverts at Needwood, both of which were blank ; but in the
coverts by the ponds in Byrkley Park, a cheery halloa told us that Mr. Ratcliff
had once more a fox for us, and he took us smartly to the left, through Yoxall
Park, and through the Foxholes Govert. Leaving Slade's Goppy to the left, he
bore for the New Ghurch, smartly to the right, into the park again, where we
checked. A brace of foxes being on foot, the body carried the line by BjTkley
Lodge, two hounds, Satin and Nihilist, bearing to the left with the fresh fox.
We then shaped our course for Rangemore ; but ere we reached this a bend to
the left takes us through Holly Bank Govert, and here the pace mends, and the
bitches carry the line at a good pace across the Burton road, in front of East
Lodge, and, at this point, none are going better than the huntsman, Lord
Berkeley Paget, Messrs. Broadley Smith, E. J. Bird, Gumming, M. A. and PL
Bass, and half a dozen others. Well across the road by Anslow church we go
at a good pace, and here he probably meant the Needwood Covert, but, being
headed, or changing his mind, he carries us on by Castle Hayes. Once more he
changes, and turning short to the right, he runs us clean out of scent in the
happy hunting pastures underlying the venerable ruins of Tutbury Castle, famed
as the hunting resort of many of our English kings. Time was over fifty
minutes, the extreme point was six miles, and two or three more as hounds ran.
Nothing was wanted but blood, and we could well afford to spare this, as thirty-
five brace of foxes have cried " capevi," as Mr, Jorrocks has it, and over thirty
brace of those have been killed after good runs.

The Master was not with us, but we shall hope to see him back again ere the
season closes, and congratulate him on all the cheery events which have occurred
during the memorable season of 1881-1882.

The Hon. Mrs. Colvile had a most nasty-looking accident, which, however,
happily resulted in no serious injury to this popular lady in the Meynell hunting-
field.

Needwood.

March 7th was the Master's wedding-day, but he was
back again at Radburne on the 13th, when he had a most
enthusiastic welcome home. On the 15 th he was out
hunting at Sutton Mill, and this was an eventful day in
more senses 'than one. It was the first time Boden's Thorns
was ever drawn — only six weeks after its completion, and
they found. It was a vixen, and got to ground. To wind
up the day they found a brace of foxes in a tree in Sudbury
Park, and ran one — a big dog fox — to ground near Church
Broughton. He was bolted, and hounds ran very fast
back towards Sudbury. At the very first fence — a big

88 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1882

drain — the " Squire " got a fall and put liis shoulder out.
It was soon put in again by Drs. Palmer and Livesay, and
the fox was killed close to Mr. Statham's house at Oak's
Oreen.

All hounds were having wonderful sport this season,
and the North Stafford had a run on the 29th of March,
which was so good that it seems to be worth mentioning
on its own account, and also because it was the day before
the Ingestre railway accident. Mr. Power, who is no bad
judge, thinks it was the best run he ever saw, and it was
severe enough to cause the death of Charles's mare.
Fortunately " Red Coat " has left us an account which
appeared in some paper at the time, though the present
writer does not know the name of it.

" Meet, Bird-in-the-Hand. Time, twelve. Dramatis
'personse, the noble and popular Master, the Marquis of
Stafford, the Earl of Harrington, Lord Berkeley Paget,
R. W. Chandos-Pole, Esq., Master of the Meynell, and his
bride ; Col. Buller, Major Buller, Capt. Buncombe, Messrs.
AValker, Boote, Bowers, Blagg, Fox, Hall, Power, Peake,
Smith, Wood, C. Leedham, huntsman of the Meynell, etc.
We found a straight-necked old dog fox at three o'clock, in
Brindley's covert, and raced away through Fradswell
Heath, Birch wood Park, round by Chartley Castle, through
Chartley Park, over the Stafford and Uttoxeter railway,
by Anglesea Coppice, and over a nice country to Blithfield
Hall, where Reynard ran close to the doors of Lord Bagot's
mansion, and still on through the shrubberies and Park
for the open country beyond. Blithbury was the next
point gained, a good twelve-mile point from the find, in
an hour and twenty minutes, and as nearly straight as
possible. Here there was a check, which enabled some of
the lucky ones to get their second horses ; but after a brief
respite the gallant pack hit it off again, and eventually, I
hear, they pulled him down somewhere (as near as I can
gather) between King's Bromley and Lichfield, after one
of the grandest and straightest runs ever witnessed. No
one went better than the two gallant Masters, and Mrs.

1882] THE INGESTRE RAILWAY ACCIDENT. 89

Chandos-Pole, who also went capitally, may be congratu-
lated on so auspicious an introduction to the neighbouring
pack. Not being in at the finish myself, I will not venture
to distribute the honours nor to mention other names."
" Red Coat " had a dinner engagement, and was nineteen
miles from home, so he left off at Blithbury. Hounds had
to travel twenty-three miles before they got back to kennel.
Dickens, huntsman of the North Stafibrdshire hounds,
wanted to train, but it was decided to go by road.

On the next day the Meynell hounds went by rail to
Ingestre by special train, and just as it reached Chartley
station, the third horse-box from the engine left the rails,
dragging the succeeding ones with it ; these ran into
the down platform, smashing it all to pieces ; in fact,
there was a fearful crashing and smashing. Some of the
horse-boxes, including the hounds' van, came into collision
with the goods shed, and were upset. What with the
howling of the hounds, and the snorting, plunging, and
kicking of the horses, the scene was a regular Pande-
monium. Poor Paddy, Charles's horse, was the only one
killed outright ; a bar ran in under his jaw and came out
over his eye. As Charles stood looking ruefully at him,
he said, " If I had been riding him yesterday, I should
have had a good ride and he would be safe at home now.
As it is, the one I rode yesterday is probably dead by
now, and he's dead too ! " Several horses, including one
of Lord Harrington's, were more or less injured, and one
hound. Dainty, was killed. Harris, one of the Hunt
second horsemen, was the only person hurt. He was
travelling in the horse-box which first left the rails, the
front part of which was smashed all to pieces, and how
he escaped being killed was a miracle. Mr. Dudley Fox,
and Mr. Keates had a narrow escape. They were sitting
in the first-class carriage next the horse-box, the front of
which was completely knocked to pieces. Mr. Keates
had had his back to it, but luckily reversed his position
before the accident.

There were in the train Mr. Chandos-Pole (the Master),

90 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1882

Lord Harrington, Messrs. G. Meynell, R. Bott, and Miss
Bott, W. and H. Boden, G. and A. West, D. Fox, T. S.
Keates, A. A. Flint, and Miss Flint, Jack Bond, and others,
about twenty in all.

Of course there was no hunting that day, and those
who had come to the meet at Shugborough had to go
home again.

Mr. Fox, who is mentioned here, has been quite one
of the leading men with the Meynell for some years. He
likes a horse that he knows, and when mounted on one
of that kind, like Mrs. Gibbs, he is undefeatable. She
was a queer-tempered one, inclined to have a will of her
own, but one of the best that ever crossed the Meynell
country. But though he does not often really sit down to
ride to hounds in the front rank on a horse he knows
nothing about, as his neighbour, Mr. Power, does, yet
there is no better schoolmaster on a green one, or finer
horseman. There is no line which he seems to enjoy
riding better than that from Snelston to Cubley. The first
year that Mr. Barnsley, who lives at Field House, March-
ington, was here, he got away from the Holly Wood,
Snelston, just behind Mr. Fox, and these two were nearest
the hounds, but the former complained that, do what he
would, he could never catch his leader. " Ah, he takes
a bit of catching," was the listener's comment, when he
had finished his tale ; and the remark was a true one.

Mr. Redfern, in his " Antiquities of Uttoxeter," gives
the following interesting story about Mr. Fox's father :
" About this period there was a matter before the inhabi-
tants of Uttoxeter in which they were deeply interested.
Reference is made to the circumstances attending the
birth of William John Fox, Esq., which, with his majority
and marriage, have an historical importance in the
estimation of the local chronicler. These circumstances
were attendant upon a course of litigation which was
instituted about 1835, and continued through several
years, having issue to the question, who was the legal
inheritor of considerable landed estates, and other property

1882] MR. DUDLEY FOX. 91

which had belonged to Mr. Fox, an old and exceedingly
wealthy inhabitant of Uttoxeter, then recently deceased.
Amongst the legal proceedings arising out of this ques-
tion, was the consignment of Mrs. Fox, who had been
married to the deceased gentleman a very short time
before his death, to the care of a jmy of matrons of
Uttoxeter, until the birth of a posthumous child of which
she declared herself pregnant, and who, it was contended
on her behalf, would be the heir or heiress of Mr. Fox's
estates. The novelty of this proceeding, taken by direc-
tion of the court, excited considerable interest at the time,
and has since been referred to in several works on Medical
Jurisprudence. In due time the child (^Ir. "VV. J. Fox)
was born, and when, after protracted litigation, involving
trials at Nisi prius at Stafford, Chester, and Gloucester
Court of Appeal, the case was given in his favour, the joy
of the people of Uttoxeter, who all along had been faith-
ful to the cause of the widow and to the fatherless, knew
no bounds."

92 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

CHAPTER VIL

MR. F. COTTON HIS WALK TO PERTHSHIRE — HIS MATCH

WITH THE MARQUIS OF QUEENSBERRY — MERRYMAN

GREAT BRAILSFORD RUN — MAJOR F. W. PEACOCK — END
OF THE SEASON 1882-1883.

THE MEYNELL HUNT.

Words and Music by Frederick Cotton.
I.

Friends, your patience I crave while I tip you a stave,

And whisper a word in your ear ;
For I sing of the sound of the horn and the hound,

Which the saddest of hearts needs must cheer ;
For I sing of the hounds of the Meynell ; the world cannot boast
such a kennel ;
And a man must ride straight, if he'd not be too late
To see Reynard roll'd o'er by the Meynell.

Chorus — Then hurrah for the hounds of the Meynell ;
The world cannot boast such a kennel ;
And a man must ride straight, if he'd not be too late
To see Reynard roll'd o'er by the Meynell.

These good hounds in the chase to the best won't give place,

For of good ones they're surely the pick ;
When the scent is breast high, swift as pigeons they fly,

When 'tis cold to the line close they stick ;
For they can both find, hunt, and kill, and the man who denies it
knows nil.
If your mount is a hack, pray don't hunt with this pack,
Or get down you assuredly will.

Repeat Chorus.

THE MEYNELL HUNT. 93

Tis the first of November, the opening day,

At Sudbury Coppice they've met;
There's a scent in the cover, the knowing ones say,

There's a fox for a fiver, I'll bet ;
For it's Tallyho ! forrard away ! his line is for Potter's, I'll lay ;

If you're game for a lark, there are pales in the park
Take a good lot of jumping, they say.

Repeat Chorus.

O'er the pastures beyond they are racing like mad.

As though they were tied to his brush ;
Though the fences are blind, the real good uns don't mind,

For a cropper they care not a rush.
'Twixt the best friends 'tis war to the knife, each vows he'll be
first in the strife.
And the man that is in it, will swear that each minute
Was worth all the rest of his life.

Repeat Chorus.

V.

Now the good uns sit down, for I'll wager a crown

There'll be some wet jackets ere long ;
From the brook they don't shrink, though it's up to the brink.

And the current runs deucedly strong.
Shake him up, catch him fast by the head, for it never shall truly
be said.
That a Derbyshire man, when he's leading the van.
Of the biggest place ere had a dread.

Repeat Chorus.

Yonder's Potter's so snug, where we're sure of a jug

Of good beer and good bread and good cheese.
Throw the reins on his neck, for you've time, while we check.

To enjoy these good things at your ease.
But it's Tallyho ! forrard away ! a labourer's viewed him, they say.

Ere you reach Hilton Gorse, you'll know whether your horse
Can not only gallop, but stay.

Repeat Chorus.

VII.

" Moy oyes ! e's a winder," the labourer said,

" And 'e's gone past 'ere ten minutes quoite ;
'Is tag it were whoite and 'is coot it were red ;

Yo'll non ketch Bowd Reynolds to-noight.

94 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

Moy oyes ! bur yo' canna joomp theere, it's seven foot 'oigh very
near ;
There's a ditch at t'fur soide most tremenjously woide.
A's joomped it, boy goy, jooniped it clear ! "

Bepeat Chorus.

VIII.

Now the front rank grows small, for full many's the fall

That their numbers has thinned since the find.
Some have bellows to mend, many pray for the end,

For they're getting most sadly behind.
But the customers sit down, and ride determined, whate'er may
betide.
To be able to say of that glorious day,
I was there when that gallant fox died.

Repeat Chorus.

See, yonder he goes, you can see by the crows

That are circling and wheeling above him.
Though the moment is nigh when this good fox must die.

Though we all want to kill him, we love him.
See the fox and the hounds in one field, but he'll fight to the death
ere he yield.
Ah ! hark to that yell, 'tis poor Reynard's death knell ;
The fate of the rover is sealed.

Repeat Cliorus.

1882-1883.

One day, in August of this year, the following notice
appeared in public print : —

''For a piece of plucky endurance (refreshing in
these days of ' track-walking ' for gate-money) commend
us to Mr. Fred Cotton, the well-known Master of the
Dove Valley Harriers, and author of the popular hunting
song, ' The Meynell Hunt,' who — as we are informed
in a letter from Scotland, which arrived on the eve of
publication — started off from Ashbourne last week to
walk as far as Auchlyne House, in Perthshire, Mr. Albert
Worthington's shooting-box, in seven days, and has per-
formed the distance (only three hundred and forty miles !)

HIS WALK TO PERTHSHIRE. 95

with four hours in hand." He had, therefore, averaged
over forty-eight miles a day for seven consecutive days —
no mean feat. The original document setting forth the
terms of the wager, still in the possession of Mr. A. 0*
Worthington, seems worth reproducing here.

"East Lodge, Needwood, Burton-on-Trent. I have
this day, July the 19th, 1881, accepted a bet of fifty
pounds to one shilling from Albert Worthington. I have
accepted a similar bet from Charles Wadham, to the effect
that I do not travel on foot from Burton, Tamworth,
Ashbourne, Tutbury, or Derby, to Auchlyne, in Perthshire,
in one week. The bet to be decided on or before the
31st of December, 1881.

" (Signed) Frederick Cotton.

Albert 0. Worthington.
Charles Wadham.
" Witness and stakeholder, S. E. Worthington (Mrs. A.
O. Worthington)."

When Mr. Cotton arrived at his journey's end, he had
a couple of hours' sleep, and was then so little tired that
he talked of going out grouse-shooting the next day.

He was the eldest son of the Rev. Henry Cotton of
Dalbury. There was hardly anything this versatile man
could not do. He could walk, dance, run, jump, box,
shoot, or ride with any one, besides being able to sing a
good song or act better than most amateurs. He also
had no little literary ability, and is well known as the
author of the most popular hunting song of the day.
He began life in Her Majesty's 100th Regiment of the
line, and was quartered, after serving in Canada, in
Manchester. He, however, very soon married the eldest
daughter of the late Charles Legh, Esq., of Adlington,
near Macclesfield, and, retiring from the service, took
the harriers given up by Mr. Hyde Smith, and lived at
the Mill House, Rocester. For some years he hunted

96 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

with the harriers and the Meynell, and rode at most
of the local race meetings with a fair amount of success.

When Mr. Crowder gave up the harriers which he
had had at Ashbourne, Mr. Okeover built kennels at May-
field, and Mr. Cotton, with Mr. Crowder's hounds, which
the latter gave to the country, showed excellent sport,
carrying the horn himself, and with Thirlby as whipper-
in and kennel-huntsman. Towards the end of his time
the latter's riding was of the very cautious order, and he
would ride up and down a fence looking for a place
easy enough for him. Mrs. Cotton used to call out —

" What is the matter, Thirlby ? "

" Well, ma'am, I was thinking of my family," was the
usual answer, to which she would reply —

" Well, they're not in that ditch, so it's no use looking
for them. Go on ! "

When Mr. Cotton was at Mayfield he brought a string
of horses from Virginia. He put up a small schooling
fence to jump them over, and a friend bet him half a
crown that he would not get a fall with any of these
horses. One of them went through it without attempting
to rise. Whereupon he rode the horse at some strong
palings, which the animal went crash through, rolled
on to his rider, trapping his leg and putting out his
thumb. " I've won your half-crown, old chap ! " he called
out cheerfully, as he lay on the ground, with the horse on
his leg. Times being rather bad with him about this
period, the bailiffs paid him frequent visits, but he
utilized them in various ways. One he turned into a
second horseman pro tern., another into a whipper-in,
while a third officiated as kennelman, the regular one
being liors de combat.

Mr. Cotton was Master of the West Meath for six
months, and while there, a farmer shut a high farmyard
gate in his face, defying him to pass, and guarding the
way with a pitchfork. The Master solved the problem by
riding his black mare at the lot, and clearing gate, man,
pitchfork and all. " Squire " Chandos-Pole, under similar

1882] MATCH WITH THE MARQUIS OF QUEENSBERRY. 97

circumstances, jumped off his horse, knocked the man
down, rubbed his face in the muck, and gave him half a
crown to salve his injured feelings. The man swore the
Squire was a trump, and might ride wherever he had a
mind to.

Another of Mr. Cotton's feats was to jump every
fence in the Grand National course on foot, but he left
out the water-jump, as he had not got a change of clothes
and did not want to get wet. People used to be fond of
telling you of how he thrashed the noted bully of Bakewell
at an agricultural show, l)ut space does not admit of the
fight being described here.

There is rather an amusing story, too, of how he
was walking over the Ayr steeplechase course, just
before the meeting, with Lord Eglinton and Captain
Neil. As they got to the brook, which was a natural
watercourse, with banks four or five feet above the
water, they saw some one go at it with nothing on
but his underclothes. In he went, splash 1 up to his
neck.

" Who's that ? " Mr. Cotton asked naturally.

"No one but Queensberry would be mad enough to
jump that," was the answer.

"Is it so very big ? " the first speaker asked ; " because,
if it isn't, I can jump it."

By this time Lord Queensberry had had another try
and got another ducking. In the end Mr. Cotton proved
as good as his word, clearing it with a foot to spare. This
led to a match on foot over the four and a half miles of
the Bogside steeplechase course. A great deal of money
— over a thousand pounds — depended on the result. Lord
<5ueensberry's backers let ofi" the water where the brook
was dammed up, and he just bobbed in and out. His
antagonist got over somehow, and they came into the
straight neck and neck. It looked as if it must end in a
dead heat, and some one held out a carriage-whip to act
as a tape. Six yards from it Lord Queensberry fell,
absolutely dead beat. Mr. Cotton did the same a yard or

98 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1882

two farther on, but just managed to roll to the winning-
post, when he fainted.

When he gave up the West Meath Hounds after his six
months' mastership, he went to New Zealand, and hunted
the Christ Church Hounds, raised a corps of Yeomanry,
and walked another long distance for a wager, which he
won, and all manner of other things.

Then he was off home again, went to New Guinea
after birds, orchids, what not, and had adventures worthy
of the pen of a Rider Haggard. But it is impossible to
go any further into detail.

On October 12th, 1882, a fire broke out at Ingestre,
and the Hall was completely destroyed by fire. Most of
the artistic furniture was saved, but some of the family
portraits, a few of them by Sir Joshua Reynolds, being let
into the walls, were burned. The house was rebuilt and
re-opened, with great festivities, in 1886.

The subscription was £4035 4s. Qd. ; compensations
were £354 Is.

The new names in the subscription list were — J. A.
Clegg, HoUyhurst, Burton-on-Trent ; J. W. Cooke, Loxley
Hall, Uttoxeter ; F. Cooper, Bulwell Hall, Notts. ; Major
Fawkes, Oak Cottage, Sudbury ; J. Holden, Nuttall
Temple, Notts. ; T. Hyde, The Kirkstyles, Duffield ; C. E.
Lyon, Small wood, Uttoxeter ; A. Peat and Brothers ; J. J.
Porteous, The Hall, Uttoxeter ; W. Richardson, Corn
Market, Derby ; Peveril Turnbull, Wyaston Grove, Ash-
bourne ; A. Walkden, Wardwick Brewery, Derby ; H.
Wansborough, Little Eaton, Derby.

Rev. A. H. Colvile, Sutton-on-the-hill, left.

A. W. Lyon, Doveridge, and Major Pountain died.

Cub -hunting this year was only moderate, and they
began the regular season at Sudbury village on October
30th, which was a pouring wet day. Every one went
home wet through after a fair day's sport.

It rained nearly every day in November, but sport
was good. On the 7th they ran from the slang below
Mr. Tomlinson's house, very fast, by Hulland, Jarratt's

1882] MERRYMAN. 99

Gorse, Bradley Bottoms, to Ednaston, and killed after a
capital half-hour. They found a second fox in the new
covert by Shirley Park, and ran fast by Yeldersley Rough
to Bradley Bottoms, back, by Hole-in-the-wall, to Bradley
Wood, and lost him at Kniveton. Then they found
several foxes in Shirley Park and ran one fast to Ednaston,
when darkness compelled them to stop the hounds.

On November 11th they met at Wichnor, and killed
two three-legged foxes, one in a field near Hollybank,
which they ran by Lyon's Covert to AVhite Wood. The
other they found and killed in Scotch Hills.

The very last entry in the "Squire's " hunting diary,
which is interesting on that account, if for no other, is
November 23rd : " Found in Bre ward's Car, lost at Mug-
ginton. Found in Ravensdale Park, and ran very fast to
Breward's Car, to Farnah. Here hounds divided. I went
with one lot, and hunted our beaten fox by Hazelhatch,
nearly to Shottle, and lost at the Lilies. Up to Farnah
they raced."

The entry this year is remarkable for a name which
ought to be a household word with the Meynell, Merryman
to wit, who goes back to the old Hoar Cross blood, and
left his mark in the kennel in younger generations. Sport
was quite as good as in the preceding season, and there
were some remarkably good runs, such as the following,
which is quite as fine as any one could wish for. The
account appeared in some paper, but as the writer only
possesses the bare cutting, he is unable to state its name.

" December 3rd, 1882. On Saturday last, they met at
Walton village at eleven o'clock. A very large field put
in an appearance, a great many who came from a distance
no doubt being attracted by the splendid weather with
which we were favoured, it being more like a splendid day
early in September than within three weeks of Christmas.
Several ladies graced the meet by their presence, amongst
whom I noticed Lady Parker, Miss Bagot, Miss Thorni-
well, the Misses Wade, and Mrs. Ludlam. We had a long-
trot of six or seven miles from Walton to Lullington

100 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1882

Gorse, before hounds were thrown into cover. No sooner
were they put in on the lower side of this beautiful gorse,
so well looked after by Colonel Colvile, than a fox went
away at the top end, bearing left-handed across the Park
over the road, and close to the keeper's house, taking a
pretty line of country in the direction of Coton-in-the-
Elms. AVhen within a few fields of the village he was
headed, and turned short to the right, and set his head
straight for Grano;e AVood. When within four fields of
that large cover, he was either headed or altered his mind,
and again made a short turn to the right, when it looked as
if he meant going back to his old quarters at Lullington ;
but, bearing slightly to the left, he went close past
Netherseal village and across the river Mease. Here two
ardent sportsmen were floundering in the little river, but
got out again all right, none the worse for their ducking.
Up to this point the field had kept pretty well together,
considering the heavy state of the ground ; Ijut they now
showed a long tail, as hounds raced up the meadows, and
across a piece of heavy ploughing. Still ' forrard ' they
go, on to Stretton, the residence of Sir Mills Cave, and
over a good line of country to that famous Atherstone
covert, Birdshill Gorse, where a slight check occurred,
however. Our fox had crossed the Ashby and Tamworth
road, and Leedham, lifting his hounds across, set us going
again on past the white house, over some heavy meadows.
Our fox, turning to the right, went to ground in Appleby
Gorse, after standing before hounds for at least one hour
and forty minutes over a stiff and heavy country. Nearly
the whole of this good run was in the Atherstone country.
So Reynard was left in peace. I hope this good fox may
come in our way again, and may I be there to hear the
who-hoop.

" Up to this time hounds had been showing the very
best of sport, during November especially, as good, in fact,
as any that had been seen since that month in 1872. They
have had nothing but good days, of which the pick Jiave
been, a fine run from Culland to Radburne, with a kill in

1883] GREAT BRAILSFORD RUN. 101

front of the Hall ; one from Snelston, by Mayfield and
Calwich, across the river, and over the Weaver Hills to
Wootton Park. Then there was a good day in the Forest
on December 5th, when they had two good runs, and killed
both their foxes. On December 6th they ran fast from
Eaton Wood to the left of Marston-Montgomery, by
Norbury, across the Dove, by Doveleys, nearly up to the
River Churnet, and lost at Alton Towers. Forty minutes
from the find to the first check."

From this it is evident what good sport they were
having, but there was better still to come with the new
year. Fortunately one account of the wonderfully good
run of two hours and a half on January 25th appeared
in the Field at the time.

The writer mentions the fact of there being many
hard riders, but laments the want of a willing scribe.
But this run was so excellent that he takes upon
himself the duty of describing it. " Wednesday night
was a rough one — snow, rain, and wind competed for
the supremacy until about five a.m., when Jack Frost laid
a firm grip on the land. But the sun arose most
brilliantly as we jogged to the meet at Brailsford Hall ;
though the pools at the road side were coated with ice,
and the distant hills northward were white with snow, it
was evident there was nothing to stop hunting. Punctu-
ally, at eleven, Charles trotted up with his hounds. And
here I will venture to say that a finer pack does not
exist. What is more, they are as good as they look —
riot is unknown. When there is anything like a scent,
and one of the wild foxes, with which the country is
well stocked, is in front of them, only the hardest and
best-mounted riders can keep near them. In fact, I have
more than once heard other Masters, when visiting us,
say, ' They are the fastest hounds in England.' But they
are equally good and persevering on a cold scent, as was
amply demonstrated earlier in the season, when they ran
an afternoon fox two hours and twenty minutes from
Bentley Car, through Longford and Ednaston to Kedleston,

102 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1883

and were whipped off at dark at Mercaston. Our
Master, the Squire, has his field well under command
when at the covert side, but perhaps some are just a trifle
too eager when scent is catchy. When it is good the
Squire is always close to his hounds. Nothing stops him,
and there is no need to restrain any one, except from
riding over wheat and seeds. But to return to Thursday.
At eleven minutes past eleven the word was given, and
Charles threw the hounds into a little circular spinny
standing in the Park close to the Hall. In a moment
Jim tallied him away; time, 11.13. This was not the
first find we have had from the same little spot, many
thanks to Mr. Cox, who, though he does not hunt, strictly
preserves for us. Most of the field were ready. Pug's
first point was for Wild Park, and it was soon evident
scent was everything that could be desired. Several
spills occurred in the first five minutes. Notably a
grand black horse, a few minutes previously ridden by
the noble M.F.H. of a neighbouring pack, was observed
making the best of his way, with an empty saddle and
no bridle, to his usual place — the front, but, fortunately
for his owner, he was stopped, when and where I do not
know, but I saw them up — the horse well baked before
the end of the run. The pace for the first twenty-two
minutes, towards Langley and bending round to the west
towards Dalbury Lees, was very fast. Here there was a
slight and welcome check of about a minute, enabling
many, who were apparently out of it, to nick in. Charles
soon had them right again, and away past Dalbury Lees,
across the dreaded Trusley brook, where the width was
nothing particular ; in fact, this brook is nowhere very
wide until it flows through Etwall — but how many have
had reason to remember its rotten banks and soft bottom !
I saw no grief at this spot to-day, and we were taken at
best pace towards Osliston. Here he swung to the right
and sunk the hill nearly to the Culland Covert. But,
before reaching it, he turned to the left by the brook side,
and ran due west till within a fiekl of Lonoford inn.

1883] GREAT BRAILSFORD RUN. 103

Disdaining to take shelter in its well-stocked coverts, he
kept on by Crop-o'-Top, within two fields of Sutton church,
through Mr. Wooddiss's farm, close by Sutton Gorse — if he
entered it he did not dwell a moment. The pace was now
faster than ever up to Highfield, over Mr. Finney's land —
who was not out to-day — and on to the Squire's Radburne
covert close to the Great Northern Railway ; time, one
hour and forty minutes. Here we had a minute or two
to turn our horses' heads to the wind, and very much it
was needed. Those who had ridden the line found their
steeds jumping dangerously short, and hanging out un-
mistakable signs of distress. Few were so fortunate as
to find their second horses, but the Master and Charles
were among the lucky ones. It was soon found that our
fox had run the whole length of the covert and out at the
northern end. The hounds had to pick it out slowly
through the wood, and for a few fields beyond towards
Mickleover, giving a little much-needed relief to our
pumped-out horses. But the respite was of short dura-
tion. We were now going due east, towards Markeaton,
and were soon within a mile of Derby, when he again
swung sharp to the left, past Mackworth school — it used
to be a school — to Radburne Common on the right of the
village, hounds again running as fast as ever, to near
Langley Gorse, and, for the second time, towards Dalbury
Lees. But the end was at hand. Poor Pug was now
barely a field in front, and the eager pack racing for
blood. Just managing to reach a little spinny, not
twenty yards square, between the Lees and Radburne, he
lay down in the ditch in sight of the Field, but, as the
hounds dashed up, he made one last effort, coming straight
towards us. In a moment horses, fox, and hounds were
' all of a heap,' and, in another fifty yards, one of the
stoutest of old dog foxes that ever ran before hounds was
pulled down in the open, at 1.42 p.m., being two hours
and twenty minutes from the start. It was not a straight
run, but we were never over the same ground twice. I
cannot attempt to calculate the distance, but it must have

104 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1883

considerably exceeded twenty miles, and this over the
cream of the country, nearly all grass, but very heavy
going after the recent rains. Everybody had enough ; in
fact, I never remember seeing horses so ' bottomed ' since
the famous four hours' run in February, 1868, when old
Tom Leedham's horse came to grief. There was once a
longer run than this with the lAIeynell, when they found,
I think, at Foston, ran through Duffield and Belper, and
killed at Ambergate, several miles north of the country,
and had to jog thirty miles home to the kennels at Hoar
Cross."

The writer prefers mentioning no names, only stating
that " the Squire's nineteen stone was always in the front
rank. Charles, Jem, and Walter, the latter embellished
with about half a yard of diachylon plaster, closely
attended their beauties, but assistance was seldom needed,
as it is the rule, when at fault, to let the hounds spread
out and make their own effort before they are taken in
hand for a cast. Writing now, four days after our treat,
I hear of several horses which will require yet a full
week's rest before they will recover from the effects of the
run I have so imperfectly described, and which we all —
riders, horses, hounds, and, I may add, fox — so thoroughly
enjoyed. — Diallus."

In January of the year 1882, Major F. W. Peacock
came to learn farming with ]\Ir. Clamp at Somersal
Herbert, and had three horses, on which he used to get six
days a week. These were the grey, St Patrick, as good-
looking a horse and as good a hunter as ever looked
through a bridle ; a roan, the Badger, which afterwards
carried Mrs. Peacock so well in a great gallop, when the
Squire gave her the brush, and a little hot brown mare.
Shamrock.

In 1884, Mr. Peacock married Rose, fourth daughter
of Col. FitzHerbert, and they came to live at Vernon's
Oak, so famous for its hospitality on every Monday
in the hunting season. No matter where the hounds

o

may be, luncheon is on the table all day, in case

1883] MAJOR F. W. PEACOCK. 105

any member of the field may pass that way and need
refreshment. The Hunt has made many a heavy demand
on the resources of cellar and kitchen, but has never found
the supply unequal to it yet. In all local matters the
master of Vernon's Oak takes the keenest interest. He is
a J.P. and a County Councillor, besides having been for
years in the Derbyshire Yeomanry, in which he is now
Major and Adjutant. In the latter capacity, especially,
he has proved a great success. He farms about four
hundred acres under Lord Vernon, and is a successful
breeder of shire horses. He would, probably, like the
Hon. George Allsopp, claim the proud title of " the
farmers' friend."

Ever since 1884, he has served the Hunt by paying
the poultry claims in a wide district extending from
Sudbury to Snelston, while since 1899 he has been
a member of the Hunt Committee. He always rides the
very best of cattle, and often when some peculiarly
blind, forbidding place has set the field gaping and
peeping for an egress, he shoots out from the ruck on one
of these noted performers, and shows us how to do it.

Mrs. Peacock, who used to ride so well, has not been
on a horse for years now, and only comes out on wheels ;
more's the pity, as she is one of those who know all
about it, having hunted from her childhood.

To finish up this season and chapter, " Plantagenet's "
account of two or three good days seems to be appro-
priate.

Field, March, 1883:—

The fixture was Anslow, near Bui'ton-on-Trent ; in fact, so near that the
heavy odour of beer and fragrance of hops might have overpowered the more
subtle essence emanating from the red rascals, and accounted for the entire
absence of anything that hound noses could revel in. Heavy rain up to nearly
noon did not prevent a good number of followers from presenting them-
selves. . . .

Henhurst, which has proved one of the best holding coverts on Trent side
throughout the season, did not fail this day. Hounds got away quickly, and a
little too silently for some followers, at the Burton end, crossed into a narrow belt

106 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1883

down which a narrow stream winds into a deep ravine, then up the hill north-
ward, over plough and grass. Through another wooded* dell, and then skirting
the deep ridge— known as a hank in these parts — parallel with the Grank Trunk
Canal, swung round towards Tatenhill. The pace, fast enough at first, gradually
slackened to very slow hunting, and then died away altogether as they came
hack over plough towards Henhurst, Evidently it was a vixen before them, so
Leedliam gave up, and trotted off to try for a fresh fox. In Sir T. Mosley's
gorse, hounds found at once, and, almost before they could open, Mr. Chandos-
Pole viewed the rascal away. In vain did Leedham plead, " Hounds, gentlemen,
please. Let them get over the road ! " Knowing what Meynell bitches are
when, close to the brush of their fox, they settle down to race over grass,
impetuous pursuers would thrust forward, galloping and jumping wherever there
Avas room to get out of the throng. Thereby they got a merry scurry of five
minutes at the best pace, and spoilt all chance of a good run. The fox had
turned short left. The hounds, being over-ridden, flashed over the line, and,
with a scent so catchy, they could never get on again faster than a good trot.
Hunting slowly into and through Henhurst, they ran the same line as at first,
to within a field of Tatenhill bottom, and then all was over again. Thence we
drew by Mr. Michael Bass's, at Eangemore, away through all Needwood coverts,
back by the osier-beds at Kingstanding into the picturesquely wooded park of
Byrkley Lodge, and on to its farthest limits without finding another fox, though
the Master looked for them where the hounds could not draw, high up among
the forked boughs of those grand old oaks that might have sheltered many a
grey-bearded Druid or dark-eyed Celtic maiden.

On Tuesday the fixture was Sudbury Coppice, close to the kennels. The
nearest way was across Lord Vernon's Park, where the gates are courteously
left open for an hour or more for those who care to avail themselves of the
privilege. Ample law was allowed, yet some late comers found themselves on
the wrong side of a locked barrier, just as hounds found in the coppice. By the
time they had discovered another exit, the field, in hot pursuit, were disappear-
ing in the dim distance. Away over fields of sticky stubble, across Oak Lane,
down to the meadows, some newly drained, and all having a boggy ditch on one
side or the other of the blind fences, they sped merrily up the next hill for
Cubley, and then swinging to the right, into Eaton Wood, In these thirty
minutes nearly a score of good men and true must have come to grief, and all
found the going heavj' enough. The hunted fox went straight through Eaton
AVood, and was viewed away by Jim on the far side. Hounds, however,
unluckily divided, and at last, coming together again, brought a fresh fox slowly
back by Somersal to Sudbury Coppice. Thence they went out on the western
side, across the bottoms, and ran a wide ring the reverse way, and over a
much better line of country, very fast, round by Cubley into the coppice once
more. For the last three or four fields Leedham could view his fox just ahead,
apparently dead beat. By this time half the horses showed unmistakable signs
of distress, and when hounds, breaking covert again, began to run once more
over the low-lying meadows towards Somersal, the ranks of pursuers were
considerably thinned. Probably this was another fresh fox, for, after taking his
pursuers up to Marston-Montgomery, he led them back towards Sudbury
Coppice a third time, and ran them clean out of scent before they got there.
The Meynell have had many straighter and better runs this season, but scarcely
a harder day for horses. From a quarter before twelve till nearly three they
had been constantly going, and most of the time at a good pace through deep
ground, up hill and down. Among the many out, besides Mr. Chandos-Pole,

1883] END OF THE SEASON 1882—1883. 107

were the late Masters, Lord Waterpark and Mr. Clowes ; Sir William Fitz-
Herbert, the oldest member of the Hunt ; Sir John Hardy, of Dunstall ; Mr.
Charles Allsopp, from Doveridge, and his brother; Lord Berkeley Paget ; Messrs.
Camming, of Foston ; Mr. Firman, Mr. Hamar Bass, Mr. Broadly Smith, Mr.
Bird, Mr. Sale, and Messrs. Boden.

Plantagenet.

108 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1885

CHAPTER YIII.

SOME MEN AND OTHER THINGS — " BILL " POWER — DEATHS
OF LORD VERNON AND MR. BASS — REMINISCENCES OF
FORTY YEARS WITH THE MEYNELL.

1883-1884.

Mr. W. S. Power began hunting with the Meynell as a
boy, on a pony, living at Mavesyn Ridware with his parents.
Mr. W. Mynors of Little Ingestre took the greatest interest
in him, as is only natural in the case of an old sportsman and
a young one — let him ride his horses at exercise, and, later
on, in their gallops on the flat and over a country, besides
giving him many a mount with hounds. Then other people
took notice of him, and mounted him, till by degrees he
blossomed out into one of the leading spirits with the
Meynell about 1879, hunting two days a week, and
generally giving a good account of himself.

About this time he bought the famous Jessie — a rather
plain Knight of Kars mare, with a rare back and loins,
and her hind legs well under her, and with just a bit of
a temper, like most of that wonderful jumping breed.
Never was there a better one than Jessie — a mare that
people talk of to this day. Frank Beers always said that
Destitute, dam of the famous Drake Duster, was the making
of him as a huntsman — and there never was a better —
and in like manner Jessie may have been the making of
" Bill " Power. He rode her in the wonderful run with
the North Statford, on March 29th, 1882— the best run,
he said, he had ever seen in his life. Next to it he put
the great run of two hours and a half with the Meynell

1883] "BILL" POWER. 109

from Brailsford in the same year. She was up to sixteen
stone, he said ; she could gallop all day, jump anything,
and could come out two days a week — a rare poor man's
horse. Could there be higher praise ? For, mind you, to
jump anything and gallop all day twice a week with her
owner up meant doing something. She won three steeple-
chases to boot, at Derby and Uttoxeter, and was never
parted with. Grayling, a son of hers, bought by Sir Peter
Walker, won the Cheshire point-to-point steeplechase.

Mr. Power is a welter weight, but being a very strong,
resolute horseman, he goes the shortest way, and he and
his horse can crash through lots of places which would
turn over a lighter pair. He once reduced his weight by
twenty-three pounds in ten days for a considerable wager
to ride his horse Monte, in the first of Sir Peter Walker's
point-to-point races at Bradley, and won it. On another
occasion he got off fourteen pounds in a very short time,
having actually fasted for twenty-four hours before the
race, to ride his Faro in the point-to-point at Ednaston,
and again won Sir Peter's heavy-weight race.

In 1883, like a great many other people, he went
ranching in Wyoming, but the love of hunting was too
strong in him to admit a rival, and every winter saw him
at home. So ranching and money-making had to go to
the wall. But no man worked harder while he was at it,
and no one more thoroughly enjoyed a day after black-
tail deer in the foot hills on a bright September morning.
He roughed it, too, with the best of them — so much so,
that, when he went to fight in South Africa in 1900 with
the Derbyshire Yeomanry — in which regiment he was
granted a lieutenant's commission — he found the hardships
of a campaign mere child's play. In the campaign he got
his chance, and, with the same rapid promptitude which
marked him in the hunting-field, took advantage of it,
distinguishing himself, and earning the soubriquet of "No
Surrender Power." * On his return home, invalided with
a bullet-wound in his head, he met with an enthusiastic

* Since this was written lie has been presented with the D.S.O.

110 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1883

reception, and was escorted to Sir Peter Walker's hospitable
mansion at Osmaston, where one of the children, of whom
he is always so fond, gave him the warmest welcome. All
the young ones love " Bill," as they call him, and so do
most of the old ones, too, for, whatever his faults may
be — and, like the rest of us, he is but human — he is a o:ood
specimen of British pluck and physique. He is equally
ready to lead a forlorn hope, to charge the most hopeless-
looking place on any sort of a horse, or to go to the aid
of a friend in distress.

" So we'll fill him a bumper as deep as you please,
And we'll give him a cheer; for, deny it who can,

Where the country is roughest he's most at his ease ;
When the run is severest, he rides like a man ;

And the pace cannot stop, nor the fences defeat,
This rum one to follow, this bad one to beat."

There was a considerable difference (£500) between
the subscriptions for this year and the last — this season's
being £3562 4<§. 4(1., while the compensations came to
£346 18s. 6d. The new subscribers are : H. S. Allen, H.
C. Bentley, poet and penman ; H. W, Boome, J. Cadman,
J. R. Eastwood, and Captain Hore.

For the changes in the committee, see the Appendix.

The Hunt lost two good friends in Lord Vernon and
Mr. Bass. The latter died at the great age of eighty-four,
but the former was only fifty-four. His was a busy life.
As a boy, he was in the Navy, which he left to go to
Oxford. After that he served as lieutenant and captain
in the Scots Fusilier Guards. In 1851, at the early age
of twenty-two, he retired from the Guards and married a
sister of the Earl of Lichfield, by whom he had ten children.
In 1866 he succeeded his father in the title and estates of
Sudbury, Derbyshire, Poynton, near Stockport, and Wid-
drington, near Morpeth. In 1859 he opposed Mr. Mundy
as candidate for South Derbyshire, being defeated by one
vote — his opponent's. He was a model landlord, spending
most of his time on the estates, and started the butter
factory at Sudbury for the benefit of his tenants and their

1883] DEATHS OF LORD VERNON AND MR. BASS. Ill

neighbours. There never was a more conscientious nor
fairer-minded man, and if his motto had been, " Fiat
justitia, mat cceluni," instead of " Ve7'non semper viret,"
every one would have recognized the appropriateness of it.
When the Duke of Richmond and Gordon took the chair at
a meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society, immediately
after Lord Vernon's death, he said of the latter : " All his
colleagues appreciated his great virtue, his excellent habits
of business, and his great courtesy of demeanour on all
occasions. He had always found Lord Vernon the most
fervent, honest, straightforward friend that anybody could
wish to meet, and, active as he had always been in matters
connected with the welfare of agriculture, the sudden ter-
mination of his useful career was no less than a national
loss. He believed that the energy in the subject which
he had recently taken up was the cause of his sudden
decease ; the Bill which he had drawn up, and which only
on Tuesday he was to have brought before the House of
Lords, was too great a strain upon his brain."

The Bill referred to was the Agricultural Tenancy Bill.
Lord Vernon was, apparently, in his usual health on the
Tuesday referred to, but he died that night from the rupture
of a blood-vessel on the brain.

The Vernon family is a very ancient one, the title
being derived from the town of Vernon in Normandy, of
which William de Vernon was proprietor in 1052. Two
of his sons came over with the Conqueror. One of the
descendants, who lived at Harlaston in the county of
Stafford, became Lord of Haddon by marriage with the
daughter and co-heiress of William de Avenel. Sir George
Vernon, King of the Peak, and father of the celebrated
Dorothy, who carried Haddon to the Manners family,
was nephew of Sir George Vernon of Sudbury, and of
Humphrey, ancestor of the late Lord Vernon. The first
Baron was George Vernon of Sudbury, who assumed the
additional name of Venables on succeeding to the maternal
estates in 1728, and was raised to the Peerage as Lord
Vernon, Baron of Kinder ton, in 1762. It was his son, the

112 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1883

second Baron, who was known as the hunting lord, and
who started the Sudbury Hounds mentioned in the begin-
ning of the first volume of this work.

To return to the sport of the season. It was not very
good in November, about the best day being on November
22nd. They had a good gallop from Foston, just touching
Sudbury Park, and killing their fox by Church Broughton
Brickyard. In the afternoon they had a good ring from
Potter's.

On December 6th poor old Tom Leedham died,
respected and regretted by every one, and on the 10th,
when hounds were advertised to meet at CJhartley, they,
of course, remained in kennel, as it was the day of his
funeral. The following gentlemen followed him to his
grave: Sir M. A. Bass, Bart., M.P. ; Mr. L. K. Hall,
Hollybush ; Messrs. T. Keats and Flint, Uttoxeter ; Arm-
son, Yoxall ; Turnor, Bagot's Park ; Whiteley, representing
Mr. M. T. Bass ; Shore, Rangemore ; Statham, Sudbury,
etc.

On Tuesday, December 11th, they met at Mercaston
Stoop, and had a nice gallop in the afternoon from Meynell-
Langley Gorse, by Derby Workhouse, left Mickleover
Asylum on the right, ran nearly to Hell Meadows, then
right-handed, past Burnaston House, almost down to Etwall
station, where they lost their fox.

On December 19th, the Squire carried the horn, and
they had a capital day from Shirley Mill, on a Wednesday,
and ran well from Hell Meadows to Radburne the next
day, and killed.

Reminiscences of Forty Years with the Meynell.

" My very first day with the Meynell hounds was at
Bretby, on October 20th, 1856. There were present
Lords Chesterfield and Stanhope, Lady Evelyn Stanhope,
Tom and Jack Leedham, Hugo Meynell Ingram, Tom
Beale, Lord Chesterfield's stud groom, and Mason, hunts-
man to Lord Stanhope's harriers, which were kenneled in

Kedleston.

Seat of Lord Scarsdale.

From a photograph

by

Keene, Derby.

le^a-ifijr'. bio J Jo hx^ht

FORTY YEARS WITH THE MEYNELL. 113

the Park. In the second week in November hounds were
again at Bretby, when they ran to Carver's Eocks, on to
Calke, turned to the left, entering Robin Wood on the
Melbourne side, and killed their fox on the edge of the
lake at Foremark. I noticed a young man in scarlet
leading a grey horse about while hounds were breaking
up their fox. The man was Walter Boden, and the horse
was Grayling, bought from Will Haslow.

" In those days the hounds came to the Donington side
of the Trent one day a week, and sometimes two days,
meeting at Catton, Drakelowe, Foremark, and Bretby.
The farmers then were all staunch fox-preservers, riding
well to hounds, and giving us a hearty welcome. Capital
sportsmen they all were. Two days a week with the
Meynell was not enough for them, but they must needs
have Lord Stanhope's harriers over their land as well,
with their followers, to knock down what little of the
fences the Meynell had left. Nothing gave them more
fun than to find a hare by the river side and to run her
along the meadows, over the big ditches, up to Robin
Wood, and hares always did make that way. There
were two or three brooks in the line, and the farmers
would gallop to them to see what disasters would ensue.
There were two families of yeomen, in particular — the
Newbolds and — for the life of me I cannot remember the
other. I wonder if any representatives of them are hunt-
ing still, who have sat and listened to their fathers' stories
of the sport they had, and of how they showed us the way,
as they did often enough.

" In the sixties the supporters of the Meynell Hunt,
who not only provided foxes for us, but also participated
in the sport, were Lords Chesterfield and Stanhope (from
Bretby), the late Lord Bagot, Mr. Michael Bass, the
Marquis of Hartington, Mr. H. Evans, of x'Vllestree ; E. S.
Chandos-Pole, the present Squire's grandfather ; Mr. H.
Boden, of Ednaston ; Sir Thomas Gresley, Peter Colvile,
of Lullington, a most amusing man, with a ready
tongue ; Sir Henry de Vceux, Sir Francis Crewe, of

114 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

Calke ; occasionally Lords Vernon and Scarsdale, Captain
Tennant, of Needwood ; Mr. Gisborne, of Yoxall ; Sir W.
Fitz Herbert, of Tissington, from Somersal ; Lord Shrews-
bury, Hon. E. Coke, of Longford; Colonel Newdigate,
William Cox, of Brailsford ; Harrison, of Snelston ; Broad-
hurst, of Foston ; Buncombe, of Calwich ; Colonel Levett,
Lords Berkeley and Alexander Paget, from Beaudesert ;
Bird, from Barton ; C. Clay, living at Foremark ; Walter
Lyon, of Silver Hill, who was killed by a fall from his
horse close to his own gate, and G. Mitchell. The sport
on this side of the country was always good — wild foxes
and good points the rule. From Drakelowe to Seal Wood,
up the narrow valley, all grass, was a common line. I
remember their running it such a pace one day, Lord
Stanhope, Sir Matthew Blakiston, and Walter Boden, on
Grayling, leading, and all the horses dead beat. Catton,
too, was excellently preserved. One note of Tom's horn
and a wild fox was away and over the Atherstone border.
Colvile's Gorse, on the boundary line, was a favourite
meet, bringing hard-riding men from the Atherstone to
show us the road into their country, as Lullington foxes
usually crossed the Mease and made that way. From
Bretby they generally went for Foremark, and occasionally
thence to Donington Park, close by the Trent. The
meet at Bretby would bring Quornites, and Jack Story,
father and son, were always out. My first impressions of
riding men were that Lord Stanhope, very quick at a start,
was, especially on Betsy Baker, as good a man as one
often sees. But he was a very jealous rider, and would
drop out of a run into a road, and give it up if people
passed him. So long as he was going in front there was
no one better, but if he was once collared he would shut
up and take no further interest. My recollection of the
Meynell field in those days is that it was a very well-
conducted one, and not over large. Of the heavy weights,
I should say Walter Boden was the best, and Dick Fitz-
Herbert and Berkeley Paget of the lighter men, with
Bird, perhaps, as good as any of the others. As to the

FORTY YEARS WITH THE MEYNELL. 115

Leedhams, they were all natural horsemen. Tom was very
fine indeed, only excelled by Jack, who was one of the
prettiest I ever saw. The Derbyshire country, up to 1872,
was hunted only one week in each month. The kennels
were at Kedleston inn, now a residence. On Tuesday
hounds were on the north side, on Thursday in the Rad-
burne, and on Saturday in the Tutbury district.

"Foxes were nothing like so well preserved then as
now. In the spring you might draw from Brailsford to
Egginton Old Gorse, where the sewage farm is now, before
they found. There never was such a country for foxes
lying out in hedgerows. When the late Hugo Meynell
Ingram died, and Lord Waterpark and William Clowes
took them, we had three years' wonderful sport — no day
without a run. During the seventies and eighties the
fields began to increase, especially in Derbyshire, and the
standard-bearers were the Bodens, Clowes, Edward Coke,
Dick FitzHerbert, Legard, and Bird. Arthur Lyon, of
Clownholme, and the two elder FitzHerberts, were wonder-
ful amongst the older ones. I am not sure if Miss Mildred
FitzHerbert was not even better than her father. She
was wonderfully good.

" When Lord Waterpark gave up, ' Squire ' Chandos-
Pole took them, and we had capital sport. It is difiicult
to say whether that of the three years of the Waterpark
and Clowes's Mastership, or the first three years of the
Squire's, was the best ; but, in my long period with the
Meynell, these stand out pre-eminent. Just take a few
runs in the later one — from Rolleston to Radburne, for
instance. They found in a tiny little spinny, and away
they went across the river by Dove Clifi". We had all to
go round. I think Bird was the first man to catch them,
and that was not till they got to Bearwardcote. From
there they went through the Potlucks to Radburne Rough,
where Charles stopped them, only Bird and Grossman
being with him. Another time they ran from Rolleston to
High Trees, Bagot's Park. But there were no end of good
runs.

116 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

" When Hamar Bass took the hounds, he, in my opinion,
improved them very much, but sport was not so good.
This may be accounted for from their being, on the Derby-
shire side especially, hampered by large fields. Then, from
the great numbers of foxes, hounds kept chopping and
changing all day, and foxes took to running short, so that
hounds never got a chance to get clear of the horses, and
I think, too, that these short bursts led to much jealous
riding and over-riding of hounds. In a long, straight,
continuous run, good men are not so anxious at first ; they
know they will soon work their way to the front if hounds
really run, and they do not get in a flurry at the start.
But, in the little scurries, if you do not shove along at
once you see nothing, for they are over before men have
time to settle down in their places and enjoy themselves
quietly.

" In regard to the Meynell huntsmen, I have known —
Tom and Charles — both, at their best, were very hard to
beat. Charles has been said, in the last part of his time,
not to have ridden up to his hounds. As a young man
no one could go quicker than he could, and those who
tried to compete with him often found it hard to live with
him at all. It is not fair to judge his ability by his later
years, when he was suffering from a malady which caused
him great pain when in the saddle, and which really ought
to have stopped him riding at all. But, whether galloping
over the pastures of Longford, or spluttering along the
<leep rides in the woods, he had very few equals. All
those who remember him in his prime will, I am sure,
agree with me, and it is as he was then that we old men
like to remember him. The men I have met out hunting-
have been many and various. Some would ride up to the
tail of hounds without the tremor of an eyelid, such as
Sir Matthew Blakiston (a man of iron nerve), Tom Smith
(of Clifton), and Michael Bass. The present Lord Burton
never cared much about pushing along when hounds were
running, but for larking home, after hunting, he was a
champion. If he could only get some one to start across

FORTY YEARS WITH THE MEYNELL. 117

country nothing gave him more pleasure than to follow
them, and no one ever saw him pounded. Perhaps he
and other people may open their eyes when I tell you of
his jumping the big open ditch below Hell Meadows in
cold blood. But he did it all the same.

" Tom, like most of the Leedhams, had a sharp tongue,
and did not much mind on whom he used it. Like all
huntsmen, he hated having his hounds pressed upon. For
some reason or another he always thought Stepney rather
given to this. One day the latter, near Hoar Cross,
happened to jump into a pond, souse overhead. At the
first check some one asked, ' Tom, have you heard Captain
Stepney is in a pond ? ' ' No, I have na ; but it's t'
best place for him.' (Laughter.) 'Nay, but I'm sure it
is,' Tom added dryly, without moving a muscle. Stepney
was a very neat, dapper sort of man, and used to go well
on a famous cream-coloured cob, which he sold to Mr.
Arthur Lyon.

" The best of friends may fall out in the excitement of
the chase, and I remember a case in point, though which
was in fault I do not recollect. Either Colonel Levett
jumped on Colonel Buller, or vice versd, and in a moment
they were on their feet, with eyes blazing and strong
language flying about. Hugo Meynell Ingram got off" his
horse to pacify them, and, what with his stammering and
their swearing, it really was very comical. At last they
patched it up. Another great swearing match was
between Crowder and Walter Boden. It was a tre-
mendously good run from Sapperton. These two were
the first to jump the brook, but they interfered with one
another — I do not know which was to blame — and kept
hammering away at one another all the way to Longford,
when Crowder's horse stopped dead beat, and that — and
nothing else — brought the quarrel to an end. That was
a grand run — up to Brailsford Old Gorse — a good ten-
mile point, and ail the horses dead beat.

" I remember^harles jumping on Tom, galloping from
Kadburnej to Sutton. It was only a small fence, but

118 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

Tom's horse pecked, and Charles was on him in a minute.
It was only discovered a day or two afterwards that a rib
had been broken. Tom's wrath — and it was great — was
excusable and natural, but he should not have ofone so far
as to say, before every one, to Charles, ' You've been
waiting for this chance for many a year, and now you've
got it.'

" Talking of Tom being angry reminds me of some-
thing else. Towards the end of the season neighbouring
Masters were sometimes asked to have a day in Bagot's
Woods, and one year Anstruther Thompson brought his
hounds. They found, and Tom said it was a vixen.
Henry Tumor contradicted him, and, when the hounds
killed, it was found to be a vixen with eleven cubs in her.
Tom's rage was unbounded.

" I mentioned Walter Boden just now, which reminds
me of Jacko. That was his best horse — a grey. He was
very fast and quick over his fences, and away again
directly. He was at his best when he had this horse.
Then there was a black horse with a back like a dinner-
table — an extraordinary jumper, but not very fast.
Edward Coke used to ride a good class of horse — well-bred
ones with bang tails. Walter Mynors, present Mayor of
Stafford, then living at Eaton Wood, used to find a good
many of them for him. AVhen Mynors had ridden them
for a year there was not much left for them to learn.
Clowes had a wonderful chestnut horse, which he only
gave sixty pounds for, but he made a lot of money at
Tattersall's afterwards. I remember Clowes giving a great
dinner at the Ship, at Greenwich, to about sixty of us
when he gave up the hounds. He had a special boat to
take them down, and did the whole thing splendidly.

The late Michael Bass was the prime mover in the
dinner in honour of the present Lord Bagot's coming of
age. He spoke of it as ' rallying round the Bagots.' It
was given in a wooden building behind the inn at Abbots
Bromley, which had been put up for a ball when the
present Lord Bagot was born. All the hunt was there.

FORTY YEARS WITH THE MEYNELL. 119

The speeches were very good, especially Colonel Levett's,
who was never more eloquent.

" It is the custom to say that the Meynell Hunt is not
hospitable, but I do not hold with it. We are always
glad to see people from the neighbouring Hunts. It is a
curious thing, though, that if ever a special came from
Melton we had no sport, and, if we went elsewhere, the
same thing happened. I remember a large party of us
going to Cheshire, and, after chopping our fox, we never
found another, though Mr. Corbet drew and drew till
dark. Same sort of thing with the Quorn."

120 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1884

CHAPTER IX.

8P0RT IN THE EIGHTIES — CAPTAIN HOLLAND — GOOD RUN
FROM SHIRLEY PARK — MR. E. A. J. MAYNARD — GOOD
DAY FROM WALTON — THE GREEN COVERT AT EGGIN-
TON — MR. CHANDOS-POLe's PRIVATE PACK — MR. HAMAR
BASS BECOMES JOINT-MASTER.

1884-1885.

The subscriptions this year were £3410 18.s'., aud com-
pensations for damage absorbed X519 16s. i)d.

There were no changes in the staff. Mr. Chandos-Pole
brought Downpatrick into the country. The new names
in the subscription list were Captain Ames (from Lichfield),
R. H. Dalton, E. Devas, W. F. Felton, Lord Henry
Nevill, F. W. Peacock, and Herbert Woltan.

Captain and Mrs. H. C. Holland came to Marchington
Hall, where they stayed till 1895, with the exception of one
year, 1887-88, when they were at Cross Hayes, Hoar
Cross. From 1895-97 they lived at their own house, the
Upwoods, Doveridge, a farm which was purchased from
Lord Waterpark, and the house added to and improved.
In 1897, Captain Holland having been appointed Chief
Constable of Derbyshire, they moved to The Knoll,
Findern, Captain Lloyd of the First Life Guards and Mrs.
Lloyd coming to the Upwoods for two seasons.

Captain Holland was educated at Eton and at Radley,
and began hunting as a boy with the North Cotswold, of
which his father was at one time IMaster. But Lord
Coventry was the first Master he remembers. He joined
the 8th, and subsequently the 15th Hussars, seeing his

1884] CAPTAIN HOLLAND. 121

fair share of active service — in 1879-80 in the Afghan
war, in 1881 against the Boers, and again in 1882 in the
Egyptian campaign, in which he was severely wounded.
He would have been a cavalry officer after the Duke of
Wellington's own heart, for that great commander said
that hunting men made the best, and Captain Holland has
never let the grass grow under his feet in this respect.
He has hunted with no end of different packs, including
the Calpe and Pan hounds, but still the Meyneil have
never failed to hold his affections. Half a season or so in
Yorkshire was enough for him in recent years, and back he
came to his old love, to which he has remained constant
ever since, with the exception of one year, 1891-92, when
he and Mrs. Holland went round the world, having a turn
at big game shooting in Assam, in company with Sir Peter
Walker, the late Hon. Sidney Parker, and Mr. Firman — by
no means the least enjoyable part of the trip.

Between the flags, too, and in point-to-point races he
had a fair measure of success, winning the Meyneil Hunt
Point-to-Point, which finished at Sutton, on Grey Heron,
in March, 1891. Nine started. The next year he was
second on him over the severe course, which finished at
Tomlinson's corner, when so many came to grief. Sir Peter
Walker's mare, ridden by Mr. W. H. Walker, which he
had beaten the year before, turned the tables on him this
time, but it is a question whether it ought to have been
so. He also won the Natal Grand Military Steeplechase
on Sir Garnet, a Cape horse, beating the late Lord St.
Vincent (afterwards killed in Egypt) by a short head, and
he was riding a hot favourite, an English thoroughbred
horse. There is no better heavy-weight in the Meyneil
country to-day than Captain Holland. A propos of horses,
most people think that Jumbo, who carried him so well
from 1887-91, and the above-mentioned Grey Heron, were
his best. But the keen, hard-pulling chestnut, Bolivar, is
also a champion amongst weight-carriers, while the dun
horse, Don Juan, for which Mr. Fort gave something like
two hundred and fifty guineas, was very bad to beat. On

122 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1884

dit Mr. Fort refused five hundred pounds for liim. This
was some years ago, and the horse was carrying Stephen
magnificently at the beginning of last season. He could
jump the Sutton brook as easily as common horses clear a
water-furrow, and no timber was too high for him.

No lady ever had a better horse than Mercury by
Jupiter, who has carried Mrs. Holland for eleven seasons,
I believe, without a fall. And to have done this with her
is no small feather in any horse's cap, for where the
hounds go she goes. It is a treat to see this pair in a
good run, and to them indeed Whyte Melville's lines apply —

" O'er the open still careering,
Fence and furrow freely clearing,
Like the winds of heaven leaving little trace of where they pass."

Gallant old Mercury ! If there is anywhere a temple
of fame for horses, he deserves a niche in it.

Chance, too, was no bad one. Mr. Fort will remember
seeing him, in a smart gallop near Brailsford, clear, without
touchmg a tioiff, a clean-cut stake and bound fence set on
a bank, the top of the hedge being a good six feet or more
from the ground. It was an astonishing performance.
Not that the place was so very strong, as Mr. Fort's little
Pit-a-pat, coming next, cleared aw^ay most of it with her
hind legs. Curiously enough Chance fell at the very next
fence, some low, but strong, timber. Poor little horse !
his end was a sad one. After running in the first of Sir
Peter AValker's point-to-point races, the groom washed his
mouth out with some water, drenching him out of a soda-
water bottle. The horse had not o'ot his wind after the
gallop, and the water, going down his wind-pipe, choked him.

Mi\ Holden, of Aston (which he sold to Mr. Winter-
bottom two or three years ago), is hunting-bred to the
backbone. The name of Holden has been for generations
a household word, where hunting is concerned, in Derby-
shire, and the present bearer of it is no " degenerate scion
of a noble race." He is not a man whose nerves are easily
shaken, and so perhaps hunting and steeplechasing did not
afford sufficient excitement for him, and he was fain to

1884] GOOD RUN FROM SHIRLEY PARK. 123

make one of Dr. Jameson's force in the famous Eaid, and
he was also in the South African War, all through the
siege of Mafeking.

In November sport was fair, and the Master hunted
the hounds himself once or twice on a bye-day. Hunting
was stopped for a few days at the end of November and
beginning of December. On the afternoon of December
9 th hounds ran very fast from Potter's by Alkmonton
Bottoms, leaving Longford to the right, through Holling-
ton village, past Culland, to ground at Hullaud Ward.
This was a capital gallop up to Longford, and a nice
hunting pace afterwards.

But they did better still on Thursday 11th, when they
met at Bradley, for they found at Shirley Park a fox who
was some time in making up his mind to go — very wisely
too, for there was a rare scent outside. Once away, they
simply raced down to Longford and just to the left of
Reeve's Moor, where they checked, but hit it off and ran
hard to the big field by Culland Hall, where they checked
again. People had been tumbling about a bit, and Mr.
Newton alone, on one of Mr. Forman's horses, will own
to no less than three falls by the time they ran their fox
to ground at Buckhazels. From Culland they ran on fast
nearly to Parson's Gorse, and checked in the outskirts of
Langley. This probably saved the fox's life, for they
never ran fast afterwards. It was the best run of the
season so far. An hour and ten minutes altogether, forty-
five minutes of it very fast.

January 20th, at Etwall, was the next gala day. They
began by finding in the Sandpit Wood, and ran very fast
down to the Rough, when the field over-rode the hounds
and spoiled the run. Then they found in Newton's osiers,
and an unruly field headed the fox till he sought refuge in
a drain under the railway. But Pildock Wood held a
good, straight-necked fox, and a rare gallop he gave them.
First he set his head for Langley Common, passed Parson's
Gorse without touching it, on by Burrows, by Long Lane,
and, leaving Boden's Thorns on his right, to Reeve's Moor.

124 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1885

But he was too hardly pressed to enter it, and was bowled
over in the open five fields farther on, pointing for Shirley
Park, after a capital thirty -five minutes, a five-and-a-half-
mile point, and seven as hounds ran.

March 18th, at Brailsford, was a good day ; luckily so,
too, for no end of strangers, amongst whom were Count
Kinsky, and Messrs. Fletcher, and Arthur Pry or, from
Melton, attracted by the excellent reports of sport, had
come to see for themselves. What they saw was a cracker
from Reeve's Moor, down the meadows to Barton Fields,
across Barton Park nearly to Church Broughton, back
left-handed, leaving Sutton church just on the right,
all over the best of our country, to Barton Hall, thence,
by Barton Fields, on towards Trusley, then right-handed
]: early to the Ash, round to the left of Sutton, to ground,
after one hour and twenty-five minutes. Charles had
sent the first horses home early, and his second, like
almost every one else's, was fairly cooked. For the rest
of his life he kept the first horses out all day for fear
of this happening again. Mr. Fort, whose horses are
usually rather fitter than most people's, could not get to
the end, and most of the others were in worse plight,
some not even getting home that night at all. It must
be understood that this run was in the afternoon, as
Culland, several small spinnies, Cox's coverts, White's
Wood, Brailsford Gorse, Bradley Bottoms, and Ednaston
had all been drawn blank, while a fox had been found
aud run to ground in Shirley Park before they went to
Reeve's Moor.

In January, but for Charles's care and the Master's
prompt measures, the famous Meynell pack might have
come to an end. When the puppies came in from walk,
the huntsman noticed that one was not well. He was at
once put by himself, but soon symptoms of the most
dreaded of all diseases showed themselves, and it was
decided to destroy the whole entry. This saved the pack,
but left a scar. It is impossible to experience such a
loss as that, and not to feel it.

3885] MR. E. A. J. MAYNARD. 125

1885-1886.

In this year, the name of " E. A. J. Maynard," of
cricketing repute, appears in the subscription list. He
played for Harrow, and also for Derbyshire, and is a
good all round sportsman. That he ought to know
something about huntinof is certain, for the love of it is in
the blood. His father was to the fore with the Meynell
as far back as the forties, and hunted with his pack of
harriers what was then a wild country round Chesterfield
and Clay Cross, whilst his uncle, of Horlsey Hall, York-
shire, hunted what is now the Hurworth district. His
son, again an Anthony, was for many years Master of the
North Durham ; but it is another Anthony, of shorthorn
renown, uncle to the last-named, who is best known to
fame, having been immortalized by "The Druid" in
" Saddle and Sirloin." " For twenty years," the latter
tells us, " he kept the Boro' Bridge Harriers, and showed
excellent sport. The Raby country then extended as far
as Boro' Bridge, and the duke always charged him, '//"
you find an outlying fox do your best to handle him before
he reaches a cover' He hunted both with the Bedale
-and the Raby, and when either of the Masters appealed
to him at a check, ' Which way, Anthony f ' the general
reply was, ' Overo'idden by those young officers — cast behind
them.' On hunting days he was up at five, and rode
over his six hundred acres ])efore breakfast, and then
fifteen or sixteen miles to covert ; and no man told better
Yorkshire hunting tales over a bottle of '20 port."

What an example to our modern youths, with their
fast trotters and indiarubber tyres, and breakfast so late
that nothing under twelve miles an hour can get them
to covert in time. The late Mr. Hamar Bass, with his
galloping pair and brougham swaying about behind it,
must have almost established a record in this respect.
He would leave Byrkley Lodge at nine-thirty, to get to
Ednaston — thirteen miles as the crow flies, and a bad

126 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1885

road at tlaat — by eleven. On one of these occasions he
was going so fast that his brougham knocked a trap, with
a lady and gentleman in it, right into the ditch, to their
no small indignation.

But to return to the subject in hand. Mr. Mayuard
married, in 1887, the eldest daughter of Mr. Sacheverell
Sitwell, of Stainsby, and came to Rolleston Cottage, in
1890, moving thence to Egginton Hall, where he now
lives, in 1898. His great delight is to instil the rudi-
ments of the game, which he himself plays so well, into
" ingenuous youth," and they say that he looks after the
juvenile eleven, which stays each year at his house for an
annual cricket match, as if he were the father of them all.

Not but what he is just as much at home

" on some dull, shivery morning,
When our fingers feel numb and our faces are blue,
When the fences look blind and the ditches are yawning,"

as he is in the cricket field ; and when hounds run, and
the good ones settle down in their places, you may be
quite sure "Jeff" Maynard will be one of them.

The season opened with abnormally warm weather ; in
fact, November 2nd, the opening day, was like a May
morning indeed. A capital one it was, too, for they ran
fast from Sudbury Coppice by Cubley Bottom and Yeave-
ley to Shirley Park. The fact of Mr. Wallroth's staking
and killing his good old horse, was the only drawback.

From the Field, 1885 :—

On Saturday, December 5th, they had a capital day from Walton. At
five minutes past eleven, a nod from the Master (Mr. Chandos-Pole) to Charles
Leedham starts us for Walton Wood, a covert which, to the honour of all con-
cerned never disappoints us. A whimper proclaims a find, but Reynard circles
the covert two or three times, and here there is no scent ; but, scent or no scent,
it is dangerous to trifle too long with the Meynell bitches, and our fox wisely
breaks on the village side, across a heavy plough, and points for Borough Fields.
Swinging round to the right, hounds take us fast in the direction of Homestall
Wood ; but the heavy plough tells on us, and we can but envy such light weights
as Mr. R, Fort and the new-comer, Mr. A. de Traftbrd (who galloped past us as
though dirt mattered nought to them). Turning now for Catton, hounds race
their fox through Catton Wood, and kill him in Dryden's Walk, after fifteen

1885] GOOD DAY FROM WALTON. 127

minutes without a check, Mr. Levett-Princep tells us that he has plenty more
foxes, and all honour to him as a non-hunting man for his goodness ! So we
trot to the snug osier-bed, on Mr. Gorman's farm, at Edingale. Here three are
soon afoot — one pays the penalty of dwelling too long ; of the others, one bears
to the right, one to the left. We followed the latter, but unfortunately lost him
in Edingale village, so Catton Wood alone remains on that side the water, as
Drakelowe is not even yet shot, and at 1.30, at Catton, we find a fox destined to
stand before hounds for over two hours. Breaking covert on Dryden's Walk
side, this good fox passes the spot where so recently the funeral dirges of his
relatives were sung, and takes us to the left for Edingale ; but, leaving Edingale
on our right, we fly across the Pessale Brook, and the Eiver Mease, for Haunton.
Here we check for the first time, and the brook has thinned our numbers, the
master and huntsman, Mr. Gerald Hardy (going as pluckily as he did in the
Burton contest), Mr. R. Fort, Mr. A. Grossman, Fox, Col. Webb, Mr. F. Smith,
and half a dozen others are all that are visible. But the check is over, hounds
have hit it off by themselves ; past Biddle Farm and Dunimere we go again at
a rattling pace, and, being well into the Atherstone country, both master and
huntsman look as if blood would be doubly welcome, though twice tasted to-day.
With a holding, but not a racing scent, we now carry the line to Hogshill Farm,
and to Syrescote, and hopes are entertained that we may kill, as was the case
fifteen seasons back, at Amington, when Mr. Leigh entertained all the hunt ; but
no, it is not so to be ; our fox, evidently out of his latitude, misses every covert
at Statford, runs by the new farm buildings as if for Clifton Rough. Leaving
this untouched, this gallant fox passes Highfield Farm, and the hope conies o'er us
that in Clifton churchyard he will meet his doom ; but his bolt is not yet shot.
Our pace has, fortunately for tired horses, settled into a trot, and, leaving Clifton,
our fox heads for the Meynell country once more, and, crossing the Mease, gets
to Lullington. Here, evidently beaten, he threads every little spinny; but
inquiry tells us that the keeper, Hudson, viewed him ten minutes in front, and
the words of Fred Cotton rise to our minds, " Yo'll non ketch bowd Rejiiolds
to-noight." On he goes for Coton, and thence to Rosliston, in and out of nearly
every cottage and pigsty ; but patiently hounds work every inch out, and at
3.40, when pomting for Caldwell, it is given up ; though hounds were running true
as ever, " the shades of night were falling fast," and we may have changed ;
where it is difficult indeed to say, as we were never in a covert worthy the name,
and what adds to the glories of the day is that hounds were never once in the
two hours lifted, nor was huntsman's or master's horn once drawn from its case.

Needwood.

On Saturday, January 2nd, 1886, there was as good a
run as any one would wish to see, and one which those
who were in it talk of to this day. Capt. and Mrs.
Holland did not get back to Marchington till about 9.30.

" Needwood" sent the following account to the Field : —

. . . Though we could do no good with Mr. Gretton's foxes (at Drakelowe), it
was destined for Sir George Wilmot Horton to find as stout and straight a
varmint as ever stood before hounds. The hunting-cap of the Master, Mr.

128 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1885

ChandoR-Pole, lifted high in the air near Homestall Wood, was tlie first intima-
tion that bold Reynard was a-foot. Charles Leedham quickly got his ladies on
the line, hut, strange to say, at first, scent was catchy, and it appeared that the
soft breezes of the south-west were not to be conducive to sport, so at a moderate
pace only we start (on what proved to be a long journey) for Lady Leys farm,
which leaving to our right, we ran at an improved pace for Lullington. Hounds
carried the line at a good pace for Clifton, and crossing the treacherous banks of
the River ^Mease, we find ourselves comfortably landed in the Atherstone country,
l)ut little do we dream that, ere the sun sets, we sliall have crossed right over
the Wednesday and well into the Monday country of that far-famed pack. But
we are leaving the line, though the bitches are not. They carry it on beautifully
to Chilcote, over Stretton Heath for No Man's Heath (where four counties join) ;
lieading through to the right, they point for Austrey, and we believe that the
point of this gallant fox was Newton Gorse, he having come almost field for field
the reverse line of that excellent gallop of the Atherstone after Mr. Oakeley's
ball a fortnight back. Be this as it may, he either changed his mind or was
headed, for he swings round to the left for Norton, and the big woods of Gopsall
appear close to us. Into Gopsall Wood he ran, and in those hundreds of acres
of covert we expect to see the finish of this gi'cat run. But no ! The bitches
race across the Park in magnificent form, picking the line up through a herd of
red deer, and into the Racecourse Covert. Here many riders, who had been
going well and boldly, cried, " Hold, enough ! " The field consequently dwindled
down to some score of sturdy followers, who watched the hounds sticking to
their fox, who had gone past Twycross and into the gardens, almost into the
front door of Mr. Oakeley's house at Clift". Here the hounds were quite close
to his brush, and the set face of the huntsman shows us how keen he is to draw
our fox's blood on this spot, sacred to the Atherstone. A last dying effort
enables this good fox to hold on his course past Temple Mill, by Harris bridge,
into Sibson Wolds. Here no doubt he transferred the pack to a brother, as
learning from a rustic that the fox was running fresh into Lady Byron's Covert,
the Master stopped the hounds, which in two hours had brought us thirteen
miles as the crow flies, and nearly eighteen as we came. At the finish we noted
two ladies who had gone gallantly throughout — Mrs. Harry Townshend and Mrs.
Holland — whilst of mankind, in addition to the huntsman, both whips (J. Tasker
and W. Scorey) were in their places. The Master of course was there, and also,
of those we knew, the Hon. AV. Bagot, IMessrs. G. and L. Hardy, W. F. Inge,
H. Bass, M.P., R. Fort, A. 0. Worthington, J. Bagnall, J. and W. Walker, W. C.
Salt, Charles Moore, Peter Smith, Holland, J. Gretton, Fellowes, Capt. H. L.
Townshend, and Col. Milligan. In matter of point to find a compeer we have to
go back to the gi-eat run of old Tom Leedham (the present huntsman's grand-
father), when he was bitten through his boot by a moribund fox which he had
run from Radburne to Ambergate, or, in more modern times, the fine gallop
from Radburne Rough to Biggin, in 1870, when a single hound, Ringlet, killed
the fox, and the late Tom Leedham's horse died under him.

They had another good day on the 4th, and then there
was frost and snow practically for a month, though they
did squeeze a day or two in between. And then came a
first-rate run. People were rather chaffing Mr. Fort at the
meet about his grey horse, which looked like a bag of

1886] THE GREEN COVERT AT EGGINTON. 129

bones, but was a very good hunter, as they had to own
before the day was over.

" He carries more flesh than he appears to do," his
owner said.

" Then it must be under the saddle," was the answer ;
" for none of us can see it ! "

The run was on February 2nd, from the Green Covert,
between Egginton and Willington, and took place on a
very doubtful day, the roads were covered with ice, and
the landing on the north side of the fences like iron.
Horses' legs told a tale the next day. First they crossed
the North Stafford railway, and the clever division made
straight for the bridge, which the men with the hounds
had to come to in the end. Then they ran by Burnaston,
Bearwardcote, Dalbury, to the left of Radburne Rough and
Kirk Langley, to the right of Kedleston Park, to ground
at AUestree. The first check was by Mrs. Curzon's house
at Weston-Underwood, nine miles as the crow flies, and at
least twelve as hounds ran, and the fox was only just in
front of hounds when he got to ground, having covered a
good seventeen miles in two hours.

Three days afterwards, after the Hunt Ball, on a very
doubtful morning, they found in Parson's Gorse, and
divided at Meynell-Langley Gorse, the body of the pack
running hard by Mack worth, up to Radburne Rough, with
only Mr. R. FitzHerbert and the Hon. E. Pierrepoint
really with them.

On the 16th, again, there was a capital day from
Radburne. Finding at the Rough, they ran at a great
pace across the Trusley brook, where there was no end of
grief, and hounds ran pretty well away from every one,
treating their followers to a stern chase to Boden's Thorns.
Hence they ran to Reeve's Moor and lost, after a capital
twenty-five minutes. Then they ran hard from Longford
Car to Eaton Wood, nine miles, in an hour, and were
stopped, as there were several fresh foxes on foot. Every
one was talking about it at Mrs. John Evans's ball that
nisht.

130 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1886

Many people will remember the excellent gallop from
Wichnor, on February 20tli, when they ran by Yoxall
Lodge, through the Brakenhurst (when half the field got
left behind), over the Hoar Cross deer park, and the brook,
where Charles, who had been going splendidly on a black
four- year-old, cut a clean voluntary on landing. From
Hoar Cross they ran to within one hundred yards or so of
Blithe Moor (Blithfield), turned sharp back left-handed,
to ground at the foot of St. Stephen's Hill, hard by, after
a capital hour and three-quarters.

But it is quite impossible to mention half the good
runs of this extraordinary season. Only a few specimens
of the sport can be given briefly, or this volume would
never come to an end.

The 24th of March deserves to be mentioned as being the
first day that " Squire " Chandos-Pole hunted the hounds
he had just brought from Ireland. There had been close on
a month's frost, and every one was hungry for hunting.
The meet was at Eadburne, and they had a fair day, the
critics differing, as usually is the case, some saying the
hounds worked very well, others that they were a bit
wild. All agreed that they were as keen as mustard.

The Master, who knew as much about a fox as the fox
knew about himself, hit on a novel contrivance for ousting
foxes from the trees which they frequented in Sudbury
Park, viz. fastening a bell to a long pole, and ringing it
in the hollow trees and branches.

In the evening of April 1st, those who had not gone
home were rewarded by a splitting ring with an outlying
fox on Mr. Charles Cumming's farm at Foston, nearly to
Marston -Montgomery, and back to Sudbury Coppice.

The last day of the season was at Bretby, on April
22nd, which was late, to make up for all the stoppages.

A special meeting of the subscribers was held at the
St. James's Hotel, on Friday, April 16th, 1886, under the
presidency of the Hon. E. Coke, for the purpose of hearing
a proposal from the Master of the Hunt as to the future
hunting of the country. There was a large attendance,

1886] MR. CHANDOS-POLE'S PRIVATE PACK. 131

including Lord Scarsdale, Mr. R. W. Chandos-Pole, Master
of the Hunt, Colonel the Hon. ^Y. Coke, Hon. W. Bagot,
Mr. G. F. Meynell, Captain Cumming, Mr. F. 0. F.
Bateman, Mr. R H. Cotton, Mr. R. Sale, Lieut. -Colonel
Fountain, Mr. T. W. Evans, Mr. G. Duncombe, Captain
Duncombe, Mr. Cecil Salt, Mr. R. Forman, Mr. W. Boden,
Mr. G. D'Arcy Clarke, Mr. John Shaw, junr., Mr. G. Gas-
coy ne, Mr. J. Smith, Mr. R. Waite, Mr. J. Coleman, Mr.
R. Fort, Mr. Finney, Mr. Hanson, Mr. S. Wade, Mr. Keats,
Mr. W. Burkett, Mr. R. Bott, Mr. Travis, Mr. Kempson,
etc.

The Chairman first called upon the Master to make
his communication with reference to the future hunting
of the country.

Mr. Chandos-Pole said he wished to hunt an extra day
a week, and he thought the country certainly required it.
There were woodlands that they did not go into more than
three times a year after cub-hunting. Complaints had come
from all parts of the country as to foxes, and that they
had not been hunted, and he wanted an extra hunting-
day a week, and a bye day if necessary. There was cer-
tainly some misunderstanding with regard to his having
purchased a private pack of hounds. What he had done
he had done for the best. He had a chance of purchasing
these hounds ; he was recommended to buy them, and he
did not wish to miss them. It had certainly been done
on his own responsibility, and if they decided he was not
to hunt the hounds in the country, he should be the loser.
He particularly wished to impress upon them that he did
not wish to press the hounds down their throats.

The Chairman said that when he received a communi-
cation from Mr. Chandos-Pole, stating that he wished a
general meeting called for the purpose of informing the
subscribers that he had purchased another pack of hounds,
and consult as to the hunting of the Meynell country, he
thought it desirable to draw up certain resolutions which
he thought would meet the case. Before submitting these
resolutions, he would first read one or two letters he had

132 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1886

received in reference to these resolutions. He might tell
them no one in the county had had anything to do with
drawing up these resolutions but himself, and any person
was perfectly at liberty to criticize them. There were
three gentlemen connected with the Hunt who, he knew,
would not be able to attend the meeting — therefore, he
thought it desirable to have their views on the resolutions.
The first and foremost was Lord Bagot, almost the father
of the Hunt. (Hear, hear. ) He was unable to attend the
meeting in consequence of being confined to his room in
London, and the other two were both prominently con-
nected with the Hunt, and were now in the south of France
— Lord Waterpark and Mr. S. W. Clowes. The resolutions
were as follows : That the landlords, tenant farmers,
and members of the Meyuell Hunt fully appreciate the
desire of the Master of the Hunt, Mr. Chandos-Pole, to
show increased sport, and are of opinion that the following
resolutions should be agreed to : (1) That all covers in
Derbyshire, north of the Trent, except Elvaston, Chellas-
ton, and Aston, shall be retained for the sole use of the
Meynell hounds, either for hunting or cub-hunting. (2)
That Mr. Chandos-Pole have the privilege to hunt his
private pack in any other part of the Meynell country
that may need or will bear additional hunting. (3) That
the hunting days of the Meynell hounds will in future
be Monday and Friday in Stafibrdshire, Tuesday and
Thursday in Derbyshire ; Wednesday and Saturday will
be at Mr. Chandos-Pole's disposal — but, in any case, hunt-
ing on Saturday is not to be discontinued. (4) That the
hunting in Derbysliire, north of the Trent, shall be dis-
continued on March 31st in each year, except Elvaston,
Chellaston, and Aston. The Chairman then went on to
read the replies he had received from the gentlemen above
referred to. Lord Bagot wrote that he was quite of the
Chairman's opinion that his (the Chairman's) part of Derby-
shire would not stand more than two days a week, and if
more were attempted, it would rather tend to spoil than
to increase sport. He agreed with the resolution. Lord

1886] MR. HAMAR BASS BECOMES JOINT-MASTER. 133

Waterpark and Mr. Clowes also agreed with the resolution
in the main.

A discussion followed on the resolutions, in which the
question as to when hunting should cease was raised by
Mr. Wade, who thought the season was too long from a
farmer's point of view. He did not wish them to hunt out
of season.

It was, however, pointed out by the Master that this
was an exceptional year, owing to the frost and snow ; but
if the question was left to him, he should endeavour to
suit all parties concerned.

Lord Scarsdale expressed a similar opinion.

The first and second resolutions having been passed,
the third was slightly amended, to the effect that Mr.
Chandos-Pole's pack should hunt one day, and have a
bye day when the Master considered it necessary.

An amendment to the fom^th was proposed by Lord
Scarsdale, and seconded by jVIr. R. Waite, that the date
when the season should be concluded should be left to Mi--
Chandos-Pole ; and this was carried almost unanimously.

Mr. Chandos-Pole mentioned that he had an opportunity
of getting Mr. Hamar Bass to become joint-Master of the
pack with himself (applause), and he asked the consent
of the Hunt to that arrangement.

Mr. Sale thought it would be advantageous to the
Hunt in every way, and proposed a motion to that effect.

]VL.\ A. C. Buncombe seconded the motion, which was
unanimously agreed to.

The Chairman then read letters of apology for non-
attendance from Mr. Charles Allsopp and Mr. Wood
(Somersal), the latter offering to increase his subscription
by ten pounds per year. (Applause.) A letter was also
read from Mr. John Smith, increasing his subscription from
twenty pounds to twenty-five pounds.

The Master, in thanking the meeting, said he had
fully expected a severe " wigging " (laughter) ; but they
had let him off very nicely. He should like to mention,
in regard to his keeping a private pack of hounds, one

134 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1886

thing a good many people did not remember — that was
their having madness among young hounds, so that they
could not mix the packs ; therefore, but for his pack, they
could not have had a bye day at the end of the season.

A vote of thanks having been accorded to the Chairman,
on the motion of Lord Scarsdale, seconded by Mr. T. W.
Evans, the proceedings concluded.

1886] ( 135 )

CHAPTER X.

THE JOINT MASTERSHIP OF THE " SQUIRE " AND MR. HAMAR
BASS, M.P. — G. S. L. ON THE HOUNDS — WONDERFUL RUN
OF FIVE HOURS — DEATH OF THE THIRD LORD BAGOT.

1886-1887.
G. S. L. writes in the Field, of April, 1886 :—

The opportunities to breed hounds were of the very best from the very out-
set of Mr. Meynell Ingram's career, as he could walii them in three counties —
on his extensive Yorkshire estates, on some property in Lincolnshire, and in
Staftbrdshire. He sent out at one time a hundred couples of puppies, and, as
may be supposed, the pack rose to a very high state of excellence. It was the
fashion years ago to talk of Meynell Ingram's blood, and Mr. Assheton Smith,
Mr. Farquharson, Mr. John Bulteel, Mr. Parry, and, at times, no less celebrated
kennels than the Belvoir and the Fitzwilliam, have dipped into the sort. At
one time they were thought to have been bred a bit close, but down to very
recent times indeed, their stud hounds have been in request, such as Manager,
Baronet, and Linkboy. I can remember being at a puppy show at the Worcester
kennels (I think it was in 1872), when the recently deceased Lord Hindlip, then
Mr. AUsopp, was the Master, and the Meynell Manager had just arrived as a
loan for stud duties, it being then said that he was one of the oldest of Mr.
Meynell Ingram's blood. Manager, entered in 1865, was by Merimac (son of
Reginald, son of Lord Scarborough's Reginald) — Timeful by Ravager — Thetis.
Harmony, the dam of Merimac, was by Falstaff, who was by the Brocklesby
Flasher — Hyacinth by Roman (son of Belvoir Rasselas and Nightshade) by
Nathan (son of Bertram by the Pytchley Abelard) — Bridesmaid by Bachelor,
son of Bachelor and Wilful, two hounds that Mr. Meynell had when he started
the country in 1816, and they were old hounds then, and presumably bred
from the drafts he had been having from Quorndon. I can trace two
direct lines from Manager to Bachelor and Wilful, and consequently I expect
it was this descent that was attributed to Manager on the day alluded to.
Since then, a lot of kennels have obtained the strain, as Manager had a son
called Linkboy, and the latter was quite a fashionable sire of the day. Old Jack
Morgan used him freely at the Grove, and in 1878 Lord Galway's entry con-
tained three couples by him, and, as I showed in my last hound paper, Lord
Stafford patronized him. Charles Leedham has Linkboy's skin thrown over a

136 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [ISSG

chair in his parlour. He thought there was no better foxhound, for he was as
hard as nails, would draw the thickest gorse, or run hard to head, but he was
the most quaiTclsorae liound he had ever had anything to do with. He lent him
to Mr. Corbet once, and that gentleman sent him back with a note to say that he
had so many hounds that he could not accommodate Linkboy with a kennel to
himself. There is no end of Linkboy's blood in the Meynell now, as I will
presently show. Baronet was another hound that good judges used to perpetuate
Mr. Meynell's old sort. He goes back to Nightshade, the common ancestress of
him and Linkboy, and she, of course, to Bachelor and Wilful. Another one tliat
Jack Morgan used, before the time of Linkboy and Baronet, was Fairplay by
Alfred — Fancy, and his pedigree takes him right down in just the same way to
tlie old sorts, touching a lot of the finest Belvoir blood on the way.

I had long wished to see the Meynell as a fine old pedigree pack, and, to tell
the truth, if it had not been for circumstances for which I was prepared, I should
have been rather disappointed, as there is a ragged, uneven look about the dog
hounds that does not bring them to the eye altogether. This is easily to be
accounted for by the fact that it was necessary to put on a most moderate entry
last year, owing to a serious loss of better ones. Charles Leedham was priding
himself last January twelve months, that his earliest puppies, then coming in
from walk, were an exceptionally good lot, and ten couples of dog hounds and a
couple of bitches had come in. Suddenly one showed fatal signs of the most
dreaded of all maladies, and as he had been with all the other ones two nights, it
was deemed prudent to put the whole lot underground. Leedham's care and
promptitude probably saved the pack, as, though a sharp look-out was kept, no
sign for alarm was ever seen afterwards, and it was doubtless an isolated case
with regard to the puppy. However, losing twenty-two of the best puppies was,
of course, a considerable drawback to the pack, and a moderate entry will always
make a pack look shabby for a time, though, with such material as the Meynell
possess, that can easily be righted in a season or two. Such an untoward
circumstance as I have mentioned is a drawback in another way also, as the
good feeling that exists among hound owners invariably deters favours being
asked with regard to the loan of stud hounds, or taking bitches to other kennels,
when anything suspicious has occurred, and therefore the Meynell last year kept
entirely to its own sires. This may be a slight detriment to this season's entry ;
but Leedham thinks he has some nice puppies, and three or four couples that I
saw have very promising looks about them. Last year's dog entry, such as it
was, I looked over, the first drawn being Chanter, a black and white hound, ot
no great pretensions as to looks, but very good in his work, and by the Quorn
Gamester — always such a favourite with Tom Firr; the next, Drummer, by
Denmark, is a little below the standard ; a better one by far being Fireman, the
cup puppy, and boasting capital legs and feet, and he is by General, a hound no
longer in orders, but a very fine bred one. Gilbert, by the South Notts. Somer-
set, is a good-coloured, good-shaped liound ; and Glancer, a light, flat-sided little
hound, is another that does credit to the Quorn Gamester for work, but he is not
very handsome, Pluto and Pedlar, being nearer twenty-four inches than twenty-
three and a half, are over standard, but a useful couple of hounds, and their
growth may be due to the capital quarters a noble lord gave them. Stainless,
by the Belvoir Stainless, is not much to 'look at, but Leedham says he is an
extraordinary good one in his work ; and here is another instance to cite, in
addition to the many I have given, that the get of the Belvoir Stainless are
workmen. Leediiam says he likes them better than the Belvoir Proctors, as they
liave more fire.

J886] G. S. L. ON THE HOUNDS. 137

Tlie bitch entry happened to be no very extraordinary one, although there
were no losses in their cases of much consequence. The cup bitch was
deservedly Beatrice, a very perfectly shaped young lady, by the Bel voir Spartan,
a hound that many good judges are very fund of, but dam Bellicent by Conqueror,
out of Bosnia, by the above-mentioned Baronet. There could be no better
breeding than this ; and Faithful, the second prize cup winner, can boast of very
good looks, with the nice legs and feet which are such a setting off to her own
brother. Fireman, the cup winner in the dog puppy class. A good bitch, called
Bertha, one of the best, so Leedham thinks, was lost some weeks ago out hunting,
and has not been heard of since, so, if a good-looking young bitch joins into a
neighbouring pack, and stray ones do sometimes, it may be known where she
comes from. A very pretty bitch is Dewdrop, by Dorimont — Mindful ; and
Denmark, of whom I shall have to say something presently, is answerable for a
neat one in Dorothy. Lapwing, by Bushman, a hound the Marquis of Worcester
has marked down to use, is very good-looking and full of use, and there are
several others of an order to prove very useful to the pack.

The stallion hounds are headed by the now six-season hunter, Bushman, a
red-pied hound of a long, low, useful order, with plenty of depth and good back
ribs, and he has been an excellent workman, and bred to suit anj' breeder, who
may have a fancy for Mr. Meynell Ingram's old strain ; his sire Conjuror being
by the Fitzwilliam Somerset — Caroline, by Conqueror, son of the Bramham Moor
Carver — Pamela, by Eifleman, son of Hotspur, a brother to Hyacinth, who will
be found in the pedigree I have given of Manager ; and thereby easily traced
down to 1816. Landlord, of the same year as Bushman, I like quite as well, as
he is so full of foxhound character, and grandly bred, as he is by Granby, a sun
of the Belvoir Gallant — Lawless, by Miracle — Lavish, the dam of Linkboy, and
she was by Chorister — Laura, by Lord Henry Bentinck's Larkspur, Dorimont, by
the Grove Dorimont — Willing, by the Fitzwilliam Ransack — Watchful, her dam
Wilful by Wanderer, son of Lord Henry Bentinck's Wanderer, is very useful
looking, and, as will be seen, he inherits the most telling blood, llandom is
nothing much for looks, as he is hardly straight, and a bit flat-sided, but he is
to be used for his extraordinary nose and goodness. He is a red-pied, determined-
looking homid by the Brocklesby Racer — Antidote, by the Quorn Alfred, and, on
one occasion, he kept the pack right when no other hound could own the line,
and he fairly killed the fox. Fisherman is a bit odd in his colour, but shapely,
and so good in his work that he has been used this season very freely. He is by
Romulus, a son of the Grove Reginald — Fragment, by the Duke of Beaufort's
Freshman — Resolute, by Rummager, a son of Fairplay. Merryraan, a nice, little,
twenty-three inch hound, so often running in the bitch pack, is as good, Leedham
thinks, as a foxhound can be; he can always race to the head of affairs, and
wherever there is work to be done, he is there to do it. His breeding is all in
the direction of the old sorts, as he is by Marmaduke, a son of Baronet ; his dam
Merciful, by the Bramham Mountebank, by old Bob Ward's favourite, Merryman.
What a capital hound for blood the Meynell Merrj'man would be for the
Hertfordshire to use — their own sort, dashed with Mr. Lane Fox's and Mr.
Meynell Ingram's. The best-looking hound, I think, in the pack is Denmark, by
the Grafton Denmark — Laughter, by Baronet, her dam Ladybhd, a daughter of
Lavish, the dam of Linkboy. Beautiful, in his Belvoir tan colouring, is Denmark,
and he looks a high-bred foxhound. Leedham tells me that their bitches did not
hit at all with the Oakley, but they did with the Grafton, and I told him that the
last-named kennel is in such good form now as to suggest that their dog hounds
should be used freely, and I hoped he would go there. Pillager, who, like

138 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1886

Denmark, was the cup puppy of his j'ear, is a good-looking hound with plenty of
bone and nice legs and feet, but he is not so blood-like as Denmark. He is a son
of the above-named Dorimont ; and there is another young sire much thought of
by Leedhara, namely, Chanticleer, the winner of the cup in his year, and got by
General out of Charity, by tlie Grove, Reginald.

The Meynell bitch pack has a look of work and smartness about it, and the
ladies give evidence of having done some racing this season. Some of them are
as neat as one can wish to find. Mindful I thougiit the handsomest old bitch of
all, and she is by Marmaduke, the sire of Merryman, and, like her relative, she
has been such a good one. Languish and Lavish are two charming third season
bitches, by Landlord, the stallion hound I like ; and Bonny Lass, by the Oakley
Stormer, is a grand bitch, built much after Mr. Arkwright's order ; whilst Artful ,
a red-pied bitch, and Syren, a second season hunter, are as neat as their descent
from the ducal kennel should make them. Of course, a good many of the matrons
were away on family duties, but the bitch pack, as I saw it, looks more sorty than
the dogs, and it doubtless comprises plenty of the right material to keep up the
gi-eat prestige of the Meynell. Charles Leedham says he feels sure the two packs
were never more killing and smarter than they are now, and as for steadiness, it
has been their characteristic since the days when the great Mr. Hugo Meynell
prided himself on the discipline of his hounds.

The season of 1886-1887 began well with a very
useful day for cub-hunting, which occurred on September
16th, when they found in the Greaves, ran the full length
of the Forest Banks, then across Bagot's Park through
Lord's Coppice, away and out round Abbots Bromley,
back again to Lord's Coppice, whence they went away
again, and lost between there and Abbots Bromley.

There was hunting every day in the week, four days
with the Meynell and two days with the Master's private
pack, and sport was of a high order. It is impossible to
mention all the good runs, but sometimes little incidents
are equally interesting. There are still a good many of
us who will remember how hounds slipped every one, one
day in November, from the Bath Covert at Hoar Cross,
and how Mr. Fort was the only man with them up to
Bagot's Woods. Only a few days afterwards, in the
Eadburne country, Mr. E. FitzHerbert * and Mr. Porteous
had it all to themselves for a bit.

From December 14th there was frost and snow for the
best part of six weeks, and no one, who experienced it, is

* Mr. E., Mr. Richard, or Mr. " Dick " FitzHerbert always signify the present
Sir Richard.

1887J WONDERFUL RUN OF FIVE HOURS. 139

likely to forget the two hours they spent at Egginton
Gorse, almost frozen, while Charles tried in vain to induce
his fox to quit his quarters.

February 1st, from Mercaston Stoop, was a grand
hound day, but hardly any one could boast of being really
with them up and down the hills in the latter part.
Briefly, they found in the new gorse at Mugginton, and
ran a nice ring through Ravensdale Park, and Weston
village, through Wild Park nearly to White's Wood,
Brailsford, and then, leaving Mercaston Stoop to the
right, back to Ravensdale Park. Time, about half an
hour, without a check, and people looked anxiously for
their second horses, which were not forthcoming. Here
they probably changed, going away again best pace by
Windley, in front of the Lilies, over the top of Windley
Hill, which the greater part of the field declined to descend,
but jogged along the top, nicking in with hounds by Hul-
land Ward. They meanwhile ran out by Shottle Hall, and
swung back by Hulland to Ravensdale Park, and bowled
their fox over close to the brickyard at Weston-Underwood.

Though it was not two o'clock, every one had had
enough after going fast for two hours and a half, and
covering not less than twenty miles, all up and down hill,
and hounds went home.

The Master is never likely to forget March 30th, when
hounds went to Goat Lodge and ran for about five hours,
and all the horses were done to a turn. Very few saw it
out, but he was one of them. Hounds found in Lord's
Coppice, and ran with a burning scent as if for Blithfield,
back to the Woods, round and about them, out and over the
Warren at Blithfield, back again to the Woods and killed a
good stout fox, who had stood up before the Master's Irish
pack for an hour and three-quarters, all at a strong pace.

They found again by the High Trees, Bagot's Park,
and ran to ground. Found a third fox by Buttermilk
Hill, came away through Tomlinson's corner, as if for
Birchwood, but turned sharply first to the right, and then
to the left down to the Bath Wood, Hoar Cross, and then

140 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1887

on to Rough Park, past Hamstall Ridware, back to Abbots
Bromley.

There was a rare scent all day, and the hounds' voices
made the old woods fairly ring.

In January of this year (1887), a great loss befell the
country in the death of Lord Bagot, one of the very
staunchest supporters of the hunt. He was born in 1811,
and was educated at the Charterhouse, at Eton, and
Magdalen College, Cambridge. He succeeded to the title
as third baron in 1856. He was at one time a Lord of
the Bedchamber to Prince Consort, and held the office of a
Lord in Waiting to the Queen for some years. Moreover,
he sat in Parliament for the county of Denbigh, where he
owns large estates, as a Conservative, from 1835 to 1852,
and was a deputy -lieutenant and Justice of the Peace for
the counties of Stafford and Derby. In 1851 he married
the Hon. Lucia Caroline Elizabeth Agar-Ellis, the eldest
daughter of the late Lord Dover, by whom he had two
sons and four daughters. One of the latter married the
late Mr. Hamar Bass. There was no better landlord than
the late Lord Bagot, and the estates are in wonderful
order — every hunting man can bear testimony to the
well-hung gates, and wire is a thing unknown. His
tenants still speak of him in a way that is pleasant to
hear in this democratic age.

For nearly sixty years he had been connected with the
Staffordshire Yeomanry, which corps he joined in 1827
and was at once given a captain's commission in the
ITttoxeter troop. The yeomanry was frequently called
out in those days to quell riots of one kind and another,
and in 1831 especially there were great disturbances over
the rejection of the Reform Bill. On October 10th the
Riot Act was read, and the yeomanry was called out — the
Staffordshire body, with others, being summoned to Derby
— where Lord Bagot commanded the Burton troop. All
the troops were highly praised for their efficiency in keep-
ing order during the week that they remained there. In
November of the same year again there were serious

William, Third Lord Bagot.
From a photograph

by
A. Bassano.

ira/ii>i. i6aih. g5i.y^.

I887J DEATH OF THE THIRD LORD BAGOT. 141

troubles with the colliers, and Lord Bagot and his troop
kept watch and ward over the county gaol. Once more
during the Chartist riots he was put on active service.
Finally, he commanded the regiment and was honorary
colonel when he died.

His son, the present Lord Bagot, was captain of the
Uttoxeter troop of the same yeomanry. He was also a
Gentleman Usher of the Privy Chamber of her Majesty,
the late Queen, from 1885. Owing to ill health he never
comes out hunting now, though he is a beautiful horseman,
but what would the Meynell Hunt do without Bagot's
Woods, to say nothing of all the other Blithfield coverts in
which foxes are so plentiful ?

On April 2nd in this year (1887) the fox crossed the
Trent twice down by Wichnor.

142 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1887

CHAPTER XL

THE " squire's "

RUN FROM SNELSTON — RESIGNATION OF THE " SQUIRE "
REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE.

1887-1888.

There were a few new names in the subscription list this
year, viz. W. Court and James Vernon, Uttoxeter; Captain
W. B. Coney, the Barracks, Derby ; W. D. Fane, H. C.
Hartley, New Lodge, Needwood Forest ; Miss Hartley,
ditto ; H. S. Hartman, Normanton, Derby ; C. B. Jameson,
Barton House, Barton-under-Needwood ; E. Mclnnes,
Derby ; C. Palmer, E. Probyn, Gr. F. Royds, F. Tessier, A.
T. AVright ; H. J. Betterton, Woodville, Burton-on-Trent ;
A. K. Boswall ; A. A. Cammell, Hulland Hall ; C. E.
Every Halsted, The Villa, Rolleston ; Francis Ley, Manor
House, Barrow ; Herbert Peel, Somersal House ; W. T.
Roden, Church Broughton ; Charles Schwind, Broomfield,
Derby ; Captain Taylor ; E. J. Eraser Tytler, Bowbridge,
Langley.

Of these Mr. Peel was a good sportsman, and nice
quiet rider to hounds, and afterwards had hounds of his
own in the hills in Cheshire, at Calverley, and in Radnor-
shire. He had only one arm, but could do everything
exactly the same as if he had two ; Mr. Roden was a
capital gentleman jockey, and Mr. Eraser Tytler an intrepid
man to hounds.

The season began with a very nice run for the time of
year on October 3rd, from the small fir plantation at
Cubley, by Marston - Montgomery, Wardley Coppice,

1887] TWO CANARDS. 143

through the grounds at Doveridge, and killed on the
bridge over the Dove. If the writer is not mistaken,
this was the first time Mr. Fort rode that famous horse,
Silver King, and very well he carried him.

Some consternation was caused about this time by a
report, that, on account of mange amongst foxes and the
consequent death of a great many, the Meynell hounds
would only hunt twice a week. Of course it proved to be
only a canard, like the famous telegram which Colonel
Chandos-Pole was supposed to have sent years afterwards
to say that he was going to draw his own coverts at
Radburne with his own hounds, on the first Thursday in
the season — the usual day for the Meynell to go there.
In this case the telegram proved to be forged, though the
forger has never yet been discovered, in spite of a reward
of one hundred pounds being ofi*ered for his detection. It
is quite true that mange did appear in this season of
1887-1888, having probably come from the other side of
the Derwent, where several foxes had been turned down,
but there was never any serious intention of reducing the
number of hunting days. The first mangy fox actually
seen in the Meynell country was on March 12th, 1888,
when they met at Vernon's Oak. They found in a field
not far from there, and ran a ring by Cubley into Sudbury
Coppice. Charles viewed the fox away from there, and
always said he could not make out what was the matter
with him, for "he looked as if he had been shook out of a
soot bag." He found out soon enough when they killed
him in the Park. They killed another mangy one before
night, which they found in Cubley Gorse. This one only
got as far as the Car. The scourge then spread all over,
not only the Meynell country, but all England.

Another huntino; nuisance beg-an to be in evidence this
year — barbed wire, to wit. The very first wire, though
not barbed, which the present writer saw in these parts, was
in the dead thorn fence by the brook which runs out of
the bottom of Shirley Park towards the Mill, late in the
seventies.

144 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1887

Sport was very fair this year up to November IGtli,
wlien there was a week's frost, but the run of the season,
or of many seasons, was on December 8th. It was one of
those doubtful mornings, on which, somehow or other,
many of the best runs have occurred. On this particular
one there was a great deal of snow about, the ground was
half frozen, and there was a fog. The place of meeting
was Mercaston Stoop, but there was too much snow on the
hills to hunt there, so they came to Meynell Langley
Gorse, found there and went away at a great pace over
the Ashbourne road, leaving Wheathills on the left. Then
they turned to the right by the Common Nurseries, where-
liounds ran away from everybody, and went on by Silver-
hill, across Radburne Park, by the church, straight through
the Eough, on by Dalbury village to Sutton Gorse, where
some of the field caught them. The Master was on his
hack, having somehow missed his hunter, and Charles used
to describe graphically how he came up at this juncture,
sitting rather on one side, with one spur playing the devil's
tattoo in the hack's side. If it started as a hack it finished as
a hunter, for its rider was with them, and so was Mr. Fort
for another, on Silver King, and Charles of course, as they
ran on to the right of Sutton Gorse, through Arbour Field
Plantation, across the Etwall and Sutton road, nearly to
Hilton village. Here they turned to the right, ran to the
left of Sutton village, on for Church Broughton, and
checked by the gateway close to Hudson's house, near the
top covert at Foston. Charles, having got a little behind
here, when he came up cast for the top covert, but, not
hitting it ofi", completed his circle, when they hit the line
just behind where they checked and started running again
all down the Foston meadows, and finally gave it up close
to Sapperton. The long check by the top covert just
saved the fox's life, but it was a splendid gallop, which
people talk of to this day — an eleven-mile point, and
nothing to call a check till they got to Foston.

On the 17th they ran very hard with a capital scent
from the Greaves all along the Banks to High Trees,,

1888] WONDERFUL RUN FROM SNELSTON. 145

Bagot's Park, all across the Park by Tumor's Lodge, across
Bromley and Agardsley Parks, through Hollybush and
Parson's Brake, back to the Greaves. Then away again
the same line to High Trees, through Bagot's Woods, to
ground in the Rhododendron Covert at Blithfield. Though
it was not two o'clock, hounds went home. From which
fact any one may conclude it was a good run, for the
Master was not one for making short days.

1888.

On January 24th, with the Master's own pack at
Swarkestone, there was a blank day, but on the 25th there
was a good one to make up for it, there being three good
runs, two from Jaggard's farm at Hamstall Ridware, and
one from Blithe Moor. February 6th, however (the very
day of the month, by-the-by, on which the great run of
1868 occurred), was destined to be always held in honour
as a red-letter day in the Meynell calendar. They found
in Shutt's dumble at Snelston and ran best pace across the
corner of the Park, through the Holly Wood as if for
Alkmonton Bottoms. Before reaching them, however, the
fox turned back to the right, passed just to the left of
Bentley Car, and then went between Alkmonton Bottoms
and Potter's, to the right of Barton Fields and Lees Green,
down to Radburne Rough. From here hounds ran him
through the Potlucks, up to Mickleover Windmill, and
sharp back to ground in a tree close to Mickleover station.
This was a good twelve-mile point, all the way at a strong
pace.

Mr. William Court will long remember this run, for,
when he was going very well, he took a liberty with the
Trusley brook by trying to ford it at a cattle-drinking
place. The brook resented it and held his horse fast,
while he had the mortification of seeing his friends jumping
it in their stride to the right and left of him, and going
on rejoicing, while he stayed perforce where he was.

Though he hunted very frequently with the Meynell

VOL. II. L

146 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1888

hounds, and married the eldest daughter of Sir Andrew
Walker of Osmaston in this country, yet he belongs more
properly to Cheshire. He is a wonderfully good man to
liounds, and has won no end of point-to-point races into
the bargain.

There was a frost from February 14th till March 6th.
On the 8th there was a good gallop late in the evening
from Egginton Gorse to the right of Etwall and Mickle-
over, to ground on the Great Northern Railway just below
the Derby Workhouse, a five-and-a-half-mile point, in
forty minutes. On the 15th there was an uncommon
event for the Meynell — a blank day — though they drew
from Langley Gorse to Sudbury Coppice.

Then, on March 20th, as a writer at the time observed :
" The prosperous and popular Meynell Hunt— so famous
in local sporting annals — sustained about as severe a blow
as possibly could have befallen it, short of final disruption,
or a dead set against it by the farmers, and signs even
of those dire catastrophes are not entirely wanting. Mr.
Reginald Chandos-Pole, the genial and manly squire of
Radburne, who, for six years, was the popular Master of
the Hunt — an honour which for the last year or two he
has shared with Mr. Hamar Bass — has definitely decided
to resign the joint-Mastership, to retire from its committee,
and to transfer himself and his hounds to what, in sporting
phraseology, is known as ' another country,' that other
country being, we believe, so remote as Dorsetshire. Of
course, there is more, probably, behind the scenes than the
public or even the press are aware of, and Mr. Chandos-
Pole, who is the very soul of honour himself, and an utter
stranger to intrigues and cabals, was too much the gentle-
man to explain why he had come to the determination to
resign, save only that he had done so after much fore-
thought and consideration. But although Mr. Chandos-
Pole said so little, those who know his almost paternal
interest in the Meynell country during the last decade,
and the aftection with which ' Shandy ' is regarded by the
Hunt, can imagine something of what he felt in announcing

1888] RESIGNATION OF THE "SQUIRE." 147

that decision, and of the overwhelming motives which must

have impelled him, after much consideration, to cut off his

connection with hunting in this country. We believe the

real reason of Mr. Chandos-Pole's resignation is attributable

to a seeming want of trust in his lead — for we are quite

certain it was only a seeming one, and was shared by no

large following — as Master of the Hunt. If the Squire of

Radburne, in his anxiety to show sport, liked to have a

pack of hounds of his own, and to hunt two days a week

extra with them, i.e. six days a week altogether, we cannot,

for the life of us, conceive what on earth there was in this

to call for hostile comment, except, indeed, from the farmers

whose lands were ridden over. [If a precedent was needed,

it was set by Mr. Lort Philips, who did exactly the same

thing in Pembrokeshire.] The fact is, no one is more

popular among all the farmers of the Hunt than Mr.

Chandos-Pole. Tlieir feeling was pointedly expressed by

Mr. White of Egginton, who said, if he liked to hunt six

days a week, they would find him foxes, whilst another

farmer, when Mr. Chandos-Pole definitely announced his

resignation, observed, ' It's all up with the Meynell now —

they'll get no more foxes.' Several farmers, with clenched

teeth and angry looks, endorsed the threat, and those who

know wliat hunting would be without the co-operation of

farmers will scarcely relish the prospect. Had the fact of

Mr. Chandos-Pole's resignation been more generally known,

and had the meeting been held on a Friday, when all

interested in the Hunt could have attended, the St. James's

Hall would hardly have held the gathering, and their

expression of feeling in his favour would have been as

hearty as it would have been unmistakable. As it is, apart

from the handsome presentation that will doubtless be

made by the Hunt, we hear that an address of confidence

and thanks from the leading tenant farmers of the district

is contemplated. It is, unhappily, too late to affect the

retiring Master's decision, but it will, at least, show the

universal respect and esteem in which he is held by those

without whose co-operation and good-will hunting would

148 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1888

be impossible. Candid criticisms and re-organized and
representative committees, according to the latest theories
of reform in county government, may be good so far as
they go. But the Meynell has gone on very well without
them for many a long year, and the moral of this unfortu-
nate business — for most unfortunate it is — would seem to
be that, when the Hunt has got a good Master, it should
trust and follow and even humour him, if it can only keep
him, and that it is better ' to bear those ills we have than
fly to others we wot not of — better, in fact, to have an
almost autocratic M.F.H., if he is a good one, than to harass
him and drive him away with threats of what may be told
him as to four or six days' hunting by a ' representative
committee,' whose first duty, apparently, will be, not to
re-organize the Hunt, but to preserve it from threatened
disruption and the openly expressed hostility of the farmers.
Mr. Chandos-Pole leaves this country with the universal
good wishes of all whose opinion is worth having, and we
can only hope that a popular Master, and the dropping of
all carping with the management, and tinkering with the
constitution of the Hunt, will prevent further disasters —
otherwise the reformed committee will have only themselves
to reorganize. But we confidently hope that, by a little
conciliation all round — a forgetting of difierences, and a
return to the good old traditions of the Hunt — the Meynell
will once more be as popular as ever, and it is with that
desire that we have pointed out weak places, and issued a
warning note to any whom it may concern."

In another paper the following appeared : " Mr.
Chandos-Pole' s resignation of the Mastership of the
Meynell hounds came as a surprise to many of the sub-
scribers, who attended the meeting in Derby on Tuesday
to elect a newly constituted committee. Of course, it is
no secret that for some time past there has been a little
friction between Mr. Chandos-Pole and some members of
the Hunt, although very little of the dispute has been
made public. Two years ago Mr. Chandos-Pole bought a
pack of hounds in Ireland, and brought them into the

RESIGNATION OF THE "SQUIRE." 149

Meynell district. The Meynell hounds were then in
the habit of hunting four days a week, but the Master
filled up the remaining two leisure days, so that
since that time there have been six days' hunting every
week during the season, when the weather permitted.
This arrangement pleased some of the hunting men, but
others thought the thing was being overdone, apart from
the inconveniences of a subscribers' pack and a private pack.
Mr. Chandos-Pole appears to think that he has not been
quite handsomely treated by some members of the Hunt,
and he has taken the somewhat sudden resolve of trans-
ferring himself and his hounds to some other country.
This determination will be regretted throughout the Mey-
nell country. The Squire of Radburne is an enthusiastic
fox-hunter, and if he has erred at all, it is from too much
zeal. It is unfortunate that he and those who have differed
from him could not effect an amicable compromise. Pro-
bably four days a week is sufficient for the Meynell country.
For some little time past Mr. Hamar Bass, M.P., has been
joint-Master of the Meynell hounds, and he has especially
represented the Staffordshire side of the country. If it
should be decided to continue the dual-Mastership, there
ought not to be much difficulty in finding a suitable
successor to Mr. Chandos-Pole before the opening of next
season."

The above Ijoth appeared in the current publications
of the time. The present writer does not know the names
of the newspapers, and is therefore unable to give them.
They give an outline of what was a much-vexed question,
all mention of which cannot well be omitted. But Mr.
Chandos-Pole's conduct at that time cannot be too highly
appreciated. He had the welfare of his native country so
much at heart, that, sooner than create a civil war, he
expatriated himself. There have been splits in other
countries, and breaches, which seemed irreparable, but
from these evils "the squire" saved the Meynell by his
dignified, manly, and straightforward conduct. And this
ought never to be forgotten.

150 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [18S8

Field, March 24tli, 1888 :—

MEETING OF THE MEYNELL HUNT.
Resignatiox of Me. Chandos-Polk.

A general meeting of the subscribers of the Meynell Hunt was held at the St.
James's Hotel, Derbj', on Tuesday afternoon. Lord Bagot presided, and there
were also present Lord Scarsdale, Lord Waterpark, Mr. E. W. Chandos-Pole,
and Mr. H. Bass, M.P. (the joint masters of the hunt), Colonel J. C. Cavendish,
and a number of other gentlemen.

The noble Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said that at Sudbury the
other day a meeting of the committee of the Hunt should have been held ; but
as all the members of that committee, with the exception of Mr. Walter Boden,
Mr. Finney, and himself, were abroad, they considered it would not have been
right for them to hold a meeting, and to settle the business of the Hunt ; con-
sequently they had resolved to resign pro tern, to enable the Hunt to elect a new
committee, whose names he proposed.

Mr. Walter Boden seconded the motion, and in doing so explained that the
committee would then consist of five landowners out of Derbyshire, and five out
of Staffordshire, together with a representation of subscribers from the country.
The resolution was agi'eed to.

Mr. Chandos-Pole said the announcement that he had to make was, that he
intended to transfer himself and his hounds to another country. He was not
doing that without great forethought. He should retire from the position that
he had occupied as joint-master of the Meynell hounds during the present year,
and he should be glad if Mr. Sowter would erase his name from the committee of
the Meynell hounds. He also wished before retiring to thank both landowners
and farmers of the country which he had hunted, for their courtesy to him during
the time that he had held the joint-mastership of the jMeynell liounds, and he
especially desired to thank those over whose land he had hunted with his own
hounds, and from whom he had received on every occasion the gi-eatest possible
courtesy, both in Staffln-dshire and in Derbyshire.

Lord Waterpark said that, whatever difference of opinion might have arisen
as to the desirability of hunting this country four or six days per week, there
could be but one opinion as to Mr. Chandos-Pole's laudable endeavour to show
sport, and to show a great deal (>f sport. (Cheers.) He thought the meeting
would agi-ee with him that the least they could do was to give Mr. Chandos-Pole
a hearty vote of thanks for the time, the trouble, and the additional expense that
he had incurred in his endeavour to obtain sport, and there could be no doubt if
a man kept a pack of hounds himself, and hunted two days a week extra, that he
deserved the greatest thanks for what he had done. (Cheers.) They would
part with Mr. Chandos-Pole with regret, and would hope to see him many times
in the future, trusting that his withdrawal from them would be but temporary.
(Hear, hear.) While their thanks were due to Mr. Chandos-Pole for his services
during the whole six years that he was solo Master of the Hunt, they were more
especially due for the services he had rendered to them during the past two years
whilst hunting his own hounds. (Hear, hear.)

Mr. Waite suggested that Mr. Chandos-Pole should be asked to continue his
services to the Hunt. He (Mr. Waite) had hunted for twenty years with the
Meynell Hounds, and the present was the saddest intimation that he had ever
received regarding the Hunt.

Mr. White (Egginton) also asked INIr. Chandos-Pole to reconsider his decision.

1888] REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE. 151

The farmers, on whose behalf he spoke, would be very sorry indeed if he left to
hunt another country.

Mr. Henry Boden seconded the vote of thanks. Every word that Lord
Waterpark had said he was quite sure they all endorsed, and, whatever dififerences
of opinion had arisen, they had not been so wide apart as some people thought
they might have been. There would always be dififerences of opinion in a
country like this, but he thought that, if matters had been tackled in a business-
like way, perhaps the present difficulty might have been tided over. As regarded
Mr. Chandos-Pole's hunting of this country, there could be no objection to the
very laudable ambition of Mr. Chandos-Pole hunting his own hounds two days
per week. Personally speaking, it had been a very great convenience, and he
had hunted with those hounds with very great pleasure. While he had pleasure
in seconding the motion of Lord Waterpark, he did it also with great regret,
seeing that it was coupled with the resignation of Mr. Chandos-Pole. (Hear,
hear.)

Lord Bagot said he could but add to the observations already made his
thanks, and those of Staffordshire, to Mr. Chandos-Pole for the way in which he
had hunted the country, and say that they would be very sorry to lose him in
the field. (Cheers.)

Mr. Chandos-Pole said he ought to thank the meeting for the very kind
expressions made use of as to his hunting the country while he had the hounds.
He could only add that nothing would deter him from carrying out his intention,
notwithstanding that he felt all their kindness in wishing him to remain joint-
master of the Meynell Hunt.

The proceedings then terminated.

Meynell Hunt.

REPORT

On the business transacted by the special committee
appointed at a general meeting of the Hunt, held iu
Derby, on March 20th, 1888, to take into consideration
the appointment of a fresh committee on a more extended
scale, certain rules for the guidance of such committee,
and other matters.

Your committee have met five times, and passed
the following resolutions, which they submit for your
acceptance.

That Mr. Bass continue the Mastership for the next
two years. That in Mr. Bass's absence at any time. Lord
Bagot in Staffordshire, and Mr. Clowes in Derbyshire, act
as deputy field masters ; further, that if neither of the
above-named gentlemen happens to be present, one or
more of the members of the committee have power to
direct proceedings.

152 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

The days of hunting to be Monday and Thursday in
Derbyshire, and Tuesday and Saturday in Staffordshire,
and that any bye day be duly advertised.

That for the future the general meetings be held
alternately at Derby and Uttoxeter.

That the following names form the Hunt Committee :
The Hon. E. Coke, Lord Vernon, Lord Scarsdale, Lord
Waterpark, Mr. Clowes, Mr. H. J. Cumming, Mr. Walter
Boden, Lord Bagot, Sir Reginald Hardy, Colonel Levett,
Mr. A. C. Duncombe, Mr. Kempson, Mr. Crossman, Mr.
P. C. Walker ; the Trustees of the Hounds (Lord Bagot,
Lord Burton, Hon. E. Coke, and Sir William Evans), and
the Master (ex-officio), and further, that the farmers of
Derbyshire and Staffordshire shall each be invited to
appoint two hand fide tenant farmers residing within the
limits of the Hunt to serve on the committee.

The purchase of the freehold of the kennels has been
completed, and the buildings generally put in a thorough
state of repair. It is deemed advisable to set aside the
sum of a hundred pounds yearly from the subscriptions
towards the maintenance of the Hunt buildings. This
will obviate the necessity, as in former years, of appealing
to the subscribers for special funds for this purpose.

The different coverts rented by the Hunt, viz. Hilton,
Sutton, and Egginton Gorses, have been put in good order
during the summer.

Mr. F. C. Newton has kindly undertaken the duties
of honorary secretary, Mr. Sowter having resigned the
secretaryship.

Waterpark, Chairman.

( 153 )

CHAPTER XII.

MR. HAMAR BASS, M.F.H., M.P. — DEATH OF MR. R. SALE —

A GOOD OPENING DAY THREE GOOD GALLOPS — A

DERBYSHIRE SCURRY — THE ANNUAL MEETING — DERBY-
SHIRE HUNTING SONG.

1888-1889.
From the Burton Chronicle : —

Dear Mr. Editor, — You asked me to write you something about Mr. Bass
that would contribute to the desire which is expressed by your readers at this
moment for information about him. In a weak and generous moment I promised,
and I am not going back from my word, but while shock and the sorrow are so
fi'esh and so keen, my mind is so chaotic, and ideas and memories are whirling
round and round ; so you must be satisfied with a rambling, fragmentary, gossip}'
contribution. Perhaps when the calm comes I can send you something more.
Mr. Hamar Bass's death has caused, and will cause for some time to come, a
great sensation. People of all grades are talking of him. With one it is, " Dear
old Hamar ; " with another, " Poor old Hamar ; we've lost a good friend ; " while
a typical farmer says, " P]h, mister, we shall miss Mr. Hamar in this country ; hey
was a good friend to farmers." There must be a warm side somewhere in a man
when so many people speak of him by his Christian name. In his constituencj'
all alike, supporters and opponents, will admit the loss the division has sustained.
Few people realize how many sides there were to Mr. Bass except his family and
intimate friends. Very few have the least idea of the many engagements,
responsibilities, and undertakings, imposed on a man of wealth, who enters into
politics and sport. Mr. Bass was generally regarded as a lazy man, and he once
said to the writer, in a fit of self-reproach, " I am one of the laziest men alive,"
and j'^et how much he had to do and think about, and after all, how much he
achieved! Think of it. A member of Parliament for nearly twenty years,
latterly for a large county constituency, with all that it means in the way of
meetings, deputations, correspondence, etc. ; a master of hounds for eleven j'ears,
with horses to buy, hounds to be reared and walked, servants to pay, and meets
to be arranged to try and please every one ; a colonel of militia, after a twenty-
eight years' connection with the regiment ; an owner and breeder of racehorses,
an owner and breeder of greyhounds, with houses and servants in London,
Byrkley, Scotland, Newmarket, and occasional houses for Ascot, Goodwood, and
Doncaster. All this entailed a large correspondence and constant care, and yet
in a great measure he kept a grip of everything in his own hands. He had great

154 THE MEYNP]LL HOUNDS.

determination of character when necessity arose, and indomitable pluck which
enabled him to triumph over physical weakness. His position of Master of
Hounds and Member of Parliament was only maintained at considerable
sacrifice. I have known him hunt all day, catch the train for London in the
evening to attend at the House of Commons for some important division to which
he had been summoned, and return next morning by the 5.15 newspaper train to
hunt with the Meynell. It is difficult to adequately convey to the general public
the extent of business, chiefly correspondence, forced upon a man of wealth, and
with such varied pursuits and interests ; but apart from the legitimate corre-
spondence consequent upon his position, the name of " Bass " was sufficient to
bring down on him every professional begging-letter writer — and they are a
numerous army of late years — to say nothing of many a genuine needy applicant
besides from far and near, most of them with no claim of any kind, direct or
indirect. Mr. Bass was a generous giver, but showed always great sagacity and
discrimination in the wide distribution of his gifts. He always proceeded on a
system, and endeavoured to confine himself to defined areas, such as his con-
stituency, the Burton and Meynell Hunt country, the immediate district of his
London residence, Newmarket, and Scotland. He had fixed methods of
inquiring into individual cases, and into the circumstances of chapels, churches,
schools, etc. His standing question was, " How much are you raising your-
selves ? " and he gave accordingly. I never thought Mr. Bass fond of public
life ; he was naturally a retiring, diffident man, reflective and introspective, but
he accepted it, and went through with it as a duty incumbent on a gentleman of
leisure and wealth. He, however, revelled in sport, and derived keen pleasure
from it, especially when success attended him. A good day's stalking, or a
lucky day's salmon fishing, would send him home with the spirits of a schoolboy.
He liked success, yet kept a calm stoicism when luck was against him. Though
his public life was not so congenial,and he was often disposed to shirk it, what he
did he did well. No deputations ever waited upon him (even if they had to wait
a bit) but went away gi-atified and pleased. A well-known miners' representa-
tive, one of a large deputation which waited on Mr. Bass some years ago to
secure, if possible, his adhesion to the Eight Hours Miners' Bill, told me after-
wards how nice he was with them, and how much they were struck with the
information he possessed on the subject. As a speaker he had quite a manner
of his own. He was ready, self-confident, rarely hesitating for a word, and
always making liis points clear and effective. He was not an orator, he never
pretended to be ; but his speeches were marked by practical, common-sense
views of public affairs, and those who differed with his conclusions always
recognized his honesty and sincerity. Had he taken trouble to prepare, and got
together data for longer speeches, with application and practice he had the
natural capacity for making a really good speaker. He was both apt and
resourceful when it came to " heckling " and questions at an election. Let me
give you an instance of which I was a witness.

His Election Campaigx.
It was early in the 1885 campaign (Mr. Bass had not long been selected as
the Liberal candidate), at an open-air meeting at Cannock, when Mr. Duignan,
of Walsall, came with a long list of written questions to ask the candidate, and
of which no notice had been given. Now, Mr. Duignan was an astute, experienced
politician ; he came in a spirit of opposition, but Mr. Bass stood the ordeal, was
quite equal to the occasion, evaded difficult points with skill, and won great
applause by his frank responses of " Yes " and " No." He won the day, and

Mr. Hamar Bass, M.F.H.
From a lithograph.

tKU&^ ^.£,rU.. .

\

1888] MR. HAMAR BASS, M.F.H., M.P. 155

more, he won over Mr. Duignan, who was so pleased with the frank, honest

rephes of Mr. Bass that he said he would vote for him, and did. I have spoken

of the many sides of Mr. Bass's character, of his interesting personality, so little

understood by outsiders and to but a few of his intimate friends. Often and often

have I remarked what natural capacity he had — how shrewd and sagacious,

what a sound judgment he invariably displayed, and how much more he could

have achieved had he not lacked application. He had a marvellous memory for

dates and events. His recollection of racing and coursing mattei's made him an

authority. If a discussion was started as to who somebodj' was, to what family

or branch of a family he belonged, and you could draw Mr. Bass, he became a

" Burke's Peerage and Landed Gentry," and he was invariably right. It was

never safe to bet with him as to the year any public man was born, or as to

what horse won the Derby in a certain year, for he was sure to win. He had a

memory, too, for old stories and early reminiscences of well-known people. He

was, I should say, a first-class story-teller, and he had a choice store of tales ; he

excelled in dialect stories — the North Staffordshire and Derbyshire dialects he

knew well — he had a keen sense of humour, and loved a '' character" wherever

he met one. He was very fond of children, he was amused with and could amuse

them — ^young children especially ; and they came to him with that strange,

childish instinct which recognizes a friend, just as animals recognize friends by

some mental process or instinct which is undofinable. I don't think Mr. Bass

was ever happier in his life than when his children were quite young. They

might climb over his table and disturb his papers, but he was never irritable with

them. He loved to have them about him — they entertained and amused him,

and he would laugh till the tears rolled down his foce at the drollery of them,

and their mischief too. But, dear Mr. Editor, I am treading now on delicate

ground, and I grow fearful and tearful too ; for, in ray desire to show the varied

sides of my subject, I must not intrude too much on the privacy of family life.

Yet my tale would be imperfectly told, and my rough sketch imcomplete, if I did

not say something of this love of children. „ ,-^ ^, „

OxE ^\^Io Knew Him.

So the season started under a new regime — the Master,
Mr. H. Bass, M.P., Charles Leedham, James Tasker, Albert
Martin. Walter Scorey, who had been such an efficient
second whipper-in, had gone to Lord Zetland.

On the whole, sport was good during this season.
There was nothing extraordinary, but still there were
several good runs. On October 20th there was a capital
one from Rough Park ; in fact, the honours of the year
rested with that covert, for there were no less than three
good runs from it. The above was the first. The second
was on December 4th, when they ran at a great pace, as if
for the Bath at Hoar Cross ; then they turned sharp to
the left, as if for Hamstall Ridware, then to the right, up
the long meadow towards Blithbury, over the hill, leaving
Wyatt's farm on the left, to ground close to Blithfield Gorse.

156 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1888

This was a five-and-a-lialf-mile point in forty minutes,
very fast all the way, and at the end were Captain
" Bertie " Philips, Messrs. Roden, Fort, Gwynne, Fox of
Elmhurst, Dudley Fox, Ames, Hamar Bass, and Sir Charles
Nugent. The latter was one of the best riders and fairest
sportsmen that ever rode over the Meynell country.

On the afternoon of the 8th they were thinking of
going home, as there was nothing else to draw, when Mr.
Bird, who was riding a four-year-old, suggested that they
should try Rough Park. He was rather jeered at for his
pains, and Mr. Kempson said that he, for one, should go
home. What chance was there of finding, when they had
been there only four days previously 1 They did find,
though, and a rare gallop they had, the four-year-old
taking his part manfully. Finding in exactly the same
place where they had found on the Tuesday, away they
went by Yoxall village, through the Brakenhurst, to the
right of Byrkley Lodge, through Kingstanding, past Par-
son's Brake, New Lodge, Hanbury, down the hill, to ground
at Coton. Mr. Kempson will never forget how astonished
he was, when he arrived home, to find a group of people,
with red faces and steaming horses, discussing the run and
his port at the same time.

From December 30th to January 9th there was a frost.
On February 7th, when hounds came to Elvaston, the fox
was run over by a luggage train, which, it will be readily
acknowledged, was an unusual event.

On March 2nd there was a good run in the afternoon
over some of the best of the Staff'ordshire country, from
Yoxall Lodge, by Hollyhurst, right-handed by Longcroft
Hall, by Yoxall village, through Rough Park, nearly to
Hamstall Ridware. Then they ran up the brook side,
crossed the Hoar Cross and Abbots Bromley road, througli
Birchwood and Chantry Wood, into the Brakenhurst,
where a good many people got left behind, out again for
Byrkley, back into the Brakenhurst. Going away again,
they were still running over by Bromley Hurst, when
Charles stopped them, as all the horses were tired. Lord

DEATH OF MR. R. SALE. 157

Harrington had a good run the same day, so it looked as
if there was a scent in more places than one.

On the 18th, at Foston, a dead, mangy fox was found
in a tree, and later on they ran from the old Dove osier-
bed, across the river by Fauld up to Tutbury, where some
one halloaed them on to a hare.

Next day most people were at Derby races ; but those
(of whom Mr. Grossman was one) who went to Woodroffe's
Cliff with the hounds were rewarded by a real good gallop
from the Greaves to Loxley, ending with a kill in the open.
Foxes were all for going that day, as the first one went
from Draycott Cliff, to ground at Houndhill.

On the 23rd there was a really good old-fashioned run
in the afternoon from the Brakenhurst, They ran very
fast below Moat Hall, through Chantry "Wood, up the
brook side to Field House Coppice. From here they went
away best pace close to their fox to Hart's Coppice, where
Mr. Power, who had been sailing along in front hitherto,
found that his horse had had enough, and had to stop.
Over Bagot's Park they ran, as they always do, into the
Woods, and out again as far as Duckley AVood, when they
came to slower hunting, and ran their fox to ground at
Abbots Bromley.

The season ended on April 6th in the woods.

On April 27th one of the oldest memljers of the
Meynell Hunt, Mr. Richard Sale of Burrows, passed over
to the great majority. He had a bad fall with the Quorn,
after which he caught a chill which proved fatal. For
nearly fifty years he had been hunting with the Meynell
hounds, and was a capital sportsman — one of those who
know what they are about, and, though not quite ready
to cut out the work, he was always in a good place. As
a practical agriculturist he had few superiors, and he farmed
his own land at Barrow, which his forbears had owned for
many generations.

The principal event in the summer was the presentation
to Mr. (now Colonel) Chandos-Pole, of which the followino-
account appeared at the time.

158

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

Field, August 31st, 1889 :—

THE MEYNELL HUNT.
When Mr. R. W. Chandos-Pole retired from the Mastership of the Meynell
Hunt, it was decided by the members thereof that he should be presented with
an address, together with a portrait of himself and his daughter. The presenta-
tion was made on Friday week at a public luncheon at the Iloyal Hotel, Derby.
Mr. Jaggard presided, and Mr. Tomlinson occupied the vice-chair. In the picture
Mr. Pole is mounted on an old favourite, with his daughter, equallj' well movm ted,
by his side. Some of the best hounds of the Meynell pack are also introduced.
Mr. Pole, in expressing his thanks for the presentation made to him, said the
hounds in the picture were all old favourites, and one, he was sorry to say, had
recently died. He was very pleased to have that hound in the painting. During
his Mastership he had been cordially supported by the farmers of Staffordshire
and Derbyshire. He felt grateful for their support, and he trusted that it would
be continued to his successor, since without it fox-hunting could not be carried
on successfully. He had made many friends in his new country in Dorsetshire,
and one thing which had contributed to his enjoyment was the fact that his new
pack hunted four days a week instead of two. He trusted, however, that the
Meynell Hunt would long flourish. Other toasts followed. There were two
hundred and fifty-five subscribers to the testimonial, and the subscription was
limited to a ginnea to tenant farmers.

ENTERED IN 1888.

Actress

Dryden

Demon

Danger \
Dagmar/
Desperate ...
Foreman "i
Fairstar \
Fractious j
Ferryman \
Forester V
Faithless J
Godfrey\
Goblin / ■••

Genuine

Lumen 1
Landscape \
Lavender j
Lenity \

Lively /

Lady >

Ladyblush \
Laura '

Marksman \
Monitor i
Marniion > .
Mandrake I
Major )

Bushman Arnica

Denmark

Denmark

South Notts. Dashwood .

Grafton Desperate

Fisherman

Grafton Ferryman

South Notts. Dashwood .
Dorimont

Duke of Beaufort's Lumen

Duke of Beaufort's Lumen ...

Merryman

Confidence
Milliner

Languish

Mindful

Dowager

Syren

Gipsy
Garnish

Songstress

Lovely

Garland

Colonel R. W. Chandos=Pole (on Thunder)

and Miss Chandos = Pole.

From the presentation picture

by

Tom Sextie, 1886,

at Radburne.

.9loq=eobnBriO aeiM tnB

1889] A GOOD OPENING DAY. 159

ENTERED IN 18S8— continued.

Marchioness Duke of Beaufort's Lumen ... ' Mira

Parody} Chanticleer Phyllis

Proxy Merryman Patty

Seaman j

Sentiment^ , Merryman Sempstress

Sensitive j i

Sampson j Grafton Dealer Bicester Sj'mbol

The new names in the subscription list were : F. A.
Brace, Streethay Lodge, Lichfield ; Mark Firth, old Park
House, Radburne ; Sir Charles Nugent, Bart., Colton,
Rugely ; W. S. Power, Longdon, Lichfield ; and Captain
Sankey.

The opening day was on November 4th, and was rather
a good one. They found their second fox (having done
nothing with their first in the Lake Banks) in the Coppice,
went away on the Somersal side, swung round to the right
up to Cubley Stoop, and then, turning back through the
Coppice, killed their fox beyond the Aldermoor. They
found another in the osier-bed at Foston, ran fast down
to Church Broughton, back by Sapperton, over Sudbury
Park, crossed the turnpike road, on down to the river,
over it, and killed their fox at Castle Hayes.

On November 11th they had a nice little scurry
from the Lime Kilns at Bradley, over Atlow Whin down to
Kniveton and back, and lost him. Nobody thought much
of this except Messrs. R. Fort, F. Newton, and L. Frank,
for no one else saw a yard of it. After that they had
another fair run with a mangy fox, which they killed, and
wound up with running fast from Bradley Bottoms, straight
to Hulland Ward, where they turned sharp to the left
nearly to Ednaston, and gave it up at Brailsford Gorse
after a hard day.

There was a frost from November 26th to the 9th of
December, then one day's hunting at Blithbury, and not
much sport on the 10th, then frost again till the 16th.

160 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [188»

The best clay before Christmas was on December 23rd
from Cubley. A good fox went away from the new gorse
on the Snelston side, and they ran him to ground, almost
in view, after fifty-five minutes over the cream of the
country. This and some other days were descri])ed in the
Field.

Field, January 4th, 1890 : —

THE MEYNELL.

Wednesday, December 19th, Brailsford. There was a good attendance at
this favourite fixture. All who would were hospitably entertained by Mr. Cox.
His coverts were first drawn, and for a wonder we did not find. White's and the
Old Gorse were also blank. Culland held at least two — if not more ; one was
soon away at the top end, hounds had a fair start, scent was good, and seemed
to improve. After going about a mile in the direction for Long Lane, he turned
left, and pointed for Brailsford ; the first fifteen minutes to the ploughs outside
Brailsford Car were very good, but scent here was cold, a few eager ones among
the field pressed upon hounds, and the fun was over. A mangy fox escaped.
Reeve's Moor (Longford) was the next draw, two foxes were found, one was
driven out on the Hollington side, and went at best pace close to Hollington
village, where he turned to the right for Thurvaston Stoop, and straight on across
good sound grass and stiff" fences, as hard as we could go, to Boden's Sticks,
reached in thirty-five minutes ; he just entered the covert, but did not dwell, and
continued forward towards Sutton. He was now running very short, with many
twists and turns, but hounds stuck to their work, until they were again too much
pressed by the " eager-to-be-first " brigade, who were deaf to the entreaties of
the master to give hounds more room, and there is little doubt pug owes his life
to these thrusters, as Charles had to give it up after passing the Long Covert at
Sutton. Another fox was soon found in Sutton Gorse, and away for Dalbury. At
first it seemed as if Radburne Rough was his point, but, if so, he changed his
mind, and turned left above the Hollow. In crossing the meadows between the
Lees and Trusley, he was coursed by a colley dog, and was left for another
occasion. It would have been a real good day if hounds had been given
fair play.

Monday, 23rd, Cubley. Judging by the reports which have already
appeared from other districts in this week's Field, this appears to have been an
extraordinary day for scent throughout the Midlands, and it would be a safe bet
that the followers of the Meynell then enjoyed the run of the season. The gorse
was first drawn, but without sign ; from the (almost) adjoining covert a fine, bold
fox went away at 11.30 towards Snelston. After the first two fields hounds
raced ; heavy rain had made the going, though all grass, very sticky, and empty
saddles were numerous. From Snelston he held us to Wj'aston, Rodsley, and
Longford, reached in thirty-five minutes. Here the field was very select, and
several who had kept a good place to this point were compelled to stop, but still
there was no check, though hounds did not run quite so fast through Alkmontou
Bottoms towards Potter's. Before reaching this he swung to the right, and
succeeded in getting into a big rabbit-hole in Bentley Car just in front of the
hounds. Time, fifty-five minutes, across the cream of the Meynell country.

1890] THREE FULL GALLOPS. 161

There was no overriding hounds this time, and it seems to be generally agreed
that the Doctor on his black horse took premier honours up to the finish of this
splendid run.

Thursday, 26th, Stenson Lock. The prospect of a run from Hell Meadows,
Christmas holidays, and the short distance (four miles) from Derby, drew together
an immense field, who were gathered at the Stenson Fields corner, ready to
charge down the lane if pug took our favourite line across the meadows ; but one
young gentleman, who ought to have known better, posted himself nearly at the
bottom of the lane with about a score of pedestrians round him. The three other
sides of the covert were surrounded by hundreds of foot people, who lustily
greeted the fox each time he tried to get away. Our only hope was that he
would face our friend at the bottom of the lane. More than once he inspected
the group, but each time turned back ; and seeing that if this continued he must
be chopped, hounds were called away, and we soiTOwfully trotted off to Mr.
D'Arcy Clark's coverts at Burnaston. Here we quickly found, and ran fast to
Egginton Gorse, where he apparently meant to stay with another of the species,
but was forced out on the side next the Sewage Farm, which he crossed ; but though
no time was lost, hounds were unable to distinguish which of the many scents in
the air had been left by the fox ; tliey took it — or thought they did — slowly back
to Burnaston, where it had to be given up. Hilton Gorse was untenanted, and
most of the field went home, though Pennywaste was afterwards drawn. I did
not hear the result.

Much has been written about mange among the Meynell foxes. I hope and
believe it is dying out ; and I think it would entirely disappear with the death of
the diseased ones, if hounds were not so frequently overridden when scent is
catchy.

Red Roax.

It froze from December 29th to January 5th, but there
were at least three good gallops in the first month of the
new year, which is not bad. The first of these was
from Radburne Rough, nearly to Trusley, where they
turned to the right to within two fields of Parson's Gorse,
past Nether Burrows, leaving Langley village on the right
and Wild Park on the left, and Mugginton village on the
same side. From here they ran through Ravensdale Park,
losing their fox close to Mercaston Stoop after a very
fine run of one hour.

Again, on the 20th, every one went home delighted
with a splendid gallop of thirty-five minutes from Shirley
Park, This fox, like many another good one, could not
be induced to quit his quarters till he thought he had a
little advantage over his pursuers. And he was right, for
when he did go he found that they could go too. Very
fast they went between Shirley village and Hollington, to

162 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1890

the right of CuUand, over the Long Lane, close to Long-
ford inn, passed Thurvaston Mount, to the right of Crop-o'-
Top, and ran this fox to ground just before he got to the
Spath, a four-and-a-half-mile point.

But a still better and faster thing was reserved for
January 27th, when they ran from Sudbury Bottoms to
ground in the main earths in Snelston Park, a six-mile
point in forty-five minutes — some said twenty -five, but
that seems a little too fast. More than half the horses
were beaten before they got to Cubley, and falls came as
thick as snowflakes. There was some discussion as to
whether this run or the one mentioned before was the
fastest, and Mr. Clowes said, all he knew was that he had
come along the high road — the shortest way — as hard as
he could gallop from Sudbury Coppice to Cubley Car, and
could only just keep hounds in sight. There were but
seven or eight people with them at the end — amongst
them being the Messrs. Fraser Tytler, Mr. Fort and Mr.
Dudley Fox, Mr. Turnbull and Mr. Wallroth.

This was something like a very sharp burst early in
the sixties, late in March, when hounds came to Brailsford,.
and a special train full of strangers came to meet them.
They could not run a yard all day till, as a last resource,
Mr. Hugo Meynell Ingram gave the order for Sutton
Gorse. " Scarce a hound cracked the thorn when away
the rogue stole " ; but Charles's eye was on him, and his
halloa brought Tom and the pack round the covert, so
hounds got away right on his back, and they fairly flew
past the old gorse, over the road by Sutton church, their
followers jumping out of it within two yards of the church-
yard gate. Down the meadows for the Spath they
absolutely raced. Some few will remember Mr. " Ned "
Coke's cheery shout of " Ride on, Meynell men, ride on ! "
and Lord Berkeley Paget, the FitzHerberts, Lord Stan-
hope, Mr. Bird, and one or two others responded bravely
to the cry, as hounds dashed on, passed the Spath without
touching it, down the long meadows across the brook,
with a whimpering cry as they struggled out of it and set

Meet at Sudbury, 1889.

From a photograph

by

G. S. Green.

1890] A DERBYSHIRE SCURRY. 163

their heads, running almost mute, for Barton and the
Fishpond Covert by the house. But the pace was too hot
for him to dwell a moment, and the fox was out at one
end as they came in at the other and drove like a hail-
storm straight to Potter's, over the lane nearly to Sapper-
ton, where he was headed, and, turning short back, caused
a check. Not for long, though. Their blood was up, and
one swift cast on their own account recovered the line, and
ofl' they went at score, running hard for Longford and its
open earths. The check just saved him, and he got in
with nothing to spare. It was but a scurry, but surely it
was very sweet, and the Meltonians pleaded for just one
day more in Derbyshire. But the Master was stern, and
only bade them come hunt with him in Bagot's woods, as
the " Good nights " fell from half-reluctant lips. Was it
any better, or half as good, as that Sudbury-Snelston
gallop ? Perhaps not, but what man of us is there who
does not say the old wine is the best ? The poet may
say —

" And life is short, and love is life,
And so the tale is told,
Though the new wine, the new wine.
It tasteth like the old."

But does it ?

However, when the old wine fails, we must turn to the
new. If we cannot have Chateau Lafitte we must e'en
make the best of viri ordinaire. And so the next good
thing in this particular year was a good point on February
25th. This was from Chartley Gorse to beyond Modders-
hall Oaks, about ten miles, but towards the end there were
two foxes in front of them and a dwindling scent. An
hour and a quarter.

Two days afterwards, on the 27th, every one enjoyed a
good hunting run of an hour and fifty minutes, except
those who went to the Lilies to refresh the inner man, and
lost it. This pandering to the cravings of Nature is rather
a failing with the Meynell field. Tom, and his nephew
Charles, took a delight in finding a fox quickly and getting

164 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1890

away, when they saw a lot of horsemen filing off to eat
and drink. They succeeded sometimes, as in the present
instance, for there happened to be an outlying fox in the
bottom below the Lilies, and with him hounds went away,
running slowly (so, at least, it seemed to those who were
with them, though the others realized what a stern chase
meant) by Breward's Car, Passing it, they went on, with
Mugginton and Wild Park on the right, over the Ash-
bourne-Derby road between Langley and Brailsford, by
Nether Burrows, with Dalbury Lees on the left. Then
they crossed and recrossed the Trusley brook, left Rook-
hills on the right, and went on over the Sutton and Rad-
burne lane and the Dalbury brook. Then they hunted
nicely on to the right of Bearwardcote House to within
one field of the Great Northern Railway, on through the
sandpits and Newton's osiers, leaving Mickleover station
on the right, and ran him to ground in a drain near Derby
Workhouse after an hour and fifty minutes, a ten- mile
point, and at least fifteen miles as hounds ran.

A very fair season's sport ended on April 5th, at New
Inn.

The Meynell Hunt Point- to-Point Steeplechase was
held at Marchington, on March 26th. It was ran over a
grand line by Holt Hall and Agardsley Park.

1st, Psyche Rider, Mr. W. H. Walker Owner, Mr. P. C. Walker.

2nd, Grey Heron ... Rider, Owner Owner, Capt. H. C. Holland.

3rd, Donovan Rider, Owner Owner, Mr. Fiennes.

Mr. Harry Boden's horse put his foot through a newly
made drain, turned a double somersault over his rider,
breakins: the latter's left collar-bone, and bruising his
chest and arm.

In this year Sir Tonman Mosley, Bart., died, and was
succeeded by his son; Sir Oswald, of whom there is a
brief account in the succeeding chapter.

1890]

THE ANNUAL MEETING.

165

Field, April 19th, 1890 :—

THE MEYNELL HUNT.

The annual meeting of the members of this Hunt was held at Derby, on
April 11th, Lord Bagot in the chair. Among those present were Lord Scarsdale,
Lord Burton, Lord Hindlip, Sir W. Evans, Sir R. Hardy, Col. Coke, Mr. Hamar
Bass, M.P., etc. The balance-sheet showed the expenditure of the year to have
been £3193 16s. 3|(^., while the receipts of the year were £2940 16s. The
accounts were passed, and Mr. Bird referred to the fact that only a few years
since the subscriptions amounted to £4000. — Mi*. Newton mentioned that,
although there was the deficit of £253 Os. 3|c?., the actual expenditure had been
£120 less than in the previous year. The subscriptions, however, had been
£500 less, although they would be increased by £300 this year. — Mr. Bird moved
that the committee be asked to consider whether they could not take steps to
increase the subscriptions. — This was seconded by Mr. Peacock, and carried. —
The Chairman moved the re-election of Mr. Hamar Bass as Master for the ensu-
ing three years. This having been carried by acclamation, Mr, Bass expressed
his acknowledgments. He alluded to the amicable and pleasant relations
which had existed between the Hunt and all classes. He had never known
foxes better in March than this year, and in some places they were really
man'ellous. As regarded the hounds, owing to the kindness of Lord Vernon,
and some trifling efforts of his own, he thought that they were now better as a
pack than they had ever been since their location at Sudbury. He always gave
the strictest orders that all hay and straw should be bought in the Meynell
country. He had obtained a thoroughbred stallion, Jupiter, to which local
tenant farmers could put mares, free of charge, under certain conditions. He
hoped next year to have another sire available. — The proceedings closed with
sundry votes of thanks.

ENTERED IN 1889.

Names.

Sires.

Dams.

Alice )

Absolute \

Antelope j
Donovan )
Dawdle >

Lord Yarborough's Flasher ...

South Notts. Dreadnought . . .

Didler

Grafton )

Desperate S

Denmark

Fisherman

Adelaide
Rubv

Destiny j

Doubtful

Drayman

Dutchman

Darter

Fucleroan

Frolic

Syren

Active
Gamesome

Forelock

Gordon

Lancaster \
Lawyer j
Labourer (

Fisherman

South Notts. Dreadnought ...

Lord Yarborough's Flasher ...

Dowager
Generous

Languish

Lapidist i
Lighthouse )
Lilly ^

166

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

ENTERED IN 1S89— continued.

[I89e

Names.

SlEES.

Dams.

Mentor

Miner

Marigold

Minister

Pastor )

PrattlerC

Positive/
Pontiff )
Promise > ....

Merryman

Milton >

Romulus S

Milton Maxwell

Merryman

Chanticleer

Atherstone Regulus

Songstress

Myra

Dorothy

Pastime

Phyllis
Beeswing

Paragon)

Rakish

Dogs, 8| couples; bitches, 7 couples. Total, 15| couples.

There were two rather famous hounds in this year's
entry, viz. Mentor and Weathergauge. The former
hunted till his ninth or tenth season, in fact, till Charles
Leedham resigned. As he was then to go with the draft,
Charles thought the old dog was his, and gave him to the
present writer, who intended to send him to his friend,
M. de Manduit, to improve his Brittany hounds. But
the fates ruled it otherwise, and poor old Mentor was
knocked on the head. Weathergauge by Milton Weather-
gauge did the pack a great deal of good service, both in
the field and at the stud. For no hound could have been
better in his work, and his daughters crossed so well with
Colonel's sons. He broke his leg late in life, but it
mended bravely, and he came out again. It was a very
odd thing, but when Charles was unable to hunt on
account of his sister's death, in 1896, he sent the old dog
out with Stephen Burtenshaw, so that he might have one
hound he could rely upon, and Weathergauge, for the first
time in his life, never did a hit of work the livelong day.

1890] DERBYSHIRE HUNTING SONG. 167

DERBYSHIRE HUNTING SONG.
By F. Cotton.

Eh, surrey, oin bin 'untin', lad, boy Goy, bur it were grand,
Oi rode owd Smoiler oop and daown till a could 'ardly stand ;

Eh ! the closes as wa'an bin in and the pleezes wa'an joomped o'er ;
Oi tell yer what it is, moy lad, oi canna joomp no more.

Chorus — Oi tell yer what it is, moy lad, oi canna joomp no more,

Meynill's 'ounds they met at Radbourne 'AH, wheer Squoire Pole
resides.

There were lots o' victuals theer fur all and lots fur t'drink besoides,
And a many o' the gentlefolk got off and went insoide.

And 'ad a soop o' summat short, joost fur ter mak' um roide.

Eh dear, theer wor a many folk, oi ne'er saad sooch a soight,
Theer wur lots o' chaps we' red coots on, and breeches whoite as
whoite;

Yer known that good owd seyin as foine f ethers meks foine birds ;
Oi tell yer what it is, moy lad, theer's wisdom i' them words.

Wa trotted off to th' Birch wood which a many calls the Rough,
Wa worena theer thril minutes when wa fund one sur enough ;

The fost-whip made a nation' noise joost loike as a wur mad,
A yelled and 'ollered out so laoud, oi thowt a wor took bad.

Oi follers tou thre gents i' red, sez oi, " Oi mun be roight,
Oi canna ba so fur beoind if oi kaaps thase i' soight ; "

Bur when it coomed ter joompin', lad, they worner any use.

They couldna joomp at au, boy Goy, they all med' some hexcuse.

One ses, "Moy 'oss a wumia joomp;" another sez, "Young mon.
Will your 'oss joomp? fur if a will, oi wish as you'd go hon."

Sez oi, " Oin niver 'oss'd afore, bur louk oup, fur 'ere goos,"

And Smoiler med a rood roight threough and landed on 'is nooze.

Oi'd loike ter er toombled off, boy Goy, bur someow didna quoite,
So oi scrambles back i' th' saddle, and 'oilers out, " Aw roight ! "

One gent got down and threoo the gap 'is 'oss a gently led ;
Oi dunna think so much o' some o' thase 'ere chaps i' red.

Owd Smoiler canna gallop fast, ix isna mooch fur t'joomp.

And tow thre toimes a toombled and oi landed wi a boomp ;

Oi dunna know 'ow many toimes wa joomped, bur twor a lot.
And Smoiler got so tired out, a couldna 'ardly trot.

168 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS, [1890

Oi'd turned t'owd 'oss's yed for whoam, for oi thowt a'd ad enough,
When Reynolds sloives across the rood and pops inter a sough ;

And then oi eered um i' full croy, and then oi saad um, lad,
Joost loike a flock o' pigeons, and oi 'ollered out loike mad.

They worna long i' bowtin 'im, and ii very seun were jed,

And Charlie draw'd 'is knoife out and cutte off 'is teel and yed ;

And then a 'oiled 'im teu the 'ounds, and they ate him oop so quick,
I' tou thre minnits, lad, theer worn't woun single hoone fur t'pick.

Oi'U have owd Smoiler's jacket off" afore a goos agen,

Oi'll kaap 'im oop o' noights and all and dress 'im o'er and then ;

Is teel's a bit teu long ai known, it daggles oop o' th' ground,
Bur when it's off" oi'll gallantaa it mends 'im many a paound.

( 169 )

CHAPTER XIII.

ROLLESTON — THE GREAT FROST — END OF THE SEASON —
MR. H. S. CHARRINGTON.

1890-1891.

There is probably no more popular man in Derbyshire,
to-day, tlian Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart., of Rolleston Hall.
The original home of the family was the little hamlet
of Moseley near Wolverhampton, where Ernald de Mose-
ley, a Saxon, was settled in the time of King John.
Rolleston itself, with its mansion, was purchased by
Sir Edward Mosley in 1614, from the representative
of the Rolleston family, and subsequently he also ac-
quired the Manor from the trustees of Lord Mandeville,
to whom it had been granted by Charles I. The mansion
was partially destroyed by fire in 1871, and was rebuilt by
the father of the present baronet. Sir Tonmau Mosley.
He used to hunt in his younger days, but increasing
weight — he finally weighed considerably over twenty
stone — compelled him to give it up. There is an amusing
story told of a tailor who put an advertisement in his
window on some cloth, " Three guineas the suit." " Squire "
Chandos-Pole, of Radburne, Sir Tonman Mosley, and
another very large man, determined to have a joke at the
tailor's expense, and went in one after another to give an
order. When the third customer had departed the enter-
prising tradesman took his advertisement down.

Sir Oswald first went hunting with the Meynell Ingram
hounds in the days of Joe Leedham, and as quite a young
man used to be very fond of riding the young horses

170 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

which his father bred at RoUeston, but he has not been
out with the hounds since he inherited his property, eleven
years ago. He was educated at Eton, where the river
proved more fascinating than the cricket-field. After
Eton came three years of foreign travel, and it was not till
after he came of age that he acquired his great proficiency
with the single-sticks and the " gloves." His was, for
some years, a familiar figure on the box of the coach with
yellow wheels and a team of greys, but his hands have
become so crippled with gout that he has had to abandon
what was with him a favourite diversion. In his attire
he, to some extent, resembles a typical " John Bull," so
much so, in fact, that he laughingly said, it was impossible
for him to go to the Paris Exhibition, because John Bull
was not popular in France just then. Now, instead of
hunting and coaching, he devotes himself to agriculture,
fcirming extensively at Rolleston, and proving that, with
proper management, it can be made to pay. His aim is to
have everything of the best. " Shires " have taken the
place of the light horses which he used to breed, pure
Southdown sheep have been found not to do well on
his heavy clay soil, while, with respect to shorthorns, his
object is to develop their milking capacities. Not only
does he aim at excellence himself, but he has lent a round
dozen of good pedigree bulls to his tenants. He always
does his best to encourage local shows, and is an exhibitor
himself, especially at Tutbury, where his stock have been
very successful.* Besides this, he, in co-operation with
Professor MacFadyean, has been indefatigable in experi-
ments with respect to the tuberculosis test. These costly
investigations confer a great boon on the public, and it is
to be hoped they will have a practical success. Sir Oswald
is a Deputy Lieutenant, and J.P. for Stafibrdshire, and he
married, in 1873, Elizabeth Constance, second daughter of
Sir William White, who is quite as popular as he is. His
son, who is so well known between the fiags, does not
hunt with the Meynell as much as he used to do, but the

* Baih/s Magazine.

Sir Oswald Mosley, Bart.
From a painting

by

S. Melton Fislier. 1899.

1890] THE GREAT FROST. 171

three Misses Mosley are always with us, and with the
hounds, for their equestrianism is an established fact with
the Meynell. They can ride anything.

This season calls for but little remark, for sport was
decidedly moderate. There was one good day's sport on
November 18 th, from Blithfield. To begin with, they ran
very fast for twelve minutes from Coley Gorse, to ground
close to Newton village, with the fox just in front of
their noses. Then they found in Blithfield Gorse, and ran
by Blithe Moor up along the meadows through Newton
Gorse to Chartley Moss. Then back to the Blythe, where
they turned sharp back, and killed their fox close to
Newton Gorse, after a good forty-five minutes. Mr. May-
nard got a fall into the road jumping the palings out of
Blithfield Park near Newton village, and his horse's knees
were badly cut.

Finding a third fox on the Warren, hounds ran a ring-
back again, and then started to run very hard with a
breast-high scent, and carrying a wonderful liead towards
Abbots Bromley, but soon swung to the right, and fairly
raced their fox down near Colton. Thirty-five minutes
in all, the last twenty-five very fast.

There were some fair runs after this, but nothing in the
least remarkable, and really the most noteworthy thing
was the severe frost, which stopped hunting for twenty-
five days, from December 12th to January 22nd. In other
parts it lasted for sixty days, so the Meynell Hunt, and, as
a matter of fact, the Midlands in general, were rather
favoured.

Shirley Park, on January 26th, was the first meet after
the frost, and they had a good day, though the ground
was hard and slippery in places.

No one could complain of sport suff'ering from a
plethora of foxes, especially on the Monday side, as the
following will show. On Monday, February 16th, a fox
was found in the Snipe Bog, at Foston, and after a short run
got to ground under a tree. From this he was bolted and
killed. They then drew Foston top coverts, Pennywaste,

l''^ THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [i89l

Hilton Gorse, the Spatli, Barton, Sapperton, Sudbury
Coppice and Bottoms, Maresfield Gorse, and Sudbury Lake
Banks blank ! On the 24th they were at Loxley, and there
was pretty much the same story to tell, as all the Loxley
coverts aud Philips' Gorse were drawn blank. On Thurs-
day, 26th, a fox, who refused to go, was found in Brailsford
Gorse, and then all the other Brailsford coverts, Culland,
Langley Gorse, Parson's Gorse, and Boden's Thorns were
blank. On Saturday, two or three foxes were at home
at Drakelowe, but Caldwell, Homestall Wood, Calton, and
Walton Wood were all tenantless. On the following
Monday, for a change, they went to Croxden Abbey, found
two foxes and chopped one, and then had a long jog
indeed to Chartley ! On Thursday, March 25th, they came
to Egginton, found in the gorse, and killed at once. Then
they drew Sutton Gorse and all the Eadburne coverts
blank. The hounds did not go out from Tuesday, March
10th, till Saturday, on account of the death of the Masters
little boy.

There is nothing more to be said about the season,
but " Needwood," in the Field, wrote an account of

THE LAST DAY OF THE MEYNELL.

Field, April 11th, 1891 : —

It will be readily admitted by every old Meynellite, that there is no more
staunch preserver of foxes throughout the whole of this country than the much-
respected Squire of Wychnor. Indeed, with the sole exception of Blithfield,
there are probably now more foxes there than in any part of the country. To
afford, therefore, a real good day's sport, must be a matter of gi-eat satisfaction
to him, and such was Saturday last. A strong contingent of yeomanry oflScers
were the guests of Colonel and Lady Jane Levett, and the only question with
them on the Friday, was not the point of finding a fox, but whether there would
be a scent or no. The rain during the night satisfactorily settled the question,
and a large field had assembled on the lawn when Charles Leedham trotted up
with the bitch pack at twelve to the minute. The Master (Mr. H. Bass, M.P.)
was unfortunately not with us, owing to a severe domestic calamity, in which he
has the sincere sympathy of all the field. Lord Bagot is, therefore. Master to-
day, and he gives the word to draw the coppice, where we find almost at once.
Getting away on Hollyhurst side, our fox turned short to the left, and pointed as
if for Yoxall ; but again turning left-handed, we ran by the Twichells, and sank
the hill into the meadows. Bearing now to the right, he ran the water meadows,
pointing for King's Bromley; but here hounds were too close to him, and

1891] END OF THE SEASON. 173

catching a view, coursed him for two or three fields, three hounds running finally
into him close by the river Trent, opposite Orgreave. Time, just thirty
minutes.

Found again, a weakly fox in a new covert by the coppice, and it seemed as
if every moment would be his last ; but we changed and got on to a banging
light-coloured fox, which crossed the Yoxall road, and ran by HoUj'bank Cottage
to Hollyhurst, where he bore to the left, crossing the road leading to Yoxall
Lodge, and on to Longcroft. Here we checked through false information, but
recovering the line, we ran by Woodlane Bridge to Morrey. From this point
our fox's line was for Eough Park, which he left at the right hand corner, and I
here thought that he meant Blithe Moor, but he crossed the Bentilee and Gullets
farms, and ran, leaving Hoar Cross to the right, for the Birch Wood. Here we
most hkely changed, as a few minutes later hounds marked a clean fox to gi'ound
in a watercourse near to Hoar Cross Hall, after we had been running two hours
and ten minutes, part of it at a good pace. The run was a six to seven mile
point, and twice that distance was covered by hounds. May next season bring
us better sport and better weather than the past, and runs equal or superior to
this, is the wish of your old correspondent

Needwood.

The new names in the subscription list were Capt.
Dugdale, Park House, Radburne ; W. E. Elwell, East
Lodge ; H. S. Hoare, The Ash, Etwall ; Lord Maghera-
morne, Needwood ; Capt. H. McBean, Ashbourne ; F.
Poyser, Sudbury, Derby ; J. Stewart, Wyaston Grove ;
and Capt. the Hon. K. St. Lawrence.

Field, April 4th, 1891 :—

THE MEYNELL HUNT.

The annual meeting of the Meynell Hunt was held in the Town Hall,
Uttoxeter, on Wednesday last, at 3 p.m. The chair was occupied by Lord
Bagot, and there was a large muster of the gentlemen of the Hunt and tenant
farmers. In the absence of the secretary (Mr. Newton), through illness, the
minutes of the previous meeting were read by Mr. Boden, and duly confirmed.
The latter gentleman also proposed a vote of condolence to the Master of the
Hunt (Mr. Hamar Bass), and to Mrs. Bass, in their bereavement through the loss
of their son. This was seconded by Major Buncombe, and carried unanimously.
The balance-sheet for the season ending October showed a deficiency of close
on £400, but the subscriptions for the present season (amounting to £3060 16s.),
being greatly in excess of the previous year, would help in a gi-eat measure to
reduce the debt.

174

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.
ENTERED IN 1890.

Abigail \
AiTogant [
Amiable '
Bouncer )
Beautiful >
Chieftain ...
Colonel ?
Cowslip) ■■■
Democrat ...
Forager \
Friendly .
Forecast '
Freedom ...
Fallible }
Founder jl •'"
Fortitude ...

Glider

Maiden }
Margery I '"
Magnate )
Mimic S
Messenger '^
Mercy ^
Plaything ...
Petulant ...
Preacher ...

Grove Rover

Merryman

Chanticleer

Merryman

Merryman

Belvoir Gordon

Grafton Donovan

Fisherman

Fisherman

Belvoir Glancer

Blackmoor Vale Monarch.
Blackmoor Vale Monarcli .

Blackmoor Vale Monarch.

Merryman

Grove Patron

Blackmoor Vale Monarch.

Active

Beeswing
Generous
Crocus
Dorothy

Fractious

Fairstar

Dowager

Duchess
Ruby

Laura
Ladyblush

Syren

Portia

Comedy

Pamela

Dogs, 5 couples ; bitches, 8 couples. Total, 13 couples.

There was one hound in this entry who did good
service, and this was Colonel, a great favourite with
Charles, who walked him. His head had not got a great
deal of foxhound character, and he was rather throaty,
but, like most of that sort, he had a first-rate nose, and did
not, as a rule, transmit his " neckcloth " to his descendants.
Another great virtue of his was that he had plenty of
tongue. He would always keep close to the huntsman's
horse going out and coming home, or from covert to
covert.

Magnate would sit up on his haunches and beg like
a lap-dog, but was " a good hound nevertheless," as
Summers said of one which was crossed with a pointer.

Mr. H. S. Charrington married, in 1885, at Mark Beech,
Edenbridge, Miss Elinor Mary Baggallay, fifth daughter of

MR. H. S. CHARRINGTON. 175

Sir Eichard and Lady Baggallay, of Mapletreuse, Eden-
bridge, and 55, Queen's Gate, London. He was the
younger son of Mr. Edward Charrington, Bury's Court,
Eeigate. They came, in 1891, to Dove Cliff, which was
purchased from Mr. Smith, having previously been the
home of the Thorne wills. Mr. Charrington is a major in
the Staffordshire Yeomanry, and was one of the first to
volunteer for active service in South Africa, but could not
pass the medical board. He enjoys a day's hunting to the
full, and is always in a good place when hounds run ; and
so is Mrs. Charrington, whose good bay mare, Little Bessie,
can honestly be described as w^ell known with the Meynell,
and a rare good one she is. She was one of Charles's cub-
hunters, originally. Her owner is never very far from the
hounds, let them go where they will. Mrs. Charrington is
also a prime mover wherever ladies' or boys' cricket is on
the tapis, and gets up a boys' match every year, now that
the ladies' cricket-match has fallen into abeyance. In 1898
she had the misfortune to break her leg against a gate-
post, near Radburne, and was very plucky about it. In
fact, she told one man that she had quite enjoyed it ! But
this was some time afterwards, and probably referred to the
sympathy which was expressed on all sides by a succession
of callers. Her two little girls, who come out hunting,
riding like boys, seem as fond of it as their mother is.

176 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

CHAPTER XIV.

FOSTON MR. GERALD DUNCOMBE — CAPTAIN DUGDALE

— MR. FRANK COOPER.

1891-1892.

As long ago as 1310 Foston belonged to the Agards, who
held it, by virtue of a white hunting-horn, under the
Duchy of Lancaster. The horn passed into the family of
the Stanhopes of Elvaston by marriage with the heiress of
the Agards. However, as regards Foston, John Agard sold
it and Scropton to Richard Bate, whose descendant, Brown-
low Bate, sold it to John Broadhurst in 1784. From the
Broadhursts it passed to the Cummings, in 1879, Admiral
Sir Arthur Cumming's sister having married Mr. Broad-
hurst.* In this year, 1901, Mr. John Gumming, eldest
son of the late Admiral Sir Arthur Gumming, sold it to
Mr. Gerald Hardy.

Mr. Gumming and his brother Gharles, who farmed
at Boylestone, were regular followers of the Meynell
hounds in the eighties, and went very well. It was
through his friendship with the elder brother, who was in
the same regiment, that the present popular Master of the
Meynell first came to the country. Mr. Gharles Gumming
can claim the distinction of being one of the few people
who have jumped the Foston mill dam, though his horse,
a brilliant screw, fell on landing. Miss Gumming
married Mr. H. B. Firman, wlio used to hunt from New

* Mr. Broadhurst, dying without issue, left the property to his widow, who in
turn left it to her sister, Lady Gumming.

1891] FOSTON. 177

Lodge. He went to serve in South Africa, when the war
broke out, and distinguished himself.

In the thirties, Mr. Paul Walmsley, a friend of Mr.
Meyn ell's, lived at Foston, and in 1889 the Hon. George
Allsopp took it, the Cummings having left it previous to
the Admiral's death, which occurred in 1894. Mr. Allsopp
was a very staunch supporter of the Hunt, took the
greatest interest in its concerns, and always had plenty of
foxes in his coverts. Hounds have found as many as five
times there in one day. He left Foston in 1900, and
Mr. Cecil Leigh, Mrs. Fort's brother, hunted from it in
1900-1901. In the late Mr. Broadhurst's time the old
house was burned down, and he lived where Mr. Fort is
now while the present house was being built. Mr. Broad-
hurst died abroad in 1876, and on November 13th, the
day on which his body was brought home to be buried,
hounds were stopped just as they were running to Foston
out of respect to the memory of a constant follower of them.

Mr. Gerald Hardy, the present owner, belongs just
now more properly to the Atherstone, having left the
Meynell country to become master of the neighbouring
pack when Mr. Inge gave up the Mastership. Conse-
quently his biography will be written when a history of
that Hunt appears. Wherever he has hunted he has
always been in the first fiight ; in fact, nothing in the shape
of a fence can stop him. He has jumped some extra-
ordinary places in his time, both here and elsewhere, and,
as one would naturally expect from his style of going, he
has had some very bad falls, nearly always injuring his
head. He is also a very fine polo player, and his pro-
ficiency at whatever he undertakes is all the more remark-
able from the fact of his having lost an eye. He is a very
popular man with all classes in this country, and when he
comes to take up his abode here for good he will have a
very warm welcome. His brother, Sir Reginald, always
has plenty of foxes at Dunstall, and, though he does not
hunt much himself, his sons are all very keen.

The season of 1891-1892 began well with a good

VOL. II. K

178 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1891

gallop from Hell Meadows with an old fox on October 3rd.
They ran very fast for fifteen minutes to ground in
Parkers pit-hole at Burnaston. The fences were, of
course, very blind, and no one was with hounds except
Mr. Dudley Fox, Mr. "Bertie" Crompton, Mr. Fort-
riding a four-year-old — Mr. Frank Newton, and Mr.
*' Chev" Bateman.

The latter was a capital, cheery comrade, went well,
and had hosts of friends ; in fact, he was one of those men
whom every one liked. Though devoted to sport, he was
a great lover of books, and was never happier than when
poring over some deep volume in the solitude of his room.
To every one's great regret he died, when still quite a
young man, on October 26th, 1896.

Sport was only moderate up to Christmas, and there
was very little frost. Of course they had a good day
or two, but nothing worth recording. On December 10th
they ran pretty well for two hours on the Kedleston
side. Mr. Fort had a very bad fall, and had to go to
Mr. Walter Boden's house to be attended to, and could not
go out hunting again for some time.

In the new year, 1892, January 6th was a good day
in one sense of the word, but not in another, for the
weather was very bad, sleet, snow, and frost, and there
were only about a dozen people out. Hounds came to
Hampstall Ridware on this day (a Wednesday) because it
had not been possible to hunt on the previous day. They
found at once in a rough hedgerow on Mr. Jaggard's farm
and ran to Rough Park, where they slipped everybody.
It was supposed that they went straight through the low^er
end, and so on to Wichnor, where the field caught them.
They did not go into Wichnor, but turned to the left and
ran by Longcroft, by Yoxall Lodge, right through Braken-
hurst, and then left-handed back by Woodmill near Yoxall
Bridge, where all trace of the fox was lost. Then they
went back to Rough Park, and drew it blank, but found
another fox on Mr. Jaggard's farm, ran him into Rough
Park, and down to the bridge over the Blythe into

1892] MR. GERALD DUNCOMBE. 179

Hamstall Rid ware, when he disappeared most unaccount-
ably. After that they found in the Brakenhurst, ran out
across Hoar Cross and right-handed to Birch Wood, outside
of which hounds were stopped. Every one thought this
was a good day's sport ; but probably if it had not been
sandwiched in between two frosts in a bad season they
would not have done so. It set in to freeze again that
night, and went on doing so till January 22nd. On that
day, though it was hardly fit to hunt and very few people
were out, a good fox was found in Egginton Gorse, and
hounds ran at a fair hunting pace by Burnaston, Findern,
past the lower end of Hell Meadows, to near Stenson
Lock, where they killed him in the open after a nice
fifty minutes.

After this there was nothing of much interest till
February 2nd, when in the papers the following notice
appeared : " Serious accident with tlie Meynell Hounds.
While hunting with the Meynell at Blithbury on Tuesday,
Mr. Gerald Duncombe met with a serious accident. He
was conveyed to Hoar Cross Hall, and attended to.
During the same day's hunt Mr. R. Fort also had a spill,
and broke his collar-bone. It appears that Mr. Dun-
combe's horse bolted, and trying to jump into the
shrubberies at Hoar Cross over the iron gate, came down
very heavily on his rider. The worst results were at one
time feared, but we are informed that Mr. Duncombe is
progressing favourably under the care of Mr. Armfield
(? Armson), though he cannot be removed from the Hall
at present." Though Mr. Duncombe, who was then living
at Woodford near Uttoxeter, recovered, he was never able
to go hunting again. Dr. Armson, mentioned here, is, like
his brother, a capital sportsman. His father, now a very
old man, set the bones of all the Leedham family. He
and his sons live at Yoxall.

On February 4th they found a very mangy vixen in
Hilton Gorse, ran her to ground, and dug her out. Charles
sent her back to the kennels and had her dressed with the
usual mange dressing, but she died.

180 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1802

After this there was a fair day or two, then frost from
the 15th to the 22nd, when they met at Osmaston village.
There was still a good deal of snow, and there were deep
drifts all over the country, especially on the north side of the
fences, so perhaps it was as well that they drew everything
blank. The coverts drawn were the Holt, the Holly Wood,
and all the other Snelston coverts, Eaton Wood, every-
thing at Doveridge, Wardley Coppice, and the Wilderness
at Somersal. It was rather a blow, all the same.

The next thing that any one is at all likely to remember
was a burst from Brailsford Gorse, at first towards
Mercaston, and then right-handed to Langley Gorse. It
was not very far, but many people thought this was the
fastest eighteen minutes they had ever seen. Amongst
these was Mr. Fort, who must have found it difficult to go
that pace with his arm still strapped up. It was a bad
day for Mr. Maynard, for his good old horse. Musketeer,
broke down. Captain Dugdale, who at this time was one
of the best men with the Meynell, went below Wild Park,
followed by several others, and got pounded by wire. He
was then adjutant to the Derbyshire Yeomanry, and was
living at Park House, Radburne. He was a very good all-
round man, and a better neighbour no one need wish to
have. No brother sportsman ever had to stay at home for
want of a horse if Captain Dugdale had a spare one. His
wife was sister to that first-rate sportsman, Mr. Lort
Phillips, of Warwickshire and Pembrokeshire repute, and
she did credit to her parentage, for there could not be a
finer horse-woman or a better rider to hounds than she
was. Their two daughters bid fair to tread in their
father's and mother's footsteps.

The season ended at Coton, where Mr. Gerald Hardy
was then living, on April 2nd. The weather was dry and
hot, and it was no use hunting any later. It had been
stopped twenty-seven days by frost and snow. Sport had
been very moderate, and there was a good deal of
grumbling as a natural consequence. Some found fault
with the Master, and some with the men. It is a necessity

1892]

CAPTAIN DUGDALE.

181

to lay blame on some one ; but, in the writer's humble
opinion, formed after the study of a century's diaries, it
seems to be a pure matter of luck whether sport is good or
bad. With the same hounds, huntsman, whippers-in, and
Master, sport is good, bad, or indifferent, as the case may
be. It seems as if, when it is good, no one wants any-
thing altered, and, when it is bad, alterations will not
make much difference. Only the staff have to bear the
brunt of all the grumbling. Luckily for them they are the
last people to hear it. Be it good or bad, Charles Leed-
ham's favourite dictum seems to cover the whole matter,
and we may be quite sure " It has happened before ! "

ENTERED IN 1891.

Names.

Sires.

Dams.

Agnes

Alaric

Lancaster

Denmark

Lord Yarborough's Factor ...
Alaric

Belvoir Gordon

Desperate
Bertha

Byrkley >

Bloommg )

Dashaway

Factor

Goldfinch

Glowworm

Songstress

Governess

Gadfly

Darling

Laura

Generous

Grappler

Gimcrack >

Gambler

Gambler .

Grasper S

Lofty

Lucy

Mainstay 1 >

Matchem )

Maximus 2 ....

Lancaster

Lancaster

Me rryman

Alaric

Merryman

Merryman

Gambler

Gambler

Belvoir Shamrock

Weathergauge

Lord Yarborough's Wrangler

Curious
Dimity

Lively

Ainiinpr

Marvel >
Margaret C

Musical

Sunshine

Sovereign
Senator

Beeswing

Lenity
Sportive

S?pnHmf>nt

Seclusion

Sophy )
Shamrock \

Frolic

SilenL )

Wonder \

Woldsman [

Wbynot )
Waspish

Fairstar
Lady

The numerals against hounds' names represent the prize winners.
Dogs, 7 couples; bitches, 8 couples. Total, 15 couples.

182 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

Tlie pick of this year's entry iu his work was Marvel,
who remained in the pack till Charles Leedham resigned.
He inherited his dam Beeswing's capacity for carrying
the line down a road or over a dry fallow. She was a
wonderfully good one, was entered in 1885, and hunted
till her ninth season.

In this year Mr. Frank Cooper came to the old house
at Barton Blount, which has seen so many changes of
owners and occupants. It was originally called Barton
Bakepuze, being held by William Bakepuze of Robert de
Ferrers, who was overlord of this and of what not beside.
There was not an acre on which the eye of Henry de
Ferrers rested, when he looked out from his castle at
Tutbury, which was not his, and in glancing at the history
of any place for miles round, one always finds " which he
held of Henry, or Robert, or some other Ferrers."

The old house at Barton was originally a castellated
building and had a moat. It was besieged by the
Parliamentarians, when in the possession of the Earls of
Mountjoy. Long before this, however, the estate passed
to Nicholas de Longford, about 1375, by his marriage with
Helen, sister and heiress of the last William Bakepuze,
who died without issue. From Nicholas de Longford it
passed by purchase to the Blounts, in 1381, and became
Barton Blount. The member of that family who owned
it in 1464 was in that year created Lord Mountjoy. From
the sixth earl it was purchased by John Merry, Gent.,
of London, whose family terminated in an heiress, who
married a Simpson, who, in 1700, retired into a monastery.
Of his trustees Sir Nathaniel Curzon bought it ; from him
it came to the Listers ; from them to the Cromptons, from
whom the Bradshaws bought it about the year 1800. This
family, which was descended from Bradshaw, the Regicide,
ended in the male line with seven brothers, who all died
childless, and the estate now belongs to Miss Bradshaw.

Arthur Francis Thomas, always known as "Frank"
Cooper, was born in 1857, and was very early sent to Eton
— much earlier, in fact, than most boys. This was on

MR. FRANK COOPER. 183

account of his strong sporting proclivities, which his school-
master thought more suitable to the Etonian than the
private school age. They led him into no end of scrapes
at this first school, but they developed later in life into
that passion for sport, the trophies of which are justly
considered the finest private collection in England.

EQs elder brother, Percy, afterwards Master of the
South Notts, with Mr. Rolleston, was already at Eton,
where the younger brother (at Snow's) chiefly distinguished
himself as an athlete. The number of cups which he won
go far to disprove the theory that a "cobby" build is
incompatible with speed and jumping power.

He was for two years in the " twenty-two," though he
never attained the dignity of being in the " eleven." From
Eton, at the age of nineteen, he went straight out to the
Red River and Winnipeg for the first of such hunting
expeditions as fall to the lot only of the fortunate few who
have the means and capacity to enjoy them, and this at
an age when they have no cares to mitigate the delights
of sport.

The expedition started from Pembina to the Rockies
on the old Boundary Commission Trail in Red River carts,
and back by Winnipeg, at this time merely a tented settle-
ment. It was the year following the Custer massacre, and
consequently their attendant halfbreeds and boys were
panic-stricken at the news that Sitting Bull and his
warriors were again active, and deserted en masse, leaving
Mr. Cooper and one English friend to finish the trip alone.
From this time onwards began his connection with the
Meynell, which continued unbroken — excepting for five
years when he lived in Wiltshire — until the present time,
when he has just undertaken the duties of Secretary to
the Hunt.

1880, 1881, and 1882 were all hunting years, divided
between the Rocky Mountains — with his ranch at Larramie
as the base of operations — and visits to his home at
Bullwell (Notts.) for the cream of the hunting.

In 1881 he secured the "record" bear, roughly

184 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

estimated as weighing over a thousand pounds, the largest
of the forty-three that fell to the rifles (four) of the party
during this most successful expedition. The big Ovis
montana, with horns measuring over nineteen inches round
the base, also belongs to this year, and there are famous
Wapiti heads (sixteen of them), as well as a few specially
fine American buffalo — all to the credit of these three
seasons. These — with the results of the years 1884, 1885,
and 1886, also spent in the Rockies, and the African
trophies secured during the year 1887 spent in Central
Africe, in company with Selous, who was shooting for the
British Museum — were exhibited at Earl's Court as the
*' Cooper collection," and were acknowledged to be the finest
of their respective kinds hitherto shown in England.

Any notice of Mr. Frank Cooper would be incomplete
without a reference to Philip Austin, " shikarri," cricketer,
and most devoted adherent. Inseparable from boyhood,
when as the son of Mr. Cooper's gamekeeper he had the
charge of the boys Percy and Frank on many a fishing
excursion, he has since accompanied him on most of his
expeditions abroad, and it is to his excellent memory and
devotion to " Mester Cooper " that I am indebted for these
few details, which the modesty and dislike of " advertise-
ment " of the latter were inclined to deny me.

( 185 )

CHAPTER XV.

LOXLEY THE FOX CROSSES THE TRENT TO DONINGTON PARK

MR. FRANK NEWTON ELECTION OF THE DEPUTY-
MASTER — MR. F. A. BRACE.

1892-1893.

In the twelfth century Loxley, like almost every other
place of any note in these parts, was held by Robert de
Ferrers, as a grant from the Crown. Joanna, a descendant
of his, brought it to the Kynersleys by marriage with
John de Kynnardsley in 1327, and it descended in un-
broken succession from father to son (except when one
brother succeeded another), till 1815, when Clement
Kynersley, dying without issue, left it by will to his
nephew Thomas Sneyd. He was the son of John Sneyd,
Esq., of Belmont, and Penelope, sister of Clement Ky-
nersley, and, under the conditions of his uncle's will, took
the name of Kynersley.

The present representative of the family and owner of
Loxley is now living abroad,* but Mrs. Kynersley, his
mother, lives at Highfields, close by. Of late years there
has been a succession of tenants — Joseph Mallaby, Esq. ;
Colonel the Hon. Thomas Stanley ; Dr. Mould, of Cheadle,
who had an establishment for dipsomaniacs ; and Mr.
Close, who was followed by Mr. Blount, the present
tenant. There is no one more popular in the Meynell
country than he is, and deservedly so, for, though he does
not hunt himself, his coverts are never drawn blank.
Perhaps the most notable run in his time was on December
12th, 1893, to Moddershall Oaks. Blount's Hall, which is

* He has returned to England since this was written.

186 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

close by, was held by an ancestor of his, but now belongs
to Mr. Dunnett of Uttoxeter.

Loxley is also interesting from its connection with
Robin Hood, who is said not only to have been born there,
but to have been married there as well. He is thought
by some to have been a Robert de Ferrers. To quote the
exact words of Mr. Redfern, from whose history and
antiquities of Uttoxeter this account is taken, " It is
supposed that he may have had the name of Hood from
being hooded, and that of Huntingdon from being engaged
in hunting, and, although Norman by blood, it is thought
not impossible that he might take up the popular cause.
There is in existence in the family of Kynersley, an
ancient horn having the proud name of Robin Hood's horn,
and which was formerly in the possession of the Ferrers of
Chartley, and then of the branch of the same family at
Loxley, and so passed to the family of Kynersley by the
marriage of the heiress of Ferrers with John de Ky-
nardsley. It has the initials R. H., and three horse-shoes,
two and one, in a shield, that being the way in which the
arms were borne by the first Thomas de Ferrers of Loxley,
and probably by a Robert, who preceded him apparently
towards the close of the twelfth century ; and as they
were on the coloured glass (in the house) of which I have
spoken, the traditionary connection with Robin Hood is
interesting. The horn is mounted with silver ferrules, and
has a silver chain attached to it for suspension. ..."

With respect to the marriage of Robin Hood at Loxley,
an old chronicle states that after his return there from a
visit to his uncle Gamewell, in Warwickshire, after certain
inquiries concerning his men,

" Cloranda came by,
The queen of the shepherds was she,"

with whom he fell in love, when

" Sir Roger, the parson of Dubridge, was sent for in haste ;
He brought his Mass book and bid them take hands,
And joined them in marriage full fast."

1892] LOXLEY. 187

"Dubridgc" is the old spelling of Doveridge. Dove
is the old British word " Dwfr," which means water.

The principal coverts at Loxley are Carry Coppice, the
Alder Car, and the Park Covert, though the plantation
by the railway also often holds a fox. In Mi*. Meynell
Ingram's diary in the early part of the last century the
first-named place is called Carwich Coppice.

Sport was pretty good in October, and on the 6th
hounds ran well for forty minutes from the Back Cuttings
across Sinfin Moor, through Hell Meadows, to ground at
Burnaston. Again, on the 13th, they had as hard a day's
cub-hunting as any one could wish for. Finding in Hand-
leasow Wood at Chartley a nice litter of cubs, they ran
back and forth between that covert and Gratwich Wood
till they lost them all. Then they killed one in the gorse.
Found another there and ran to Carry Coppice. Thence a
little way out and back again. They went away again for
Field, pointed for Leigh, bent back left-handed into Birch-
wood Park, then through Mr. Philips' two small coverts,
almost to Sherratt's Wood ; then on as if for Milwich,
where an attempt was made to stop the hounds, but they
ran on into Birch wood again, and by the time they
were stopped, all the horses were tired. Mr. Fort, who
had been alone with them part of the time, rode that stout
horse Silver King nearly to a standstill.

All through November sport continued equally good.
On the first of that month, when nearly every one had
gone home, hounds found in Woodford Rough, ran straight
to Woodroffe's Cliff, all along the Banks almost to Butter-
milk Hill, out by the corner of Frame Bank, across Bagot's
Park, to the Lawn, through Lord's Coppice, and out as if
for Abbots Bromley. But here the fox turned short back
as if for Bromley Park, and was viewed. Then, unluckily,
some hounds started to run heel, and Charles had to stop
the others, so a very good hunt came to a poor finish.

On November 5 th they had a very good hour and
thirty-five minutes from Needwood, and killed their fox
in a pit-hole on Agardsley Park farm.

188 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. 11892

On the 15 th there was a capital fast gallop from
Chartley Gorse up to Handleasow Wood, where they
turned short back into Birchwood Park. Here tliey
slipped everybody for a time and ran by Brindley Coppice
as if for Leigh, round Philips' Gorse, up towards Carry
Coppice, catching their fox in the deep ditch just before
they got there. Charles, Sir Charles Nugent, Mr. Fort,
and Mr. W. Eraser Tytler, by galloping along the road as
hard as they could go, were just in time to see them kill
him. Time, forty-five minutes, and very fast.

In the evening of Noveml^er 21st a good fox went
away from the Aldermoor, through Sudbury Coppice and
the dingle below Vernon's Oak. Hounds ran very fast, and
from this point up to Marston Park only the two Messrs.
Fraser Tytler, Mr. Fort, Mr. Dudley Fox, and Mrs.
Randall were with them. The last-named lady got a
rattling fall behind Marston-Montgomery, and the Messrs.
Fraser Tytler and Mr. Dudley Fox jumped the big
bottom just beyond it. It is a very wide place indeed,
and there was a bullfinch on the taking-ofi" side, so it is
surprising they got over. Mr. Fox was riding a bay horse,
a very good one. From Marston Park hounds ran on
down to Clownholm — a very good forty minutes. From
there they ran slowly to Eaton Wood, whence they went
away with a fresh one, and were stopped. The hunted fox
was seen going on for Doveridge.

In the evening of the 29th they ran a good ring from
Woodford Rough, which was chiefiy remarkable for the
fact that hounds slipped every one except Messrs. Gerald
Hardy and Brace, and Captain Dugdale. It happened
thus. When they found they ran l^y Taberner's Forge
and the Vicarage at Marchington up to the Forest Banks,
and on to Woodroff"e's Clift'. Every one went into the
Banks except the three above mentioned, and hounds,
getting on a fresh fox, turned back to them, and they had
a merry ride to Woodford, where the fox went to ground.

Of Thursday, December 22nd, a printed account is
extant. The first part was a curious ride in a fog.

1892] THE FOX CROSSES THE TRENT. 189

" Elvaston Castle. A thick fog prevented liounds throwing
off at the usual hour, but at 11.45, as it had lifted slightly.
Lord Harrington, in the Master's absence, gave the order
for the withy bed, where a fox was found at once, and,
skirting the gardens, he took us at a good pace across the
polo-ground, and away over the Borrowash lane, as if for
Billington Hall, but leaving this covert on the right, he
crossed the Shardlow and Ambaston lane, and leavino-
Shardlow Hall just on the right, made straight for the
river Derwent, and it looked as if we might be in for an
invasion of the South Notts, country, but a drain, almost
on the river bank, proved too tempting a hiding-place, and
there we had to leave him after a very nice run of thirty-
five minutes. The Aston coverts are proverbial for
holding a great number of foxes early in the season, and
then, later on, failing to keep up their reputation, but, if
to-day is to be any criterion, they need fear no such
reproach being put upon them, as no sooner were hounds
away with a fox from the long plantation than there were
three distinct lines in the direction of Chellaston. Hounds,
however, were not allowed to divide, and ultimately, after
a short check near the Plaster Pit Covert, ran back to the
starting-point, and then away, over the Midland Railway,
as if for Weston Cliff. Before reaching this point the fox
swung sharp to the left, and, boldly facing the River
Trent, swam across to the Whyggs at Donington Park, a
proceeding which had the effect of considerably lessening
the field, as the ford at King's Mill, except to those who
know it well, is anything but enjoyable. Some thirty or
forty horsemen followed Mr. Holden's lead across, to find
hounds at fault in front of Lord Donington's house.
Hitting it off up the carriage drive, they ran out on the
Isley Watton side, and there this somewhat peculiar run
ended. I believe I am right in saying that this was the
first occasion that a fox has crossed the River Trent —
at least, I could hear of no one recollecting a previous
instance."

Then frost and snow stopped hunting from December

190 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1893

23rd to January 23rd. Some one was writing in the
papers about the Meynell just then, for the following
occurs : " Sport immediately after the frost was of the
poorest description, and to make matters worse, foxes liave
been chopped day after day in coverts where they can ill
be spared ; and this, in most cases, without any one being
to blame in the least so far as heading them is concerned.
The first day the hounds managed to hunt was at Marston
Montgomery, on January 23rd. It is close upon a three-
miles' trot to Hope Wood, but report had it that foxes
were fairly plentiful, and so it was fully expected that we
should find at least one fox. But it was not to be, and,
with Marston Park and Sedsall Rough following suit, the
day's disappointment began, to be quickly followed by a
fox from Eaton Wood being chopped at once, and with
a similar accident in one of the Doveridge coverts, our cup
w^as fairly full. Still, we had great hopes of an afternoon
gallop from Sudbury, but when these good coverts and
Sapperton — tried as a last resource — had all failed, there
was nothing for it but to go home, and try to forget the
day's work as soon as possible."

The spirit which animates this account was abroad
throughout the Hunt. Rightly or wrongly, there was a
feeling that matters were at a low ebb. Before the frost
all was well, but (it seems ridiculous to say so) a month's
frost had effaced all recollection of the good sport in the
early part of the season. So is it on any day's hunting.
Given a good run in the morning and a dragging after-
noon, every one goes home dispirited, but reverse the
medal, and how difierent are our sensations.

January 30th encouraged the despondency of the
malcontents, and well it might, for this was the tale. The
meet was at Brailsford Bridge. Some one was said to have
viewed a fox in Shirley Park, otherwise the whole country
from Brailsford to the kennels was drawn blank. The
coverts drawn were Ednaston, Bradley Bottoms and
Rough, Shirley Park, Longford Car, and Reeve's Moor,
Potter's, Bentley Car, Sapperton, and Sudbury !

Mr. F. C. Newton,

Secretary to the Meynell Hunt

(on Gloaming).

From a photog^raph

by

W. W. Winter.

.(■gnimBolD no
r.qB*i7sio*ortq » rllo^'-^

1893] MR. FRANK NEWTON, 191

Sport improved afterwards, and there were some fair
runs, by comparison, that is, of which the following may-
be taken as a fair sample.

February 9th. Found at Culland, and ran at a great
pace by the Burrows nearly to Parson's Gorse, and back to
Brailsford Hall, where the fox suddenly disappeared.
Found in the afternoon at the Brick-kiln Nurseries, and
ran very fast to Allestree with Charles and the main body
— very few people with them — Jim and a few couples
having gone elsewhere. The fox went to ground at
Allestree and every one got wet through going home.

On the 11th, Mr. F. C. Newton was acting Master at
Walton. He had been hon. secretary of the Hunt from
March 20th, 1888, till July 1st, 1893. From that time
till July 1st, 1901, when he resigned, he received a salary
of a hundred pounds a year, which he more than earned.
He was educated at Haileybury and Merton College,
Oxford, and is a very good cricketer, as well as being
a, thorough sportsman and capital rider to hounds. He
married, in August, 1881, the third daughter of the Hon. and
Rev. Augustus Byron, of Kirkby Mallory, near Leicester,
a,nd is at the present time living at Bearwardcote, near
Etwall, where he has resided since September, 1887.

Most of the fun at this time was in the eveninof, thus,
on February 13th, there was a capital gallop of forty
minutes, quite late from Sudbury Coppice, by Boylestone
and Foston, with a kill in Sudbury village.

Mrs. Holland is not likely to forget March 9th, when
she had such a bad fall in the Chellaston country, being
trapped under her horse. From this unenviable position
it took about ten people to extricate her, and, odd to
relate, neither horse nor rider were any the worse for their
misadventure.

About the only thing worth mentioning during the
remainder of the season was a very fast fifteen minutes on
March 21st. This is a printed account of it : —

"Tuesday, March 21st. Grindley Station. — A piping
hot day, more like cricket than hunting, and perhaps this

192 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1893

accounted for the majority of tlie people being completely
left behind, when hounds slipped away from Chartley
Gorse, and ran their very hardest for fifteen minutes, by
way of Coton village, leaving Milwich on the right, to a
covert belonging, I believe, to the Sandon property, where
the cream of the run was over. Very jealous were the
rest of us of those who really saw which way the hounds
went. Two or three foxes being now in front of us, hounds
divided, and time being wasted owing to wrong informa-
tion being given to the huntsman, it was nothing more
than slow hunting by way of Day Hills, nearly to Hilders-
ton, where we were obliged to give it up. If only the
hounds could have been kept together on the line of the
original fox, we should most probably have scored a great
run over a most charming country, all of which, by the
way, belongs to the North Staffordshire Hunt ; and it was
in this territory, with the exception of a few fields, that
we disported ourselves. As it was, we ran close on a five-
mile point, which is very much more than one can expect
in such summer-like weather as we are having just now.
Carry Coppice, our next draw, was reached at 4.15." In
this account there is evidence of that carping, criticizing
spirit, which has been alluded to before, and which led to
the change which will now be mentioned.

The idea was that it would be a good plan to have
a Deputy-Master, who should control the Field, and direct
proceedings out hunting, when the Master was unable to
be present. The choice fell upon Mr. Fort, and a better
man for the position could not have been found.

The Field, in a leading article in its issue April 29th,
1893, thus comments on the state of afiairs : —

Mr. Fort, at a meeting recentlj' held at Uttoxeter, expressed himself as not
being over sanguine as to the success of the experiment of having a Master and a
Deputy-Master, but, like a good sportsman, consented to try for a year, if his
friends wished it. Mr. Gerald Hardy apologized for the line he was about to
take, and described it as the unenviable task of opposing the arrangement, because
he thought the remedy inadequate to the condition of affairs. This was not a
personal matter in which there was a great amount of bad feeling, as in the

1892] ELECTION OF THE DEPUTY-MASTER. 193

Puckeridge dispute ; nor was it a case of rather slighting the Master, as appears
to have been the case in East Kent ; it was simply a hunt meeting, at which
arrangements for the future hunting of the country were discussed, and of course
more than one theory of how this could best be accomplished was put forward.
Mr, Gerald Hardy played the part of the candid friend. He agreed with a
previous speaker as to the improvement of the hounds under Mr. Bass's rule ; but,
he argued, the Master had practically admitted his inability to carry on the hunt
as it should be done ; and he contended that the condition of the country was not
satisfactory, in proof of which he pointed to " tenantless fox coverts and hunting-
boxes." In accordance with the usual custom, the proposition was that Mr.
Hamar Bass and Mr. Fort should be elected for three years, and this, Mr. Hardy
thought, was inexpedient, inasmuch as it might mean embarking on another
period of three years, which might, in its main features, resemble that from which
they had just emerged. He proposed, therefore, that the appointment of Mr.
Hamar Bass as Master and of Mr. Fort as Deputy-Master should be limited to
one year instead of three, as suggested by the committee. The faith of the
meeting, however, was strong in Mr. Bass, and he was re-elected for a period of
three years, with Mr. Fort to assist him as Deputy-Master.

Although the matters alluded to above have special reference to the Meynell
hunt, the moral appUes with equal force to the masters of other packs. At the
head of the old-established Derbyshire pack is a gentleman prepared, apparently,
to act with liberality, yet who, by reason of ill-health and calls on his time,
cannot be at the covert side so frequently as he would like, or, as in the best
interests of the hunt, it is expedient that he should be. With no one authorized
to fill the master's place in the field, the suggestion, as we understand it, is that
the aSairs of the hunt have gone down, and one knows full well that, when once
people begin to grumble, they are apt to go from one thing to another, and to find
fault with things which before satisfied them. There was an instance of this at
the Meynell meeting. There was, as we are told, a lengthy discussion as to the
efficiency of the Hunt servants, some of the company thinking that the first whipper-
in was not up to the mark, others questioning the capabilities of the huntsman —
Leedham — a member of a family which has been connected with the Meynell for
several generations ; not a word, so far as we know, has ever previously been said,
and the very idea of exception being taken to any member of this well-known family
is enough to make the old Meynell men turn in their graves. Leedham, however,
had a champion in the chairman, Lord Watei-park, who was supported by others,
and so the matter dropped. The whole tenor of the meeting shows to what
rigorous criticism a master of the hounds is subject, and those gentlemen who
are about to take ofBce for the first time would do well to realize the fact that
much of their labour and expenditure will be vain, unless they are prepared to
take the most active supervision of their Hunt and all that belongs to it. The
mere spending of money is not enough, as, unless there is an acknowledged head
in the field, neither hounds nor huntsmen can obtain anything approaching to a
fair chance, and, if the truth can be known, any alleged shortcomings on the part
of the first whipper-in would probably be found to arise from the fact that he was
infinitely handicapped by a state of things brought about by somebody else.
This much at least is tolerably clear. The Meynell hunt has not been in quite so
satisfactory a position as it once was, at least in the opinion of some of the
followers of that famous pack. This alleged decadence, call it what you will, is
variously attributed to several causes, and so there results a certain amount of
fault-finding all round — a state of things which cannot conduce to the welfare of
hunting. ..."

VOL. 11, 0

194

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

[1892

The new names in tlie subscription list were Major
Blacker, Bentley Cottage, Ashbourne ; and C. H. Cowper,
Oaklands, Brailsford.

ENTERED IN 1892.

Alma

Caliban i
Captive J * ' " '
Dimple \
Dialect ! ....
Densy 1 /

Dutiful

Fire King )
Firefly [ .
Flourish )
Foxglove )
Fanny ) •
Listener 1 \
Limerick 2 j
Limner \
Lonsdale \
Larkish /
Leap Year j
Leveller , .
Lilah 2 '
Lantern l
Lissome! """

Milton

Mortimer j
Murmurer , .
Mayfair .'
Solon >
Sunbeam J '
Stripling ....
Trusty ?
Tasty S ••"
Wheelwright;
Woodman '
Windfall )
Wanderer \ '

Marmion

Lawyer

Lord Yarborough's Smoker

Lawyer

Fisherman

Fisherman

Bel voir Grappler

Weathergauge

Marmion

Mandrake

Chieftain

Belvoir Shamrock

Sunrise

Belvoir Treasurer

Weathergauge

Weathergauge

Abbess
Curious

Doubtful

Dimity

Duchess

Desperate
Lighthouse

Laura

Lady
Abigail

Marchioness

Fractious

Frolic

Dawdle

Darling

Comedy

The numerals against hounds' names represent the prize winners.
Dogs, 8h couples ; bitches, 9. Total, 17^ couples.

1892.

In this year Mr. and Mrs. Brace came from the Al-
brighton country, to New Lodge, Hanbury, in September.
In that season their hospitality proved fatal to a great

1892]

MR. F. A. BRACE.

195

many members of the Hunt from a hunting point of view.
Charles, like his uncle, loved to find a fox quickly when he
saw people going off to any house for refreshments, and to
slip away with him. On this occasion, when everybody
had gone to New Lodge, he found his fox in the Greaves,
and ran him hard to Blithfield by himself till about
half way, where Mr. Power caught him. The present
Master was out on wheels with a broken collar-bone.

From New Lodge Mr. and Mrs. Brace moved to Dove-
ridge Hall, which, with the land immediately surrounding
it, they subsequently purchased from Lord Waterpark.
Mr. Brace was educated at Rugby and St. John's College,
Oxford. He is a good friend to the Hunt, and the farmers
in his neighbourhood have good cause to like him, while
his hospitality is unbounded. That he rides good horses
is evident from the prices they made when he sold them
at Leicester in 1900, on account of having to go abroad
for his health — six of them averaging three hundred
pounds. Appended are their names and prices.

Buccaneer

£336

Sammy

£336

Porridge

£325 10,^

Bamum

£336

Ironstone

£378

Nigger

£181 5s.

Their owner rode them well in the van, too.

Mrs. Brace does not ride, but her cart is as well known
as Doveridge Hall itself, and many a thirsty follower of
the Meynell hounds has refreshed himself thereat, while
she has more than once proved a good Samaritan to a
fallen sportsman.

Master Harry and Miss Dorothy never miss a day's
hunting if they can help it.

Foxes found during the season, two hundred and
thirty-two ; killed, fifty-six ; run to ground, forty-two.

196 • THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

CHAPTER XVI.

MR. RICHARD FORT, M.F.H. — THE GREAT MODDERSHALL OAKS

RUN THE GREAT WINSTER RUN CAPTAIN JACOBSON

— THE FIRST OF SIR PETER WALKER's POINT-TO-POINT
RACES — STEPHEN BURTENSHAW.

1893-1894.

Mr. Fort was educated at Eton, where lie went in 1866,
and naturally took to the river, as his father had rowed in
the Eton eight. Not that the cricket-field had not almost
equal attractions ; but cricket admits of no rival, and,
having chosen to be a " wet bob," he could hardly hope
to play, like his Winchester brother, in his school eleven.
His earliest hunting recollections are of the days when his
uncle, Mr. Hall, was Master of the Heythrop, and, when
he went to Oxford, matriculating at Brasenose in 1874,

" At his little go in hunting,
With what diligence he worked,"

hunting as often as was possible with all the neighbouring
packs, and learning the art of falling.

Some one once told the late Sir William FitzHerbert,
" Your little boy has had a fall."

"They must learn how to fall," quoth the Roman
father, as he rode on, unheeding.

In 1877 the subject of this sketch passed into Sandhurst
as a University candidate, thus giving the lie to the sarcastic
verse which says, " Nature made for every sportsman an
inferior set of brains ! " and, somewhere about this time, he
purchased, for a mere song, the famous grey mare, Dear
Heart. " Hoc fecit Wykeham " was the motto at which

Mr. R. Fort, M.F.H.

From a photograph

by

Dickinson.

riqBisotoriq b moi^

-erf

1

■ffaMTeX ^.SUU. '^A..A.

I

I

UNMARKED WIRE.

T WILL BY THIS TIME bo common knowledgG that
_ - the kmonted death of Mr Richard Fort, joint Master
of the Meyncll Hounds, was duo to his horse being turned
over by wire wliieh was concealed in the fence. From
an account of the inquest we learn " that the wire was
probably originally at the top of the hedge, which had
■grown up over it, and there was no warning notice." This
is most deplorable from every point of view, and though we
are fully aware of the diffioultios which hunt committees and
wire comrnittocs on the one hand, and tenant farmers on
the other, have in contending with the wire trouble at tlio
present time, we would strongly urge that the renmant of
the hunting world in every district make an immediate point
of ascertaining the whereabouts of all unmarked wire in
their vicinity, and have its presence carefully and clearly
indicated. For many years past danger signals have born
used with great success in many parts of the country, and
somo wo have seen were much better than ot.her.s. It is, we
think, necessary that the signals should stand out some-
thing like three or four feet above the fence, and that they
should be painted in bright colour — the best we ever saw
were scarlet and white. Thoy should also be placed where
they oaunot fail to attract attention, and if the fence is a
long one there shoaild be more than one signal. And where
the ground is undulating the position should be carefully
studic<l and th» signals placed so that anyone galloping
towards them would become aware of their presence. We
Jieard recently of a signal being placed in the open field
some fifty yards in front of a fence, because immediately
beyond it the ground dipped abruptly, so that a
further signal in the fence would hardly be e^een
until a horse, going fa.-^t, was close at it. We know that
at tihe present time farmers cannot spare the labour to
take up wire, and that the subject is surrounded with diffi-
culties which did not exist in pre-war days; but careful
marking mu.st minimise the danger to life and limb, and
is a duty which is incumbent on* all those who are helping
to maintain the hunts until better days arrive to see that
all possible precautions are taken. . j ,->

THE LATE ^tR R. FORT.

With great regret wo have to record the death of Mr
Richard Fort, joint Master with Mr Frederick Gretton of
the MoynoU Hounds. Mr Fort succumbed on Thursday
<^vening of last week to injuries received in the iiunting
field earlier in the day. The fall to which the accident was
due was caused by wire, and Mr Fort's horse rolled oyer
him, causing fatal internal injuries. The Ices to hunting
gt^nerally and to Derbyshire in -jiarticular caused by Mr
Fort's death is very great, and a large measure of
sym-pathy will be forthcoming for his widow and relatives.
Born in 1856 Mr Fort was educated at Eiton, and thence,
after a short spell at Braseiiose College, Oxford, he went
to Sandhurst as a university candidate, and was afterwards
granted a commission in the 11th Hu.'ifars. lie left the
service in 1881, and became liberal member b.r Clillier.ie
shortly afterwards, holding the scat until 1885, wlien he did
not seek re-election. In 1898, on the icii'remont of the
late Mr Hamar Bass, Mr Fort became Master of the
Moynell, and this position he held until 1903, when
ho was succeeded by Mr Gerald Hardy. Mr Fort was out
of office for twelve years, but in 1915 he joined Mr F.
Milbanik in the Mastership, and a year later continued
(Office in conjunction with Mr F. Gretton. Mr Fort was an
enthusiast in all that pertains to hunting, and a very fine
rider to hounds. As a tribu.te of respe-ct to his memory the
Meynell have suspended operation.s until Feb. 14.

MR. FORT, M.F.H. 197

the KiDg cavilled when he brought the great William
to book. But the astute Prelate excused himself on the
grounds that the sentence must not be thought to bear
the proud interpretation, " Wykeham made this," but the
humbler one of, ''This made Wykeham." If Mr. Fort were
asked, he would probably say the same of Dear Heart. To
ride her was a liberal education in the art of crossing a
country. There was nothing that she could not jump, and
not even the Styx itself would have made her turn her
head, while she had such a turn of speed that she carried
her owner first past the post in more than one steeplechase.
He has had plenty of good horses since, as most of us must
acknowledge, but he is constant to this, his first love, and
declares stoutly that she was the best.

" Every sportsman, they say.
In his lifetime has one that outrivals the rest,
So the pearl of my casket I've shown you to-day.
The gentlest, the gamest, the boldest, the best."

But it is a curious thing that the best should have also
been the first, or almost the first.

Other good ones have been Al, bought from his
brother-in-law, the late Captain Gerard Leigh ; the little
blood bay. Peeping Tom, by Pedometer, bought from
Captain Spicer, and who went eventually at a high figure
to Mr. Peat. The grey Pugilist, still going as well as ever
in his sixteenth year, is a wonderful hunter, but as full of
antics as any harlequin. These playful ways have lost
him many a good place. The Duchess of Hamilton tired
of him for one. Mr. Burnaby had him for a bit, and at
last Mr. Fort bought him from Stokes. They seem to get
on very well together, and Harry Bates, the Master's second
horseman, also does not appear to be at all disconcerted by
the violent kicks and plunges of an otherwise capital horse.
Silver King, too, deserves to be mentioned. A wild old
rascal he has always been, but such a fencer ! When
Stokes bought him he saw him clear a quickset hedge, a
good six feet high, more than once. It was no trouble to

198 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

this horse to jump. He seemed to float up into the air.
The Master found out how good he was in that wonderful
gallop from Langley Gorse, up to the Vicar Wood, Kedles-
ton, and, from there, as hard as hounds could go, to the
top Foston covert, where they checked, and then ran on
to Sapperton, in 1887. After that he thought nothing of
jumping the Sudbury Park palings on him opposite the
road to Somersal out of the Sudbury turnpike. Pit-a-pat,
by Downpatrick out of Dear Heart, was not a very bad
one either, neither was Cornwall, who cleared the Somersal
brook, just below the Hall. A big place it is, as Mr.
Wallroth found to his cost, in trying to follow the Master
and Mr. Poyser on St. Mungo.

Mr. Fort joined the 11th Hussars in 1878, to which
regiment Mr. "Jack" Gumming, eldest son of Admiral
Gumming of Foston Hall, also belonged, and this was the
cause of his brother-officer first coming to Derbyshire in
December, 1881, as a guest at Foston. When once in the
Meynell country, he very soon decided that that was the
place for him, and from that day to this he has never
wavered in his allegiance. For the rest of that season
he hunted from the Midland Hotel, Derby ; then came a
sojourn at Winslow. But even the attractions of the Vale
of Aylesbury, and of the great, stretching pastures, over
which " Squire " Selby Lowndes' beauties run so fast, could
not wean him from his aff'ection for the Meynell. So, after
his marriage, in August, 1882, to Miss Leigh, daughter of
Mr. Henry Blundel] Leigh of Amington, back he came to
take up his quarters at Church Broughton. In 1883-1884,
and 1884-1885, they were at Field House, Marchington,
which had been temporarily vacated by Lord Parker, who
had gone to India. In March, 1885, they came to the
Cottage, Foston, where they have been ever since.

In October, 1881, Mr. Fort resigned his commission in
the 11th Hussars, having been elected as the liberal member
for Clitheroe, which place he represented till 1885.

In April, 1893, he was elected Deputy- Master, or Field
Master, of the Meynell hounds in connection with the late

MR. FORT, M.RH. 199

Mr. Hamar Bass. No better selection could have been
made, for the Deputy-Master was not only popular with
all classes, but he was able, from the place which he always
held when hounds were running, to turn round and face
his field, if they pressed hounds unduly, which is the only
way to control them. Does not Mr. Bromley-Devonport
say —

"Jn the distance I hear the Master's vain chiding,
As vain as the Norseman's reproof to the sea"?

Besides, even in his so-to-speak ''lay" days, he knew
every hound in the pack, while he was, heart and soul,
devoted to the sport. The latter rose, phoenix-like, from
its ashes, and two capital seasons ensued, including the
historical run on January 29th, 1894, up into the hills
near Winster, and the two or three excellent ones in the
same direction in the following year. His courtesy towards
landowners, covert owners, and farmers was in every one's
mouth, while his manner in the field left nothing to be
desired. Unfortunately, at the end of the season 1896-
1897 he resigned, to every one's regret, and retired into
private life. Not for long, however, for, in February, 1898,
he was elected Master in the place of Mr. Hamar Bass, who
resigned. From that day to this he has been at the head
of affairs, and no one has worked harder to fill a position
which is by no means a bed of roses. In spite of a spell
of bad luck, which would have damped many a man's
ardour, he has stuck to his post, leaving no stone unturned
to keep sport with the Meynell up to its old high standard.
From a combination of circumstances, which no one could
control, it has not been brilliant for the last two or three
seasons, but these " slumps " will occur from time to time
with all packs of hounds. As poor old Charles was so fond
of saying, " It has happened before ; " but at the present
time the silver lining on the cloud is broadening, and there
is every prospect of a blaze of the sunshine of prosperity.

Among other excellent ideas, which the Master has put
into execution, is the Annual Puppy Show Luncheon, which
has proved such a success, and at which he so hospitably

200 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [isys

entertains his friends, high and low. The winners must
be hard indeed to please, if they do not go home delighted
with the prizes, of which a goodly selection to choose from
is set out on a table in the tent — a capital idea. But
this is only an item. Everything is done with the same
generosity and forethought. The men are excellently
mounted, the hounds are rapidly recovering from the
ravages of the distemper three years ago, which spared
neither old nor young, the country is full of foxes, and
though the new huntsman, Gosden, has yet to win his
spurs here, he comes with a good character from the
Cheshire. So, whoever takes up the task of adding the
remainder of the Master's term of office to these pages,
will probably have some brilliant seasons to chronicle.

In Mrs. Fort the Master has an ideal helpmeet for a
Master of Hounds and a most able lieutenant, and there is
no one who has a greater affection for the Meynell country,
on the borders of which she was born and bred.

The first item of interest came early, on October 5th,
when they ran from Eaton Wood to Wootton Lodge on
the other side of the Dove, but lost their fox.

There were several good runs before it, but that of
December 12th was the first really worth recording. To
begin with, it was the wettest day possible ; the rain
simply poured down, and everybody was wet to the skin
before they got home. The meet was at Bramshall, and
Colonel Chandos-Pole, who had run down from Dorset-
shire to have a day or two with his former pack, was out.
Hounds got on the line of an outlying fox, who took them
into Carry Coppice. From there a brace of foxes went
away. Settling on one, hounds ran nicely by Field, across
the Blythe, through Sherratt's Wood, by Bird-in-the-hand,
and through Spotacre Nursery, into Moddershall Oaks,
where they lost him. It was a first-rate run — a nine-mile
point in fifty-five minutes. There is, unluckily, no record
of it which goes at all into details, but ]Mr. W. Eraser
Tytler was one of those who saw it well on Tittle-Tattle, a
four-year-old of Mr. Fort's, which never was any good

1893] THE GREAT MODDERSHALL OAKS RUN. 201

afterwards. Mr. Fort himself was well in it all the way,
on Pit-a-pat, unless the writer's memory deceives him,
and Mrs. Fort on Ambassador. Mrs. Hartley was there on
Ladybird, a bay mare which carried her well in the great
hill run to Winster on January 29 th ; the " Squire," too,
and Mr. Peacock, and others, but not many. Somehow
they took the wrong road going back to draw Carry
Coppice, and it was decided to go.home, though it was only
two o'clock, and most people thought that was the best
place to draw.

Then came a succession of good runs, though there
was nothing really remarkable till January 29th. Of
this " X " (Mr Waite, of Duffield, a good sportsman and old
follower of the Meynell) wrote an account in the Field.

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

Extraordinary Run.

The Meynell had a hard day's work on Monday, January 29th, 1894,^^011 is
certainly worth recording. Sunday night was wet and boisterous, but when we
met at Brailsford Bridge the snn shone brilliantly. There was a big meet, the
road being blocked with carriages. Brailsford Old Gorse having been cut down
at the end of last season, Mr. Fort gave the order for Ednaston. The first
covert was tenantless, so we went on to the withy-bed usually known as Bradley
Bottoms. As soon as hounds were thrown in, a fox went away at the top end,
and it was quickly evident scent was good. We went very fast, leaving Yeldersley
Rough on our left, to Bradley village, and still leaving the hall and pastures on
our left, crossed the HuUand and Ashbourne road, making straight for the Lime-
kiln Rough. Here he waited until hounds pushed him out at the bottom end,
when we expected to take the usual line to Bradley Wood, and, perhaps, on to
Shirley Park, but our fox boldly faced Atlow Whin— a very steep hill, which
made horses sob at a trot only. Fortunately, hounds greatly slackened their
pace whilst breasting the steepest part of the hill, but as soon as we reached
galloping ground the pace again improved. The line was perfectly straight
between Kniveton, with its hedges, on our left, and Hognaston, with its stone
walls, on our right. The walls at first sight looked anythmg but inviting, and
we managed to avoid most of them until we reached Brassington — a seven-mile
point in forty-five minutes — which it was evident was his aim when we left the
Lime-kilns. Only about twice in the last twenty-six years do I remember to
liave taken this line, and each time our fox has found safety in the rocks, which
jut out in bold masses on the sides and summit of a steep sugar-loaf hill. Hounds
worked very patiently to the top, where a few of the horsemen, who had left
their horses lower down, followed, and hastily consumed their sandwiches in the
bright sunshine. Our fox must have found his house closed, though we were
miles beyond the country which is stopped, and he went away without changing
the direction he had hitherto taken.

202 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1894

We now saw noiliinp; but small fields, surrounded by limestone walls, most of
them seven quarters (5 ft. 3 in.) high. As hounds faced the still rising ground
we found ourselves looking round to see who would give a lead over the first
wall. The fall of a loose coping stone made it look a little less uninviting, and
most of the horses flew it as if it had been timber. The pace Avas too good for
" craning," and, with just a little picking of places, the walls were taken as they
came for a straight line of six miles further from our starting-point, by the left of
Pike Hall, on to " Haven " House (Newhaven), and running parallel with the
Buxton road on to the Jug and Glass, thirteen hundred feet above the sea level.
Here the fox crossed the main road and High Peak Railway, running nearly to
Bunker's Hill and Parsley Hay. We began to think we should soon be in sight of
Buxton, which was only nine miles distant, but the pace and time at last told
on this stout fox, as it had done on our horses.

Before he reached Bunker's Hill, on to what was once Middleton Common,
he swung to the right, and along a length of very pretty dale, which I think must
be the top end of ^liddleton Dale. Leaving Youlgreave two miles on our left, he
pointed for Winster, but turned again towards Newhaven, and we had to face
another steep rise. Only the ladies kept their saddles, the men climbing at the
side of their horses. As he turned back to Middleton Common, he was frequently
seen just in front of hounds, and apparently dead beat, but he managed to beat
US after a run of exactly three hours. After leaving Brassington, every wall had
at least six inches of snow at the foot, on one side, or both, and it balled horribly.
The snow was a great help to the fox, which invariably chose the highest place
to climb over a wall ; and on landing very frequently ran along the side in deep
snow. Hounds were not so used to wall-climbing, and often lost a few valuable
seconds by the sudden turns along the wall sides. There cannot be a doubt that
the snow saved him. From Bradley Bottoms to the Jug and Glass measures
upwards of thirteen miles on the map in a straight line, but, allowing for ups and
•lowns, the two points are some sixteen miles distant. I counted four ladies and
thirty horsemen up at end of the run, every one of whom must have jumped at
least fifty stone walls since we left Brassington. Some of the remnant admitted
they would have left before the end, but they didn't know where they were, nor
how to get back to " England ! " Hounds were twenty-two miles as the crow
flies from kennels. Mr. and Mrs. Fort, who, it is needless to say, were up, and
the sole representatives of Foston, must have had quite twenty-four miles home,
while the Derby contingent (reduced to three at the finish) were twenty-five miles
from home. Two of the latter rode the six miles to Bakewell in the vain hope
of finding a horse-box to rail on to Derby. Most of us trotted back to the
Haven, a noted coaching house with extensive stables, but not half large enough
for all who wanted to put up for a little while. Of course it is a moot point
whether we changed at Brassington Rocks. It seems scarcely possible for a fox
to keep going for three hours in front of the Meynell, with a seven-mile point in
forty-five minutes as a commencement ; and after leaving Brassington there was
some appearance of a double line. The distance travelled was enough to settle
two stout foxes, and though all thought that hounds had earned their reward, our
quarry certainly deserved to escape. Many of the horses will carry souvenirs of
the sharp-cutting stone walls, but comparatively few empty saddles were seen
during the day.

R. W.

As a postscript to the description of the remarkable run from Brailsford to the
Peak country, it will interest many to know how cleverly our fox escaped, where

THREE RUNS WITH THE PEAK FOX

THREE HUN

1894] THE GREAT WINSTER RUN". 203

there were neither woods nor buildings for a hiding-place. A man in the service
of Mr. John Wright of Gratton saw the fox one field from the point where
we whipped off, lying, dead beat, at full length on the top of a wall. On being
approached, he jumped down and limped, footsore, away. Evidently, he had
baffled hounds by running along the top of the wall, and lying where a stone was
missing. As Leedham cast all round the point where hounds threw up, they
must have gone close to the hiding-place, but doubtless on the wrong side for the
wind. This was not the first time he had run along the top of a wall, as a short
time before the finish hounds were running in scent on both sides of a high wall.
All will now be glad that Mr. Wright's man did not betray the wily one, for he
fairly saved his brush, and we hope will live to again try conclusions with the
Meynell. I hear that the High Peak Harriers, on a recent visit to Middleton
Common, found a fox, and ran him close to Atlow. Probably this was the same
animal, and it accounts for the very straight line he took back again to his home
in the Peak.

I am indebted to Mr. W. R. Holland, who no longer follows the Meynell, for
the information I am able to give above.

Those who got to the fioish out of a large field were
Mr. and Mrs. Fort, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Charrington, Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Cooper, Mrs. Walter Boden, Mrs. Hartley,
the Misses Violet and Geraldine Mosley, Colonel Cavendish,
Messrs. Henry Boden, E. J. Bird, Gilbert Crompton,
Gerald Hardy, Herbert Holland, A. J. Maynard, W. T.
Eoden, G. Schwind, C. A. Wallroth, R. Waite, A. Walkden,
a farmer, and the Hunt servants. If any one's name has
been omitted, the writer tenders his humble apology. It
is difficult to remember horses so long after the event, but
Mr. Fort was riding Pugilist, Mrs. Fort Ambassador, and
Mr. Maynard Stepping Stone, only bought at Leicester
on the previous Saturday. Every hound was up at
the finish.

A. 0. WorvTHINGTON.

Mr. Worthington, whose portrait appeared in the
County Gentleman on January 6th, 1894, is thus described :

" Mr. Albert Octavius Worthington, who is the fourth
son of the late Mr. William Worthington, of Newton Park,
Derbyshire, is a good specimen of the all-round sportsman.
Born in 1844, he was educated at Repton, and, for two or
three seasons, played for his school eleven. On the
formation of the Derbyshire and Staffordshire County

204 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1894

cricket teams, he played for both, and in Derbyshire's first
contest against Kent scored heavily, assisting materially in
winning the match. In 1854 he commenced to hunt with
Mr. Meynell Ingram's hounds, when the old ' Squire '
still acted as Master, and old Tom Leedham handled the
horn, and has hunted ever since either with the Meynell,
Atherstone, or South Staffordshire hounds. In 1866, with
one or two friends, he bought Lord Chesterfield's harriers
and acted as whip to them for several seasons. He is
likewise very keen about shooting and fishing, and for
many years has rented the Auchlyne or Auchmore Moors
in Perthshire from the Marquess of Breadalbane.

" Mr. Worthington, who purchased the Maple Hayes
estate, near Lichfield, in 1884, is a D.L. and J.P. for
Staffordshire, and was High Sheriff in 1889-90. In 1879
he received a commission in the Queen's Own Staffordshire
Yeomanry, and since 1885 he has been Captain of the
Anglesey troop in that well-known corps."

To this there is not much to add, except that the seven
years which have passed since the above was written have
not abated by one jot or one tittle the keenness with
which he pursues his favourite sports. He loves a hound
as well as ever, and takes the keenest interest in the actual
hound-work in the field, while, under his pseudonym of
"Needwood," he has proved by his accounts of Meynell
sport in the Field that he knows what he is writing about.
The author of this work is under the deepest obligations to
him for ready help and encouragement.

The Hon. Nellie Bass's wedding to Mr. Baillie of Doch-
four was the event not only of this week, but of the winter.
The daughter of Lord Burton is the richest heiress in
England, and, being popular in herself as well as important
in her position, it was natural that she should be inundated
with unusually valuable presents. As a matter of fact
these exceeded by some two hundred the number (four
hundred) which it is the ambition of every bride to attain.

Another good sportsman, who came to the Meynell
country this year, was Captain Jacobsou, late of the

1894] CAPTAIN JACOBSON. 205

Carabineers. There are very few better horsemen or quicker
men to hounds than he is, and always has been. Having
hunted about six days a week all his life, he professed to
be tired of it, and told the writer so. Captain Jacobson
was at that time living in Leicestershire. Next season the
Meynell hounds were out and running well over the Sutton
country, and the brook of that name was in front of them.
Most people made a detour and crossed it by a ford, and
when the present writer got up to the hounds at a check
there were three men with them — the only ones who had
jumped the brook, and a big one it is — and one of them
was the indifferent man about hunting, bareheaded. Mr.
Harry Boden, I think, was another, and young Mr. Foster
of Brailsford, of show-ring renown, the third, and I fancy
it was Mr. Boden's horse that landed on Captain Jacobson's
prostrate hat.

Mrs. Jacobson, too, is a very fine horsewoman, and
some years ago, in the Bicester country, used to jump
gates like other people jump sheep-hurdles.

Other new names were — E. Arliss, New Lodge ; A. T.
and E. E. Barnes, Chesterfield ; Major Beadnell, Coxbench
Hall ; R. F. Bristowe ; Major Hallo wes, Marchington Hall,
vice Captain Holland, gone abroad ; James Meakin, West-
wood Manor, Stoke-on-Trent ; William Mills ; J. H. Riley,
Somersal House, Somersal Herbert ; and H. Unwin,
Farnah Hall.

On March 21st, the first of Sir Peter Walker s point-to-
point races was held. The following account appeared in
Land and Water : —

Now the genial Master of the Dove Valley Harriers, Sir Peter Walker,
adopted an idea for a point-to-point race on the 21st instant that wound up his
season's sport, which from the very outset spelt success with the least amount
of trouble to the inaugurator. His plan was to have a ladies' nomination point-
to-point race open to all England, barring only winners under Newmarket or
G.N.H. rules. The nominator of the winner to receive a diamond heart given
by Sir Peter Walker ; the owner of the winner to take the sweepstake. Fifty
ladies who hunt in Derbyshire and Staffordshire were invited to nominate any
horse or rider they thought good enough to win them the coveted trophy. Undei-
such conditions and in such hands the race was bound to prove a success, and
forty entries tigured on the card, which included such well-known performers as

206 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1894

Captain Gordon and McCrankie all the way from Ayrshire (the winners of the
Army Point-to-Point Race), Lord Lovat, and Halma from Hounslow, who ran
second in the Army Welter Point-to-Point Race. Mr. Arthur Knowles and the
Priest, who won a point-to-point race in connection with Lord Gerard's hounds,
and Major W. H. Walker and Merryman, who won a fourteen-stone Cheshire
point-to-point race. Besides these there were horses from Melton, and many
well-known names that figure between the flags will be recognized in the
following list of thirty odd horses, together with lady nominators: —

Miss Walker (now Lady Kingston) ns. Major W. H. Walker's Merryman by
Sheldrake. Owner.

Miss Edith Frank (now Mrs, Jordan) ns. Mr. Winterbottom's K.G. Mr.
E. M. Lafone.

Miss Ethel Okeover (now Lady Walker) ns. Sir Peter Walker's Grayling.*
Mr. Allen Batchelor.

Mrs. Holland ns. her own b.g. Chance. Mr. H. Porter.

Mrs. Hartley ns. Mr. J. W. Phillips's ch.g. by Downpatrick. Mr. S. F.
Phillips.

Miss Burdett ns. Sir Francis Burdett's b.g. the Cocoanut.

Mrs. Monro Walker ns. Mr. jVIonro Walker's br.g. Castletown. Owner.

Miss Annie Cartland ns. Mr. Howard Cartland's ch.g. Cyclone. Owner.

The Hon. Lady Walker ns. Sir Peter Walker's ch.m. Victoria. Mr. R.
Wilkinson.

Miss Ethel Firman ns. Mr. Guy Fenwick's ch.g. Forlorn. Owner.

Mrs. Greenfield ns. Mr. Dick Fenwick's Nigger. Owner.

Miss Jane Thornewill ns. Captain Gordon's McCrankie.

Miss Lilian Okeover (now the Hon. Mrs. A. Curzon) ns. Mr. H. Fraser's
blk.g. King Cofl-ee.

Miss D'Arcy Clark (now Mrs. Roy) ns. Mr. W. S. Eaton's ch.g. Alfred.
Owner.

Miss 0. Thornewill ns. Lord Lovat's br.m. Halma. Owner.

Miss Clowes ns. Captain Clowes' ch.g. Midsummer. Owner.

Mrs. H. H. Hookes ns. Mr. W. E. C. Smith's Yellow Aster. Owner.

Mrs. Frank Cooper ns. Mr. Frank Cooper's Cherokee. Owner.

Mrs.Reid Walker ns. Mr. Reid Walker's b.g. Jigginstone. Captain Sandeman.

Miss Violet Walker ns. Mr. Reid Walker's b.g. Patrick. Mr. E. D. Miller.

Miss Monica Walker ns. Mr. Reid Walker's b.g. Hush.

The Misses Dugdale ns. Captain Orr-Ewing's b.g. Tritton. Owner,

Mrs. Fleming ns. Colonel Fleming's gr.g. Jack, Owner.

Miss Birch ns. Major Hallowes' Wood Violet. Owner.

The Hon. Mrs. Herbert Allsopp ns. Captain William's ch.g. Therford.
Owner.

Mrs. Bird ns. Mr. E. J. Bird's b.g. Artist. Mr. H. P. Bird.

Mrs. Brace ns. Mr. F. A. Brace's b.m. Heartsease. Mr. Roden.

Mrs. Chetwynd ns. Mr. Bagot's b.m. Miss Brady.

Lady Florence Duncombe ns. Mr. E. W. Clowes' ch.g. Mars.

Mrs. F. C. Newton ns. Mr. E. C. S. Holden's b.m. Merry Queen. Owner.

Miss Okeover ns. Mr. Heneage's. Owner.

Mrs. Knowles ns. Mr. Arthur Knowles' The Priest. Owner.

Miss Fox ns. Mr. Douglas Grossman's blk.m. Britannia. Owner.

Mrs, Fort ns, Mr, R. Fort's br.g. Beaufort. Owner.

* This horse was a son of Mr. Power's famous Jessie.

I89i] SIR PETER WALKER'S POINT-TO-POINT RACE. 207

The large field assembled at an inn at Ashbourne, from there to be conducted
to the unknown starting-point. All the spectators were conveyed to the winning-
post, situated on the hillside above Sturston Mill, looking over a fine country of
Derbyshire hills and dales. It was a pity a parade could not have been managed.

" They are off! they are oft'! " was the cry about two o'clock, and with the
eye of faith and powerful field-glasses, it was possible to enjoy the sight of some
thirty-two specks, like flies on a window-pane, streaking away across country
from Ashbourne Hall in the dim distance. The course measured three miles, a
big fish-hook shape, the first point being a red flag, then round a farmhouse on
the hill top, out by Atlow Whin, to turn downhill and gallop over the ford of
the River Bone. One more flag, and then a run home on the hillside below
Bradley Wood describes the locality, though imperfect in geography, I fear.

When the field came into view it was possible to judge what a cracker the
pace was, with Halma making the running, and Merrynaan striding along in
gallant style, a chestnut horse with an empty saddle fencing faultlessly,
McCrankie and a grey lying pretty handy, and a long tail behind, for the pace
brought them down like ninepins. " Oh dear, oh dear ! where's the rider of the
chestnut? I wish it was all over! Oh dear! if they all get safe home, we will
never, never let them ride again ! " And beauty on the hillside was considerably
agitated and excited. The course was not really a galloping one, for the fences
were trappy, and it was necessary to use your head all the way to steer a right
course and find the flags. Halfway on the journey was an open brook, with a
do^vnhill take otf, and so placed that you could not see it until you were right
upon it. Tliis caught two horses. After taking a pull for a bit of deep going on
the plough, they climbed up the hill to round the farmhouse, then turned down the
hill with trappy little dykes, to you, all the way to the river's ford. The cluster
in front were Merryman, K.G-., Halma, McCrankie, and Chance. The Priest
spoilt his chance by going wide of a flag. Coming in the straight, half a mile
from home, we could see they were racing. McCrankie came up and took the
lead until he galloped into a boggy, wet field, and a very trappy fence, and head
over heels he went, unfortunately breaking Captain Gordon's collar-bone. Over
the last three fences Halma was first, until he fell one fence from home, then
K.G. and Grayling went on, with Chance close up. But Major W. H. Walker,
on Merryman, was only waiting his time, and at the right moment shot to the
front and won easily by three lengths, K.G. and Grayling being ridden out
determinedly for second place.

Then we all shouted until we were hoarse, and congratulated Miss Walker,
the nominator of her brother's horse, and the winner of the diamond heaj^, and,
curiously enough, winner also of the House Party Sweepstake. Other lady
nominators ran oft" into the country to pick up their nominations who had not got
home, and we went to look over the winner. Merryman, by Sheldrake, is a big,
striding, dark brown horse, well master of fourteen stone, and was bought from
Captain Gordon ; he looked good for any distance. His owner, Major W. H.
Walker, is well known as a shining light on the polo-field, and with the Cheshire
packs, as well as the owner, trainer, and rider of that marvellous pony, Dorothy,
who won forty-one races out of six attempts. Not the least interesting object
was his old race saddle, so patched and padded up that nothing of its original
self is left except the shape, and its weight is now thirteen pounds. This saddle
has figured in two hundred and sixteen races, and on one hundred and twenty-
six occasions has carried its owner first past the post, so that, in the distant
future, when Major Walker has done with it, we shall expect to see it in a glass
case, a proud trophy for the Nimrod Club.

208

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

[1894

The afternoon ended up with a race for the farmers, who had a good line of
gaps and a rare silver mug to run for, but we were quite incapable of taking
any further part in the proceedings after the intense excitement of the ladies'
nomination race.

Whipster.

ENTERED IN 1893.

Names.

SiKES.

Daus.

Ardent ?

Alaric

Lord Yarborough's Acrobat ...
Belvoir Donovan

Chieftain

Colonel

Demon

Gordon

Lawyer

Doubtful

Ambrose 2i

Dashaway
Beautiful

Bertha

Darling

Arrogant

Absolute

Generous

Brigand

Chatterbox )

Comet 2 J

Countess

Dangerous ?

Destitute ^

Goodness

Glossy >

Graphic)

Lilac .
Linnet f

Lancer 1 i

Landmark ^
Landsman

Weathergauge

Lord Galway's Gordon

Colonel

Chieftain

Minor

Belvoir Nominal

Lighthouse

Lively

Levity

Marchioness

Margery
Genuine

Lullaby
Larceny

Lasher
Longford
Mistletoe 1

Marmalade >

Martyr )

Manifests

Nominal

Prodigal

Spotless 3 1

Symphony >

Struggler )
Shiner

Sunrise

Lord Yarborough's Smoker ...
W^eathergauge

Promise
Lady

Sensitive

Wonderful

Weathergauge

Dawdle

The numerals against hounds' names represent the prize winners.
Dogs, 7 couples; bitches, 9 J. Total, 16i couples.

The pick of the entry turned out to be Lcancer, a hound
that Mr. Fort was particularly fond of. Other good ones
were Chatterbox — who was mysteriously lost — his sister,
Comet, Goodness, and Lullaby, who was not drafted till
1900.

1894] STEPHEN BURTENSHAW. 209

Stephen Burtenshaw from the West Fife came as
first whipper-in at the beginning of this season instead of
James Tasker, who went to the Cattistock as first whipper-
in and kennel huntsman.

Foxes found, three hundred and fourteen ; killed,
sixty-six ; run to ground, forty-nine.

210 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1894

CHAPTER XVIL

THE YEAR OF THE GREAT FROST — SIR PETER WALKER's
DINNER TO THE MEYNELL HUNT — THE WETTEST
SEASON EVER KNOWN — END OF THE SEASON 1894-
1895 — MR. CALDECOTT — GREAT RUN FROM THE BATH,

HOAR CROSS THE FIRST DAY ON WHICH STEPHEN

CARRIED THE HORN — THE GREAT HILL RUN TO ELTON
— GOOD RUN FROM BENTLEY CAR — MR. CHARLES
GARNETT AND MR. HARTLEY.

1894-1895.

This was a good season, though the great frost will always
remain its chief feature.

The writer feels that justice has hardly been done to
the season which preceded it, for there were so many good
gallops which really deserve to be mentioned, the difficulty
being which to select. There was one run in which the fox
took a very unusual line and which gave rise to an
amusing incident. This was when hounds crossed the
river opposite Marchington station, and Mr. " Chev '^
Bateman and Mr. "Bill" Power tried to swim it with the
water bank high. They collided just when they got under
the steep walled-up bank on the far side, and the end of
it was that neither of them got over. The fox had gone
from the Hare Park to Lake Banks, then by "West
Broughton to Maresfield Gorse, up the hill for Somersal,
and back again to Sudbury Bottoms, where several foxes
were on foot. Leaving that covert, he went by the top of
the Aldermoor, by Somersal and Brocksford, down to the
river, which he crossed opposite Marchington station.

1894] SIR PETER WALKER'S DINNER TO THE HUNT. 211

There is a good ford there, but no one seemed to know of
it, for the Field galloped off for Woodford, and crossed,
catching hounds to the right of the back road to Marching-
ton. They ran on slowly past Field House, over the
Marchiugton brook and up to Woodroffe's Cliff, where
they were stopped. It was a good sort of hunting run of
two hours. The very next day, February 6th, they ran
from Chartley Gorse to Fulford Heath, estimated at a seven-
mile point in forty-two minutes. Anyhow, it was fast
enough, though the fox beat them.

Another interesting event, which deserves to be
chronicled, was Sir Peter Walker's dinner at Osmaston to
the Meynell Hunt. It was a most successful affair, and a
very good idea of the host's, who intended it for a sort of
record. All the guests were weighed, and their names and
weights duly entered in a book. The latter have probably
altered a little by this time. The names were Lord Bagot,
Colonel the Hon. W. Coke, Hon. George Allsopp, Mr.
Hamar Bass, M.F.H., Mr. Walter Boden, Mr. Henry
Boden, General Fowler Butler, Major Blacker, Mr. E. J.
Bird, Mr. Sacheverell Bateman, Mr. Frank Brace, Colonel
Cavendish, Mr. J. F. Campbell, Mr. Hugh Charrington,^
Mr. A. Grossman, Mr. Gilbert Crompton, Mr. Arthur
Chetwynd, Mr. Frank Cooper, Mr. A. C. Buncombe,
Captain Herbert Dugdale, Mr. Richard Fort, Deputy-
Master ; Colonel Fleming, ex-Master Dove Valley Harriers ;
Mr. Dudley Fox, Mr. Lionel Gisborne, Mr. Gerald Hardy,
Mr. Charles Hartley, Mr. E. C. S. Holden, Captain H.
Holland, Mr. A. Knowles, Mr. T. P. Kempson, Mr.
Godfrey Meynell, Mr. E. J. Maynard, Mr. William Power,
Mr. F. W. Peacock, Mr. J. L. Pandall, Mr. C. W. Jervis
Smith, and Mr. John Smith. The only drawback to the
entertainment was that frost stopped hunting on the
Monday following.

All this, however, of right, belongs to the season that
is past, and it is time to deal with the present one.

The opening day, October 29th, was marked by a good
run from the Aldermoor at Sudbury, by Somersal Herbert,

212 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1894

nearly to Cubley Gorse, by Marston Park, down to the
Dove, and lost the fox over the Dove, where the railway
bridge crosses the river opposite Barrow Hill ; the same
bridge by which Captain Dawson crossed in the great 1872
run. A propos of that, it is a curious coincidence that
Lord Waterpark, and five others, one of whom, Mr.
Harrison, was a stranger in the country, should have been
the chosen few at the end of it, and that many years before,
hounds should have run the same line, and Lord Water-
park's father, two or three others, and a stranger, Mr. Ham-
mersley, should have been first up at the finish. The latter
was so pleased with the way that Mr. Cavendish's horse,
Pavilion, carried his rider, that he subsequently bought him.

The next day at Bramshall was a good one too. They
found a brace of foxes in Philips' Gorse, ran one a ring
round by Carry Coppice, then over the railway, and leav-
ing Leigh on the left, through Park Hall Covert, up to
Heybridge dingle, where they turned short back, and killed
their fox in Park Hall Covert. Then they killed a brace
of mangy ones without any sport. After this, a fox from
the Alder Car, Loxley, took them at a great pace by Cuck-
old's Haven, across Smallwood Manor, and up to the
Forest Banks, between Marchington and Woodroff'e's Cliffs.
Here an attempt was made to stop the hounds, but they
were still full of running, and raced back to Woodgate,
near Uttoxeter, where Mr. Dudley Fox's father used to
live. For this last bit there was nobody with them — the
Hunt horses being reduced to a walk.

Day after day sport was excellent. It is impossible to
mention everything, but the two following are fair samples.

November 6th, Blithbury. — They found in the osiers
at Mavesyn Ridware, ran by Hill Pidware, leaving Pipe
Wood on the left, and Laurence's Wood on the right, down
across the Blythe, where the fox turned right-handed as if
for Rough Park. But he changed his mind and bent his
steps left-handed, and went almost straight to Abbots
Bromley, as if his point was Bagot's Woods. Instead of
going there, however, he turned short back, his race being

1894] THE WETTEST SEASON EVER KNOWN. 213

nearly rue, over the Ashbrook, and hounds caught him in
Ashbrook Plantation, between the Lichfield high road and
the Bromley Hurst lane, after a capital thirty-five minutes,
all the time at a strong pace over the very best of the
Stafi'ordshire country. Then they found again in Pipe
Wood, ran up to Hoar Cross, back by Ashbrook plantation,
round again to Hoar Cross, and lost their fox by Cross
Hayes, after an hour and a quarter. A hard day for hounds
and horses.

November 8th, Every Arms. — They found a brace at
Potluck osier-beds and ran very nicely across the line
through Spilsbury's Plantations, by Burnaston House, and
Parker's pit-hole below the Asylum, at a good pace through
Bunker's Wood by Littleover old Hall, and bowled their
fox over in the open at Sunnyhill, just below Normanton,
after a good run of an hour. A Hell Meadows fox
furnished but little sport ; however, one from Mickleover
four acre made amends for the other's shortcomings. They
ran to the right of Mickleover station to Rough Heanor,
and on under Littleover nearly to Abell's house, just out-
side Derby. Here the fox naturally turned back, and
hounds ran him nicely between Bunker's Wood and the
Pastures, and eventually marked him to ground in Mr.
Finney's warren, close to the asylum wall, after a good
hour and a half.

Up to Christmas no one could ever remember more wet
days — real wet ones too, which sent every one home
soaked through, day after day. Wet days, mangy foxes,
and good sport were the principal features.

On December 4th they ran from Pipe Wood as if for
Pear Tree Gorse, but turned sharp back to the right, to the
left of Laurence's Wood, over the Blythe, to Hoar Cross,
through the Bath, on between Birch Wood and Chantry
Wood, through Field House Coppice, Hart's Coppice, and
Dog Kennel Wood, right along the Forest Banks nearly to
Marchington Clifi", where there were several fresh foxes on
foot, hounds divided, and a good hunt of over an hour, and
a six or seven mile point came to an end.

214 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1895

The year 1894 finished up with a capital gallop in the
Radburne country on December 27th. Every one was full
of ride, and the field overrode hounds to such an extent in
the early part of the day that they could do nothing. But
later on the exuberance of riders and horses toned down,
so that when a fox went away from Radburne Rough the
pack was allowed time to settle to the line, and away they
went, on good terms with him, past Dalbury Woodhouse,
back by Pildock AVood, by Radburne Hall, past Dalbury
and Bearwardcote, up to Mickleover Manor, where they
got up to their fox in the garden. But he slipped away and
they hunted him by Bunker's Hill and the Pastures, killing
him (a mangy fox) at Normanton after a first-rate hunt of
an hour and twenty minutes.

Then came the longest frost which any one now living
is likely to experience, at least, it is to be hoped so.
People compared it to the Crimean winter. They did
hunt, it is true, on the 20th at Dunstall, in a hurricane of
sleet and snow, but it was a miserable day. After that it
froze in good earnest for twelve days till January 20th.
•On the 21st hounds went to Darley Moor, which is
notorious for disagreeable climatic conditions, which on
this particular day surpassed themselves. It really was
not fit to hunt, and it was just as well that they had a
blank day. It started to freeze again and continued till
March 9th, twenty-seven days. Still every one said it was
about the only frost they enjoyed. There never was any
doubt about it. We all know the proverb about hope
deferred. Even the most bigoted fox-hunter put on his
skates, and every one played hockey on the ice at Sudbury
and enjoyed herself or himself to the utmost.

They hunted later than usual this year on account of
the frost, and on April 18th had a rare good gallop with
rather an unusual ending. They found at Cross Hays,
Hoar Cross, ran over the Deer Park into the Brakenhurst,
back over the Deer Park, went in front of Hoar Cross Hall,
past the Bath, to the left of Billiard Table Coppice, into
Lord's Coppice. Then they ran all through the big woods.

1895]

END OF THE SEASON 1894-1895.

215

and hounds divided. Charles cast on over the Uttoxeter
main road to try the earths on the hill opposite Kingston
Wood, but "Sandy" Collumbell, one of the second horse-
men, thought some hounds had killed a fox in the big
woods. The Master told Charles, and, coming back to the
place, there lay the fox dead, sure enough.

The season ended on April 20th with a poor day at
New Inn.

Foxes found, a hundred and thirty-nine and a half
brace ; killed, thirty-two and a half brace ; to ground,
thirteen and a half brace.

ENTERED IN 1894.

Names.

SiKES.

Dams.

Brigand

Cobbler 1

Colonel

Shamrock

Demon

Weathergauge

W^pntlipvo'ano'p

Beeswing

Damper ^
Dunstall 1

Dashaway

Governess
Lady

Lighthouse

Discount]

Dora J

Gameboy

Ladylike \

Languid |

Lucky )
Lounger 2 \
Larksome 1 f

Lissome I
Lupin '
Maltster \
Miser I
Makeshift V

Mentor

Weathergauge

Weathergauge

Doubtful

Midnight 2 I
Muslin ^

Walton

Wanderer \
Wedlock

Whimsical

Witchcraft '

Densy
Dawdle

The numerals against hounds' names represent the prize winners.
Dogs, 6 couples ; bitches, 6 couples. Total, 12 couples.

There was nothing better in this entry than Languid,
who was still running in the pack during this season's
(1901) cub-hunting, while Dawdle's two couples proved a
valuable addition. Wanderer unluckily got lamed in his

216 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1895

stifle, and was not much use in the field on that account,
but he left some good puppies behind him, most of whom
perpetuate his light tan colour.

Sir Peter Walker's point-to-point races were held at
Ednaston. The light-weight race was won by Captain
Gordon, of the 12th Lancers, the heavy weight by Lord
Lovat, of the 1st Life Guards, who was hunting with the
Meynell from Mr. Bott's house at Somersal-Herbert.

The Meynell race was won by Mr. Power.

The new names in the subscription list were — H. S.
Brenchley, Derby; Whitaker Cantrell, Smalley Hall, Derby ;
James B. Chartres, Culland, Derby; W. E. Emraott,
Somersal House ; Colonel Jelf, Offcote Hurst, Ashbourne
(an old subscriber returned after an absence) ; Major
O'Shaughnessy, East Lodge ; A. Eadclifl:e, Hound Hill,
Marchington ; J. R. TroUope, Tutbury ; Miss White, New
Lodge ; W. D. Winterbottom, Holme Hall, Bakewell ;
Dr. Wilson, Derby.

1895-1896.

In October, 1895, there arrived with Mr. and Mi-s.
Heseltine and Mr. W. Fraser Tytler a quiet-looking gentle-
man from Essex, an old Etonian, answering to the name of
Caldecott. He was "lang but he was leet," and he was
chary of his words. He did not override the hounds, and
was voted a nice quiet sportsman— about the highest
compliment any one could be paid — by the huntsman.
At Christmas he had a wonderful grey horse called Bogie
(which had been one of Lord Lonsdale's five-hundred-
guinea flyers), and the pair took some catching. People
began to say that this quiet sportsman had the best of
hands, was an exceptionally fine horseman, was as bold as
a lion, and a very good comrade to boot. Since then he
has confirmed these good opinions, and has added the
testimony of the ladies to that of the men. In fact, at the
Puppy Show in 1900 he was selected to return thanks for
the former, and showed himself possessed of ready wit.

" All I know of the ladies," he said, " is, that, in the

1895] MR. CALDECOTT. 217

Meynell country at any rate, they take a good deal of
catching." A voice, "You have not caught one yet."
Needless to say, Mr. Caldecott is a bachelor. "I'm not
quite so quick as you," was the rejoinder, " but perhaps I
may do so, after all."

He had a capital chestnut horse. Prospector, a difficult
horse to stop and turn, but very fast and an undeniable
fencer. This horse cleared a post and rails in the Walton
country with a fifteen-foot dyke on the taking off side — a
remarkable performance. The place was measured next
day by Mr. Whittiugham, a very hard-riding farmer, who
lived close by. But if a friend had come to grief Mr.
Caldecott would have stopped in an instant, relinquishing
his pride of place, to go to his assistance. A fairer man
never rode over a country. He liked to be first, but there
was no jealousy about him. " The reason why Caldecott is
so often alone with hounds," some one once remarked, "is
that he gallops so." And the remark was a true one. He
has the gift of galloping which so few men possess. There is
another thing about him too, which sets him apart from the
crowd. He never says an unkind thing of any one, and,
more remarkable still, no one has a word to say against him.

This was a remarkable season, which will always be
known as the year of the great hill runs. It began with a
fox, in cub-hunting time, taking an unusual line on
October 28th from Darley Moor to Ambergate station,
where they killed him, after a good hunting run of two
hours and a quarter, and a nine-mile point. There were
some anxious moments when the hounds were in the
tunnel, but luckily no train came. Absolute, and her
rather plain daughter. Goodness, led nearly all the way.

Sport was decidedly good on the whole all the time up
to Christmas, and on December 16th came the first of the
hill runs mentioned above. They found at 2.20 in the
Lime-kiln Covert, Snelston, and hunted slowly, skirting
Raddle Wood, by Hope Wood (Norbury), down to the
railway, which was crossed opposite Calwich. Here they
turned right-handed along the river, which they crossed

218 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1895

below Suelston Eectory. From the river they went on
through Dydon Wood, by Stanton, and were run out of
scent at Bull Gap, near Swinscoe, close to Waterloo Wood,
after a good hunt of an hour and a quarter. Every one
said what a good fox it was, but no one expressed admira-
tion for the line of country. The Derby people had a ride
of about seventeen miles home, and others in proportion.

The new year opened with a blaze of good sport. On
Thursday, January 2nd, came another famous hill run.
After a short huut from the Mugginton Gorse to Breward's
Car, and losing their fox, hounds were taken to try for
one in a pit hole at Corkley, near the Lilies, They found
him, and he set his head for Breward's Car, but was turned
from this point and went right-handed below it, and ran
to Hold gate's Car. Thence he bore left-handed by Car
Hall, by Hulland Ward Gate, nearly to Bradley, and so on
by Bradbourne, Knockerdown, Carsington, right in front
of Hopton Hall, through the coverts there and Pitti
Wood, and was lost at Alton Manor, near Kirk Ireton,
after a good run of an hour and twenty minutes. People
were scattered all over the country. Hounds did it all
themselves, as Charles never really caught them till nearly
the end. There were only about fifteen actually with them
most of the time, amongst them being the Field Master,
Mr. Henry Boden and his two sons, Mr. Power on a four-
year-old,* and Mr. Maynard. Who the others were the
writer cannot remember. Though it was only half-past
oue hounds went home, being close on sixteen miles from
kennels. Most of the horses had had enough.

There was a grand ball at AUestree that night.

Saturday, January 4th, was eventful for the great run
from the Bath, Hoar Cross, to Shugborough, which Mr.
Kempson is not likely to forget. Hounds ran at a great
pace across Glass lane, on over the Blythe, passed close to
Forge Coppice, up over St. Stephen's Hill, Admeston,
where hounds ran clean away from every one, and were
never caught again till they got to the gardens at Blithfield.

* Did not oet to the eud.

1890] GREAT RUN FROM THE BATH, HOAR CROSS. 219

Going away from there, they ran through the top of
the long plantation in the Park. At the pit-hole beyond,
the fox was in the same field with the hounds ; had they
got a view he must have died. As it was, they changed
near Newton village and ran on through Coley to Shug-
borough, and lost him. Time, one hour, and a seven-mile
point ; very fast up to Blithfield. So ended a wonderful
week's sport, for both Monday and Tuesday were a long
way above the average.

On January 6th, after a meet at Osmaston, they had a
first-rate gallop from Boden's Thorns. The first forty
minutes was very fast. They ran a wide ring over the
Trusley brook up to Radburne Rough, and back to the
Thorns. Away again, without dwelling a moment, across
the brook again, up to Dalbury Woodhouse, right-handed
by Dalbury, recrossed the brook, ran by the Duck-pit to
the Great Northern Railway, and lost him by the Potlucks
near Mickleover — a capital hour and ten minutes.

Then came another hill run, of which " X," whose pen
was kept busy this season, has left us an account, with a
mention also of a previous one.

Field, January 25th, 1896 :—

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

The Meynell have had several remarkable runs this season, visiting outlying
parts of their conntry where hounds are seldom seen — for instance, on Thursday,
2nd inst. (Mercaston Stoop). The dog pack found their fox in a small spinny
below Flower Lilies, left Cross o' th' Hands and Hulland on the right, Bradley
on the left, over an upland gi-ass-line to Kuockerdown, Carsington, and Hopton,
a gradual ascent of six hundred feet in nine miles ; then turned right-handed to
near Alton Manor, where he was lost, after eighty minutes without a check — one
of the best hill runs that memory can recall.

Monday, 20th, from Brailsford Bridge, the sun shining brightly and no wind ;
tlie two Ednaston coverts, Car and Alder Car, were drawn blank, but as soon as
hounds were thrown into the osier-bed at the junction of Spinnyford and Bradley
brooks, their waving sterns showed that a fox was not far oft". The first music
we heard was Albert's " Gone away ! " at the Bradley end. The dog pack got
away on excellent terms, and drove him in a straight line midway between Bradley
and Hulland to the Lime-kiln Rough at Bradley — a three-mile point in twenty
minutes ; he did not enter the Rough, but passed the top end, and boldly faced
the steep hillsides of Atlow Whin, taking the exact line of the great run of
January 29th, 1894. Most of the heavy weights dismounted for the steepest

220 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1896

part, but it was hard work up to " Madge's Boose," four and a half miles from,
and nearly six hundred feet higher than, our starting-point. Those who were
behind here never had another chance of reaching hounds. The Boose is sur-
rounded by moderate-sized grass fields, inclosed by high limestone walls ; here
we left the 1894 line, and veered slightly left-handed to near Kniveton village,
and straight away, all downhill, leaving Bradbourne on the right, to Bradbourne
Mill. Following the course of the Bletch brook, the fox held straight on over
SitterloAv Farm, past Shaw's and Crakelow farms, where we were alternately
leading our horses up and down the unrideable slopes, but still straight on past
Newton Grange, leaving Tissington on our left. At the Grange Mr. Grindy told
us that he had several times this winter seen fox-footprints in the snow the same
line that we had come ; we were then several miles outside the usual hunting
country, but our fox evidently knew his point, and was no stranger to the district.
Still straight on, and ever mounting higher, past Bostern Grange, we came to a
sudden stop after one hour and twenty minutes, without a check, on the top of
the cliffs at Dovedale — eleven hundred feet above sea level — immediately above
the water ram which supplies Lord Hindlip's Allsopp estate, and almost within
sight of Keynard's Cave. We could see hounds several hundred feet below us,
still running along the river bank, but it was impossible for horses to follow.
Charles managed to scramble down on foot, and went on down stream towards
the Cave, but we knew that any minute our fox could find safety in one of the
old lead mines or in a fissure in the rocks, so were content to sit on the hilltop
and discuss sandwiches, giving our horses a much-needed rest. Measured on
the map it was a nine-mile point, and very little more than ten miles (also on
the map) as hounds ran, but the actual distance, up hill and down, must have
added several miles. There was no chance for second horses to get up. During
a long experience with the Meynell, I have never before seen horses called upon
to negotiate such steep hillsides, where ladies had to dismount ; our horses are
accustomed to fly their fences, and many did not relish the sharp-edged limestone
walls, but there was no time to hesitate or pick places, and about forty turned
up at the finish of our part of the fun. At two o'clock, after waiting forty
minutes to see if Charles returned, we all went home, still leaving a whip on the
summit holding Charles's horse.

This is the second run this month into districts where foxes are not preserved
by lando\vners, because they are supposed to be too far from kennels. Only a
month ago a fox shoot (!) was held in Dovedale ; five were slain. It seems
only too probable that some of these were equally at home in the best of our
hunting country. May we hope that in future they will meet with better
treatment ?

X.

Mr. Peacock lent Charles his horse and went home in
a hired trap. When he met Charles, who had walked all
the way up Dovedale, and asked him what he was going
to do next, the huntsman's answer was, " I'm going to have
a whisky and soda," which he did, at the Isaac Walton.

On Thursday, January 30th, a good gallop of thirty-
five minutes with an outlying fox, picked up near Mr.
Frank Newton's house, at Bearwardcote, and killed by

1896] THE FIRST DAY STEPHEN CARRIED THE HORN. 221

the barracks, at Normanton, exhausted all the laudatory
epithets known.

February 3rd was one of those nice, still, grey days,
when hounds ought to run and so seldom do. There was
a report that the Dovedale fox, which they had hunted on
January 20th, was back again in the Ednaston osiers. He
was getting to be so famous a character that a lot of foot
people went to see if he was at home, and of course dis-
turbed him. However, he only went as far as Bradley
Wood, where he was found. Away he went down the
hill, almost into Ashbourne, where he turned right-handed
across the Sturston brook, and ran by Ashbourne Grove,
turning left-handed as if for Fenny Bentley. Before
reaching it he travelled along the ridge, with Woodeaves
Mill in the hollow on the left, skirted Kniveton, crossed
Haven Hill, and left Bradbourne Mill just on the left.
Here there was a long check, the fox having been headed
^nd having run the road. Hitting it off, they hunted on
to within two fields of Brassington Rocks, where Charles,
no doubt thinking it useless to persevere with a travelling
hill fox, who had got fifteen minutes' law, stopped the
hounds. However, they had better luck next time, as
will be seen by " X's" account, which will appear presently.

Meanwhile, on February 13th, Charles having lost his
sister Eleanor, Stephen Burtenshaw, the first whipper,
carried the horn. They did nothing much at first, but
later on they had a good run with a twisting fox, and
sometimes two or three in front of them, from Parson's
<jorse. The line was through Radburne Rough, and on
as if for Trusley. A fresh fox jumped up en route, and
they ran on almost to Boden's Thorns, but turned to the
left by Dussy bed and the Ash, where the fox made a short
turn back, and then ran straight up the Trusley brook
side to Brailsford, being pulled down in the open near
Pool Head, after a capital run of one hour and forty
minutes. Every one, metaphorically, patted Steve on the
back, though the critics complained that his voice was not
good, and that he Avas not much of a horn-blower.

222 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1896

February 20tli was a memorable day, and tired all the
horses. Mr. "Johnny" Hargreaves, one of the hardest
men in England, rode his horse to a standstill before the
finish, and was left standing forlornly by his beaten steed.
As the hounds were going home, Charles said to Steve,.
"Never saw Mr. Fort on such a tired horse before." Yet
the Trusley brook was the last fence jumped, and the few
who had it all got over. They found at four o'clock at
Radburne Rough, and ran a ring, by Grange Fields, back
again, thirty minutes, very fast. Away they went by the
Duck pit, where Mr. Hargreave's horse stood still, on to
Bearwardcote in forty minutes. With diminished speed
they ran on to Grange Fields, when hounds were stopped
after running just sixty- three minutes. Though the run
was so crooked, it was so fast that it was voted excellent
fun, and had tried the capacities of a water-jumper to the
utmost. Only twenty-five started, and of these only
Mrs. Charrington, Messrs. Fort, Holland, Henry Boden,
Maynard, Peacocke, Caldecott, Charles, and Steve, were
at the finish.

Field, February 29th, 1896 :—

X'S ACCOUNT OF THE DAY'S RUN.

Monday, 24th, Osmaston Manor. — The hour was advertised for eleven, but,,
in consequence of a sharp frost overnight, hounds did not come till noon. In the
mean time Sir Peter Walker's heavily-laden dining-room table was drawn, and
well responded to the call. Hounds first drew Shirley Park. There were a few
opening notes, but nothing very definite, and a fox slipped away unchallenged on
the Ednaston side ; when Charles was told of it we were drawing the last osier-
bed towards Wyaston, and there was no encouragement to go back to a cold line.
Mr. Fort, who was in command, then gave the order for Bradley Wood, in the
hope of finding our old acquaintance of three weeks ago, who took us by Ash-
bourne Green and Bradbourne Mill to Brassington Rocks. No sooner were
hounds in covert than our friend came out on the top side, close to Charles ; he
popped back, went out at the bottom end, and ran at best pace by Sturston Mill
to Ashbourne Green, straight on due north, leaving Knivetou on the right, to the
third milestone on the Ashbourne and Bakewell road ; here he ran the main road
for half a mile, and the pace slackened, or the fun would have been reserved for
the few who managed to get a good start from Bradley. Just before reaching
Bradbourne Mill he left the road on the left hand, and we thought we were again
bound for Dovedale, but at the mill he turned sharp right-handed, and up the
bottom of Havenhill Dale about half a mile ; opposite Bradbourne village he again

1896] THE GREAT HILL RUN TO ELTON. 223

faced due north, and about half the field, with Charles, had to lead down tlie
precipitous hillside. At Bradbourne Hall our fox had scaled the high wall next
the road, where only a few of the hounds could follow. Charles took them round,
and at once hit off the line below the church, and " forrard on " at a great pace
almost parallel with the Bakewell road, to the " Black Eocks," within one mile
(east) of Ballidon village, but in Brassington parish ; it was a pretty sight to see
hounds climb the summit — much too steep for man or horse to follow.

Up to this point the run had been a repetition of the line of three weeks ago,
when that run ended at these rocks ; but on Monday hounds threaded in and out
of the rocks without dwelling a moment, and down on the north side to the eighth
milestone on the Ashbourne and Bakewell road, being the same point where he
crossed this road in the big run of January 29th, 1894. Leaving Ballidon Moor
and Hoe Grange farms on the left, we met with nothing but limestone walls, and
crossed under the High Peak Railway, on the boundary line of Brassington parish,
by a low arch (about fifty yards through it), over Gallowtree lane, Minninglow,
and the old Roman road, parallel with the railway to Mouldridge lane ; here the
fox again straightened his neck due north, leaving Pike Hall on the left, to the
old Newhaven and Cromford turnpike. He ran the road for a quarter of a mile,
and turned right-handed at the Winster guide-post into Wisels Wood, the first
covert of any sort he had touched for ten miles; there was notlmig to shelter him,
and he left, before our an-ival, close to where he entered, crossed the two main
roads, over what is still known as Elton Common, but it seemed to us about
one-third of the land is occupied by stone walls ; we were alwaj's in the air or
dodging old lead mines. After about two miles of this work our fox had
evidently gained upon us, and we lost him at three o'clock, one small field from
Elton village, and within a mile of where we lost our fox in January, 1894.
The distance measured on the map is twelve miles (a ten-mile pouit), but, as
hounds ran, at least fifteen miles — only one place (the rocks) where we could not
follow hounds, and we did not cross half a dozen ploughs. So ended our third
excursion this season into the Peak. An examination on the map of the lines
taken on each of these runs — as well as in January, 1894 — would lead any one
to believe that on each occasion we followed the same fox ; if so, may he
summer well, and again try conclusions with the Meynell bitches " next back
end." Hounds were twenty-two miles from kennels as the crow flies, and many
were the inquiries as to the nearest road and distance back to " England." Some
at once made for Bakewell in the vain hope of finding horse-boxes to take them
to Derby or beyond, others to Rowsley, where I hear three boxes were found,
and those horses were in Derby by 6.30. Those who went by Wmster to
Matlock were less fortunate, and had to ride home, none less than twenty miles.

A few short weeks and our sport will be over, but I think I may venture to
describe it (from personal experience) as the best season's sport with the
Meynell during the last thirty years. We have only been twice stopped by
frost, have had no blank days, and from beginning until now have not chopped
a fox.

X.

Field, March 14th, 1896 :—

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.
Thursday, March 5th, Bumaston Hall. Whilst Mr. D'Arcy Clarke was
entertaining all comers, the principal topic of conversation was the fate of the
good fox which has three times this season taken us up into the Peak, the last

224 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1896

occasion being ^Monday, Februaiy 24th, when we lost him at Elton village.
There had been rumours that a keeper, the same afternoon, saw what he thought
to be a mad dog with its tongue hanging out. As the muzzling order is in force
in that district, he forthwith shot it, and then discovered it was a hunted fox !
It is, unfortunately, confirmed by a letter from the keeper to Mr. Fort, that he
Khot a fox that afternoon within a mile of where we lost him, close to a well-
known rabbit warren ; but he states he had no idea at the time it was a hunted
fox, and it must be admitted the locality is far away from any meet of the
hounds. There remains just a hope that it may not have been our stout-hearted
friend, but we shall know on Monday next, when we again meet at Osmaston
Manor.

To return to Thursday, 5th, we found at once in Bumaston Gorse (soon to be
cut down and added to Burton Sewage Farm), ran very fast through Bumaston,
crossed the Derby and Uttoxeter road near Etwall Cheese Factory, on to the
Ashe, and nearly to Sutton-on-the-llill, turned left-handed to Hilton, and forward
to Egginton Gorse, to this point one of the best thirty-seven minutes of the
season. He was quickly away from Egginton, across the sewage farm, and close
to Bumaston Gorse, where we found him, but did not enter, keeping on past
Bumaston Hall, south of Mickleover Asylum, across the meadows towards the
Pastures, leaving Mickleover village on the left, and was eventually given up
close to Littleover, after ninety minutes over a splendid line of country.
We afterwards heard that he went on to Old Norraanton village, and was seen
barely able to crawl ; he was a right good fox, and deserved to save his brush.
Foimd an afternoon fox in Hell Meadows Covert, ran across a good line towards
Etwall, and killed, after a fairly good run, at the foot of a steep bank he was
unable to climb, near the Ashe. It may be mentioned that the wind was all
day blowing nearly a hurricane, but hounds seemed able to run equally fast xi\)
or down wind, and gave us a splendid day's sport.

Monday, 9th, Osmaston Manor. Our worst fears as to the fate of our hill fox
appear to be realized ; all his old haunts were visited , but found tenantless.
Hounds did not find till we got to Reeve's Moor, Longford ; ran from there to
Longford Car, where we disturbed two others — not much done.

Thursday, 12th, Dalbury Lees. Boden's Thorns and Parson's Gorse did not
respond. Three foxes were found in Radburne Rough ; one paid the penalty,
another gave a good fifty minutes' run, though not a very straight one, by
Langley Common, Parson's Gorse, back to Langley, and was eventually lost near
Nun's Fields. Sutton Gorse, usually a safe find, was empty, but Mr. Newton
had tidings of one in a newly-made stick heap at Dalbury, and after much
persuasion he was forced to quit, and ran as if Radburne was his point, but he
turned towards Bearwardcote on to Etwall Gas Works, Highfields, nearly to
Sutton Gorse, then turned due north and at a very good pace up to Radburne
Comer, near Old Park House. It was now past five o'clock, and I am unable to
say how the run finished.

X.

They ran to Rookliills, back, by Dalbury, to the
Duck pit, and so, by Dalbury again, nearly to the Rough,
where they lost him. So " X " did not lose much. He is to
the fore asfain soon after with an excellent account of

1896] GOOD RUN FROM BENTLEY CAR. 225

March 16th, when there were such a lot of falls. He is
quite right about the season being such a good one — the
best, he says, in thirty years' experience. The writer is pre-
pared to go one better, after a century's experience — from
written evidence — and to say that it is doubtful if there
has been a better in the whole history of the Meynell.

Field, March 21st, 1896 :—

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

Monday, March 16th. Met at Darley Moor. A wild and stormy morning-
one of several consecutive days of old-fashioned March weather — did not improve
our prospects of sport, and, as we knew that foxes were none too plentiful in this
favourite district of the Meynell country, doubts were freely expressed as to where
we should find.

On our first visit to Snelston this season a good litter of cubs was found, but
probably they shifted their quarters, as we have not since been so fortunate.
As usual, the Snelston coverts were first visited to-day, but Charles's efforts met
with no response. The Cubley coverts having been recently replanted, it was not
surprising to have a similar experience. Sudbury Coppice was next called upon.
Even in a covert of seventy-eight acres, foxes, at the end of this remarkably open
season, soon take a hint to move on, and to-day one got away at the bottom
end in a storm of wind and rain, with only one of the Meynell bitches in
attendance. No time was lost in getting the rest of the pack on the line, but
hounds were only able to carry it just short of Cubley village. The prospects
of getting a good gallop were now none too rosy, but still Sapperton remained to
retrieve the fortunes of the day, and this good covert (sacred to the memory of
Trevor Yates, who followed the pack for nearly fifty seasons, and at one
time knew every hound in the pack) has so often of late done good service,
that our hopes died away when, after careful drawing, it, too, answered in the
negative. However, the unexpected, which so often happens, came to our
rescue to-day, and hounds were no sooner thrown into Bentley Car than a fox
was immediately found. It was now a quarter-past four, and all but the keenest
followers had gone home ; the field did not number more than thirty all told, but
their patience was well rewarded. Again, one hound got a lengthy start, but was
overtaken by her comrades before any mischief was done, and the pack settled
beautifully together, taking tlie line up a stiff" ploughed field, and across the lane
leading from Alkmonton to Church Broughton, and on at a good pace throughout
the entire length of the narrow Alkmonton Bottom coverts, and, crossing the
Longford and Boylestone lane, we were now sailing over some of the very best
of our gi'ass country. The Dairy-house Spinny was passed on our left hand,
and here the well-known collie dog, which has more than once been mistaken for
a fox, was strongly in evidence ; he appeared to have had a turn with our fox,
and caused him to make a sudden movement to the right, but an equally sudden
left-handed turn brought us within two fields of Potter's Gorse, for many years the
pride of another good sporting tenant farmer, whose name it will always bear, though
he has long since joined the majority. Headed away from Potter's, he turned
up-wind, and now we were in for the cream of this good run ; the Boylestone lane
was crossed two fields from Bentley Brickyard, and then, for less than a minute,

VOL. II. Q

226

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

hounds came to the one slight check, caused by the line being foiled by sheep
over the brook. Hitting it off forward, they ran well to the Durable, between
Cubley and Bentley, crossed the lane close to Bentley Hall, and very fast along
the Bentley brook to Stydd Hall ; we naturally thought Holly Wood was his
point, but probably the bitch pack were pressing him too closely up-wnd, as,
when within a few fields of the covert, he turned sharp right-handed, and crossed
the road between Edlaston and Yeaveley ; then leaving Rodsley Gorse and village
on his left, he was viewed only one field in front of hounds, crossing the Booth
Hay Farm. Longford Car was in front, and he just managed to reach that
sanctuary, where he saved his brush in a friendly rabbit-hole at 5.20 p.m., just
sixty-five minutes after leaving Bentley Car. Hounds ran fast throughout the
eleven or twelve miles, with only the check of one minute, and the way the bitch
pack turned with their fox, even when he was twisting his worst, was a treat to
witness. Falls were numerous. Mr. Fort, the field master, came down, and,
although the horse appeared to tread all over him, rose none the worse. Mrs.
Charrington (I think the only lady who lived through the run) also had a fall ;
Charles had a spill, but was soon righted ; and it would perhaps be superfluous
to add that throughout the run no one was nearer hounds from first to last than
Charles Leedham.

X.

The new names in the subscription list were — E.
Caldecott, Foston ; E. Heseltine ; J. F. Lort Phillips and
the Hon. Mrs. Lort Phillips, Old Park House, Radburne,
vice Captain and Mrs. Dugdale, gone abroad; R. R.
Micklethw^ait, Needwood House.

p]NTERED IN 1895.

JJames.

S..S.

Dams.

Adjutant?

Mentor ...

Colonel

Arrogant

Amazon S

Chartley

Chastity

Ladv

Charlotte '

Delegate

Marvel Doubtful

Duplicate

Drastic \
Deputy )
Definite V

Mentor j Dangerous

Marvel Dashawav

Daylight I
Discord /

Ghastly

Gaiety

Hermit 1 i

Herschell

Hasty 3 )
Leveller 2 -\
Lapidist /

Colonel

Lancer

Warwickshire Hermit

Colonel

Genuine
Glowworm

Spotless
Ladyblush

Lovesick 1 \
Likely -^

1896] MR. CHARLES GARNETT AND MR. HARTLEY. 227

ENTERED IN 1895— continued.

IJames.

Sires.

Dams.

Ladas )
Lowlander [

Grafton Dorimont

Lighthouse

Sensitive
Cowslip

Comet

Lozenge 2 '

Striver

Speedy?

Safety S

Woodford 3?
Wanton S

Shamrock

Straggler

Weathergauge

The numerals against hounds' names represent the prize winners.
Dogs, 8 couples; bitches, 7 couples. Total, 15 couples.

In 1895, Mr. Charles Garnett, who had been second
whipper-in to Mr. Herbert Peel's hounds at Calveley, in
Cheshire, in 1891-1892, and first whipper-in, 1892-1893,
came to stay with Mr. Hartley at the Rookery, Rocester.
He won the Harrington Cup on Mrs. Hartley's Leotard in
1896, and the Light-weight race at Sir Peter Walker's
Point-to-Point steeplechases at Ednaston, in 1898, on
Joan. He has won races all over the country since then,
but these were his earliest successes, and the ones more
particularly connected with the Meynell. In 1897-1898
he went to whip-in to Mr. Charles Paget at his old
quarters at Calveley, and carried the horn one day in the
Master's absence, killing a brace of foxes. At the end of
the season he came back to the Meynell country as agent
and secretary to Mr. Walter Boden, but can still find time
to ride a race or furnish neck and spurs if any one has a
young one or something with a temper which wants
riding.

Mr. Hartley, with whom he stayed when he first came
to the country, used to be the best welter weight in the
Albrighton country, when he rode only seventeen stone.
He has often given a good account of himself since then
on very moderate horses. When he rode a good nineteen
stone, a lady once said seriously that he rode nearly a ton,
and the statement was accepted, till at last some one said,
*' Why, a fat bullock does not weigh that, and surely no

228 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. C189&

horse could carry a bullock, dead or alive, on his back."
It was then discovered that the lady was confounding
stones with hundredweights. In spite of his great weight,
however, he was very bad to beat at most athletic exercises,
being a beautiful dancer, and first-rate tennis player — in
fact, he and his brother had a match to decide which of
them should play for the championship. The brother was
the winner of the trial, and also, I think, of the champion-
ship. Mr. Hartley himself won the polo championship
cup in the early days of the game. He married Miss
Emmeline Campbell, of Woodseat, a fine horsewoman, who,
however green or indifierent her mount may be, is usually
not far from the hounds. She has had some very good
ones, though — notably Leotard, and Joan, who, besides
beating twenty-eight competitors in Sir Peter Walker's
light-weight race in 1898, won the Harrington Cup in
1899. Her brother, Mr. Campbell, of Woodseat, is a
capital sportsman, and was a regular follower of the
Meynell for many years, till a very bad fall two years ago
caused such injuries to his head as to prevent him
mounting a horse again to this day. His father, who
practically built the present house at Woodseat on the
site of an older one — at least, he added to and altered the
old house past recognition — was one of the members
for Stafi'ordshire and also High Sheriff".

l«96] ( 229 )

CHAPTER XVIII.

MR. fort's last season AS DEPUTY- MASTER — ACCOUNTING
FOR SEVEN FOXES IN ONE DAY — SIR PETER WALKER's
POINT-TO-POINT RACES — MR. FORT's RESIGNATION —
HUNT MEETING — THE LADIEs' CRICKET MATCH.

1896-1897.

This season suffered by comparisou with the one which
preceded it. The latter was extraordinary, the former was
nothing out of the common. Moreover, it was the last
one of Mr. Fort's Deputy-Mastership. He had filled a
difficult position with tact and judgment, and fortune had
smiled on his term of office, while that man must have
been thin-skinned indeed to whom any word of his had
given offence. A pleasanter or more courteous Master no
one could hope to go hunting with.

As early as October 3rd an old fox afforded a capital
gallop of forty minutes, fast, from Bagot's Park by Hart's
Coppice, and the Hare's Back, through Lord's Coppice,
straight through the Woods without a check, by Housalem
Coppice, just touching Kingston Wood, left-handed over the
Blythe, through Chartley Moss, to ground near Grindley
Station. If the rest of the season had been up to this
standard there would have been little to complain of.

On November 10th, when the meet was at Newton
village, six horses were badly cut in their fetlock-joints by
sinking through a broken drain in the culvert of the
hunting-gate at Swan's Moor. Mr. Gisborne's horse had
to be shot, and Mr. Power's was permanently disabled.

230 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1896

There was a pretty good hunt of an hour and a half after-
wards from Coley Gorse by BHthfield Gorse, through the
gardens at Blithfield, across the Park, by Newton Hurst,
through Duckley Wood and Forge Coppice, losing their
fox near Ox Close Wood at Blithbury.

November 16th was a good day, and there were no
end of falls. Mrs. Charrington had the misfortune of her
horse breaking his back. They found in the Hare Park
and ran for forty minutes, losing near Cubley. Then they
found again at Doveridge, ran a ring round about there,
and lost. An outlying fox near Marston Park led them a
sharp burst by Cubley, and was killed. But the best of the
fun was late in the afternoon with another outlier in a
cabbage-field near Hope Wood. Him they ran well for
forty-two minutes through Raddle Wood, by Cubley Car
and Alkmonton church, where they turned left-handed by
Stydd Hall, and on to Cubley Gorse, where hounds were
stopped at dark.

Up to Christmas sport was fair; there was a great
deal of mange about, and foxes were not over plentiful in
some parts. Frost stopped hunting from December 16th
to the 26th, otherwise there had been but one or two days
when they could not go.

After Christmas there was a great deal of rain and the
country rode deep — at least, as deep as it ever does.
Sport was just about on an average with most years, but
there was nothing much to boast of up to the frost which
lasted for thirteen days, from January 16th to February
9th. When the frost broke up there were terrible floods,
so much so that people going to Chartley on February 9 th
could not get over Blythford, but had to go back and
round by Loxley.

A Eadburne day, on February 11th, produced the run
of the season. It was, however, a disastrous day for the
bulk of a large field, for hounds slipped every one from the
Rough except the Squire and his daughter, Mrs. Charles
Charrington, Captain Fitz-alan Manners, Charles, and
Steve. They simply raced over the Trusley brook.

1897] ACCOUNTING FOR SEVEN FOXES. 231

through Boden's Thorns, nearly to Longford and back to
somewhere near Trusley, where Charles stopped them.
People wandered about looking for them all over the
country, and only about twenty ever found them again.
This very happy little party enjoyed a rare good gallop
from Sutton Gorse, to the right of the Dussy-bed by Crop-
o'-Top, to the Spath, through it, and away, leaving Sutton
church on the right, by Crop-o'-Top, through Boden's
Thorns, Keeve's Moor, by Shirley Mill, through the
Warren at Shirley Park, to the Holly Wood, Snelston,
where they lost their fox, after a splendid run of very
nearly two hours.

The 20th February must be nearly a record in running
foxes to ground, for no less than five succeeded in getting
in. They killed a brace into the bargain. Accounting
for three brace and a half in one day was not so bad.
They had a good run with the last one from the Brakeu-
hurst. He went across the deer park, to the right of the
Hall, through the Birchwood, past Hart's Coppice, and on
without touching the woods by the High Trees, straight
through Floyer's Coppice, and nearly to Woodford. Here
he turned back right-handed, left Smallwood Manor on his
right, climbed Buttermilk Hill, and got to ground in a
tree near the High Trees in Bagot's Park, after a good hunt
of an hour and a quarter. An account of this day duly
appeared in the Field.

' Field, February 27th, 1897 :—

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

This pack, after three or four disappointments owing to frost, were able on
Saturday, the 20th, to meet at Six Eoad Ends, after a purely woodland hunt,
and not quite in favour with the " steeplechasers," though, perhaps, this turned
out to be one of the most exceptional day's hunting the pack ever expeiienced.
The hounds were first thrown into the Greaves, and very soon a halloa on the
Hanbury side sent us all galloping to Hanbury church, to find that hounds
had already marked one fox to ground, and were on the line of another, which,
after a ring on the meadows, also went to ground in the Coton Bank earths. We
then drew beyond Draycott Cliff, and finding immediately, the hounds by them-
selves ran back on the same line to the same earth. Trotted back once more,
and found again, and our fox this time found safety in a tree, two fields below
the woods on the Houndhill side. Mr. Bass then kindly decided to give us a chance

232 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1897

of a gallop in the open, so we trotted a couple of miles to Mr. Morris Richardson's
beautiful little new gorse at Kingstanding, wliere a couple of foxes were at home,
and after a little bustling one faced the open, but was soon run into, Jackson's
Bank was then the order, and as hounds got near the Brakenhurst (which, owing
to the strict preservation by the Hon. Mrs. Meynell Ingram, is a great stronghold
for foxes), they were soon in full cry, and giving their fox no law, they ran
into him in ten minutes. Hearing a halloa away on the Park side, " Charles "
lost no time over his dead game, but galloped away, and had his hounds on the
line at once, and gave us one of the best runs of the season, going over the small
inclosures below Hoar Cross Church, on to Birch Wood, where a slight check
gave us a chance ; but hounds soon got the line again, and without any hesita-
tion, went straight by Bromley Park, Hart's Coppice, over Bagot's Park, to the
Parkside Gate, into the open to Floyer's Coppice, as if for Loxley Bank, but at
Scounslow Green our good fox changed his mind, as if he preferred Woodford
Rough for a shelter, but leaving it on his left, he took us over Smallwood Manor,
and back to Buttermilk Hill, where hounds, though close to him,'were at fault for
a few minutes, but soon on to his line again. Over the earths here, they ran him
by the end of Dogkennel Wood, into Bagot's Park, where he saved his brush by
crawling into a hollow oak tree. An hour and a quarter over a fine hunting
country, nearly all grass. Hounds never raced, but kept going at what one may
call " music pace," and at the finish horses were all a bit cooked, and chanced
the gaps. Two kills, and five to ground in one day, in February, has never
occurred before in my hunting experience. A unique day for the ten who saw
the last run.

Hawk-Eye.

New names ou subscription list : J. H., L. A., and D.
Carlisle, Hound Hill, Marcliington ; Colonel Cotes, Petch-
ford Hall, Shrewsbury (third year) ; W. W. Elsom ; Wm.
Howie, Foston ; Capt. Johnstone, The Carabineers ; Capt.
W. T. Holland, Hollyhurst, Barton-under-Needwood ;
W. Mills, Densy Lodge, Sudbury, vice T. Kempson, gone
abroad ; T. E, Mousley, Fair Oak House, Rugeley ; A.
Payne-Gallwey, Castle Hill, Bakewell ; L. W. Jelf Petit,
Lichfield ; Capt. Roy, the Barracks, Derby ; H. J. C.
Smith, the (Carabineers ; Col, Spilling, Oak Cottage, Sud-
bury; C. C. H. Stepney, Quarndon ; W. T. Wailes, Black-
wall.

On Wednesday, March 25th, Sir Peter Walker's Point-
to-Point races were held. " The Meynell Red- Coat Race,"
says the Field, " attracted sixteen runners, and resulted in
the victory of Mr, Power's Monte (owner), nominated by
Mrs. W. Boden, while Mr. W. D. Winterbottom's Lady
May (Mr. Walter Schwind), nominated by Mrs. Winter-
bottom, was second, and Mr. G. Crompton's Brer Rabbit

Point = to -Point Race,

March 26, 1897.

From a painting by Basil Nightingale.

In the possession of

Sir Peter Walker.

1. Captain H. Brenchley on Ringthorpe.

2. Captain J. M. Gordon on Red Abbot.

3. Mr. R. Boden on Victor.

4. Lord Lovat on Musician.

5. Mr. G. Saunders-Davies on Knockboy.

6. Marquis of Tullibardine on Savoy.

7. Mr. Schwind on Carlton.

8. Mr. W. T. Roden on Clasp.

^"M^^

A'

jqnoriianiH no ^slrfansiS -H rii&iq&D t

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vodalDoniH no p.aivfiQ-eiafanuBS O iM g

XovsS no snJbiJsdilluT lo aiupisM .d

noJhfiD no bniwrio8 .iM .^

,,;,cl"> no nohof! T W tM .8

l^

\>l

■^

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^\fiTil

1897] SIR PETER WALKER'S POINT-TO-POINT RACES. 233

(owner), nominated by Miss Crompton, was third. The
latter made most of the running, but a quarter of a mile
from home was passed by Monte, who won by three
lengths. The Light Weight race brought out thirteen
runners, and was won by Mr. Lort PhilHps' Ringthorpe
(Mr. Brenchley), nominated by Mrs. Lort Phillips ; Capt.
J. M. Gordon's Red Abbot (owner), nominated by Miss
Jane Thornewill, being second, and Mr. Elwes' Victor
(Mr. R. Boden), nominated by Miss D. Holden, third. It
was a good race to the ford, jjut Victor lost ground badly
from that point, and Ringthorpe won easily by six lengths.
The Welter Race was contested by a field of sixteen horses.
Mr. H. S. Brenchley's Minstrel (owner), nominated by Mrs.
H. Ratcliff, gained a very easy victory, being followed home
by Mr. J. S. Steward's Pirate (Mr. Greville Clayton),
nominated by Mrs. J. R. Walker, and Mr. Walter Thorn's
Jester (owner), nominated by Mrs. Winterbottom. Sir
Peter Walker presented bangles to the nominators of the
winners in the Light Weight and Welter races."

Mr. Crompton, the owner and rider of Brer Rabbit, the
third in the Meynell race, is the son of ]\Ir. Crompton of
the Lilies, between Duffield and HuUand. He is not only
a good man to hounds, with a great knowledge of hunting,
but is one of the best game shots in England. He is also
an excellent caricaturist. Mr. Brenchley came to the
Meynell country from Pembrokeshire, in the season of
1894-1895, and hunted from Derby. He went well,
especially on one that Mr. Brace gave him, and is usually
in a good place when hounds run. To travesty the lines
in the Tar Wood run, it can be said with truth —

"And Brenchley ready still to sell
The nag that carried him so well."

In the same year Mr. Tinsley came from Cheshire to
take the Dove Valley Harriers, which Sir Peter Walker
had given up. There is no better sportsman or rider to
hounds, nor a cheerier comrade, than Mi'. Tinsley, and his
hounds show excellent sport. He lives close to the kennels

234 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1897

at Mayfield, where there is a Roman encampment, of
which he is fond of telling a good story. He said to his
man, one day, pointing to it —

"They say it is an old Roman encampment."

" I'm sure it is ! " the other answered. " For it was
made by either Shakespeare or Oliver Cromwell ! "

In the season of 1896-1897, the three Messrs. Carlisle
came to Houndhill, Marchington. They are all devoted to
hunting, and the youngest, Mr. Douglas Carlisle, who is a
very good cricketer, was in the Winchester eleven.

To return, however, to the affairs of the Hunt. At the
end of this season, Mr. Fort, after due consideration,
decided to resign his position as Field Master. An
account of the Hunt meeting which followed this step is
given in the Field.

Field, April 17th, 1897 :—

THE MEYNELL HUNT.
Eesignation of the Deputy-Master.

The annual meeting of subscribers, members, and farmers of the Meynell
Hunt was held at the Town Hall, Uttoxeter, on Wednesday. Sir Francis
Burdett was voted to the Chair, and those present included Lord Waterpark, Mr.
R. Fort (Deputy-Master), Mr. A. C. Duncombe, Mr. W, Bodeu, Mr. F. C. Newton
(hon. sec), Mr. F. W. Peacock, Mr. W. Power, Mr. W. Nuttall, Mr. Holden, Mr.
Caldecott, Capt. Dawson, Col. O'Shaughnessy, Mr. Gisborne, Mr. Jervis Smith,
Capt. H. C. Holland, and a number of farmers. The balance-sheet for the year
ending October 31st, 1896, was presented and accepted. The revenue account
showed to credit a surplus balance forward of over £50, and subscriptions to the
amount of £3884 16s. \d., making a total of £3935 10s. 3id On the debtor side
were payments to the Master (Mr. Hamar Bass, M.P.), £2000 ; establishment
amount, £136 ; coverts, £334 ; compensation, £690 ; finds, £184 ; repayment of
mortgage, £200 ; and other minor payments, leaving a surplus on tliis amount
of £203 13s. 6fZ. The year's balance-sheet showed assets £702, and liabilities
£200 less. The balance in hand standing to the ball account was £51, though
there was only apparently a bare surplus on the ball of February last.

Lord Scarsdale, Mr. Grant, Mr. Lionel Gisborne, and Sir R. Gresley were
elected to the vacancies on the Hunt committee. — Mr. Fort proposed a vote of
thanks to the landowners, covert owners, and the farmers whose land they
had hunted over. They had found as many foxes as in any previous season, and
they must thank the gentlemen who gave them such facilities for sport. They
must consider themselves lucky in the way in which farmers met them. Con-
sidering that there were very few hunting farmers in the country, it was
wonderful how cordially they welcomed the Hunt when hounds crossed their
land. — Mr. A. C. Duncombe, in seconding the vote, said that though there was
little barbed wire in the country, he believed there would be less, and they really

mi] MR. FORT'S RESIGNATION. 235

had a great deal to thank the farmers for. He was sure the tenant farmers were
favourable to hunting, and would give thera all the assistance they could. The
vote was carried, and on the motion of Mr. Oswald Mosley, seconded by Mr.
Prince, a vote of thanks was passed to the Masters of the Hunt.— Mr. Fort, in
reply, said he and Mr. Bass had done their best to show sport. It had been
quite a labour of love to himself to do what he had done, and he thanked every
one for the sport they had helped them to enjoy. He was sorry to say that he
was unable to go on in the position he had hitherto held. Mr. G. L. White, a
tenant farmer, asked the Deputy-Master to reconsider his decision. He had come
to the meeting with the understanding that the question would be fully con-
sidered at this meeting. There was a report in circulation that both Mr. Bass
and Mr. Fort were resigning. He did hope, if such a report were true, they
would both reconsider their decisions. They had had some good masters
before, but none better than the present ones. Speaking for the Derbyshire
farmers, he felt sure, and he knew, that the masters always gave the utmost
consideration to the farmers in the Hunt. — Sir Francis Burdett said Mr. Hamar
Bass had not resigned, but Mr. Fort had placed his resignation in the hands of
the committee some time ago. — Mr. Fort said he was afraid he could not
reconsider his decision.

A meeting of the committee and subscribers to the Hunt was held at Derby,
on Thursday, to discuss Mr. Fort's resignation.

In the same issue of the Field the followiug ap-
peared : —

At a meeting of the landowners, covert owners, and
subscribers of five pounds and upwards to the Meynell
Hunt held at St. James's Hotel, Derby, on Monday, Mr.
Hamar Bass tendered his resignation as Master, and it was
accepted. The meeting was a private one, but a general
meeting will be held on Friday, April 23rd, to appoint a
successor. Every one will regret that a change of Master-
ship is necessary, but the Meynell has been singularly free
from those chops and changes which are so frequently
incidental to subscription packs. The Hunt by this time
was divided into two camps, one in favour of Mr. Bass
resigning, and the other wishing him to withdraw his
resignation. A meeting was held at Derby, at which
the matter was decided. The following is a report of it : —

General Meeting held at St. James's Hall, Derby,
Friday, April 23rd, 1897.

An important meeting was held of the members of the
Meynell Hunt, to appoint a Master in the place of Mr.

236 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1897

Bass, who has resigned. Colonel Levett presided over a
large attendance, which included the Earl of Harrington,
Lord Scarsdale, Lord Bagot, Lord Waterpark, Sir Charles
Forster, Sir 0. Mosley, Sir R. Hardy, Sir John Smith,
Colonel Cavendish, Colonel O'Sliaughnessy, Captain Clowes,
Hon. A. N. Curzon, Hon. George Allsopp, M.P., Major
A. C. Duncombe, Rev. C. J. Boden, Messrs. John Gretton,
M.P., R. Fort, L. Gisborne, W. Boden, W. Bass, W. Power,
J. H. Gascoyne, W. Cox (Brailsford), A. Dawson, Camp-
bell, J. Smith, Peacock, Holland, Gumming, C. Hartley,
Winterbottom, W. Woolley, F. Bateman, R. Sale, J. Shaw,
jun., R. Waite, Kempson, Hellaby, White, E. Holden,
R. H. Ratcliflf, A. Radcliffe, A. Walkden, Brenchley,
A. P. Heywood, G. Meynell, E. Canner, Dr. O'Callaghan,
J. H. Smith, F. C. Newton (Secretary), etc.

The Chairman said that the large attendance at that
meeting showed very clearly the interest which was taken
in the Meynell Hunt. He had attended a good many
gatherings of this kind, but had never seen a Hunt meet-
ing to equal that. (Hear, hear.) Whatever might be the
result of the proceedings, he hoped that the same good
feeling might exist amongst them in the future as had
existed in the past. (Applause.)

Lord Harrington said that although he lived on the
borders of the Meynell country, he could not remain idle
when he thought that an injustice had been done to a
brother Master of hounds. (Applause.) At the meeting
of the Hunt, which was held last week, the question was
raised as to whether Mr. Bass should continue the Master-
ship or not. Such a question ought never to have been
discussed at that meeting. It was called simply for the
purpose of electing a Deputy-Master. Farmers were not
allowed to be present at all, and the landowners were not
warned that this very important subject was likely to arise.
It might be said that Mr. Bass himself consented to a vote
being taken — but he had no right to do so. He took
the country for three years, and one year only having
passed, he had to consult the landowners and tenants before

1897] HUNT MEETING. 237

lie could resign. (Hear, hear.) It mattered very little to
him (Lord Harrington) who was the Master, but he did
like fair play (applause), and for a number of men to elect
a man to a position, and for a portion of that number to
vote him out again, was not fair play. (Hear, hear.)
There had, no doubt, been a certain amount of grumbling
in the Meynell Field of late. There were some people
who thought they ought to have a run every day, and also
that they ought to be able to run after every fox ; but
these were young men, who, if they only kept their eyes
open and their mouths shut, and gave the hounds a little
fair play, would have a much better chance of getting
their wish. Any one who remembered the Meynell
Hounds when Mr. Bass took them would agree with him
that they were at a very low ebb indeed. The hounds to-
day were as good a pack as there was in the country.
(Applause.) They were the best pack of hounds he had
ever seen in their work in the field. This had been
brought about by Mr. Bass, who had taken a great deal
of trouble to bring the hounds to perfection, and had
spent a great deal of money upon them. To Mr. Bass
they owed a great debt of gratitude (applause), and it
would be most ungrateful and most uncourteous to vote
him out of his present position without giving every soul
in the Meynell Hunt an opportunity of recording his
opinion. He trusted that nothing that was said that
afternoon would give offence to anybody, or raise a feeling
of discord in the Hunt. (Hear, hear.) They must all
remember that whoever was elected Master he would not
give satisfaction to everybody, and he had pleasure in
proposing, " that the resolution passed at the last meeting,
accepting Mr. Bass's resignation, be rescinded."

Mr. White, as a tenant farmer, seconded the resolution
with the greatest possible pleasure, feeling, as he did, that
Mr. Bass had been very badly treated. He maintained
that what was done at the last meeting of the Hunt was
not in order; that the question of the Mastership was
not on the agenda, and that the whole matter ought not

238 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1897

to have been discussed without giving the tenant farmers,
the landowners, and other subscribers an opportunity of
being present. There was no Master of hounds who had
done more for the Meynell country than Mr. Bass, and he
(Mr. White) held a petition, signed by nearly five hundred
of the largest tenant farmers of the Meynell country, who
were of the same opinion. It was stated that Mr. Bass
had not subscribed much more money than any one else
to the Hunt ; but Mr, Bass had written stating that
during the ten years he had been Master it had cost him
more than two thousand five hundred pounds a year,
which did not include the purchase of horses, keeping
young hounds, etc. He (Mr. White) urged we could not
afi'ord to lose a man like Mr. Bass. (Hear, hear.) The
vote taken the other day was not a representative one, and
he was sure that there were plenty of good men who would
consent to act as deputy to their present Master.

Lord Bagot said that, in expressing his opinions, he
might tread on the corns of some gentlemen, but he hoped
that they would bear him no malice. As one of the oldest
members of the Meynell Hunt he regretted very much
that during the last few years the Hunt had not been the
bed of peace it ought to have been. This was very largely
due to the fact that, owing to bad times, old age, and
accidents, the landowners were not able to hunt in the
way they used to. In regard to the election or rejection
of a Master of the Meynell Hunt, he considered that the
meeting which was held last week was entirely out of
order. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Bass made a mistake in
jumping up and taking the wind out of the sail of the
Chairman by asking for a vote to be taken ; every land-
owner in the country ought to have a chance of giving
an opinion upon the point. The discourtesy with which
Mr. Bass had been treated, the utter forgetfulness of all
he had done for the Meynell Hounds, surpassed all com-
prehension. It seemed to be entirely forgotten how he
had improved the hounds. Some people were discon-
tented with him, and they said, ''You must go." This

1897] HUNT MEETING. 239

was entirely unfair. (Hear, hear.) They must remember
that for twelve months Mr. Bass was very ill indeed, and
since then it had been impossible for him to hunt four
clays a week. He was elected for a period of three years,
and they had absolutely no business whatever now to try
and turn him out, (Applause.) In conclusion, Lord
Bagot referred to the huntsman (Charles Leedham), and
expressed the hope that whoever might be elected Master
of the Meynell Hounds would retain his services. Mr.
Hugo Meynell, the late Mr. Coke, Lord Waterpark, Mr.
Clowes, and Mr. Chandos-Pole all had a great opinion of
him, and when the Hunt had a good servant they ought to
keep him. (Hear, hear.) He hoped that Mr. Bass would
reconsider his decision, and consent to continue the
Mastership. (Applause.)

Mr. Lionel Gisborne said that he felt it a very painful
duty at the last meeting of the Hunt to second the reso-
lution against Mr. Bass. It was not done without very
deep and careful consideration, and without a recollection
of the great services Mr. Bass had rendered to the Meynell
country. He acted as he did with the firm conviction
that what he was doing was in the interests of the Hunt.
Mr. Bass had always been kindness itself to him, but he
did feel that, owing to his Parliamentary and other duties,
he was not in a position properly to manage the afiairs of
the Hunt. As to the vote that was taken at the last meet-
ing, he would like to point out that Mr. Bass was one of
the very first to propose that no Master of the Meynell
Hounds should be elected by the tenant farmers, but this
proposition he was unable to carry. If the meeting to-
day elected Mr. Bass, he would do all he could to help
him in the Mastership, and would try and find foxes and
keep down barbed wire. (Hear, hear.)

Major Duncombe said he proposed the resolution last
week from a sense of duty, and not from the motives which
had since been ascribed to him. It was said that he
wanted to oust Mr. Bass and take the place himself ; this
was entirely untrue and without foundation. (Hear, hear.)

240 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1897

If it was the wish of the meeting that Mr. Bass should
continue as Master, he was quite sure that he would have
the support of every member who voted against him on
the last occasion. (Hear, hear.) The one object he
(Major Duucombe) had in view was to benefit the Meynell
Hounds.

Lord Waterpark explained his position as chairman
of the last meeting. He admitted that the proceedings
were out of order, but pointed out that he only took
the vote at the request of Mr. Bass himself, who
stated that, if the majority were against him, he should
resign.

Lord Scarsdale said that he was present at last week's
meeting, but did not vote. He assured them that, what-
ever might be the result, he should continue to preserve
foxes for the Hunt. (Hear, hear.)

Sir Oswald Mosley said that he attended that meet-
ing under the impression that Mr. Bass had definitely
resigned. He addressed them as a farmer, and not as a
hunting man, and he intended to propose Mr. Fort as the
future Master of the Meynell Hounds. (Applause.) The
petition referred to by Mr. White had been got up by a
few people who personally disliked Mr. Fort. (No.) He
said yes. (No, no.)

The Chairman : I must ask Sk Oswald not to be
personal.

Sir Oswald, continuing, said it had been reported that
Mr. Bass was to be ousted, and that Mr. Fort was to have
the hounds. This was a downright untruth. (Hear^
hear.) Mr. Fort had seen Mr. Bass, and had said to him,
" If you still wish to act as Master, I will not come
forward." "What would the Hunt have been had it not
been for Mr. Fort ? (Hear, hear.) He had worked very
hard indeed, and would leave the country if something
did not turn up.

Mr. Fort : No.

Sir Oswald Mosley : I am corrected ; the question is
whether we will have a Master who will look after things

1897J HUNT MEETING. 241

and take the field, or my dear old friend, Mr. Bass, who
has failed already to find a deputy. (No and yes.)

The Chairman pointed out that the question before
them was whether the resolution passed at the last meeting
should be rescinded or not. They would like to know,
however, whether Mr. Bass would consent to go on with
the Mastership.

Lord Harrington : I have the authority of Mr. Bass
to say that he will be happy to go on. (Applause.)

The Chairman asked for " ayes " and " noes " to the
resolution, and expressed the opinion that the " noes "
had it.

A vote was demanded, with the following result : —

For Lord Harrington's resolution ... ... 92

Against 82

The Chairman thereupon declared that Mr. Hamar
Bass retained the Mastership of the hounds.

Mr. W. Boden, having urged that the vote taken last
week was entirely out of order,

Mr. Fort entirely denied the rumour that he had
resigned the Deputy-Mastership in order to oust Mr. Bass.
His reasons were that his position had become a most
difiicult one, and he had also private and personal reasons
for retiring.

The Chairman appealed to Mr. Fort to reconsider his
determination (applause), and to consent to act as Deputy-
Master for another year. (Applause.) He proposed a
resolution asking Mr. Fort to do so, which was carried
heartily and unanimously.

Mr. Fort said he really could not accept the position.
If they asked him to consider the matter he could hardly
refuse to do so, but he must tell them fairly and candidly
that he was pretty well certain that his answer would be
in the negative.

Sir Reginald Hardy proposed, and Sir 0. Mosley
seconded, a vote of thanks to the chairman, whicli
terminated the meeting^.

242 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1897

In July of this year Lord Hincllip, who had been
intimately connected with the Meynell Hunt for a great
number of years, died after an operation for cancer on the
tongue. Samuel Charles, second Lord Hindlip, succeeded
to the title in 1887. He was born in 1842; married, in
1868, Georgina Millicent, daughter of Charles R. Palmer-
Morewood, Esq., of Alfreton Hall, Derbyshire, and was
educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge, where
he took his M.A. degree. He was J. P. and D.L. for
Staffordshire, J. P. for Derbyshire and Worcestershire, and
Deputy-Chairman for the Great Northern Railway. He
•entered Parliament as a Conservative in 1873 for East
Staffordshire, but was defeated in 1880 by Mr. Bass (now
Lord Burton) and Mr. (now Sir Henry) Wiggin. In 1882,
however, he again entered Parliament as M.P. for Taunton,
for which constituency he sat till he succeeded to the
Peerage in 1887. In the election of 1885, when Mr. G.
Hardy was opposing Mr. Bass, Mr. Charles Allsopp was in
the chair at a meeting in St. George's Hall, Burton, and
left the platform to try conclusions with the ringleader of
some of his opponents, who were creating a disturbance.
A m lee ensued, and he returned, minus his watch, with
his clothes torn and his face bleeding. The watch was
subsequently returned.

He lived at Field House, Marchington, and subsequently
at Doveridge, where he entertained the Prince of Wales
for Derby races, in 1888. Though not a hard rider. Lord
Hindlip was a good sportsman and a staunch supporter of
the Hunt. He could describe all the details of a run when
the day was over better than any one, and was a past
master of the art of riding to points, while his knowledge
of the country was wonderful. Put him down where you
would, he could tell you the shortest way to anywhere.

In this year Mr. C. A. Chandos-Pole (son of the late
Rev. W. Chandos-Pole, rector of Radburne), who had been
for some time in Australia, began hunting again regularly
with the Meynell. Like the rest of his family, he is a born
horseman and good sportsman, and always wears a hunting

1897]

THE LADIES' CRICKET MATCH.

243

cap. About a year and a half ago he finished building the
house at the Wheathills, where he now lives.

ENTERED IN 1896.

Names.

SlEES.

Dams.

Challenger )
* Cracker 1

Colonel

Lancer

Warwickshire Fullerton

Colonel

Warwickshire Hermit

Colonel

Marvel

Mentor

Mentor

Warwickshire Trampler

Weathergauge

Weathergauge

Weathergauge

Linnet

Comfort
Flareup >

Flirt S

Flourish

Gameboy

Helen

t Luckless 3 \

Lustrous ]

Langtry '

Loiterer \

Lusty

Firefly

Comet

Glowworm

Lilah

Ladylike
Lighthouse

Lottie '

Leader

Liberal

Tnithful )

Ladyblush
Lucky

Glossy
Foxglove

Cowslip
Lantern

X Tricksey 1 '
Wrestler \

§ Waterloo 2 1
Wellington >

II Woodbine 2 \
Wardrobe ^
Warrant \
Weatherbit 1
Well-a-day > ...
Weatherglass \
Wearisome '
Witness >
WealthyS

The numerals against hounds' names represent the prize-winners.

Dogs, 7i couples; bitches, 8 couples. Total, 15| couples.

* Walked by Mr, Poyser, Mickleover. f Mr, Mynors, Doveridge,

t Mr. P. Lawley. § INIiss Hollis. || A. Crossman,

The most interesting event in the summer was the
ladies' cricket match at Osmaston, on August 12th and
13th.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, a novel and interesting
cricket match was played at Osmaston Manor. The teams
consisted entirely of ladies, and were known as the White

244

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

[1897

Heather team and tlie Dragon Fly team. The Dragon Fly
cricketers were all local ladies, the other combination being
formed of ladies from various parts of the country. This
was the return match, the first game being played in
Kent, when the Dragon Flies won by a run. A goodly
number of the elite of the neighbourhood were present by
invitation on both days. The house party staying at The
Manor for the occasion included the following : Miss L.
Okeover, Captain the Hon. H. Allsopp, Mrs. H. Allsopp,
Mrs. Tylden, Miss Oakley, Miss Shiffner, Mrs. Cattley,
Miss Holman, Miss Eedsdale, Miss Papillon, Miss V.
Lofts, Miss L. Lofts, Miss Walford, Miss Stogden, Miss
Walker, Mrs. Tinsley, Hon. A. Curzon, Mrs. Hamilton
Pelly, Major Birch, Mr. Nugent Howard. The Dragon
Fly team were dressed in pale green, while the White
Heather wore white dresses. The batting was decidedly
good, some exceedingly fine strokes being made on both
sides. A telegram to Sir Peter Walker, who was present
during the whole of the match, announcing the victory
of the English team over the Australians was read
and enthusiastically received
score : —

The following was the

White Heathee

•

Miss Ridsdale, b Miss Thornewill

53

Ibw, b Miss Thornewm

6

Miss E. Shiffner, run out

19

c and b Miss Thornewill

0

Mrs. Tylden, c Miss Thornewill, b Miss L. Oke-

over

27

b Miss Thornewill ...

5

Mrs. Cyril Cattley, b Miss Thornewill

12

c Miss Wise, b Miss

Thornewill

2

Miss Stogdon, b Miss Thornewill

4

b Miss Walker

10

Miss B. Papillon, b Miss Thornewill

1

b Miss Walker

3

Miss Walford, b Miss Thornewill

10

Ibw, b Miss Walker ...

3

Miss Oakley, b Miss FitzHerbert

5

b Miss Thornewill ...

2

Miss Holman, b Miss FitzHerbert

1

b Miss Thornewill ...

0

Miss Bott, not out

3

not out

12

Miss Hamilton, b Miss Thornewill

0

b Miss Okeover

0

Extras

8

Extras

4

143

47

1897]

THE LADIES' CRICKET MATCH.

245

Dragon Fly.

Miss R. Gresley, b Mrs. Cattley

Miss FitzHerbert, b Mrs. Cattley

Miss E. Okeover, b Mrs. Cattley

Miss Clowes, c Miss ShifFner, b Miss Papilloi

Mrs. Campbell, c and b Miss Papillon ...

Miss Wise, b Mrs. Cattley

Miss L. Okeover, b Miss Papillon

Miss Walker, b Miss Papillon

Mrs. Charrington, b Miss Ridsdale

Miss Boden, c Miss Ridsdale, b Mrs. Cattley

Miss Thornewill, not out

Extra

b Mrs. Cattley
b Miss Ridsdale
b Mrs. Cattley
b Mrs. Cattley
b Miss Papillon
b Miss Ridsdale
b Mrs. Cattley
not out
b Mrs. Cattley
c Miss Hamilton,

Miss Papillon
b Miss Papillon
Extras

23
53

27
8

1
27

7
12

0

0
3
6

56

167

246 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1897

CHAPTER XIX.

MR. bass's last season — HUNT MEETING RESIGNATION OF

MR. BASS PRESENTATION TO CHARLES LEEDHAM —

DEATH OF MR. BASS THE MEYNELL PUPPY SHOW

FIRST PUPPY SHOW LUNCHEON.

1897-1898.

Mr. Fort was as good as his word, and did not change his
mind about continuing the field mastership, so Mr. Bass
was sole Master with the same staflf as in the year before.
It was a bad scenting season, and there was a good deal of
grumbling as a natural consequence. Sport was very
moderate all over England, so there was nothing exceptional
about that, but the excellence of the preceding years made
it appear even worse than it really was in the Meynell
country by comparison. Till the end of February there
was really hardly anything worth putting down. The two
gallops from Coley Gorse to ground at Colton were about
the best runs they had ; one on December 7th, thirty-five
minutes; and on January 11th, twenty-five minutes.

There was a good run from Parson's Gorse on March
3rd all round and about the Radburne country, though
they lost their fox in the end. Mr. Caldecott had good
reason to remember it, for he got hung up in some wire
while jumping the ravine, whence issues ultimately the
Trusley brook.

Towards the end of the season Mr. Bass announced his
resignation at a meeting of the Hunt at the St. James's
Hall, Derby. The Field says, *' Colonel Levett was in the
chair, and amongst those present were Lord Soarsdale,

1898] HUNT MEETING. 247

Hon. F. L. Wood, Sir Francis Burdett, Sir Peter Walker,
Colonel Milligan, Mr. A. C. Duncombe, Mr. Chandos-Pole,
Mr. Hamar Bass, Mr. Richard Fort, Hon. W. Coke, Mr.
Walter Boden, Mr. Lionel Gisborne, Mr. Charrington, Mr.
E. A. J. Maynard, Mr. C. A. Wallroth, and many others.
The Chairman called upon Mr. Bass to make a statement
if he desired to do so.

"Mr. Bass was warmly applauded, and said circum-
stances to-day were wholly different to what they were a
year ago, when he was induced to reconsider his decision
to resign. He could only inform those friends of his who
had asked him to reconsider his present decision that he
was most sincerely desirous of resigning the unpleasant
position he now occupied. It would be within their
recollection that at the last general meeting an attempt
was made to oust him from his position as Master of their
Hunt. (No, no.) He had thus been Master for ten years.
There had been repeated opportunities for his opponents to
explain the grounds of their opposition to him, but no
word of complaint was ever uttered. Of course, he had
been made aware that there was a great deal of grumbling
going on in the Hunt, in fact, one of his informants was
Mr. Fort, who told him of the widespread dissatisfaction
existing among the subscribers. Well, these gentlemen,
who were opposed to him, had always been friendly to his
face, and he was much surprised to learn they had been
plotting against him behind his back. (No, no. — Shame.)
He did not think that that was a very straightforward
way of doing business. He had now been Master for ten
years, and he did not think there was any man in that
room who would treat the humblest of his servants in the
way in which he had been treated by this section, viz.
dismiss him without a word of warning, and without a
syllable of complaint being breathed against him. Harking
back to the meeting at which the resignation of the
Deputy-Master was to be considered, he might inform the
meeting that the following resolution was passed : ' that
in consequence of no satisfactory Deputy-Master being

248 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1898

forthcoming, Mr. Bass be asked to resign his position as
Master of the Hunt, owing to his Parliamentary and other
duties interfering with his time and attention in the
conduct of the afiairs of the Hunt.' They would observe
what kind consideration these gentlemen had for his con-
stituents. As a matter of fact he had sometimes skimped
his Parliamentary duties in order to attend to the affairs
of the Hunt. The resolutions were cut and dried before
the meeting commenced, and he wanted to point out the
tactics that had been employed by this section to carry out
their object. Although the meeting was called to appoint
a deputy-master, they had not the smallest intention of
doing anything of the kind. And why ? Because they
thought that by refusing to appoint a deputy -master they
would be putting him in a difficulty. He understood that
Mr. Fort was willing, and that he would be appointed his
successor. He could only wish that Mr. Fort would be
more successful than he had been in pleasing all parties,
and that he would not be subjected to what, after mature
consideration, he must call the underhand treatment which
he had received. He had had great difficulties to contend
with in the mastership, and ofttimes they had been a
great burden upon him. It might interest some of the
gentlemen present to know that with his resignation would
follow that of Charles Leedham, the huntsman, who was
also tired of the grumbling that was carried on by various
members of the Hunt.

" At the close of Mr. Bass's speech the Chairman pro-
ceeded to put the resolutions to the meeting, viz. *that
Mr. Bass's resignation be accepted and that Mr. Fort be
appointed his successor.' There was no discussion on them
and each was carried unanimously.

" Mr. Fort afterwards returned thanks, and pleaded
eloquently for the support of all sections of the Hunt to
enable him to uphold the good name of the pack.

" A vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. G. L. White, a
tenant farmer, who spoke strongly of the way Mr. Bass
had been treated, and said, that, if the tenant farmers had

1898] RESIGNATION OF MR. BASS. 249

had their way, he would never have been allowed to retire.
The vote of thanks was seconded by Mr. Swinnerton,
supported by Lord Scarsdale, and enthusiastically adopted.
A vote of thanks to Colonel Levett for presiding was
passed at the close of the meeting."

Never did chairman more honestly earn it. His tact
and good judgment acted as a lightning conductor, and
drew off the electricity, with which the meeting was
charged, without an explosion. And so ended a split in
the Hunt, which at one time looked serious. There was
much to be said on both sides, but there is an old proverb
which should always be held in reverence, " Least said,
soonest mended," and to this the present writer thinks it
better to adhere.

The next event of importance was the presentation to
Charles Leedham on his resignation, of which a printed
account appeared at the time, as under : —

April 4th, 1898.

THE MEYNELL HUNT.

Handsome Testimonial to the Late Huntsman.

When Lord Burton justly remarked in his speech at
the large and influential gathering assembled at Sudbury
Hall on Saturday, that " the Meynell without a Leedham
as huntsman would never be quite the same thing," he was
unquestionably emphasizing the views of the majority, if
not of all connected with the Hunt. For upwards of a
hundred years the Meynell has boasted of a Leedham for
huntsman, and the recipient of the handsome testimonial
under notice, is the third of the name who has so honour-
ably fulfilled the onerous post. Moreover, prior to his
appointment as huntsman, he had for thirteen years acted
as chief whip. No sooner had it become known that
Charles Leedham had actually resigned, than an expression
of opinion was rife amongst the landowners, subscribers,

250 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1898

tenant farmers, and others, that his long and faithful
services should be recognized in some tangible form.
Subscriptions came in freely, with the result that Mr. F. C.
Newton, the Hunt secretary, was enabled, in addition to
filling up a cheque for £1000, to accompany it with a
splendid set of silver plate for presentation at the hands of
Lord Burton. The plate consisted of a salver, coffee-pot,
cruet, and toast-rack. As Sudbury invariably sees the
opening meet of the season, so it on the present occasion
witnessed the closing meet, and seldom has so large and
influential a gathering graced the terrace of the fine old
Hall, the home of the Vernons. The state of Lord Vernon's
health not permitting him to be in residence, the hall is
sub-let to Mr. John Gretton, who, though from home on
Saturday, threw his house open to a large number of guests,
who were received by Major Gretton, Mr. Fred Gretton,
and the Misses Gretton.

A Picturesque Scene.

The company assembled included Lord and Lady
Burton, and the Hon. Mrs. Baillie, the Earl of Harrington,
Sir Oswald and Lady Mosley, Mr. W. Bass, Miss S. Bass,
the Misses Thornewill, Mr. Fort, Mr. W. S. Power, Mr.

E. A. J. Maynard, Colonel Fleming, Mr. Clowes, Mr. Oke-
over, jun., Mr. A. C. and Lady Florence Duncombe,
Captain Dugdale, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Crossman, Mr.

F. C. Newton, Mr. D'Ai'cy Clarke, and Mrs. W. Boden,
the Rev. C. J. Boden, Mr. Lionel Gisborne, Lady Boughey,
Lady Williams Wynn, Lord Shrewsbury, Hon. Mrs.
Northey Hopkins, Major Gretton, M.P., Mr. Fred Gretton,
the Misses Gretton, Mr. W. C. Tinsley, M.H., Mr. F. W.
Peacock, Mr. C. W. and Mrs. Lyon, Mr. and Mrs. F. A.
Brace, Mr. H. J. Buckmaster, Mr., Mrs., and Miss C. W.
Jervis Smith, Mrs. Hugh Peel, Captain and the Misses
Dawson, Mr. R. Waite, Mr. R. W. Sale, Mr. Carlisle, Mr.
J. W. Philips, Mr. A. D. Philips, m. W. Woolley, Mr.
J. H. Gascoyne, Mr. W. D. Fox, Mr. F. W. Bott, the

Charles Leedham.

From a photogrraph

by

W. W. Winter,

taken March 36, 1898, at New Lodgre, Hanbury,

the residence of Mr. E. Arliss.

rri B ri b 9 9 J 2 9 I i r rl ;

riqBisoJorlq b moi^

vd

.nalriiW W .W

.^ludriBH .s^boJ waV^ is .8q8i .dc riaiBM n6>lBj

aailiA .3 iM io d^nabisdi aril

1898] PRESENTATION TO CHARLES LEEDHAM. 251

Misses Bott, Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Campbell, Mr. E. Kuowles,
Dr. Livesay, and many others.

A more auspicious morning could not have been wished,
and the huntsmen, in their red coats, together with the
ladies in riding habit, and a host of horses and carriages
drawn up in front of the noble Hall, presented a scene long-
to be remembered. Scarcely had the company taken up
their positions when the approach of the hounds with the
whips, and headed by the huntsman, Charles Leedham,
was hailed with enthusiasm.

Taking up a position on the entrance steps of the Hall,
Lord Burton, in a voice, clear and loud, which made itself
heard to the outside of the throng, proceeded to make the
presentation. He said : " Ladies and gentlemen, owing to
the unavoidable absence of Lord Bagot, Col. Levett, and
Mr. Chandos-Pole, I have been asked to discharge a duty
for which I am well aware many more fitting and more
capable advocates might easily be found ; yet, I venture to
say, not one who will bring to the task a more kindly
spirit, or one whose families can claim to have been allied
for a longer term of years in ties of greater friendship, with
that of the Leedhams, extending as my own does over a
period of, I think, sixty years. (Applause.) We have come
here to-day to welcome — I am sorry to say for the last time
— as huntsman, our old friend Charles Leedham (applause)
— the representative this day amongst us of three genera-
tions of huntsmen of the same family. The Leedhams have,
I believe, acted as huntsmen to the Meynell Hounds for over
one hundred years. It was at the end of the last century
that Charles' Grandfather came to Hoar Cross in that
capacity. About the year 1837, the year, by the way, in
which I w^as born, his father Joe began to hunt. In the
course of time his uncle Tom took over the reins from
Joe, and retired in 1872 — liked, esteemed, and respected
by all who knew him ; and many here to-day will remem-
ber our farewell meeting here on a similar occasion to the
present. Our friend Charles Leedham, who had been whip
to Lord Southampton, came here nearly forty years ago, on

252 THE MEYNPXL HOUNDS. [1898

the death of young Tom, his brother, whom he succeeded
as whip to the Meynell Hounds for a period of thirteen
years, and twenty-six years ago he took over the duties of
liuntsman. How well he has performed those duties we all
know, and a better, a more capable, a more upright servant
no Master of hounds has ever possessed (hear, hear) ; and
while he has secured the confidence of his masters, he has
known how to retain the goodwill and kindly feeling of
every one, of every class, in any way connected with the
Hunt. (Applause.) It is not for me, who have so long been
absent from the hunting-field, to say much about sport, but
this I think I may assert, that during his long term of office,
no man has striven more earnestly and conscientiously to
show good sport than Charles Leedham ; and, taken season
by season, I doubt if there are many — I might say hardly
any — packs of hounds who can show a better general
record. (Applause.) We all hope — we feel sure — that
Charles Leedham's successor will receive that same support,
and show as good sport in the future, as he has done in the
past (hear, hear). But to many of us who have been born,
bred, and lived in this country, the Meynell hounds with-
out a Leedham as huntsman will never be quite the same
thing. It was a wrench to us when the Meynell pack ceased
to be owned and hunted by a Meynell, but the feeling of
the old connection seemed to live and continue in the
faithful servants who had so long been associated with the
old name. But that is all over, ' Other times, other ways,'

" ' Ring out the old, ring in the new,'

and before we w^elcome the new friend, let us speed the
parting of the old one, with all the kindness, all the best
wishes, in our power." (Applause. ) Then, addressing himself
directly to the popular huntsman, his lordship continued,
" My dear friend Charles, in presenting you with this hand-
some present of silver and this cheque for one thousand
pounds in the name of all connected with the Meynell Hunt
— landowners, farmers, and subscribers, and all who love
hunting — in their name I wish you long life and happiness to

1898] DEATH OF MR. BASS. 253

enjoy your well-earned retirement. We hope often to see you
amongst us, and now that you will have a little leisure, we
hope you will be successful in finding a suitable helpmeet,
for it will never do to let the name of Leedham die out.
(Laughter and applause.) God bless you. It gives me
great pleasure in making this presentation."

Mr. Leedham, having received the cheque at the hands
of his lordship, made reply whilst seated in the saddle.
He thanked them deeply for the kind manner in which
they had shown their appreciation of what he had done as
huntsman. Their presence in such large numbers alone
testified to their good feelings. Lord Burton was the
oldest gentleman he knew belonging to the Hunt. They
had known one another from childhood, and to him
personally he w^as greatly indebted for the kind expressions
that had fallen from his lips. To all who had subscribed
— and they had subscribed most liberally — he wished to
return his sincere thanks. It was a great source of
gratification to him on his retirement to have such a mark
of respect paid, and he could never forget it. He felt he
could not say more than to wish continued success to the
Meynell Hunt. (Applause.)

The interesting proceedings then terminated, and,
headed by the popular huntsman, the hounds were taken
in the direction of Sudbury Coppice, the large company
repairing thither. Several photographs of the gathering
were successfully taken by Mr. Geo. Elly, of Uttoxeter.

So one of the worst season's on record ended, no scent,
bad foxes, and wretched sport all over the country. There
was very little rain, or frost, or snow. Hunting was
stopped six days by frost, and three days by fog.

On April 8 th, Good Friday, Mr. Hamar Bass died.

Field, March 26th, 1898 :—

MEYNELL HUNT POINT-TO-POINT STEEPLECHASES.

The annual point-to-point in connection with the Meynell Hunt took place on

Wednesday, at Ednaston, near Derby. There was a large attendance of members

and supporters of the hunt. Sir Peter Walker, Bart,, of Osmaston Manor,

entertained his friends and tenantry on a very liberal scale. The weather was

254 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1898

delightfully fine. The course selected was by no means a difficult one ; the
arrangements made by the gentlemen on the spot enabled everything to pass off
ver)' smoothly. There were three events on the card, and these brought out as
many as fifty-eight runners. The red-coat race attracted a dozen runners, the
cotirse being about two miles and a half. Mr. W. S. Power's Faro (owner) won
by a length and a half from Mr. Bertie Crompton's Brer Rabbit (owner) ; Mr. C.
J. Wilraot Sitwell's Alpha (owner) was placed third, and Mr. C. A. Chandos-Pole's
Fabricus (owner), fourth. The winner also received a cup presented by Mr.
Brace, and the nominator, Mrs. Walter Boden, a bangle presented by Mr. Hamar
Bass, M.P. ; Miss Crompton, the nominator of the second, received a bangle,
presented by Mr. Walter Boden. The light-weight race furnished the most
interesting spectacle of the day, twenty-nine of the thirty-five entries being
weighed out. The winner was Mr. C. Hartley's Joan (Mr. C. Garnett), who
gained an easy victory over Mr. Cullen's Ouida (owner) by four lengths ; Mr. H.
R. M. Porter's Rajah (owner) was third, and Sir Peter Walker's Castlemanley
(Mr. Brenchley) fourth. Mrs. Hartley, the nominator of the winner, received a
bangle, presented by Sir Peter Walker. In the Welter race there were seventeen
runners ; after a splendid finish, the winner was Mr. C. H. Simpson's Cardinal
(Mr. P. S. Cadman), who beat Mr. Arthur Knowles's Senator (owner) by a
length and a half; Mr. H. M. Wilson's Dynamiter (Mr. 0. M. Leigh) and Mr.
Lort Phillips' Sequah, were respectively third and fourth, close up to the second.
The nominator of the winner, Miss D'Arcy Clarke, received a bangle presented
by Sir Peter Walker.

Field, April 9th, 1898:—

THE MEYNELL HUNT.

The annual meeting of the members of the Meynell Hunt was held on
Thursday, at Derby. Mr. AValter Boden in the chair. There was a fairly large
attendance, amongst those present being Lord Scarsdale, Mr. R. Fort (the
master), Sir Reginald Hardy, Mr. H. S. Brenchley, Mr. F. Gretton, etc. The
secretary, Mr. F. C. Newton, presented the balance-sheet for the year ending
October 1st, 1897, from which it appeared that the expenditure amounted to £3892,
including £2000 paid to the master, £848 for compensation, £354 for rent and
repair of coverts. There was a balance in hand of £115. The secretary
informed the meeting that the mortgage was paid off", and that the kennels were
now free. The chairman moved the adoption of the statement of accounts, and
described them as satisfiictory. This was seconded by Mr. R. Waite and agreed
to. The chairman then moved that the rule passed two years ago, requiring
that four members of the committee should retire annually, and not be eligible for
re-election, be rescinded. Mr. Clowes seconded the motion, which was supported
by Mr. Fort. The resolution having been adopted, the chairman brought forward
the question of the mastership. He said that, when Mr. Fort was appointed
master a few weeks back, nothing was said as to the period over which his
mastership was to extend. It had been customary in that hunt to appoint the
master for three years, and he now moved that Mr. Fort's appointment be for
that period. This was seconded by Sir Reginald Hardy, and carried. The
following gentlemen were elected to till vacancies on the committee : Sir R.
Hardy, Mi". G. A. Clay, Lord Harrington, Mr. H. Clowes, Mr. Oswald Mosley^
and Mr. John Gretton, jun. Votes of thanks to Mr. Hamar Bass, the late master
and to the chairman, brought the business of the meeting to a close.

1898] THE MEYNELL PUPPY SHOW. 255

Field, August 6tli, 1898 :—

THE MEYNELL PUPPY SHOW.

This was the first important function under the new regime, and its success
augurs well for the future. Every one came prepared to enjoy himself, or herself,
at Mr. Fort's hospitable bidding, and, if looks go for anything, no one was dis-
appointed, unless, indeed, as Tom Firr remarked later on, the puppy walkers,
whose charges did not get prizes, must be placed in that category. However, as
the same speaker added, " they must not mind, as they had done their best,
and, after all, if they were beaten, it was only by very little when all was said
and done." Curiously enough, Mr. Poyser, who walked Cabinet, the prize-
winner amongst the dog hounds to-day, also carried off the first prize last year
with Knightley, and the year before with Cracker, while Old Colonel, by Merry-
man — Crocus, is fairly entitled to a white hat in virtue of his having scored three
winners in succession. Peace be to his ashes. His weary bones are at rest hard
by his life-time home. Pupped at the kennels, walked by Charles at 'the kennels,
pensioned off in his declining days at the kennels, at the kennels, too, he died
and was buried, when his whilom nurse and huntsman decided that the time had
come for him, too, to leave his home. A better or stauncher liound never
opened on a fox. His good deeds live after him, and his progeny are not only
good, like him, but good-looking to boot. Curiously enough, though they inherit
his good qualities, yet but few of them own the old dog's plain head and some-
what voluminous neckcloth.

The judging took place in the long passage in front of the kennels, an excellent
arrangement, which admitted of a far better view of the proceedings than when
the examination was held in one of the yards. The judges were : Tom Firr, the
cheery brothers Will and George Sheppard, and Boxall, who galloped a bit faster
than his confreres when he rode the second in the Grand National. It took them
a long time to decide on the respective merits of Cabinet, by Colonel — Lucy,
walked by Mr. Poyser of Mickleover ; Salesman, by Lounger — Spotless, walked
by Mr. Gould, of Tutbury ; and Senior, by Damper — Speedy, walked by the late
master. After an adjournment had been made to the exercise paddock — perhaps
the best in England — Lancet, an undeniably nice hound, by Colonel — Languid,
and, therefore, own brother to Cracker, was sent for. A good many people
thought that wherever Cabinet was Lancet ought to be, for there was a strong
family likeness between them, and they were of much the same stamp . But the
judges ruled it otherwise. Possibly Lancet was on the small side, but there was
five months' difference in age between him and his half-brother, and five months
count for something. So Cabinet was placed first, Salesman second, a nice hound
with no lack of quality, even though his stern did curl over his back, and
hypercritical judges would, perhaps, have hardly called him quite straight ; while
Senior — all over a nice dog, and one who, with time, may beat his conquerors
of to-day— was third. On the whole the dogs were hardly equal to last year's
entry, but the bitches were an uncommonly smart lot, and set the judges a hard
task. Dampish by Damper — Lilac, walked by Mr. Wakelin, Yoxall, looked as
well as any of them, being beautifully topped, has a rare back, and is a credit to
her walk ; but, unluckily, she is not quite straight. Nothing looked better than
she did when she came in in the spring. Finally, the decision lay between
Solitude, a bitch of beautiful quality, by Damper — Speedy, and therefore sister to

256 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1898

the third prize dog hound, walked by that capital sportsman Mr. Robinson, of
Brereton ; Liable and Legible, by Lounger — Listless, walked by Messrs. Newton
and Lawley respectively ; and Affable, by Ladas — Amazon, walked l)y Mr.
Hammersley, of Rocester, and the verdict was " Afftible has it," with Solitude
second. Legible third, and Liable fourth, though not a few good judges would
have put the latter first.

Then came a review of the old hounds, and uncommonly well they looked.
They were bright in then* eyes, bright in their coats, and full of muscle — three
unmistakable signs of health and condition. Cracker, another Colonel by the
way, came in for most individual notice, and deserved it too, for he is as good as
he looks, and that is saying a good deal. And then came the luncheon, in a large
marquee in the park, to which Mr. and Mrs. Fort had invited some two hundred
guests of every degree. What a cheery meal it was too, even if the rain did turn
the salt in the plates into salt water, and the drip from ladies' umbrellas moistened
the heads of their next neighbours. " We were not fed on dry bread and water,
though," as a farmer remarked when the master and giver of the feast apologized
for the moistness of the atmosphere. And who was there ? Well, nearly every-
body. There were faces at the high table whose backs we are accustomed to
see when hounds run, and they were not all masculine backs either, as Mr.
Swinnerton reminded us in an excellent speech. And as to the speeches. Mr.
Fort, who was most enthusiastically received, gave us " the Queen," and then,
after a pause, " the puppy-walkers." He spoke, as he rides, straight, and to the
point, and good-humouredly. The gist of this speech was that, next to land-
owners and farmers, walkers of puppies were the backbone of the chase. In
point of fact, it is doubtful if he did not put the latter first. " You might hunt
without a fox," he said, " or even without a country, but it was quite impossible
to do without hounds." Mr. Poyser and Mr. Robinson responded. Sir Oswald
Mosley, in an amusing speech, proposed the judges, and Tom Firr returned
thanks in his well-known quiet style. It was left for Mr. Swinnerton to bring
down the house with the toast of the day, " Our new master and Mrs. Fort " — our
master, it is to be hoped, till such time as " new " is converted into " old " — our
host and hostess of to-day. Mr. Fort, in returning thanks, reminded us that,
though the mantle of his Derbyshire predecessors had at last fallen on alien
shoulders, yet that, from the first day of his sojourn in the Meynell country till
to-day, his loyalty had never wavered. Where he had struck root, there he had
stayed, and there he hoped to stay — a sentiment which those who have the
welfare of the country at heart will indorse to the echo. To Mr. Gisbome fell
the pleasant and popular task of proposing the health of Charles Leedham, which
was received as it should be by the late huntsman's friends — in fact, he only
spoke the truth when he said himself that he did not think he had an enemy-
It was pleasant to note the cheery line he took when he spoke of the good
innings he had had, and wished the same good time to those who came after him.
We shall miss his ringing voice in the Staflbrdshire Woodlands, we shall miss
that rousing cheer which stamped the wavering prelude with the hall-mark of
certainty, we shall miss his fund of anecdote, dry sayings, caustic wit, and blunt
repartee, but most of all, perhaps, will many of us miss the man himself.

G. G.

The Kennels, Sudbury.

1898.

From a photograph

by

G. S. Green.

.80M1

1898]

NEW NAMES.
ENTERED IN 1897.

251

Knightley 1
Kaiser
Kingcup
Kitten
Painter \
Pirate I
Purity J ■ ■
Princess;
Precious "i

Tomboy 2 \

Twinkle
Tulip 2 )
Trojan . . . .
Traveller .
Truelove ?
Tuneful \
Ti-uelass....
Telltale \
Twilight / •
Vagrant I
Verger / '
Victory \
Villager/ '
Vanguard ")
Verity )
Vestal 1 )
Vixen

Colonel

Colonel

Lounger
Marvel

Weathergauge
Damper ,

Damper

Damper

Damper

Lounger

Belvoir Watchman

Wanderer
Wanderer

Languid

Glow-worm

Arrogant

Ladylike

Firefly
Charlotte

Comet

Whimsical

Chatterbox

Countess

Dashaway

Likely
Captive

Dogs, 6 couples ; bitches, 8 couples. Total, 14 couples.
* Walked by Mr. Poyser.

The new names in the subscription list were — Lady
Mildred Allsopp, Foston Hall ; Captain L. A. Bagshawe,
Derby ; H. J. Buckmaster, Burton-on-Trent ; P. Cazenove ;
Captain Dugdale had returned from his travels and went
to live at Coton, Sudbury ; Captain H. F. Northey Hopkins,
Marchington Hall ; Captain Arthur J. Lloyd was in Captain
Holland's House, the Upwoods, Doveridge ; C. B. Mac-
pherson, Densy, Sudbury ; Miss Beatrice Paget, Darley
Dale ; Captain J. F. Richardson, White Hart, Uttoxeter ;
Lady Wynn, Oak Cottage, Sudbury.

258 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [189»

CHAPTER XX.

AN UNLUCKY SEASON — BLITHBURY — FIVE FOXES IN SHIRLEY
PARK — MR. BLOUNT's FOXES — A HILTON DAY — ACCIDENT TO
COLONEL THE HON. W. COKE — FROM CROXALL TO ELFORD'
GORSE — DEATH OF LORD VERNON — GOOD RUN FROM CARRY
COPPICE — BYE-DAY AT SHIRLEY MILL — A GOOD DAY FROM
FOSTON— THE " SQUIRE's " HOUNDS IN BAGOT's WOODS —
FROM KINGSTON WOOD TO HOUND HILL — SPORT MODERATE
— A NEWBOROUGH DAY— A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED THURSDAY
— DEATH OF COLONEL LEVETT — COLONEL LEVETT — A RAD-
BURNE DAY — THE BOB-TAILED DOVERIDGE FOX — BARBED
WIRE — A GOOD FIVE-AND-FORTY MINUTES — A HILTON DAY
— HARRY BONNER RESIGNS.

1898-1899.

New names in subscription list were H. T. Alton, Abbot's
Hill, Derby ; M. Barnsley, Field House, Marchington ;
Captain Blackett ; H. Connop, Brailsford House, Derby ;
J. L. M. Elkington, Brailsford ; R. M. Hamilton, Dove-
ridge Vicarage ; Captain Hanwell ; J. Tait Johnston,.
Brailsford ; Right Hon. J. W. Lowther, M.P., Farley Hall ;
Mrs. Tremayne Miles, RoUeston Cottage; L. C. Picton-
Jones, Ingleby Toft ; Captain Rich, the Barracks.

The staff consisted of Harry Bonner, huntsman ;,
Stephen Burtenshaw and Albert Martin, whippers-in.

This season will long be remembered as the unlucky
one. Everything went wrong, yet no one could have
foreseen or prevented it. Harry Bonner came from the
Tynedale with a good reputation, and he Lad been Lord
Chesham's right-hand man as first whipper-in to the
Bicester. But repeated attacks of influenza undermined
his health, and he was not at his best in his one season

1898]

AN UNLUCKY SEASON.

259

with the Meynell. Influenza attacked the huntsman and
distemper laid its hand on the hounds. The pack had
escaped scot free for two or three years, and Charles pre-
dicted that, when it did come, the three and four season
hunters, the mainstay of any pack, would suffer. This pre-
diction unfortunately came only too true. Cracker, whom
Charles always called his crack hound — a rare good one he
was in his looks and in his work — died for one. Villager,
by the Belvoir Watchman out of Dashaway, who would
have been most valuable for his blood, was another victim.
The scars were visible enough in the next year's list, and
are hardly obliterated even now. Then there never was a
drier cubbing time, without a particle of scent. They
were seven or eight days without killing a cub. The
same bad luck pursued the Hunt all through. In the
middle of it, it was found necessary to have a new second
whipper-in, and Albert Martin, who had been at the
kennels for eleven seasons, had to leave. Will Cotton,
Charles's second horseman, took his place till the end of
the season. And, as a climax, the Master broke his collar-
bone from a fall with his old favourite, Don Juan, in a
good gallop in December. It was said that he could have
had five hundred pounds for this horse at one time, and
with the Sutton brook looming in front, or any extra big-
fence, he was worth it. It was only at one of those little
gappy places that he fell. By the kindness of the editor
of the Burton Chronicle, the actual account of every day
as it occurred is appended.

ENTERED IN 1898.

Names.

Sires.

Dams.

Abdicate \
* Affable 1 ' ...

Ladas

Colonel

Damper ..

Lounger

Amethyst !
t Cabinet 1

Ladv

Dampish

Denizen )

Danger V

Durable j

Lilac
Dashaway

* Walked by Mr. Hammersley, Rocester. f Mr. Poyser, Michover.

260

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.
ENTEKED IN 1S98— continued.

[1898

Namks.

Sires.

Dams.

Destiny

Graduate

Lexicon \

Liable ^

Lounger

Damper

Lounger

Ladas

Colonel

Damper

Lounger

Damper

Weathergauge

Daylight
Glow-worm

Listless

* Legible 3 )

Lucifer

Lancet

Mariner ,

Mediate

Merciful )

Safeguard ^
t Salesman 1

Symmetry V

Sadley i

Sadness '
X Senior 3 \

Sentiment J

Solitude I

Warrior

Lustrous
Languid

Muslin

Spotless

Speedy
Ardent

* Mr. Lawley, Draycott. f Mr. Gould, Tutbury. J Mr. H. Bass.

WITH THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. (October 31st, 1898.)

It was under circumstances of peculiar interest that the Meynell Hunt
assembled at the time-honoured fixture at Sudbury. The old order had
changed, and every one was anxious to see the outcome of the new. No
fault could be found by the most captious critic with the condition of the
hounds, nor with the appearance of the horses ; in fact, competent judges
pronounced the latter to be equal to those of any hunt in the kingdom.
It seemed strange to miss Charles's burly form from the centre of the picture,
and other faces too were absent which we have been wont of late years
to associate with the opening day of the Meynell. Still, there was a goodly
muster, which included the Master, and Mrs. Fort, Colonel the Hon. W. Coke, the
doyen of the Hunt, Mr. and Lady Florence Duncombe, Lady Mosley, the Misses
Mosley, and a large party on the Rolleston coach driven by Mr. Hartley, Captain
Dugdale and the Misses Dugdale, Captain and Mrs. Holland, Mr. and Mrs. W.
Boden, Mr. and Mrs. H. Charrington, Major Phillips, Mr. Boden and Miss Boden,
Messrs. Caldecott, Kempson, Holden, Brace, Hon. G. Allsopp, Peacock, Ratcliff,
and many others.

The first move was to the Lake Banks, when the well-known ditch eu route
afforded the usual diversion. After some delay a fox was on foot and
eventually broke away in the direction of Doveridge, but soon turned short back
and was killed in the same covert where he was found. Sudbury Bottoms was
then drawn, and furnished a fox, which made for Sudbury Coppice. Hounds
soon forced him out, and he went away across the Oak Lane in the direction of
Cubley, but swung to the left by Malcolmsley, nearly up to Marston -Montgomery.
He then turned to the left across Bigg's Lane up to the road from Marston to
Somersal, near Soraersal House, where he was lost. It was an enjoyable hunt.

1898] BLITHBURY. 261

though the hounds never really ran, and though there were the usual complaints
about the fences being very blind, and of this wild, sporting bit of country being
trappy and difficult to cross. Certainly there was more than one loose horse in
support of these assertions. Foston was then called upon, and not in vain. After
a turn up and down the covert the fox broke at the Sudbury end, and then
turned at right angles to the right, crossing the main Derby and Sudbury road.
Across the plough, the other side of the road, for two or three fields, hounds ran
fairly well, but after passing the small plantation and getting on to the grass
beyond the pace diminished. The fox appeared to run in the deviating, hesi-
tating way natural to young, uneducated effort. Hounds bore on across the road
to Church Broughton, but could make nothing of it till one couple of veterans
cast back into the road and hit a line down it to the right. Here a farmer
put us on to the line, and they hunted slowly over a beautiful line of country,
which brought more than one horse to grief, past Clnirch Broughton to Barton
Blount, where they ran him to ground in the gardens, thus bringing a pleasant
day's sport to a conclusion.

Tuesday, November 1st, Blithbury. A small field, compared to the monster
gathering of Monday, met the Master and hounds at this favourite fixture. The
first draw was Stannyford, which was blank, as also was another small covert, as
well as Cawarden Springs. Mavesyn Ridware osier-bed was then tried. Mr.
Godwin, the sporting farmer, on whose land this covert stands, was not sanguine
about a find, owing to a dog having disturbed it recently. However, a challenge,
endorsed by the whole pack, proved his fears gi'oundless, and a gi'eat, dark-
coloured fox broke away in view of the whole field. Hounds quickly settled to the
line, and by the way that they drove it was easy to see there was a scent. There
was some indecision at a small spirmy on the part of the field, owing to a lady in
a carnage having seen a fox and having imparted the information to an old hand,
who halloaed on the strength of it. Hounds, however, held on the even tenor
of their way, and, accompanied by the Master, crossed the Lichfield road, and
flung forward at a rare pace across the little brook in the next field. They then
swung left-handed towards Blithbury, and ran over a beautiful line of country
with only a few with them till they checked in the Lichfield road after a
capital eleven minutes. Bonner made his cast irrespective of the somewhat
intricate fences which came in his way, and eventually marked his fox to
ground in a small spinny between Blithbury and Colton, after creeping after
him for another fifteen minutes. The first part of the run was answerable
for several dirty coats. Pipe Wood yielded the next fox, which went away on
the Blithbury side. The hounds did not get away on very good terms with
him, and with a very indifferent scent could make next to nothing of it, and, after
a slow hunt across the Blythe, he ran them out of scent close to Blythford. In the
evening they found a good fox in Rough Park, who broke covert at the Hoar
Cross end. The hounds checked on the plough three fields from the covert, but
this apparently untoward circumstance did yeoman service, as it enabled several
hounds, which had been left behind, to get up. A friendly bit of information
from a man at work in the next field just put matters right, and the now united
pack struck the line, dropped their sterns, and began to run with a dash and
drive, which made men ram down their hats and catch hold of their horses, in
all the ecstasy of the delightful conviction that they were in for a good thing.
A big brook, an arm of the Blythe, too wide to jump, and difficult of access,
scattered the field. There were but two practicable places — one to the right,
and the other to the left. The line favoured those who chose the former, but
a swing to the left soon put the latter on equally good terms. It was a

262 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

well-watei-ed country truly, to judge by the rapidity with which brook succeeded
brook, and ditch followed ditch. As, indeed, a hard-riding sportsman from
Cheshire found to his cost, when his horse dropped his hind legs, and fierce as
an eagle his immediate follower swooped upon him. But there was scant time
to note such trifles as this with the Meynell bitches screaming after their fox
over the cream of Staftbrdshire. Still bearing to the left, they drove him past
Laurence Wood, and men began to wonder when this was going to end. For a
moment they lost sight of hounds, and when they caught them again on the top
of the ridge all was over. The fox and all trace of liim seemed to have dis-
appeared like magic. But, indeed, it was merry while it lasted — twenty minutes
all told — and sent every one home delighted with the first Tuesday in
Staffordshire.

Exciting Incidents.

Monday, November 7th, Darley Moor. A nice morning proved a welcome change
to the weather usually experienced at this bleak spot. Hounds found at once in the
Holly Wood, and rattled the cubs well in covert, but by extraordinary good luck
the latter contrived to save their brushes. After being headed more than once,
a fox eventually crossed the Ashbourne road into the gorse and out at the other
side with more than half the pack after him. They ran nicely up to the Norbury
road, where they were stopped, as the huntsman pinned his faith on the rest of
the pack, who were running a fox back on the right, which they eventually lost.
There was a good show of foxes, for which every one must feel gratified to Mr.
Harrison, who was out on foot evincing the greatest keenness. Mr. Brace had
the misfortune to get a nasty fall without, luckily, any serious effects to either
himself or his horse. The Norbury coverts were tried next. There was no lack
of foxes, which were well hustled about, thus bringing to an end a day which will
probably bear good fruit later on. Anyhow, tlie prospects of sport in the Monday
country are excellent.

Ghartley, on Tuesday, attracted a goodly muster as usual, and no wonder, for
to ride about that grand, wild spot is attraction enough, even without hounds.
The latter never look more picturesque than when running across this ancient
chase, while the red coats throw patches of positive colour on the gold and yellow
of the bracken and gi-ass. There is yet another side to the question, though, and
bitter are the complaints of the dangers of galloping over a surface honeycombed
with rabbit-holes. It requires a handy horse, going with his hind legs well under
liim, to cross it in safety. Woe to the anchorite, as old Bunbury calls him, who
goes with his nose in the air and his fore feet well under him. Woe, too, to the
Iiard-pulling, hot-headed horse — or, at least, woe to his rider, for his sensations
will be the reverse of pleasant — until he reaches the wild, sporting country which
lies all round the park, and leaves the rabbit-holes behind him. A fox was soon
on foot in Handleasow Wood, and went away towards the park gate on the main
road, but, being headed, retraced his steps and went away at the Gratwich end.
He crossed the Blythe in the direction of Carry Coppice, and got to ground in a
pit-hole. Chartley Gorse held a fox as a matter of course, which ran into Hand-
leasow Wood, through it, and bore right-handed across the park and back again
into the wood, where the hounds caught him. A third fox was found in Frads-
well Heath, and the hounds ran best pace to Sherratt's Wood. One couple of
hounds slipped on with him across the lane which bounds that covert on the north,
without, however, escaping the vigilant eye of Charles Leedham, whose well-
known " fon-ard away " gave the office to the rest of the pack. They dashed
over the road, and lost no time in catching their leaders, and ran merrily for a bit

1898] FIVE FOXES IN SHIRLEY PARK. 263

over an intricate line of country, bearing left-handed with Philips' Gorse some
fields on their right. They carried the line into the road towards Leigh, and,
turning like harriers in the road, i-an down it for half a mile or more till they
came to the railway near Leigh Station, where there was a long check. But
they hit the line forward, and, crossing the Blythe, ran nicely on over a good
country, in crossing which the master got a nasty fall, through his horse landing
up to his shoulders in a bog. In his efforts to get out, the horse struck his rider
in the face with his hoof. Mr. Fort finished the run with a very bloody hand-
kerchief stuffed in his mouth. Meanwhile the hounds checked again near Leigh,
but soon hit it off again, and ran into Park Hall Wood. Thence one fox went
away on the top side towards Leigh, and another on the opposite side, but, being
headed, turned back into the covert, when hounds eventually lost him after a
hunting run of twenty-five minutes. Mr. Philips's horse swerved at a fence and
carried away a small thorn tree, which he was rash enough to jump into. As he
lay tangled up in the bush, it was at first thought he was killed, but fortunately
this was not the case. Every one was delighted at Charles's re-appearance, and
hoped it would not be long before he was out again.

Monday, November 14th, 1899, at Osmaston Manor. Every one was
hospitably entertained, as usual, by Sir Peter Walker, but the latter provided us
with yet better fare in Shirley Park, where there was quite an embarrafs de
richesse in the shape of foxes. How many there were it is difficult to say, but
experts were ready to swear to at least five. One old dog fox tried to break on
the Longford side, but was headed. Another was viewed away on the Shirley
side, and one couple of hounds got away on his line. Eventually hounds went
away at the bottom end opposite the mill, turned sharp to the left before reaching
it, and ran fast towards Shirley. Already a loose horse came galloping up the
lane, and was not caught till he got to Brailsford Bridge. To the right of Shirley
village they checked for a minute or so, giving time to those of the field, who had
got a bad start, to get up. Hounds made a swinging cast forward, hit the line,
and began to run in earnest in the direction of Hollington, over the best and
biggest part of Derbyshire. Here a gallant major [INIajor Philips, on Puma] on a
chestnut mare was seen sailing along in front as if he never meant to be caught,
but hounds hovered for a bit, which enabled his immediate followers to get on
terms with him. Every one was on the ride, and every one seemed determined
not to be left behind. The fun was getting fast and furious. There were loose
horses, dirty coats, and beaming faces, cracking of thorn fences, and splintermg of
rails. A hard-riding gentleman [Mr. Kempson], on a keen young one, shivered
a top rail, but saved a fall, while one of our keenest welter-weights was less
fortunate and spiked his hat. Hollington was left to the right, and a rather
sharp right-handed turn caused hounds to overrun it a bit. But they flung
forward, and recovering the Ime, carried it over the Brailsford road and ran
smartly to Culland. Here one fox went away at the Brailsford end, but homids,
after faltering for an anxious moment, ran merrily the whole length of the covert
and out at the Longford end. Bearing left-handed, they ran steadily over a
strongly-fenced countiy, as more than one horse found to his cost, to the Langley
road. Here they checked, and the cream of the fun— some twenty minutes-
was over. Bonner made a forward cast and hit off the Ime ; in fact, all through
this nice gallop he gave his fox credit for being a good one, and they ran up to
the main road to Derby, crossed it, and checked by Mr. Peach's house, Langley
Hall. From here they carried the line on a short distance across the lane, and
there was a long check by the farmhouse, during which a clever horse showed us

264 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1898

how to do the' trick by jumping a slip stile in front of his rider [Captain Dugdale],
who had dismounted, and who walked through after his steed. Bonner eventually-
cast forward, and three couples of hounds hit it off to the left, and with a little
help the pack hunted on to within a mile of Muggiuton. After this the line
twisted and turned in the most erratic fashion until scent utterly failed, and so
brought an enjoyable hunt to an end. At times hounds ran very fast, but never
for long at a time. Reeve's Moor was next drawn, and, of course, not iu vain.
They could make but little of this fox, but one went away from Longford Car,
and they hunted him with an indifferent scent to Alkmonton, where he was
headed by the blacksmith's shop, and went back to the Car. Here, after
about an hour's work, he was brought to band.

Tuesday, Newton village. This was an ideal hunthig morning, still and warm,
without sun, and for once appearances were not deceptive. The order was given
to draw Coley Giorse, and every one was in high hopes of repeating the two
excellent runs of last year from this covert. Hounds were no sooner thrown into
the gorse than there was a challenge, succeeded by " A cry more nobly full and
swelled by every throat," as Somerville has it. Like a storm they drove through
the wood beyond, and, settling to the line, away they went, heads up and sterns
down, over the open pointing for Wolseley. If the pack did not tail, their
pursuers did. In fact, never was a field of horsemen more fairly choked by the
pace, and there were but five or six men with them as they came flying down to
" that stream of historic disaster," the Morton brook. At Blithfield Gorse there
was a long check, which practically brought this brilliant scurry of tAvelve
minutes to an end, and they eventually marked him to ground in a pit-hole hard
by. The next fox was found in the gardens at Blithfield, only to be chopped the
moment he was on his legs. A third fox was soon on foot in Blithe Moor, and
they ran him at a cracking pace towards Colton to ground in a few minutes. It
was hard on hounds running to ground twice with such a scent. A fourth fox
was found in the same covert last drawn, and they ran him very fast towards
Stansley Wood, turned right-handed to Duckley Plantation. Hence they forced
him out across the Uttoxeter and Hugely road and checked, but the fox was
seen stealing up a hedgerow to the left of where they checked, and the Master
soon had the hounds on his line. From this point they ran nicely up to a pit-hole
near Forge Coppice, where they were at fault, but a useful halloa forward put
matters right, and they ran merrily up the coppice and out at the Bromley end.
Every one began to think we were on the line of our Brakenhurst friend of
Saturday, and things looked well for repeating a gallop over that excellent country
with a far better scent. But it was not to be. The hounds checked a few fields
farther on, and the huntsman made a left-handed cast back. Hearing a halloa
in the same direction, he went to it, and the hounds ran back to Duckley Wood,
where they caught their fox, who turned as stiff as a crutch as soon as he was
brought to hand. Mr. Hill, of Mill Green, viewed a very tired fox going through
his rickyard pointing for Hoar Cross. This probably was the Brakenhurst fox,
and it was a pity we did not hear Mr. Hill's halloa. However, it was a capital
day's sport with a satisfactory ending.

Monday, November 21, 1898. Doveridge. Hounds threw off in the Hare
Park, whence a fox went away for the Lake Banks, Sudbury, but retraced his
steps to the Hare Park, where he probably got to gi'ound, as they could make
nothing of him. Another fox was found in the Snake Grove, who took them by
Mr. Bowden's house at Somersal Herbert, swung right-handed for Sudbury
Coppice, then left-handed as if he meant going to Eaton Wood, but changing his

1898] MR. BLOUNT'S FOXES. 265

mind, turned right-lianded again. They ran him up to Rigg's Lane, between
Vernon's Oak and Marston-Montgomery, where he beat them. The afternoon
was spent in hustHng foxes about the Doveridge coverts, where, thanks to Mr.
Brace's fostering care, there was a good show. There was never anythmg hke a
good scent, and the pursued had always the advantage over his pursuers.

Tuesday was ushered in by a sharp frost, but this did not prevent a goodly
muster at Bramshall, a fixture which wOl always be associated with the great run
to Moddershall Oaks on the wettest day on record. No such luck, however, was
in store for us to-day. There was a wonderful show of foxes, thanks to that best
of sportsmen, Mr. Blount, who loves to see his neighbours enjoying a sport in
which he himself does not actively participate. Would there were more like him.
He had the satisfaction of viewing away no less than four foxes from Carry Coppice
to-day. However, though this fox himself was in evidence, tlie scent he left behind
liim was but a negative quality. Philips' Gorse was the first draw, and the
fox made for Carry Coppice, whence a fox went away at the lower side towards
Loxley, and took them into the coveii by the road at the railway crossing. The
hounds just crossed the road in the direction of the Alder Car, but turned back
into the covert which they had just left, and could make nothing more of it.
They were taken back to Carry Coppice, and got a fox away at the Bramshall
end, and ran him to Philips' Gorse, where they caught him. Another visit to
Carry Coppice was productive of a brace of foxes, one of which went away at
the lower side, while the other was viewed away at the top— a rare great fox he
was too. Hounds got on to his line, and ran him across the green lane at the
top of the coppice, where some ardent spirits attempted and succeeded in
stemming the advancing tide of horsemen and jumping out— a by no means easy
task Their valour met with a poor reward, as the hounds turned left-handed
and they had to turn into the main Uttoxeter road, which the lane riders crossed
in front of them. Across the railway the hounds hunted very slowly, and so
left-handed, thanks to a farmer's friendly information, carried the line mto the
wood above Loxley Park, where they lost him. They found again in the wood
on the other side of the park, and ran fast with a fair scent, and a rare cry to
the Uttoxeter road near the Red Cow, and crossed the road. But they never
spoke to it over the road, and lost him.

Thursday was a rough, cold morning, with snow lying in patches on the
fields and in the ditches. A small field for a Thursday, especially for such a
favourite fixture, met hounds at Radburne. It was a great pity that the weather
was not more propitious for the welcome home on the part of the Hunt to the
popular squire and his bride. But even if the weather did fail in its duty the
famous Rough was as staunch as ever, and held a leash of foxes. Hounds settled
on to one, which went away for Trusley, with only a moderate scent, and it wants
a good one to make the brook of that name inviting. To-day the dark stream
flowing sluggish and idle was far from alluring, and its river-god must have smiled
at the havoc which its appearance made amongst the semed ranks of half-hearted
steeds and hesitating riders. But the brook and its dangers were braved never-
theless, yet to small purpose, for before Trusley village was gained scent had
dwindled away to nothing, and our fox lives to run another day. Pildock Wood,
Common Nurseries, and Potlucks proved tenantless, but Sutton Gorse furnished a
fox, on whose line hounds could only potter along, and, perhaps changing, they
drifted back to Sutton Gorse, where they left him. They found again in Bearward-
cote osier-bed, and pushed him out as if he was going for Burnaston, but, being
headed on the top of the hill, he turned back to the left of Etwall, where they lost
him, thus ending a disappointing day.

266 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. (1898

Wichiior was the rendezvous for Saturday, and, as a matter of course, thej'^
found directly, for there is no better fox-preserver than the Squire of Wichnor.
But scent did not favour them, and after a short excursion in the direction of
Bontliorn the fox turned back into tlie covert, where he was found. Eventually
he went away at the opposite end, and turned down towards the Trent, almost
opposite Orgreave Hall. Some years ago a fox took the same line, but actually
crossed the river, which Mr. Princep succeeded in swimming — no mean feat for
man and horse. To-day, however, the floods were out to an extent which would
have daunted the bravest fox, and our friend turned right-handed, skirting the
floods, but going as straight as any fox could under the circumstances over a good
country, with hounds running nicely, but never very fast, on his line. He tried
a pit-hole or two, but the earth-stopper had done his duty well. So they ran on
along the valley — when one of our most accomplished horsewomen [Miss Mosley]
came to grief, but luckily without serious result apparently — till the fox bethought
him of Rough Park, and turned sharp to the right. He was viewed over the
lane from Yoxall to Hamstall Ridware between Olive Green and Morrey by
Captain Holland's groom and his little boy on a pony, who had been shoving
along bravely all the time. But within a field of the covert this good fox changed
his mind, and, leaving the wood on his right, set his mask in the direction of
Blithbury, Repenting of his rashness just beyond Purl Hill, he turned back for
Rough Park, and a farmer viewed him just in front of the hounds, who were iu
full cry. But whether a flock of sheep, through which he ran, foiled the line, or
what, the hounds suddenly checked, and nothing could be made of it afterwards.
Still, it was quite a nice little hunt of twenty-five minutes, and every one enjoyed
it. Two consecutive foxes were found in the Brakenhurst, both of which ran the
same line into Hoar Cross Park, and were both lost at about the same spot.
With the first of them there was a halloa forward in the direction of the Birch
Wood. The locking of the gates between the Brakenhurst and the Hall caused
a good deal of annoj'ance, for though the whippers-in have keys, "you cannot,"
as some one remarked, " carry a whipper-in about in your pocket."

Accidents axd Exciting Incidents. (November 28, 1898.)
On ^Monday, the thermometer registered from four to fourteen degrees of frost
according to the locality, and the roads were hard and slippery. But there was never
any doubt about hunting, though the Master wisely waited at the meet, Marston-on-
Dove, longer than usual to give the rime time to melt. A fox was soon on foot
in Hilton Gorse, and was halloaed away at the end by the farm. The brook at
the bottom caused a check, and it was difficult to decide which way the fox had
gone. Hounds, however, soon solved the problem by hitting off the line forward
to the left of the brook, and ran nicely, but never very fast, though it was up-
wind, over the cream of Derbyshire— the line of the Guards' point-to-point
steeplechase of 1895 in fact, though the reverse way. A few fields beyond the
Spath there was a long check after an enjoyable twelve minutes, which had
emptied more than one saddle. Hounds at last struck the line to the right across
the little Spath brook, and marked their fox to gi-uund in a pit-hole hard by.
Potter's was drawn next, and held a fox, or very likely two or three, for hounds
were very busy on the lower side by the road when a fox was halloaed away on
the top. Consequently they were some time in coming to the halloa, and did not
get away on very good terms with their fox. He set his head for Longford, but
soon turned right-handed and ran a little ring back to Potter's, which he left on
his right. Crossing the road to Longford, he visited the outskirts of Boylestone,

1898] A HILTON DAY. 267

and then, by way of variety, treated us to a left-hand turn. Near Sapperton
Bonner got a view, and a farmer on a galloping horse looked all over like catching
the fox. Hounds, however, though close at him, could not run him, and could
only just pick out the line to a point between Church Broughton and the top
P'oston Covert, where they were at fault. There was a halloa forward towards
the covert, only two fields away, which would have been useful, only the hunts-
man, who was casting back, did not hear it. However, as soon as he got the
information he lost no time in slipping up the lane, and a good bold forward cast
on the far side of the covert recovered the line. They ran across the Sapperton
brook pointing for Sapperton, but checked again shortly, and eventually gave him
up close to Mr. Hellaby's, at Mackley, a few fields from Sudbury Park, after a
slow run, with a bad scent, of forty minutes. The fox, however, had reckoned
without his host, or rather without the Master, for the latter had a shrewd idea
that our friend \n.y perdu in the covert at Sapperton. Events justified the idea,
for hounds roused their fox with a crash which could be heard in Sudbury village,
and forcing him into the open, rolled him over one field from the wood. They next
found a fox in the top Foston Covert, and ran him to the Pudding Bag behind
Foston Hall, where they lost him. They found again in the top covert, but scent
had gone from bad to worse, and, it being useless to persevere, hounds went home.

Another sharp frost and some snow in the night did not look very rosy, for
Tuesday at Blithbury. The roads were very slippery for horses going to covert,
but there was no frost in the ground to stop hunting. Cawarden Springs were
blank, and so was Mavesyn Kidware osier-bed. In Pipe Wood hounds seemed
Just to touch on a stale line, but no fox was there. Rough Park was blank, and
so was Laurence's Wood, and they never found till they got to Birch Wood at
Hoar Cross. The fox went away across the Abbots Bromley turnpike, and
hounds ran him with a fair scent, bearing left-handed, parallel with the road,
down to the brook below Child's Coppice, when they checked. " Rose again the
joyous rally," as Whyte Melville has it, and so inspiriting was the cry that five
choice spirits flew the brook in their stride and galloped in hot haste in the wake
of the now flying pack, while the majority went " in and out clever," A sharp
turn to the left through the corner of Child's Coppice, induced a bold stranger
[Mr. Lonsdale, Master of the Bicester], on a clever mare, to jump the very awk-
ward stile into it. " So for twelve fair minutes they ran and they raced," and
the few who were with them fairly romped along in their wake like school-boys
at play, though the ditches were deep and the fences were strong. Into ^ the
Birchwood they swooped, and then all was practically over. " What a pity,"
remarked a hard-riding soldier [Captain Dugdale], who had been very far from
last all the way, and he expressed the general opinion. There was a brace^ of
foxes, and they probably changed. Anyhow, scent did entirely, and, after messing
about the Birchwood for a bit, the hounds went home.

On Thursday, at Brailsford, we were favoured with a perfect hunting morning,
although on Tuesday evening odds of six to four could have been had against our
hunting at all. Strange to say, there was a small muster for a Thursday. Hounds
found at once in White's Wood, one of Mr. Cox's coverts, and ran sharply across
the wind parallel with the main Derby Road, Turning right-handed across the
road, they ran fast up-wind, leaving Brailsford Hall a few fields on the right, down
to Culland, This short, sharp burst of fifteen minutes brought more than one
trusty hunter and daring rider to grief, A lady was down under her horse, and
tardy was the relief tendered to beauty in distress. A gentleman on a young one
found the top-binding of a high stake-and-bound fence too strong for him, while
one of our best and bravest [Mr. Kempson] found teaching the young idea how

268 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. Ci898

to jump a liazaidous umlertakiiig, which nearly resulted in a broken neck. Not
that he paid much heed to it, for he was sailing along afterwards as if necks were
a purchasable commodity. But the Master's fall, at a fence with a blind ditch to
liim, broke his collar-bone and cast a gloom over the rest of the day. '' Til bet
you ray collar-bone is not broken," he called out cheerily, as Dr. O'Callaghan
came to examine him. But, alas ! the doctor's verdict was against the patient,
and it was with universal regret and sympathy that every one saw him start to
ride pluckily home. There are masters whose presence can be spared witiiout
injury to sport, but Mr. Fort is not one of these, and, if only from a purely selfish
point of view, every one wishes him a speedy recovery. After his departure, by
a curious coincidence, hounds never ran again as they did in the early part of the
run. One fox, probably the hunted one, Avent away at the Brailsford end, but
hounds were stoiiped and laid on to one which broke at the Longford end, and
turning left-handed, down-wind, was soon lost near Long Lane. Boden's Thorns
held a fox, for which our thanks are due to the founders of this capital covert,
which went away down the hill on the Long Lane side, and, turning right-handed
Avith hounds only creeping after him, got to Kadburne Rough. They carried the
line out towards Park House and back again to the Rough, where they could
make nothing of it, and he was given up. The Spath furnished a fox, AVhich set
the hounds a tangled skein to unravel on the classic ground on which Sutton
Church looks down ; in fact, the spire would have been the best mount a hounds-
man could have had, for the line meandered up and down hedgerows, three sides
of one field and four of the next, while men and women jumped to their heart's
content, and fell to their discontent. It was a case of "You may jump till
you're sick, you may spur till you tire ; but you cannot get rid of that tapering
spire." All at once a great fox jumped up all amongst the hounds, and escaped
in the marvellous way in which a fresh fox will, but even so they could not
really run him four fields. However, two couples of hounds stuck to his line and
hunted him up to Boden's Thorns, and beyond it towards Radburne, attended
by three good sportsmen, till Steve stopped them. Meanwhile Bonner trotted up
the lane with the main body of the pack and threw them into Boden's Thorns in
the hopes of picking up his original-hunted fox. There was a halloa on the
Sutton side, and also a fine old dog fox went away in view of the whole field.
He was a fresh one, and the huntsman was doubtless right in trying to recover his
iumted fox in the covert, considering how late it was getting. However, he did not
succeed in doing so, and hounds went home, thus ending the best Thursday so far.
Saturday, at New Lodge, calls for but little comment. Mr. Arliss most
hospitably entertained all comers, and provided us with plenty of foxes as well.
The latter played with hounds all day in the woods between Draycott Cliti' and
Buttermilk Hill, with the exception of a bright little scurry of a few fields out
towards Agardsley Park and back again to Swilcar Lawn. Finally, they hunted
a fox across the Buttermilk Hill Lane into Dog Kennel Wood and out at the
bottom on to the farm of that capital sportsman, Mr. John Hollingsworth. It
being now late, and by rare good luck only one couple of hounds being away,
they were stopped and went home. The best news of the day was that the
Master's collar-bone was not broken after all.

WITH THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.
Monday, December 5th, at Cubley Stoop was a nice hunting morning with a
southerly wind, warm without sun, what the French call a jour des dames. Such
a day, in short, as Beckford calls a perfect one for scent, adding, " there are not

5898] ACCIDENT TO COL. THE HON. W. COKE. 269

many such in a season." The sequel only shows how little any one knows about
it, for hounds could barely own the scent in Cubley Gorse, and when the fox
bobbed out and in again the three hounds who appeared on his line could not
speak to it. Twice he essayed to go and twice he thought better of it, but at the
third attempt he Avent away towards Marston-Montgomery, but turned short back
after going five or six fields. A body of horsemen, pushing forward down the
green lane, which runs into the Marston and Cubley road, barred his progi'ess
and forced him to cross the said road, and he set his mask as if for Malcolmsley.
But his heart failed him, and he turned sharp to the left, re-crossing the same
road a couple of hundred yards on the Marston side of Cubley Stoop. Leaving
■Cubley Gorse on his left, he reached the Car, and, after a turn or two up and
down the covert, they bowled him over after a nice little hunt of twentj'-one
minutes. Brief as had been the scurrj--, it occasioned a serious accident to that
capital all-round sportsman. Colonel the Hon. W. Coke, who had the misfortune
to dislocate his shoulder. There is no one who will not sympathize with the
sufferer, who is not only a past-master in the science of fox-hunting, but can give
points to many a younger man in the art of crossing a country. Birch Wood
and the outlying Snelston coverts were dra\vn blank, but a brace of foxes went
away from the Holly Wood, and the hounds settled to the line of the one which
went along the bottom under the holt on the hillside, which they left on the
right, and, swinging left-handed, crossed the Ashbourne road into the Three
Corners, and out the other side, where they checked. Hitting off the line forward,
they ran across the road to Darley Moor into the Holly Wood again. They
■carried the line through the wood out on to the Osmaston side, but there the fox
was too far in front of them, and he had to be given up. After drawing Hope
Wood and Marston Park blank, they went home. Mr. Buncombe made an
efficient deputy-master, and on a good-looking chestnut was always to the fore,
followed by Lady Florence Buncombe on her well-known grey.

Tuesday, Newton village. Found in NcAvton Gorse, and ran up to the
Drointon lane, before reaching which they checked. Two or three couples of
liounds had slipped away with a fox towards Brointon. Bonner cast over the
lane into Chartley Moss, where hounds immediately hit the line of a fox, who
■went away at the opposite side, turned back, and, probably hearing a rare cry of
human voices coming through the wood, carried out his first intention, and
crossed over into Birch Coppice. The rotten bridge over Stoneybrook between
this and Chartley Moss caused some confusion, and more than half the field
either turned back through the Moss, or, wiser still, remained in the lane outside.
These latter and the ones who had crossed the bridge galloped doAvn to the
Blythe with hounds, where a soldier [Captain Dugdale], armed with wn're nippers,
led the way when wire ban-ed advance. Mr. Cavendish proved the truth of the
■ old adage, "More dirt, less hurt," when his horse got entangled in the wire and
fell with him. Our champion welter weight [Mr. Hartley], who is seldom much
out in his reckoning, turned back as soon as he saw that hounds meant crossing
the river, and carried a large contingent in his wake down to the Smithy Ford,
and these had a capital run on the hard road without any hounds. The latter,
meanwhile, had swung left-handed opposite Wanfield Hall, and, leaving the
covert of that name to the right, ran their fox to ground in Loxley Park Wood
after a nice hunting run of something under twenty minutes. A long, weary jog
to draw the Bishton coverts culminated in disappointment, and hounds did not
find again till they got to Buckley Wood, whence our fox went away towards
Abbots Bromley. He soon turned left-handed across the Bromley road, and
hounds ran to a bye-lane between the Bunstall-Bromley lane and the main road

270 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [189*

to Uttoxeter, where they checked. One old bitch, however, showed us that she
could own a line up a road, and, turning sharp to the left up it, put them right.
Getting together again, hounds ran as if they were going back to Blithfield, and
a gentleman on a grey [Mr. Caldecott] showed us what a strong place a bold man
on a bold horse can get through, as the pair jumped out of the road. For a
minute or two it looked as if we were going to the woods, but this vacillating
fox, whose meanderings would tax the powers of a geometrician to describe^
turned back again over the Bromley road, left Duckley Wood on his left, and ran
over the Warren down to the bridge over the Blythe, half a mile from Newton
village. Hounds tlien turned left-handed along the river, first this side and
then that, as if they were on the line of an otter rather than of a fox. Leaving
the riverside, they ran merrily to the left of Newton village, as if our fox might be
going for Newton Gorse. A left-handed turn, however, brought us past the back
of Blitlifield Gardens, while a right-handed one took us across the Colton road
down to Spencer's Plantation. But even after forty minutes our fox had no mind
to take shelter in this or any other covert, and he made a very sharp bend to the
left, hounds turning with him beautifully. A ploughed field brought them to
their noses, but they puzzled it out like so many beagles, and worked it out down
to the road and on to the grass beyond. Here they dashed on again with a
merry cry down to the Moreton Brook and over it. Most people wallowed through
in safety, and hounds ran on nicely, bearing left-handed over a strongly-fenced
country, back to the Colton road. Beyond this, one field away, was the pit-hole
where our fox saved his brush a fortnight ago, but to-day the door was closed.
Better luck next time, thought our friend, as he went on to the next Castle of
Malepartus. It looked a hundred to one on his having effected an entrance, as
hounds checked in the field below it, and feathered round with waving sterns and
flapping nostril. But no ! those wide-casting hounds here hit it off on the field
beyond, and for a few more moments we can listen to that cheering cry. But,
alas ! Ox Close Wood loomed dark in the foreground, the twilight was deepening
fast, and our fox was evidently some way in front of us. For over an hour-
hounds had puzzled out a complicated task which reflects credit on them and
their huntsman, and no doubt with a rather better scent they would have brought
him to book. To the earth stopper, thanks.

A nice morning on Thursday induced all the world and his wife to assemble
on horseback or on wheels at Twyford Cross Roads. The Quorn sent us hard-
riding contingent, besides some who had been here before, and who took this
opportunity of revisiting our happy hunting-grounds. Last, but not least, the
Master was out again, but he had to be content with a vehicle in lieu of a hunter.
Hell Meadows was the first covert drawn, and held a brace of foxes, neither of
which seemed inclined to leave. But at last Mr. Chandos-Pole's keen eye
detected one stealing away at the lower end by the dyke, and the musical notes
of a horn, which the Meynell country once knew full well, proclaimed the fact to
the crowd of eager horsemen. No sooner were hounds settled to the line than,,
with a rush like the Falls of Niagara, the Meynell Thursday field was surging in
their wake. Men say that hounds ran this same line last year, and that they fairly
flew till they marked their fox to ground near Findern in eleven minutes. To-day
they ran it in eight; but was the pace as good? Let those who saw decide.
Either last year they went farther, or this year they went faster. If there is one
thing on this earth on which opinions differ more than another it is on the pace
of a run. Given a good start, a good heart, and a useful horse, it is surprising
how moderate is the pace ; reverse the conditions, and how fast hounds fly f
Hell Meadows were called on again, but in vain, nor was the tenant of Mr. W.

1898J FROM CROXALL TO ELFORD GORSE. 271

Boden's cabbage-field in possession. In Bunker's Hill the}' found a leash. One
they chopped, one went away to the right, one on the left, and with the latter
they joined issue. If any one can follow his circuitous course it is not the writer.
Hounds luckily could, but not to very good purpose, and men rode and jumped
behind them in concentric rings round Burnaston. Mr. Christopher Pole was
down and under his horse, but it takes a good deal to kill a Pole, and he seemed
none the worse. Fresh foxes jumped up in all directions, to make matters worse.
One even frightened the horse of a gallant heavy-weight by getting up just in
front of him, and the end of it was that after an hour and forty minutes' trial the
foxes were all acquitted on the Burnaston circuit and got off scot free. Hounds
found again in the Four Acres at Mickleover, and ran across the line to the
Potlucks, where they probably changed and ran out towards Radburne.
Retracing his steps, their fox led them back to the Potlucks and recrossed the
railway into the Brick-kiln, through it, and out towards Langley. But he soon
turned back again into the covert, and was viewed away across the road. It was,
however, getting dusk, and scent was bad, so he was given up. Thursday's foxes
are, so far, like nature — they delight in a curve, but abhor a straight line.

A wild, boisterous morning welcomed us at Walton, but so did Mr. Winterton,
and the hearty hospitality of the latter went far to counteract the rough greeting of
the former. Walton Wood was not drawn, out of respect to the memory of the
kindly genial owner, Mr. Ratcliff, who has just gone from amongst us. The
Catton coverts were blank, but we found a straight-necked fox in Croxall osier-
bed, who led them best pace to Elford Gorse to ground as straight as a gim-barrel.
The Mease defeated even the intrepid sportsman on the chestnut [Mr. Caldecott],
who nearly drowned himself and his horse in a vain eftbrt to cross. When most
of us arrived we found only one gentleman on a blood bay horse with the homids,
and he confessed to having caught them only three or four fields before they got
there, so practically no one was with them. In the afternoon hounds ran nicely
over a country difficult to ci'oss on account of wire, railwaj^s, pits, brickyards, and
other drawbacks of civilization, for forty minutes. Space does not admit of
details. Suffice it to say that they found a brace in Caldwell Gorse, ran towards
Drakelowe, turned right-handed to Gresley, back right-handed to Linton, between
which and Seal Wood they lost him. An enjoyable day's sport.

December 12, 1898.

" Fox-hunting," says a gi-eat authority, " though so exciting in itself, is but a
dull subject to write about," and it is doubly so when there is so little to relate
as there is about last Monday at Ednaston. The latter, of course, must always
be associated with the extraordinary run to Winster in 1894, and people go there
in hopes of history repeating itself, which, as a matter of fact, in fox-hunting
annals, is a thing which seldom happens. This Ednaston day supported this
assertion, for it could hardly have been worse. Hounds found at Oak Wood,
ran to Shirley Park, and caught him. En route the late Master [Colonel Fleming]
of the Dove Valley Harriers came into collision with a gatepost and got a heavy
fall, which knocked him out of time for a bit, but every one was glad to see him
mounted again later on and watching proceedings with his usual keen interest.
A stranger [Mr. Cheetham] got run away with in Shirley Park, and his mount
collided with a tree, knocking her hip down and breaking three ribs. Bradley
Wood and Bradley Bottoms were dra\ra blank, but a fox was found in Brailsford
New Gorse, Mr. Gisborne's covert, and, after hangmg in the gorse for twenty

272 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1898

minutes, broke away, and they ran him with a very indifferent scent by Bradlej'
Bottoms to the wood behind Bradley schools, where they lost him. One of the
senior members [Mr. C. W. Jervis-Smith] of the Hnnt got a fall soon after start-
ing in this run, but jumped up and pursued his flying steed at a pace which must
have reminded him of the playing fields at Eton. Two bits of bad news were
that Captain O'Shaughnessey's horse, left at the Pastures on Thursday, had had
to be sliot, and that that keen sportsman, Mr. Frank, had dislocated his shoulder
while out with Col. Chandos-Pole's hounds on Saturday, through his horse slipping
up on the flat.

j\lr. Harrison entertained every one at the Castle at Chartley, on Tuesday, in
the most hospitable manner, and a party from Trentham, including the Duchess
of Sutherland, Mr. Chaplin, and Miss Chaplin, rode about with us in the fog,
waiting for light enough to hunt, and watching the shadowy forms of twelve and
a half couples of hounds. Distemper, alas ! has the pack in its deadly clutch, and
has already claimed Cracker and Flourish, two of the best, as its victims, while
it has been equally fatal to puppies at walk. Let us hope it may pass away as
suddenly and completely as did the fog this morning. Hounds drew two or three
coverts blank, but found in that stronghold, Chartley Gorse, and ran fast for a
mile or so towards Fradswell, and checked. Casting themselves beautifully, they
hit the line to the left and ran merrily along the bottom, and twisted and turned
with a zig-zagging fox in a way it was a treat to see. Through the beautiful
gorse at Sandon they ran him and halfway up the opposing ridge, running nicely
where scent served, and using their noses to good purpose when it did not. To
the right they swung, when cries of " Wire " struck fear into the boldest, and
caused them to stick to a friendly lane. And so on over a country full of com-
plications such as bogs and dimbles to Birch Wood, which our fox did not enter,
but some of the field did, to their undoing. A halloa towards Chartley Gorse
came in very useful at this juncture, and Bonner, holding them on, got on better
terras with his fox. For one moment it looked as if he meant repeating his ring
of the morning, as the hounds took a line out beyond the narrow strip of planta-
tion which bounds the Fradswell side of the gorse. But they turned back and
eventually marked their fox to ground in the gorse after a sociable hunt of an
hour and two minutes. Ke was dug out and killed. The hounds then drew
Handleasow Wood, Gratwich Wood, and Loxley Park Wood blank, and went
home.

Thursday, December 15th, Mercaston Stoop. The Master was out on horse-
back for the first time since his accident, and if hearty congi-atulations are a salve
for broken bones he ought soon to be perfectly sound. At the meet we were told
that we were sure to find in Mugginton New Gorse, as the Dove Valley Harriers
had hunted a fox into it a day or two before. For once prophecy was verified,
for the gorse held a fox, if not a brace, but the hounds could make nothing of it.
Finally they hunted a stale line towards Ravensdale Park, which they drew.
There was a report that a brace of foxes had slipped away towards Breward's
Car. Certainly, as some one dryly remarked, there was nothing left in covert
except a stale line. Breward's Car, for a wonder, was drawn blank, but they found
at once in Champion Car, and he led them through Farnah, but was headed just
beyond there, and came back through Farnah by Champion Car to the road. He
then made for Breward's Car, but turned sharp right-handed along a " dimble "
to the cross roads near Champion Car, where hounds threw up. A fox was
viewed towards Breward's Car, but tliey could make nothing of it. The coverts
by Weston Underwood were drawn blank, but they found in Ireton Rough and
ran a few fields towards Breward's Car, but there was absolutely no scent, and

1898] DEATH OF LORD VERNON. 273

they had to give him up. Langley Gorse held a fox, which was viewed away
pointing for Markeaton, but turned left-handed and crossed the brook. In the
field beyond this a fox was caught napping in a great tangled hedgerow and killed,
while the hunted fox went on towards Vicar Wood. It was good luck getting
hold of this fox, as he was a mangy one ; besides, there was not scent enough to
bring one to hand otherwise. Luckily there were no mishaps to chronicle, but a
young lady [Miss Chandos-Pole] set us an example in courage by jumping a very
forbidding post and rails fortified by barbed Avire on the top. The only man who
ventured to follow her bore strong testimony to the ugly nature of the obstacle
in the shape of punctures in his horse's knees. As the French prisoners at
Ashbourne remarked when they saw the famous game of football played at that
ancient town, " If the English call this pla}% they may well fight."

Owing to the lamented death of Lord Vernon, the Meynell hounds did not
hunt on Saturday, nor did they go out till after the funeral.

Mr. Chandos-Pole's hounds had a good day on Saturday, finding at Cotton
Wood, and killing their fox in the open after a good run of over an hour.

December 21st, 1898. Although it is a matter of fox-huutmg history, it may
not be generally known that the late Lord Vernon, on whose account the hounds
did not hunt for three days, had a special claim to this mark of respect, apart
from those usually recognized. For the late baron's great-great-grandfather,
"the hunting lord," had a pack of hounds at Sudbury as early as 1793.

From then till now is a long step, and in the interval much good sport has been
chronicled, and so, to take up the thread and join it to fresh material, let us jog on
to Thatched Lodge on Wednesday, December 21st, in this year of grace 1898.
A rare hunting morning it is, too, and people are all the keener perhaps for their
enforced abstinence. Hounds dash into the vast recesses of Kingston Wood,
and rouse a fox from his kennel in a twinkling. No loiterer he. He is up and
away, and hounds slip out after him in less time than it takes to tell. Hope
whispers a flattering tale. Doubtless this is the beginning of that run from the
woods with an old Staffordshire Hector which will be the talk of the decade.
Delude yourself if you can. Set your horse going, and console yourself for the
disappointment of the fox getting to ground in two fields with the pleasure which
anticipation yielded you. Better luck next time. But, alas ! the luck does not
come. Cold experience has chilled hope's ardour, and the consequence will be
that most of us will be left behind when the good thing comes off. It is not given
to every one to hope on, hope ever. And so a slacker field dawdles on after
hounds through Kingston Wood, and they find a fox and drag after him, scent-
less to Wanfield Hall, when a fresh one jumps up, whom, with no accession of
pace, they hunt spiritlessly through Woodcock Heath, and lose him. They found
again in Bagot's woods, and hunted him — right pretty hunting it was, too —
across that wild, romantic park, full of old-world memories, into the woods again,
and across Buttermilk Hill into Swilcar Lawn. What made our fox turn back
here? What is the use of asking? Turn he did, sharply enough, too. Was it
for the sake of company ? Perhaps it was, for there seemed to have been a brace
in front of them all at once. The field turned back, too, with much abuse of
boggy rides, and kept along the top — confused by a divided cry. Meanwhile, a
change has come over the spirit of the dream, for the main body of the pack are
slipping along the lower side with a fox that means going. Go he does, too, and to
some purpose. Out at the bottom over Leason's Farm they run hke mad and
Steve's second horseman on his homeward way is astonished by the novel sio'ht
of the Meynell Hounds running gloriously, and not a living soul with them. His
VOL. II. X

274 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1898

friendly hail gave the office to ]\Iajor and Mrs. Haiiwell, also bound for home,
and for thirtj' blissful minutes those two had it all to themselves over a country
good enough for Nimrod himself. By Woodlands Chapel, by Smallwood Manor,
left-handed towards the Red Cow, hounds drove their fox ; right-handed again
they brought him, with Woodford and Marchington on tlieir left. Here the
Major viewed him, sorely distressed, but one field in front of them. Had hounds
caught sight of him he must have died. But the pursuers are brought to their
noses, while the friendly woods are not so far off, and their fox is travelling on.
Slowly, no doubt, but still surely, and the covert saves him. To let hounds run
on now with a certainty of changing would be madness, and this happy pair,
thrice blessed of Diana, managed to stop them as they crossed Marchington
Chfif and brought them home. It was a rare piece of luck for them for their last
day with us, which no one will grudge them. We only wish we had been with
them — that is all.

Major Hanwell afterwards died a soldier's death iu the
South African war.

Monday, December 26th, 1898, at Marston-Montgomery, saw a large field
assembled. The morning was ushered in with a boisterous wind and a falling
glass, which, if such things go for anything, boded ill for sport. Marston Park
was drawn blank, but Sedsall Bough held a brace, one of which went away
towards Marston over a bit of country difficult to cross on account of wire
and natural obstructions of an awkward nature. So only a score or so, amongst
whom was the sporting landlord of the Crown at Marston, on a likely-looking
three-year-old, were really with them when they crossed the road which leads to
Wardley, between Mr. Clamp's and Mr. Smith's farms. Thence hounds ran
rather nicely a little ring of ten minutes or so out towards Wardley, and swung
left-handed across the Somersal brook and the road from Wardley to Marston.
Recrossing the road and the brook, he tried the earth, but finding it closed
against him, continued his course, leaving Marston village on his right, and got
to ground in the pit-hole on Mr. Smith's farm close to where he first crossed the
road on his outward journey. No doubt he meant getting in here if fortune had
favoured him, at the outset, but there was a party ferreting there. By the time
he got back they had moved away to see what they could of the hunt, and the
fox took advantage of their absence to effect an entrance. Hounds found a fox
in Eaton Wood, who ran the usual ring of the Doveridge coverts, by Birch Wood
to Wardley Coppice, over a little bit of country that takes some doing, and those
who were with hounds meant doing it too, for they were jumping timber as if
they preferred it to anything else. And they were not far out in their choice, for
it usually is the best place if your heart and your horse be but good enough.
One sportsman, though, who can lay claim to both the foregoing qualities, will
probably not agree with this, for he got a nasty fall over a stiff' rail with a ditch
on the taking-ofF side, which some people would not have at any price, and got a
shaking. Meanwhile hounds ran into Wardley Coppice, and, after hanging there
for some time, eventually got away on bad terms with their fox, and dragged
after him to a little beyond Marston Park, where he ran them out of scent.
They then drew Hare Park blank, but found a good straight-necked fox in
^Ir. Jervis Smith's gorse.

" That man we all honour, wbate'er be his rank,
Whose heart heaves a sigh when his gorse is drawn blank."

1898] GOOD RUN FROM CARRY COPPICE. 275

Mr. Jervis Smith has had his fair share of sighing, so he is well entitled to his
meed of satisfaction — and a satisfaction it must be to find your friends a fox
who went away straight across the main Uttoxeter- Sudbury road, past Sudbury
Bottoms without touching them, straight as an arrow through the coppice, over
the Oak Lane, across Mr. Peacock's farm, and bore left-handed, leaving Malcoms-
ley on his left, up to the road from Cubley Stoop to Marston-Montgomery. Here
there were two lines — one fox, probably the hunted one, bearing left-handed
after he crossed the road, and the other going straight on as if for Cubley Gorse.
Unluckily it was too late to persevere with either, and hounds had to be stopped.
Let us hope to find this fox again with more daylight, and to run the good line
up to Snelston or Norbury, which he probably took.

A wilder and wetter morning than Tuesday could hardly be imagined. The
hounds were at Loxley, and, by the law of contraries, of course they ran well.
They found in Carry Coppice, as a matter of course, and ran out at the top end
over the boggy lane. So violent was the wind that, though a second horseman
was seen to be halloaing with all his might, not a sound seemed to issue from
his lips. Once over the lane they ran nicely down wind right-handed up to the
road from Field to Stramshall station. This they crossed without dwelling, and
swimg left-handed down to the river, which they crossed to the discomfiture of
the field. The floods were out, and it was no easy matter to know where to
cross. A gentleman [Mr. Caldecott], whose back we ought all to know by this
time, galloped off and dashed into the flooded stream, from which, on the far
side, issued a cart track. Fortune favoured the brave, and he emerged safely.
It was a regular case of

" How we plunged into the river,
Led and cheered by Jersey's call :
' Come on ! ' he cried, ' the stream is wide
And deep enough for all.' "

Into it plunged gentlemen averse to the taste of water, and soon to be up to their
necks in it. Into it went the official timekeeper [Mr. Peacock], whom of all
others we least can spare, and was lost to sight beneath the gurgling flood. But,
out of sympathy with the hunt, the stream disgorged its prey, and he landed
safely, dripping like a river-god, on the farther side, while his horse galloped off.
No doubt, later on, like the whipper-in in the Tarporley run, " By application of
spur rowel, he wiped him dry without a towel." Meanwhile the leaders overshot
the hounds, and had to come back to them. The latter, after a right-hand turn,
swung to the left, and crossed the road from Field to Withington — and then.
Well, whether the water confused our senses or what, the Avi-iter knoweth not,
but for a time geography was a dead science, till, groping about on the top of a
pit-hole near *Loxley, our fox was viewed fairly beat. So tired, indeed, was he
that he preferred to face uncertainty above ground to the certainty of suffocation
below it, and, leaving the open earths, toiled doggedly on till he met his death in
the open, fairly hunted down after a good forty minutes. Nothing worth noting
was done later.

Thursday saw a large field at Burnaston, where the hospitable host enter-
tained every one. Burnaston Gorse, in spite of the good lying, did not hold a
fox, but the osier-bed on the sewage farm sustained its reputation. The fox
Avent away across the sewage farm, but hounds could not press him, nor were
they likely to do so with the stink of the sewage hi their noses. They carried a

276 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1890

line on to Dearie's farm, and the huntsman marked him to ground in a stick
heap. The Green Wood and Egginton coppices were blank, but they found in
Egginton Gorse. The fox was in no hurry to quit his quarters, and played with
hounds for a long time, till he eventually made up his mind to go, and went away
at the lower end as if he meant crossing the railway. He turned along the
brook side towards Etwall, and, crossing it, induced two choice spirits of opposite
sexes to attempt to do likewise with the hounds. It was too wide to jump, and
the bottom was bad — so much so that the horses floundered about, and the lady
came perilously near getting under lier horse, and neither of the twain gained
much by their bold adventure beyond a mud bath. Meanwhile the rest of tlie
field galloped round by the road by Etwall Station and Hilton Cottage, and
caught hounds in Hilton allotments. The fox was headed back by the railway,
and crossed the main road to the Ash, where they lost him. Sutton Gorse,
which seems to be shorn of its ancient glory, and Dussy Bank were drawn blank,
and the hounds went home, thus ending another bad Thursday. But let us take
courage. Prospect is better than retrospect, and without a doubt good Thursdays
are in store for us.

Saturday, at Dunstall, calls for but little comment beyond the fact that there
were plenty of foxes, which hounds kept on finding and losing alternately. The
universal verdict was "a very poor day." So ends the first part of the season
1898. Nothing remains but to drink

" Success to the master, bis wife, and the hounds,
The hidies, the sportsmen, the farmers, the rest;
This spot where each winter their music resounds,

Of all hunting quarters the fairest and best.
Where each man is a sportsman, each horse is a crack —
No heel taps, man, drink to our Derbyshire pack."

January 5th, 1899. Monday and Tuesday, on which days hounds were adver-
ised to come to Osmaston and Newton village respectively, were dies non. The
news of Mr. Clowes's death, and the consequent very proper decision that there
should be no hunting till after the funeral, was a sad ending to Sir Peter Walker's
very sporting house-party at Osmaston. But if any one has a claim on the sympathy
of a hunt it is a late Master, and when that Master was such a man as the late Mr.
Clowes the claim is doubled. For a better sportsman, a better horseman, or a better
man to hounds — a not very common combination — never rode over Derbyshire.
It was a treat to see him calmly and quietly sailing over one big place after
another with an air of unqualified enjoyment and a complete absence of fuss or
hesitation. Where hounds went there went Mr. Clowes, and it is related of him
that, on going into a neighbouring country in the spring, when all the gaps were
made up and every gate was locked, he jumped seven of those formidable obstacles
in succession as if it was the natural thing to do. And not only in our hunting-
field did he seek a bent for those sporting instincts which are inherent in every
Englishman. Every country, where big game existed, accessible to white men
heard the crack of his rifle ; and thus he, too, when he went a-sporting far a-field,
"asked for no meaner preserve than the primeval forest, no lower park wall than
the snow-peaks of the Himalaya."

A sharp frost on Wednesday night was a bad prelude to the gala day at
Radburne on Thursda^^ Men said it was a record gathering, even for Radburne,
and of a surety there were men, women, and carriages enough ! What with the

1899] BYE-DAY AT SHIRLEY MILL. 277

sun and the mist it was no easy matter for the leaders " to steer their own course
o'er the billowy grass," as Bromley Davenport has it, when hounds started out
after their fox from the Sand Pit. And if it was difficult to see clearly which
way hounds went, it is equally difficult to describe it. At the end of the day the
mind became dazed and confused in trying to disentangle the maze of circles and
counter-circles, to say nothing of triangles, rhomboids, et hoc genus omne, which
crossed and recrossed one another with bewildering persistency. Certainly
hounds were hunting pretty nearly all day, and, if they did not catch the fox,
they tired most people's horses, so it must have been at least half of a good day.
They found five foxes on the Radburne estate, and hardly went off it — at least,
so it seemed to the writer, though, no map of the estate being at hand, this may
be a mistake. But what did they do ? Well, they found foxes galore, they
changed and they lost, they lost and they changed ; people jumped the Trusley
brook backwards and forwards, they fell, and they covered themselves with mud
and glory, and seemed for the most part to have thoroughly enjoyed themselves-
The best part of it all, perhaps, was from Boden's Thorns in the afternoon, when
they ran nearly to the Spath, which lay on the left of their course, and back by
Boden's Thorns, and lost him near Dalbury Lees Green after an hour and fifty
minutes. There must have been a regular parliament of foxes at the latter place,
for every fox was lost close to this spot. Every one was delighted to see Colonel
the Hon. W. Coke out again, though his arm was still strapped up. In fact,
there was a goodly company of maimed and wounded — what with the Master,
and Messrs. Frank and Alton. Sir Richard FitzHerbert, who does not often
come out with the Meynell nowada3's, was going in his old form on a young one.

Friday, at Shirley Mill, was the first bye-day of the season. A mixed pack
soon found a fox in Shirley Park, and rattled him right merrily in covert with a
grand cry and a rare scent — the latter being something rather unusual in the
rhododendrons. After running liim hard up and down and round about, they
forced him on to the island, and killed him. Another fox was halloaed away at
the bottom, and hounds got away on good terms with him, accompanied by a
trio consisting of Messrs. Brace, Winterbottom, and the first whipper-in, the
remainder of the field being left behind in covert. Shirley Park is not the easiest
place in the country to get a good start from, and many a good sportsman has
found occasion to curse his luck in losing hounds there. Some years ago in a
fog they slipped the whole field and ran by themselves to Okeover. To-day they
ran out by Yeavely and right-handed slowly for Snelston and on into the
"dimbles" beyond the Darley moor and Clifton road, where they lost him.
The Master, who, with a few others, had caught them at the Yeavely road, very
considerately gave the order to trot off" to Longford, judging that the lost sheep
would be found there. His conjecture proved well-founded, as the majority of
the field had been patiently waiting there for some time. A lady viewed a fox
going away from his lair and hounds were laid on to his line, but could do little
with him. A fox was found in the Finney Bank covert and they ran fast, a few
fields to Reeve's Moor^ through it, and slowly nearly to Culland. Without
entering that covert they turned back, and hunted slowly by Reeve's Moor back
to the Finney Bank, where they lost him.

Monday, January 9, 1899, at Foston, was a rare, nice hunting morning, which
brought a huge field to this favourite place of meeting. The Master and Mrs.
Fort welcomed every one to The Cottage in a way peculiarly their own, and
the first Foston covert, in the Hon. George AUsopp's park, which was drawn held

278 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [189&

a fox worthy of its traditions, for ho went away straight as a giin-barrel by Scrop-
tou across the Dove, and hounds dashed in after him, though
" It was as fierce as a torrent, as full as a tank ;
That a hound ever crossed it, his stars he may thank."

But cross it they did, every one of them, and, shaking their sides on the bank,
blazed away by Coton, scaled the heights of Hanbury, and ran merrily over Mr.
Bullock's and Mr. Wallace's farms into the Greaves. How the chorus swelled
and gathered, echoing amongst the trees as they pushed through the covert,
while visions of a real old-fashioned run through the length of the woods, and,
perhaps, on to Blithfield, filled our hearts " big with tumultuous joy," as old
Somerville has it. But it was not to be. We may " nourish a verdant youth
with the fairy tales of gallops, ancient runs devoid of truth," but such are not
often realized. So Avith diminished ardour hounds turned back through the
Greaves, out over Mr. Wallace's farm, through Squire Arliss's new gorse — where,
haply, they changed — across the "dimble" by the Rectory, down the hill again
over the Coton road, at the bottom of Hanbury Hill into the Plaister Pit coverts.
Here the last became first, and the first became last, for those who had gone to
the uttermost part of the Greaves, and even to the ultima Tliule of Draycott
Cliff, had a lot of leeway to make up, which they might have had cause to rue,

if But why deal in " ifs " ? The fox, of course, got to ground in the

labyrinthine windings of the alabaster workings, and there was an end on't.
Hounds were taken back across the river, and found and ran to ground in the
top Foston covert. Another was halloaed away, and an effort was made to hunt
him, but without success. They found again in the small covert next to the
Pennywaste, and a rare good fox was he. Across the main Derby road he
went, and turned right-handed towards Foston, with hounds running hard in
his wake, and treating their followers to some fences garnished with "new-
made graves." Pvight-handed again they swung without crossing the lane from
Foston to Scropton, over the main road again, where the fox nearly ran under
the legs of the first whii)per-in's horse, back to where they found him. Hence
the Squire of Kadburne's well-known halloa " proclaimed his flight," to quote
an old author, and sent a thrill through every man, woman, and child of us all,
for somehow there was a sort of feeling that we were in for something better
than common. There was too much plough hereabouts for hounds to run hard,
but they proved that they could Imnt, which is far better. Towards Hilton and
its famous gorse they worked out the line, clustering together like bees, and
turning handily with their fox as he turned left-handed for Church Broughton,
just behind the house of that capital sportsman, the late Mr. Richard Bott.
Scent improved as they ran along the brook side, and with the Church Broughtou
Boylestone lane on the right, pressed on for Boylestone. Crossing the Boylestone-
Sudbury road, they embarked on a " pewy " country all along the holding valley
between Boylestone and Cubley, and the more unfavourable it was for horses, the
more favourable it was for hounds. Somewhere hereabouts a sportsman, well
versed in such matters, who had all along been well to the fore, viewed the hunted
fox standing listening to the diminishing cry of the pack, who had run past him on
the line of a fresh one, and some ladies vouched for seeing a very draggled fox
steahng into Potter's — perhaps this same one. Be this as it may, hounds con-
tinued their course up the valley, while it was a case of " lurching and lobbing and
bellows to mend " with not a few of their followers, and more than one cursed the
deep going and turns and twists over boggy water-courses, and longed for the end.
Up to Cubley Mill hounds ran steadily, never racing, but always forging ahead

Mr. J. W. Philips,

Planter of Philips' Gorse.

From a photograph

by

W. J. Hawker.

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1899] A GOOD DAY FROM FOSTON. 279

and requiring no help, and then swung left-handed over the Sudbury- Ashbourne
road, across the wild, grassy fields by Malcomsley, with only four men actually
with them, for most people had to ride cunning by this time. Crossing Rigg's
Lane, they chattered merrily along the snug-lying dingle below Mr. Peacock's house
at Vernon's Oak, where a black spaniel did not help matters by running the line
of the fox. Over the deep banks of the lane from the Oak to Somersal they
swarmed, and ran slowly down to Sudbury Coppice, where they checked. Here
the " black author of the mischief " was seen sneaking off, and hounds hit oft~
the line again across the Oak Lane, Over Mr. Peacock's farm they hunted till
they crossed the main Sudbury-Ashbourne road, and checked at the gravel-pit at
Cubley Lodge. Here all but three men and the servants left them, their horses
having had quantum sufficit. But hounds ran on past Cubley Rectory, nearly
up to Cubley Gorse, where they were with difficulty stopped, after ninning an
hour and fifty minutes. The best run of the season was the unanimous enthusi-
astic verdict. If it was not against the writer's principles he would like to give
the names of the two who, by common consent, went best throughout this good
run, but, like good sportsmen,

"They care not one jot for the fame.
But ride for the fun of the game.
If each in his heart was well pleased with his part.
What boots it to mention a name?"

Tuesday found a moderate-sized field sitting in a downpour of rain at Birch-
wood Park, but, alas ! the old adage of " more splash, more sport," was not
verified. Hounds soon found a fox in Birch Wood, who, being headed by some
people who had posted themselves at the point where he was most likely to
break away, turned back and promptly went to ground in the main earth.
Hounds immediately got on the line of another, who crossed the road which
skirts the wood, into a country bristling with wire, and turning right-handed,
ran to ground a few minutes later in a pit-hole near Milwich. They found again
in Fradswell dingles and ran him into Birchwood to ground not fifty yards from
where the first fox got in. Evidently the earth-stopper had no relish for his
task on the rough night preceding, but it is impossible for hoimds to show
sport and kill foxes if this most important matter is not attended to.

"Hounds stout and horses healthy,
Earths well stop't and foxes plenty."

was a time-honoured Oxford toast, but of what use are the three essentials if the
fourth is omitted. Chartley Gorse was drawn blank, but they found in one of
the outside coverts, and ran slowly a half circle to ground again. After an
unsuccessful attempt to dig him out, Chartley Moss was drawn and held a brace
of foxes. One went away towards Newton Gorse with two couples of hounds
after him, but unluckily the main body were hunting another in the Moss, This
fox, however, could be done nothing with, and homids went home.

Thursday at Kedleston Toll Bar was about as rough and disagreeable a day
as could well be imagined. Hounds drew Darley osiers (famous for more than
one good run in times past) blank, but found a fox at Allestree, and after running
round and round, a heavy storm came on and obliterated what little scent there
was. They then drew Colvile Wood blank, but found at Farnah and ran
through Champion Car. Thence they crossed over the road, and, turning left-
handed, got back to Farnah, From there they ran nicely for a few fields right-
handed, leaving Duffield on their left, to Colvile Wood, where the fox got to

280 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1899

ground. They found again in Ireton Hough, ran up to Kedleston Park palings,
and back to Ireton Rough, where they lost him, and hounds went home.

On Friday the Master generously treated us to another bye-day — Bagot's
Park Lodge being the place of meeting. The result was a fair woodland day,
liounds running well at times, though the fox had always the best of it. The
woods were fairly alive with deer, but hounds were remarkably steady under
temptation.

Saturday was a pleasant day to ride about, and hounds were at Foremark.
They found in Robin Wood and ran to Calke, where they were stopped and
taken back to Robin Wood, Avliere, however, they failed to find again. They
found later on in Repton Shrubs and ran out towards Repton. Turning right-
handed, they ran by Orange Wood on towards Repton, and lost him. A good
sportsman, and the l)est of fox-preservers, had a heavj^ fall through his girths
breaking, but luckily was not seriously hurt.

Monday, January 13th, 1899, at the kennels. There was a large field of horse-
men and horsewomen, and no end of carriages and foot people, to say nothing of
bicycles. For a wonder the weather, though cold, was propitious. Hounds drew the
Sudbury Bottoms, Aldermoor, and the Coppice blank. No better luck awaited them
in the little, snug-lying covert at Somersal Herbert, while Brocksford Gorse also
failed to hold a fox. They did find, however, in the Hare Park and ran slowly to
the Lake Banks behind Sudbury Hall, whence the fox made an attempt to go away
across the road into the park, but, being headed, went back to Brocksford, where
they lost him. After an unsuccessful call on the Hare Park, they found in the
Lady Wood at Doveridge, below the Upwoods, and ran nicely through Eaton
Wood up to the boundary fence, and the fox was viewed away pointing for
Wardley Coppice. Hounds, however, seemed to have got on the line of another
one, for they turned back, and it was only after some delay that they were got
out of covert, and cast round the lower side of Wardley Coppice, where they hit
him off. They crossed the lane from Wardley to Rocester, and then, settling to
the line, ran nicely with a fairly straight-running fox, over the Marston Brook,
across the Rocester road by the Marston Factory, past the Thurvaston Arms, on
to Mr. Gallimore's farm. Here he diverged from his hitherto straight line, and
swung to the left over a " dinible," which is, in most places, impassable. But one
of our boldest spirits, who is an adept at cutting such Gordian knots, went
straight on, and into and out of it, %vithout deviating from his course, thus
earning the thanks of his followers, while hounds ran merrily on across the
i\Iarston-Ashbourne road nearly to Cubley Stoop. A quarter of a mile from the
Stoop they crossed the Cubley-Marston road, and ran across by Malcorasley —
beloved apparently by every Monday fox — into the dumble below Vernon's
Oak. Either in the covert or just before reaching it the fox was viewed, but,
nevertheless, he beat them — more's the pity. Had they only got away on better
terras with him the verdict would probably have been in their favour, for there
was quite a useful scent.

Tuesday saw an average field at Newton village, and expectation was fairly on
tip-toe when the order was given to draw Coley Gorse. Unluckily, the fox's
point was too well guessed, and those who placed themselves well forward for a
start, cut their own throats by heading him. No doubt they will profit by the
experience, and will keep with the rest of their neighbours next time. As it was^
the fox turned back through the top end of the coppice, and proved that a
mistake liad been made in marking him to ground by appearing on the further
side. After trying for him unsuccessfully in the gorse he was given up, and

1899] THE " SQUIRE'S " HOUNDS IN BAGOT'S WOODS. 281

hounds drew Blithfield Gorse blank, but found in the Eound Plantation, and the
fox went away in the direction of Stansley Wood. When hounds first got on his
line there appeared to be little or no scent, but, as sometimes happens, the farther
he got in front of them the better scent served. Consequently they ran nicely
through Stansley Wood, and very prettily along the top of the Warren. After
crossing the Bromley-Newton road, between Newtonhurst and Bagot's Bromley,
the pace improved, and they ran past, with Heatley on their right, to the
Uttoxeter-Bromley road, which skirts Bagot's Wood, where they checked. It
was not very far, it is true, but it was a merry burst while it lasted. Hitting off
their fox, they ran nicely through the woods, back again across the main road,
nearly to Kingstone Wood, where there were two hues. They stuck to the fox,
which turned left-handed, and ran him to ground close to Healtey. If only the
fox had chosen a different line, or had not got to ground, the hounds would have
had a good chance of catching him, as there was a very fair scent. In this gallop
Mrs. Eandall's good little chestnut horse was unfortunately very badly staked.
After drawing Newton Gorse blank, they found a second time in the Square
Plantation at Blithfield, but the fox was resolutely determined to remain where
he was, and, as there was no scent in covert, the hounds failed to dislodge him,
so he remained master of the situation, much to the disgust of a shivering field.

Thursday was the first day we have been stopped by frost this season, and
Satiu'day was the second.

On Wednesday, on account of the Meynell hounds being so far away on the
previous day, the Master very considerately invited Mr. Chandos-Pole to have a
day in the woods with his hounds. It goes without saying that the squire accepted
the invitation, for no one loves to show sport to his friends and neighbours more
than he does. And rare good sport he showed. After a little riot with deer,
which was not surprising with a keen pack unused to seeing them in covert, the
hounds settled on to the line of a fox in Bagot's Wood, and bustled him with a rare
burst of music, which it was a treat to hear, nearly to the Uttoxeter-Bromley
road. Turning back, they drove him through the wood and out into Bagot's Park,
across which they ran beautifully to the park palings, where they checked. But
a quick, forward cast soon put them right, and they ran merrily in fine style with
Bromley Park on their right by Moore's and Hart's farm, by Jock o' Wall, by
Lord Dartmouth's covert, to Field House Coppice. Through this they ran with-
out dwelling, over the brook, and by Daisy Bank to Tomlinson's comer. As the
fox ran down the Agardsley Park side of this snug covert he was viewed by the
keeper, very tired, crossing over into tlie Forest Banks. He then ran the whole
length of the Forest Banks, over Marchington Cliff, into Swilcar Lawn, nearly to
Bank Top, where, being headed, he retraced his steps, and was viewed dead beat
between Bank Top and Marchington Cliff. Unluckily hounds ran nearly up to
Bank Top before they could be stopped, which saved his brush pro tern. But
the Squire and his pack are not easily shaken off, and casting back over Marching-
ton Cliff he hit off the line of his fox, and eventually marked him to gi-ound.
Being speedily ejected, they dusted him round the wood in rare fashion till they
marked him to ground again. So eager were ihey to get him that a hound
actually had hold of him in the earth before the digging tools arrived. The first
stroke of the spade settled the matter, and they killed a fox, which they had fairly
earned after a very cheery hunt of considerably over an hour. They found again
in Bagot's Wood near Park Side, and the fox went away on the lower side by
Marlpit House, as if he meant going for Kingstone Wood, but turned back into
Floyer's Coppice, through it, and ran a ring back to where he was found, going
away again at the bottom. But hounds got on to another, and ran him up to the

282 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1899

Forest Banks, wliere they were stopped, and went home. So ended a really good
sporting day, and it is to be hoped the experiment may soon be repeated, if it so
please the i)owers that be.

Thursday, at Thurvaston, treated us to a rare, good old-fashioned hunting
run. Finding at Culland, they ran fast up-wind across the brook and over the
Hollington road, as if his point was for Shirley. But he soon turned very sharp
left-handed down-wind, leaving Reeve's Moor on his right. He recrossed the
Hollington road at Hollington, and they ran at a diminished pace to the left of
Culland into the Pond Head Covert at Brailsford. Going away from here, he was
viewed over the Derby road pointing for Wild Park. With this on their right
they hunted him nicely — even running fast for a few fields whenever he happened
to turn up-wind, as he did now and then in his erratic course — pointing for
Mugginton. Passing Mercaston Stoop, he left Mugginton on his right and crossed
the road to HuUand about three-quarters of a mile from the village at the exact
spot where an Osmaston fox, which beat them, crossed earlier in the season.
Curiously enough, too, our fox to-day took almost the exact route that the other
one did up to the point where they lost him, and a very twisting one it was in
both cases. But to-day instead of losing him they hunted him on, with a little
well-timed help from their huntsman, nearly to Bradley. Here he turned back
for Ednaston, across the brook, and by the osier-bed (famous for the great Winster
run), where a useful halloa practically finished him. For, getting on good terms
with him, tliey bustled him through the Ednaston coverts, past the lodge, and
never left him till they rolled him over in the main road after a capital hunting
run of an hour and twenty minutes. In the afternoon they found three foxes at
Brailsford Xevv Gorse, ran one to ground, and it was decided to dig him out.
Meanwhile they hunted another one of the trio a twisting line to Ednaston, where
they lost him. Then they came back and gave the dug-out fox a chance for his
life, which he repaid by going to ground again, as is unusually the case. There
they left him. They then drew White's covert and the car at Brailsford blank,
but found in the small rhododendron covert in front of Mr. Cox's house, and ran
fast up-wind to Culland, and, hanging there for a bit, they hunted him slowly by
Burrows, through the Car, by AVild Park, where he ran them out of scent.

Saturday, New Inn. Another rough, wild mornmg tried the temper of men
and horses. Holly Bank, Knightley Park, and Rangemore Gorse were drawn
blank, but a fox was found in Mosley's Gorse in a blinding storm, which was
disastrous to scent. Consequently the hounds could only run very slowly, check-
ing in every field, over a nice bit of country, to the Henhurst, where they marked
him to ground in the main earth. After chopping a fox in the New Inn plantation,
they found rather late in the afternoon in Kingstanding Gorse. Contrary to
expectation, for the gorse is very thick, our fox went away gallantly without
much persuasion, and set his head for Hanbury. Just at the east end of Parson's
Brake he turned towards that covert, and the leading sportsmen, two of whom
were old hands, and ought to have known better— supposing hounds had gone
into it, practically rode a steeplechase parallel with it, to the further end. Here
they pulled up, looking foolish, not knowing where hounds were. Two or three
ardent spirits continued their point-to-point steeplechase across the road, heading
for Holly Bush. Meanwhile hounds had turned sharp right-handed at the east end
of the brake, without touching it, and ran across by New Lodge, into the Greaves,
and out again towards the new gorse, with only the huntsman, two gentlemen,
and little Master Randall on his famous skewbald pon}' with them. Turning back
into the Greaves, they slipped down-wind, crossed Draycott Cliff, with only the
two whippers-in and one or two others with them, and ran uicely along the lower

1899J FROM KINGSTON WOOD TO HOUND HILL. 283

side of the Forest Banks to Ash Bank, where a few more people joined them, and
so on to Marchington CHff. Here the fox broke covert in the direction of Hound
Hill, and tried to get to ground in a stick heap just this side of the Uttoxeter
road, but, being headed, he turned back, into the Banks, and hounds were stopped
at Marchington Clitf.

Monday, January 30, 1899, Bradley. A nice hunting morning proved a
welcome change after the frost of the last two or three days. No fox was at
home in any of the Bradley coverts, but Shirley Park proved as staunch as
ever. Hounds found a fox at the top end, and with a rare scent in covert, fairly
drove him from end to end, from top to bottom, and forced him away by the
mill. From here they fairly raced up-wind to Culland with one couple a field or
so to the good all the way, and the main body going fast enough to try the speed
of anybody's hunter. From Culland the fox just took a survey of the country on
the Longford side, running about a field in that direction, but, possibly seeing
something not quite to his liking, bobbed back again, and, breaking away at the
opposite end, retraced his steps to Shirley with his pursuers naturally not
lumiing quite so fast down-wind. Scent served again in covert, for they dusted
him merrily once round the wood, and pushed him out again for Longford, over
the same good old line that some of us romped over even in the consulship of
Plancus. But in fox-hunting there is no sameness. You may n\n the same line
a dozen times, but always with fresh combinations, always with variety. It is
like the course of another old, old story— old, yet always new. But a truce to
moralizing ! We may not stand dreaming, while yonder they're streaming— or,
if we do, we shall be left behind— over the grass, nipping over or boring through
the strong thorn fences in the marvellous way that fox-hounds do with a scent,
till the undergrowth of Longford Car changes their modified chorus into a full-
throated cry. Not for long, though. Again there is the unmistakable chatter of
hounds runnhig in the open, as they swung across the Rodsley road pointing for
Alkmonton. Leaving this on their left, they hunted slowly over the road from
Alkmonton to Yeavely, past Stydd Hall, and then, turning right-handed, ran
their fox to ground beyond Yeavely by the bridle road from Osmaston to Shirley.
It was a really good hound run of an hour and forty minutes, for they could
stick to the line all the time without assistance— in fact, they were never off it.
Later on they found in the Finney Plantation, and ran very fast through Long-
ford Car to gi-ound in the middle of a field just beyond the Rodsley road.

Tuesday, Bramshall. Philips' Gorse was blank, but a fox was soon on foot
in Carry Coppice, and tried to break at the Loxley end, but, being headed,
turned back. He went away at the opposite end, but unluckily homids never
got on to his line, for he was viewed making his way past Philips' Gorse down
towards the railway. Returning to the Coppice they found again, and ran out
slowly towards Loxley, and so by the Park Wood into Kingston Wood, and
across the Uttoxeter road into Bagot's Wood, where they lost him. They then
drew Kingston Wood, and a fox was halloaed away on the side nearest the main
road, and hounds ran very prettily across the road right through Bagot's Wood,
and out into the Park. Across its ant-hilled surface, which brought one good
sportsman to giief, they ran well, as they always do, a half-circle into Dog
Kennel Wood. But this was a woodland fox, who had no objection to
trying conclusions with hounds in the open, and away he went gallantly,
without giving any one a chance to view him, past Hart's Coppice, by Daisy
Bank, towards Tomlinson's corner. By Mr. Loverock's farmhouse they
checked, and a long cast across the road to the right below Holt Hall did not

284 THE MEYNE3.L HOUNDS. [1899

help matters at all. Eventually hounds were thrown into Tomlinson's Comer,
and a fox — very likely a fresh one — took them over that nice bit of country
between the Forest Banks and Agardsley Park. Turning left-handed, they ran
into the Forest Banks just by the top of Marchington Cliff, and bustled him
along the lower side, full cry over Woodlands Cliff. But this good fox had had
enough of the woods, and seizing a chance of slipping away unobserved, away he
went across Mr. Moss's farm, setting his head bravely for Woodford. Hounds
came tearing out after him, and for a moment it looked, if they could only keep
up the pace, as if they would catch him off hand. But an undecided turn or
two on his part bothered them, and it was only at a fair holding pace that they
could run him to Stock Lane, where they checked. After making their own
cast up the lane, their huntsman cast down and over the lane, and hitting it off,
they hunted nicely across the Uttoxeter main road, and, leaving Brook House on
their right, carried the line into the fox covert at Woodford. Here, possibly, they
changed again. Anyhow, they ran out at the opposite end without any one
having seen the fox, and across to Jawbones' farm, where, luckilj', he did not
try the earths, which were open. Hence they hunted slowly across Mr. Kent's
form and over the main road to Uttoxeter not far from the lodge gates of Small-
wood. The fox had run the brook course parallel with the main road, in hopes,
apparently, of finding sanctuary in some friendly drain, and they stuck to the
line like a pack of otter hounds, till, at Mr. Preston's farmhouse, he gave it up as
a bad job and turned right-handed towards Woodlands, recrossing Stock Lane
not two hundred yards from where he crossed it on his outward journey, thus
completing his circle. It now looked any odds on his going back to the Woods,
but he knew a trick worth two of that, and, crossing the Uttoxeter road again
close to Marchington Vicarage, set his mask resolutely for the impenetrable
earth at Hound Hill, which he found open, and so saved his brush. It was a
good, old-fashioned, Staffordshire hunting run of an hour and fifty minutes from
Kingston Wood, or an hour and ten minutes from Tomlinson's corner. Hounds
richly deserved their fox, for they had stuck to him (or his deputies) for between
twelve or fourteen miles. There were various conflicting accounts of dead-
beaten foxes being seen, which can only be reconciled either on the supposition
that there were two or three beaten foxes, or that every fox that every one sees
is a beaten one in the eyes of the seer.

Etwall was the fixture for Thursday, after the Hunt Ball, and there was a
goodly muster, including many strangers. It was a regular case of —

"We had danced the night through
Till the candles burnt blue,

But were up in the saddle next morn,
Once again with Tom Kance
In the daylight to dance

To the music of hallo and horn ! "

And a very forbidding morn it was, for there had been seven degi-ees of frost
in the night, and the ground was like iron except where it was like glass. Most
of us thought it was impossible to hunt, and we vowed one and all that nothing
would induce us to jump. But the Master, whose one object is to show that
sport to others, which he himself loves so well, swallowed his misgivings, and
decided to try. Sutton Gorse held a fox, who did not give us long to think
about the situation, but was off" like a shot. As soon as hounds settled to his
line they began to run as if they meant business, pointing for Trusley. A small
branch of the big brook set horses skating, slipping, and refusing, and probably

1899] SPORT MODERATE. 285

every one experienced a feeling of thankfulness on landing in safety. Mean-
while hounds ran nicely nearly up to the road from Radburne to Sutton, where
they checked. But, making a good swing to the left down-wind on their own
account, away they went at a good pace over a branch of the Trusley brook by
Dussey Bank and over the road from Sutton to Etwall, where they checked, and
the best of it was over. Still they hunted on across the main Derby Road by
Hilton Cottage, and then touched his line at intervals in the direction of Eggin-
ton till he ran them out of scent. The time up to Hilton Cottage was about
twenty-five minutes, and fifteen more till they gave him up. Later on they
found in the green covert at Burnaston, and, after running for ten minutes,
killed close by. Two ladies, hurrying with information of a fox's whereabouts,
got upset out of their cart in a ditch, and were rescued by Steve, while hounds
ran their fox slowly by Mr. Waite's farm, and lost him near Spilsbury's Planta-
tions, thus ending a day snatched out of the fire, or, rather, out of the frost.

Saturday, Newborough. Hard frost.

After the frost, which stopped hunting on Monday and Tuesday, every one
was delighted to be out again on Wednesday at Blithbury. The latter used to
be a name to conjure by, but, alas ! Ichabod ! the glory has departed, and so
have the foxes, since Mr. Crossman left us. Consequently everything was drawn
blank till we got to the Brakenhurst, where a brace of foxes was soon on foot,
and promptly went away, one towards Hoar Cross, and the other in the direction
of Yoxall. Hounds ran the latter across to Yoxall Lodge, and lost him. They
found again in the Brakenhurst, and the fox went through Jackson's Bank and
out at the bottom end. But they got away on bad terms with him, and, after
hunting him slowly a small half-circle, with an indifferent scent, they lost him.
After drawing Byrkley blank, hounds went home.

Thursday, Swarkestone Bridge. A rough, disagreeable morning did not seem
much in favour of good sport, and the sequel did not belie appearances. The
Lily Pool osier-bed was blank, but hounds found two or three foxes at the Back
Cuttings. One they chopped, and another they ran across the canal to Chel-
laston village and killed him in an outhouse. Jule's Covert failed to hold a fox,
but Hell Meadows sustained its reputation, and a fox went away at once on the
Findern side, only to be headed promptly by a sportsman on foot, whose fore-
cast of the fox's probable course was superior to his discretion in making use of
it. Eventually, when one fox did go, two couples of hounds slipped away with
him, and, of course, spoilt the fun for the others. So they could only hunt very
slowly to Findern, where the fox tried the well-known refuge of his race, which,
like the schoolboy's lie, has often proved " a very present help in the time of
trouble." -To-day, however, it was closed against him. Not that it made much
difference, as things turned out, for he ran them out of scent a little further on
towards the railway. Bunker's Wood and Mickleover Foiu'-acre proved tenant-
less, but a good fox went away from Potlucks, across Radburne Park, leaving
the Hall on the left by Silver Hill stud farm to Pildock Wood, just beyond which
they checked, but ultimately they ran on to Meynell-Langley Gorse. Here they
probably changed, as, with an improved scent, they chattered cheerily along to
the right of Meynell-Langley Hall nearly up to Vicar Wood, where they swung
to the right nearly to Markeaton, and back again to gi'ound in Meynell-Langley
Gorse, thus completing a nice little run of twenty-seven minutes. A short time
spent in digging resulted in unearthing a brace of foxes, and hounds, probably
getting on to the fresher one of the two, ran him at a rare pace over the Derby
and Ashbourne road to the Pildock Wood, and on to the Derby-Radburne lane,
where a sheep-dog coursed him and proved a friend in disguise to the object of

286 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1899

liis pursuit, for, of course, hounds could do but little with him afterwards, and he
had to be given up. They then went back to Meynell-Langley Gorse to try and
])ick up the other fox, which was said to be a mangy one ; but, mangy or not, he
had had sense enough to take himself off", and hounds went home.

Saturday, at Walton, was productive of a capital hunt. Finding at the
Grove at Drakelowe, their fox, after hanging in covert for some minutes, went
away pointing for Walton. Hounds were no sooner on the line than they tackled
to work in earnest, and twisted and turned with their fox in rare style, and were
never really at fault till they reached the main earths in Walton Wood. Horses
had barely time to get their wind before a fox — some said a fresh one — broke
away on the Catton side, and hounds, getting away on good terms, ran nicely up
to Mr. Cookson's farm, and, leaving Mr. Ratcliff's new gorse on the right, turned
down-wind with diminished speed. Still, it was at by no means a slow pace that
they hunted on to the left of Rosliston, and so back to the Grove at Drakelowe, thus
completing a very good ring of forty minutes. Hence they carried a line slowly
on V)y the old mill in the direction of the line from Burton to Ashby, till they
were nm clean out of scent. It was voted unanimously a very enjoyable hunt.
Hounds found two or three foxes at the back of Drakelowe Hall, and, after some
delay, got one away by the river, but being headed once or twice he proved an
easy victim. After drawing Caldwell and Hamstall Wood blank hounds went
home. Those who were out with him say that Mr. Chandos-Pole's hounds had
a capital hunt on the same day. Finding in the afternoon at Cotton Wood, at
the second time of asking, they ran nearly up to Woodseat, when the fox turned
back through Chippy Ley, and over the very awkward bottom below it, where
Mr. Frank had the misfortune to get his good chestnut horse badly staked.
From here they swung left-handed, past Cotton Wood, across the Dove, to
ground in Eaton Wood.

Monday, February 15th, 1899, Tutbury Station. Of course there was a large
field and though every one is complaining of all their horses being lame, they came
out as usual. A fox went away without any delay, but before hounds had run three
fields there were two lines, the leading hounds running in the direction of
the Spath, while the body of tlie pack ran their fox right up to the foot of Hilton
Clump, where he had been viewed by a keen group of foot people. Before
crossing the road from Sutton to Hilton the leading hounds joined the others, and
the now united pack hunted slowly to the top Foston coverts and through them
to ground at Boylestone. They found again in the Pudding Bag at the back of
Foston Hall and ran their fox at a good pace to ground near Pennywaste. Going
back to the Pudding Bag, yet another fox was at home, whom hounds ran at a
great pace nearly to Sudbury Park palings, where the fox made a very short turn
back, and was lost between Scropton and Foston. A fox crossed the river, and
was seen making his way into the Greaves, but whether he was the hunted fox
or not is a matter of uncertainty. In all probability he was the same one whicli
took the same line the last time the Foston coverts were drawn. The hunting
field has been metaphorically compared Avith the lists of the days of chivalry, as
giving an opportunity for the knights of the saddle to exhibit their prowess.
Two gentlemen to-day seem to have taken the comparison literally, for they came
into violent collision, resulting in the unhorsing of one of them.

Tuesday. Chartley is a name to draw people from far and near, so there was
a goodly muster at the most picturesque spot in Staffordshire. It was a nice
morning, too ; and, if anticipation is the best part of pleasure, every one had a

1899] A NEWBOROUGH DAY. 287

happy half-hour or so, for there was a sort of feeling of good sport being in store
for us. A cap held high in the air soon proclaimed the welcome fact of a fox
being away, and the few couples of hounds which settled to the line — the others
being considerably impeded by the dense crowd of horsemen who blocked the
ride — ran fast for a few fields, though not quite fast enough, perhaps, for their
eager followers. At the first lane they checked, but, hitting it on forward, ran
nicely down-wind to Gratwich. Here the fox had turned right-handed down the
road, and hounds were able to run his line briskly for a couple of hundred yards
down it, when they suddenly threw up, and never touched his line again. After
drawing all the Fradswell coverts blank, they found in Chartley Moss, but,
unluckily, ten couples of hounds slipped on, and, dropping on to a fox, coursed
him along the top side of the covert down-\vind of the huntsman and the field,
and, getting away, ran fast to Newton village, with only the whipper-in and two
others with them. They were stopped as soon as possible and brought back.
It was unfortunate their finding so quickly, and that the direction of the wind
prevented Steve's halloa being heard, as this might have developed into a good
hunt. They found again in a small copse between Kingston Wood and
Woodcock Heath, and the fox — perhaps a \ixen — rang the changes round and
round Woodcock Heath, Kingston Wood, and Wanfield Coppice, till they finally
lost him near Kingston village.

Thursday was a nice day to ride about, being warm and sunny, but it was not
productive of much sport. Mercaston Stoop is not a very favourite fixture, but
all the same it is the centre of a good wild country, and not at all an luilikely
place at this time of the year for a great run up into the hills. Moreover, there
are plenty of foxes, as the sequel will show. New Gorse was drawn blank, but
there were three or four foxes on foot in Mugginton Old Wood. One of these
was chopped, and another ran a small ring and then went away on a twisting
course nearly to Cross o' th' Hands, and, after taking us winding about the hills
and valleys of a rough bit of country, was lost just beyond the Lilies. Breward's
•Car held a brace, one of which got to ground in covert, while the other was
hunted slowly through Champion Car, Farnah Wood, and Colvile's Wood to
Allestree, where they marked him to ground. After an ineffectual attempt to
dig him out, an effort was made to get on the line of a brace of foxes, which had
gone away during the digging operations, but they had been gone too long, and
hounds could make nothing of it. After drawing Markeaton and Bowbridge
blank they went home. As an addendum to last Thursday, it has transpired that
hounds never ran faster this season than they did with the dug-out fox from
Meynell-Langley Gorse for twenty minutes, when nearly every one had gone
home. Indeed, if they ran fast enough for the intrepid sportsman [Mr, Caldecott],
who seems by common consent to have been the only one really with them, they
must have fairly flown.

Of all places of meeting in the Saturday country there is none better than
Newborough, so a rather large field for a Saturday met the Master and the
hounds there on quite a nice hunting morning. If there was no fox in Chantry
Wood, at any rate there was a black thorough-bred horse ready and willing to
afford sport for the ladies on wheels. A harder bout of bucking and kicking has
seldom been witnessed, and his rider [Mr. F. Gretton] deserved great credit for
sticking to him as he did. Hounds found in Roost Hill and drove their fox right
through Birch Wood in rare fashion, and out on the Abbots Bromley side. For
the first few minutes they ran well, and the field, which followed them, soon
resembled the tail of a comet. Then they checked, and for that matter kept on
checking. Still, they managed to get on with their fox without any assistance.

288 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [189»

beyond an occasional cheer, and a note on the horn to keep them going, as they
hunted along on the left of the Abbots Bromley road, till they reached the road
which boars off left-handed for Blithbury, and beyond which lies a section of
coimtry right for homicide, bristling with wire, and decorated with the scarlet
brand of shame.

"Remember, fair sportsmen fair usage require,
So up with the timber and down with the wire."

Luckily our fox to-day saved our necks and our tempers by turning left-handed
by Bromley Hurst, where there were two lines, and we may have changed. Be
that as it may, the hounds ran their fox, whichever it might be, left-handed by
Gilleon's Hall, nearly to Rough Park, over a nice country without any wire to
speak of, unless you looked for it, and then turned left-handed back by Hoar
Cross into the Birch Wood again, whence they started, after hunting him about
forty minutes. Two foxes — for a wonder said to be fresh ones — were viewed
over the Newborough road, and it was probably the line of their hunted fox
which they got on to, and followed past the Hoar Cross end of Chantry Wood
in the direction of the Brakenhurst. But their fox, even if he was not the hunted
one, was at any rate a very short-running customer, so, turning back, he
zig-zagged by Hoar Cross back into Birch Wood agaua. Hounds carried the line
straight throu,ii;h and out on tlie far side, crossing the httle brook and the New-
borough-Broraley road. For a few fields they ran briskly, and then checked-
They made a beautiful cast on their own account, and a couple and a half seemed
to have hit the line forward towards Field House Coppice. But the body of the
pack failed to endorse it, and the fox was given up after a nice hunting; run of an
hour and twenty minutes. They found again in Nichol's Wood at Hoar Cross,,
and ran across to the Brakenhurst, and, after a turn or two up and down and
round about the wood, with frequent checks and a bad scent, they hunted him
through Jackson's Bank and into the open — the same line that he took the last
time they were here — in the direction of Moat Hall. The leading hounds took a
line forward — one hound, in fact, going on into Chantry Wood — but the main
body turned back again into the Brakenhurst, right through it to Yoxall, on to
Scotch Hills, and so on to Vicarage Wood, Rangemore, where they lost him.

Monday, February 20th, 1899, Cubley Stoop. A wild, rough morning, and
an " idle " wind did not augur well for scent, nor did subsequent events falsify the
augury. As a matter of fact, it is generally fairly safe to prophesy a poor scent,
for unluckily there are far more bad scenting days than good ones. To-day
proved no exception to the rule, for hounds could never really run a faint-hearted
fox, who, after hanging in the gorse as long as possible, never went far from it..
Returning to shelter, he paid the penalty of his lack of proper spirit, and died
ignominiously — a warning, it is to be hoped, to others of like kidney. A good fox,
going best pace down-wind, would probably have run them out of scent and
escaped scot-free. Just as this fox was killed another was halloaed away, and
hounds ran him, with an indifferent scent, up to the Snelston-Norbury road.
They then turned left-handed and lost him near Raddle Wood. They drew
Raddle Wood, Hope Wood, and all the Snelston coverts blank, and were then^
trotted off" to Bentley Car. A fox was soon on foot, and broke covert at the
Bentley brickyard end. Turning left-handed over the brook one field from the
Car, he ran up the hill to Alkmonton school, and then turned back into the Car
again. But the hounds stuck to him, and, pushing him througli the wood, ran
him fast down the hill pointing for Cubley. Leaving Bentley Hall on the right

1899] A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED THURSDAY. 289

they crossed the Bentley-Cubley road about halfway between Bentley Hall and
the brook at the bottom of the hill, and, bearing right-handed still, ran by Ciibley
Cottage farm to ground in a large rabbit-burrow in the orchard at Stydd Hall.
A bright twenty-two minutes, which might have developed into a good run if
only our fox had not found a refuge, as there was quite a scent. An attempt was
made to dislodge him, but, after digging for about twenty minutes, the game w^as
found to be not worth the candle, and the hounds went home.

Tuesday dawned more like a " red March morn " than a Febniary fill-dyke
one, and warned us that the evil days of glaring suns, cold winds, and hard
ground are upon us. Never mind. Hope whispers a flattering tale. Hounds
can run under all and any conditions, and who knows that a travelling fox or two
may not set hounds and horses galloping best pace with a burning scent, even
though pastures be dry and though fallows be baked and dusty, before the
summer of our discontent is upon us. It has happened before now, and may do
so again, so let us even take heart of grace and hope for

" A merry March when east winds blow, and suns are hot and glaring.
And everybody's nose is cold, and visage flushed and staring."

But what of to-day at Thatched Lodge ? Well, " what is life, with all it grants
us, but a hunting run," and to-day was life-like — a tangled skein of joy, hope, and
disappointment. How they did run up-\vind through the big wood, across the
open for a few fields pointing for Floyer's Coppice, right-handed, with Steve
capping and cheering them on, into Frame Wood. Up-Avind still, chiming and
clamouring, the dog hounds drove him straight for Buttermilk Hill. Dipping like
swallows down to the lower side, about opposite to Mr. Leason's picturesque
Louse, it looked for a moment as if our fox was away for Woodford again, but it
■was not to be. A fresh one jumped up and led the main body of the pack best
pace down-wind for a few hundred yards parallel with the wood, and then turned
into it, when scent failed, and they lost him. Meanwhile the leading hounds,
after running a short distance up-wind, were stopped in Dog Kennel Wood.
Another fox was before long on foot, in the middle of Bagot's Wood, and they
ran well, at times, in much the same direction as before (without paying the
least attention to a herd of deer which ran the same line as the fox for a bit and
then diverged), and crossed over Buttermilk Hill into the Bank Top Wood, where
there seemed to be two or three lines, and both hounds and their followers got
scattered. It was a very bad hearing day, owing to a strong wind blowing half a
gale. Finally the hunt joined forces bj' Mr. Cottrell's house, and there was a
halloa away on the lower side below Marlpit House, which set every one slipping
and sliding down the steepest of steep rides to the bottom. But it all ended in
nothing, except the losing of the fox. They found again in Lord's Coppice, and
ran right through the woods, over the Uttoxeter- Abbots Bromley road, past
Heatley and Bagot's Bromley, to Dnckley Wood, and on to Blithe Moor, whence,
turning right-handed, they rolled over a gi-eat dog fox in Mr. Neighbour's garden.
They take some catching, these Staffordshire and Woodland foxes. So the day
began and ended well.

Thursday, Sutton Mill. It froze so hard on Wednesday night that the
ground was not in a fit state for himting till twelve o'clock, nor would it have
been so then but for the sun having so much power. With a bright sun and
no wind the day was what old-fashioned sportsmen used contemptuously to style
" a washerwoman's day," but there was a verj'^ fair scent all the same, and, given
that, what does it matter what the weather is ? By the time these and similar
topics had been discussed, the frost had relaxed its grip sufficiently to allow of
VOL. ir. U

290 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [189&

hounds moving off to draw the Spath, which, liowever, for a wonder, did not
hold a fox. Boden's Thorns sustained its reputation, and held a brace, one of
which was soon away over the Thurvaston lane as if he meant going for Long-
ford. Take it all round, let a fox go where he will he cannot go wrong so far
as tlie country is concerned hereabouts, but in front of us now danger loomed, and
red boards afforded bits of positive colour to the landscape, which, however
pleasing to the artistic sense, mar its beauty sadly in the eyes of a sportsman.
Luckily our fox, while thinking of his own safety, kept us and our horses out of
danger by turning left-handed with a view to trying an earth on Mr. Radford's
farm, and so took us out of the way of a possible mangling in the Avire. Thus
the hunt went on its way rejoicing, over a capital line of country, for twenty
minutes all told, and our fox effected his object and got to ground. Back we
went to Boden's Thorns, nothing doubting, and faith was rewarded, for a fox, and
. a good one to boot, was awaiting us, who took us the same line as the first for a
bit till he swung right-handed over the Long Lane and over the brook. The
latter favoured hounds by checking the onward rush of the pursuing squadron^
and, with plenty of room (which holds the same place in fox-hunting as charity
does amongst the virtues), they hunted nicely on nearly to Reeve's Moor. Here
our fox turned up-wind for Culland, and, though the breeze was but light, hounds
naturally quickened their pace, and ran merrily just to the right of Culland, across-
Brailsford Park, and then parallel with the Derby- Ashbourne road to within a
few fields of Langley village. Here he turned right-handed, and it looked pretty
even betting on his going either to Parson's Gorse or Radburne Rough, and an}^
odds on its being either one or other of them. One fox the Master did view going
Eadburne way, but hounds were busy on the line of another, which they ran fast
enough for most people's horses, leaving Nunsfields on their right. Crossing the-
lane from Sutton to Thurvaston, they pointed for Longford, but their fox was
headed and turned short back to Boden's Thorns, where horses, who had been
galloping for the best part of an hour and a half, were glad to stand still. Cast
your eye over the field, and heaving flanks, and red stains, where stubborn stake
and thorn has struck home, dirty coats and flushed faces tell their own tale. One
of our boldest spirits has been down and received a nasty kick in the face, but
otherwise every one seems to have turned up all right. Probably most of us were,
in our secret hearts, not sorry when a fresh fox was allowed to go away un-
molested, unless, indeed, there is still any one left who is suffering from a plethora
of horse-flesh. By degrees the cry of hounds in covert died fitfully away, tfll at
last not even one doubtful note disturbed the silence of the gorse, not even the
tenderest-nosed hound could own the scent, and a good fox was left to run
another day, while the prolonged notes of the huntsman's horn blowing hounds
out of covert ended a good, old-fashioned Thursday.

Saturday, New Inn. A good many strangers out, and a bitterly cold day.
The hounds foimd a brace of foxes in Rocket Oak, and, after ringing round
Rangemore and Dunstall, lost their fox. After drawing everything else blank,
including that capital covert, Mosley's Gorse, a fox went away gallantly from
Kingstanding, and ran exactly the same line as the last time we were here. With
a capital scent they ran well past the Hanbury Wood end corner of Parson's
Brake, through the Park at New Lodge, down to Fox Holes, where they checked,
the fox having been turned from his point — the gorse on the top of the hill — by
a gentleman in black. After casting through the lower side of the Greaves, the
huntsman made a clever cast right beyond the gorse on the top of the hill, and
hit off the line of his fox into the dimble below the Vicarage. From here they
hunted nicely across Mr. Bullock's farm, nearly to his house, where some sheep

Colonel Levett.
From a photograph

by

W. W. Winter.

■^Ucn, j^^Mi.i/'f^- -'^

1899] DEATH OF COLONEL LEVETT. 291

foiled the line, and they never got on to it again. It was a merry burst to Fox-
holes, and had the merit of sending a lot of half-frozen fox-hunters home warm.

It transpired to-day that that capital sportsman, Mr. Campbell, of Woodseat,
whose horse fell with him on Tuesday, near Floyer's Coppice, sustained con-
cussion of the brain, and, though reported to be better, is still far from being as
well as his many friends could wish him to be.

March 1st, 1899. On Monday and Tuesday there was no hunting on account
of frost, but on Tuesday night there was a sudden rise of temperature, and by
Wednesday morning the ground was in a fit condition for hvmting. So hounds
went to Newton Gorse, the fixture for the previous day. On a warm, sunny morn-
ing we tried various places for foxes, but found them not. Newton Gorse, two or
three small spinnies in the park, Blithfield Gorse, Spencer's Plantation, Blithe Moor,
and Stanley Wood were all blank, and it was not till we got to the Rhododendron
Covert that our ears were gladdened by the welcome note of opening hound.
And then a little boy shrieked tallyho in the fox's face and headed him. But
the reprimanding which the little boy got so frightened the fox that he thought
it best to shift his quarters, and made off" as if for Bagot's Bromley, but promptly
turned back into Duckley Wood. Hounds could not run him a yard, but oppor-
tune information was forthcoming of his having gone across to the Warren, and
of his having a snare on his leg. They hit oS' his line and ran him across a few
fields to ground in the pit-hole below Heatley. They found again in Lord's
Coppice, and a good fox was away across the open pointing for Bromley Park in
no time, but there was next to no scent, and two and a half couples of hounds
slipping on spoilt what little there was. However, some one had seen the fox,
and they got on his line and walked after him a little ring back into Bagot's
Park, and into the woods, where they ran him fitfully till they went home.

On Thursday hounds did not hunt, out of respect to the memory of Colonel
Levett. In him the county has lost a genial, kindly friend, landlord, and
neighbour, while the Hunt will miss his keen interest in its welfare.

Saturday saw hounds at Foremark, and a very small field assembled to meet
them. A fox was found in Robin Wood, was bustled sharply round the covert,
and rolled over — a fine old dog fox. They found again at Bretby, but could do
nothing with him.

DEATH OF COLONEL T. J. LEVETT.

We very much regret to state that Colonel T. J. Levett, of Wichnor Park,
died on Sunday in the south of France. By the announcement which we made
on Saturday as to the hopeless condition of the Colonel our readers will have
been somewhat prepared for the sad event, but it will nevertheless come as a
shock to all who knew the deceased, for it was only within the past few weeks
that the medical advisers began to despair of their patient's recovery, and even
then the serious state of his health was not known far beyond the family circle.
Some time ago Colonel Levett began to manifest signs of general breakdown, and
the symptoms increased with alarming rapidity. Speedy removal abroad was
decided upon by the doctors as a last resource, and when a few weeks back the
Colonel left Wichnor for Pau, the belief was pretty general that the gallant oflBcer
would never return alive. He was accompanied abroad by his wife, Lady Jane
Levett, and medical attendants, and the services of two English nurses were
obtained from Paris. The accounts of the state of the patient which from time
to time reached his relatives in England only confirmed the fears which prevailed
on his departure, and a day or two ago the intelligence came that the case was

292 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1899

absolutely beyond recovery. This sad intimation was made known by the Colonel's
eldest son, Mr. Basil Levett, to the Mayor of Lichfield, in view of the cordial
relations which had existed between the deceased and the city he had so faith-
fully represented, not only in Parliament for five years until 1885, but on the
County Council for Staffordshire. A very unfortunate circumstance in connection
with the residence of the party in the hotel at Pau was the fact that an outbreak
of fire caused the sudden removal of the patient to another portion of the
building.

Colonel Theophilus John Levett was the eldest son of ]\Ir. John Levett, of
Wichnor (who died in 1853), by a niece of the first Marquis of Ailsa. He was
born in 1829, and was consequently sixty-nine years of age. He married in 1856
Lady Jane, a daughter of the seventh Earl of Denbigh, who is about one year
older and survives her husband. The issue of the marriage is two sons and one
daughter — Theophilus Basil Percy Levett, who was born in 1856, and married
in 1884 Lady Margaret, eldest daughter of the eighth Earl of Shaftesbury ; a
daughter (unmarried), and a second son — Captain Berkeley Levett (Scots Guards),
who is at present in India as aide-de-camp to Lord Sandhurst. The deceased
held a captain's commission in the 1st Life Guards, and on his retirement from
the Army attached himself to the 2nd V.B. North Staffordshire Regiment,
becoming lieut.-colonel commanding, and from 1886 to 1891 was colonel
commanding the Queen's Own Royal Regiment, Staffordshire Yeomanry. His
association with the volunteers extended from 1861 to 1882, and it is only three
■weeks since he was made lion, colonel of the yeomanry. He was a Justice of
the Peace for Staffordshire and Derbyshire, and in addition D.L. of the former
•county. He represented the city of Lichfield in Parliament, in the Conservative
interest, from 1880 to 1885. He took a keen interest in local government, and
while concerned with various parochial bodies, was an active member of the
Staflbrdshire County Council, on which he represented the city of Lichfield.

As A County Man.

"When, owing to indifferent health, Colonel Levett retired from again seeking
Parliamentary honours on the occasion of the redistribution of seats, he devoted
himself more ardently than ever to agricultural pursuits and county and poor-law
administration. With regard to the former, he never tired, whether by personal
attendance at public meetings and participating in the debates thereat, or through
the medium of his able pen in the Press, in endeavouring to solve the problems
which then and to-day beset the tiller of the soil. He threw in his lot, heart and
soul, with the agriculturist, with whom he was always in strong sympathy, and
he was no less earnest in his efforts in the direction of county government. In
this connection, alike on the administrative authority at Stafford, and at the
Burton Board of Guardians, he brought to bear on the deliberations of those
bodies a knowledge born of wide experience of men and things, and his arguments
were invariably characterized by sound reasoning and good common sense. He
■was not one who had something to say upon everything ; his observations were
rather reserved for questions of substance and moment, with the result that they
always carried more or less weight. Colonel Levett was proud of his county,
and it caused him no little concern, when, in 1889, by reason of the new Local
Government Act and the consequent rearrangement of county boundaries, there
was a vague suspicion that Wichnor might be taken out of Staffordshire and
placed in Derbyshire. " It is not a pleasant thing for ino to reflect," the Colonel
was overheard to remark, " that my family, which has been so long associated

Colonel Levett.

From a photograph

by

W. W. Winter.

\ c / '

^S<fei j^.tSHLa.^^^.

1899] COLONEL LEVETT. 295

with Staffordshire, should at this stage of its history be drafted into Derbyshire."
But the Colonel's forebodings were not realized, much to his gratification. In
stating that Colonel Levett gave up the idea of again entering Parhament, it must
not be supposed that his loyalty to the cause of Conservatism suffered.

His Political Activity

continued, as his adherence to his party remained staunch ; and on political, as
indeed on social topics, he was a fluent and an effective speaker — cool, calm, and
collected, but cutting, and, to his audience, convincing. He never resorted to
long and wearisome speeches ; he was concise and definite, and would frequently
spice his remarks with a telling tale or a little caustic wit. He never minced
his words or went round the bush ; he took the nearest cut and hit straight
home. He was a cavalryman, even in his political warfare — riding relentlessly
at the foe with unvarying dash and vigour — blunt, frank, and breez}', carelessly
open-hearted. These were the characteristics which delighted his hearers and
certainly did not offend his opponents, who were equally appreciative of the
Colonel's honesty of purpose and his disregard of ceremony. The Colonel was

Our Oldest Countky Magistrate.

In the days before the formation^of the borough Bench he was one of the most
regular attendants at the Burton court, and the pains he took in sifting the
evidence and preserving an unprejudiced mind were proverbial. He was never
disturbed by a protracted case, for he ever possessed the means of varying its
monotony — he was an accomplished etcher, and his pen-and-ink sketches, taken
during the hearing of a case which, say, was bound at the outset to go for trial,
and therefore allowed a little freedom of thought on the Bench, were marvels of
artistic taste and skill. His scenes were generally landscapes, invariably relieved
by a pool, and often with the spire of a village church in the perspective. As a
fact, sketching was a favourite pastime with the Colonel, and in his charmingly
situated house at Wichnor, overlooking as it does a most picturesque panorama,
he found ample opportunity for indulging and developing his refined and artistic
acquirements. Of late years the deceased had to some extent relinquished his
public duties, and his visits to the police court, the Board of Guardians,
and other bodies upon which he served, had become less frequent. This was due
entirely to an affliction in the nether limbs, which increased with his years,
and rendered physical exertion additionally painful. His interest, however,
in public life and the various movements for the social well-being, and particu-
larly when pertaining to his own county and district, remained imabated.

As A Sportsman.

Amid all his numerous and public engagements Colonel Levett succeeded in
developing into a keen and accomplished sportsman. He rode regularly to
hounds until his limb affliction — caused, by the way, through an injury to the
thigh while jumping over a gate — compelled him to relinquish active interest in
the sport, but he always retained a warm affection for the hunt. In passing, if
may be mentioned that he presided at the famous meeting at Derby, called for
the purpose of electing a successor to the Mastership of the Meynell hounds in
place of Mr. Hamar Bass (resigned), and it was due to his great tact and judg-
ment that the gathering which, owing to circumstances which need not be
repeated, was on tenterhooks anticipating a sound breeze, was steered clear of

294 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1899

personalities and ill-feeling. He was a remarkably good shot, and the way he
used to work his coverts made the hearts of true sportsmen to rejoice.

As A Benefactob.

The demise of Colonel Levett not only deprives the county of Stafford of one
of its most conspicuous and respected personalities, but it takes from the
picturesque village of Wichnor and the surrounding district a truly benevolent
man — one who, no less than his devoted helpmeet, was ever mindful of the
necessities of the poor and needy. Lady Jane Levett has been untiring in her
exertions in the interest of her poorer neighbours, and her work in coimection
with the Burton Board of Guardians, as president of the Ladies' Committee, con-
stitutes one of the brightest episodes in the history of our local jwor-law adminis-
tration. It was at her invitation that the aged and the sick who were inmates
of the workhouse annually spent an afternoon at Wichnor, and in their wandering
about the hall and the gi'ounds, which were unrestrictingly thrown oyien to the
indigent guests, they received the cordial co-operation of Colonel and Lady Jane
Levett, who laid themselves out on that occasion solely to promote the enjoy-
ment of the company, who can never forget the lavish entertainment of which
they were recipients.

The Levetts and Wichnor Church.

The Levetts have long been associated with Wichnor, and all the dead
Colonel's predecessors lie buried in the churchyard. The late Colonel was
devotedly attached to the Church of England, and it is a noteworthy fact that
until a few weeks ago, just prior to his departure to the south of France in search
of health, he regularly and without interruption, while he was at Wichnor, read
the lessons in the village church for twenty-two years. When, in 1874, the
nave and aisle were newly seated with open benches. Colonel Levett placed in
the edifice a stained window to the memory of his mother, while his wife. Lady
Jane, in 1875, presented a new organ to the parish. The living was in the gift
of the deceased as lord of the manor and chief landowner.

The funeral will take place at Wichnor on Friday afternoon.

WITH THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

Monday, March 6th, 1899, Osmaston. A hard frost on the two preceding
nights left the gi-oimd in very bad order for hunting ; in fact, a good many people
thought that hounds would go home. However, a long and ineffectual jog to
draw the Bradley coverts gave the ground time to thaw, and, consequently, the
going was not at all bad when a fox was found in Shirley Park. One was
halloaed at the top side towards Eodsley, but was promptly headed and turned
back. This halloa, and two or three couples of hounds on the line, led about half
the field astray, for the huntsman, with the body of the pack, had almost
simultaneously gone away with a fox at exactly the opposite side towards
Bradley. They turned left-handed, and ran by Ednaston to Brailsford Gorse,
whence the fox was viewed making his way back to Ednaston Gorse, where,
however, hounds could barely own the scent. A halloa forward towards Shirley
Park took them in that direction, and a very mangy fox was viewed several
times in the wood, but scent was so bad that it was impossible to hunt him, and
he had to be given up. They found again, in the Finney Bank, and ran by fits
and starts to Rodsley, where there were two foxes on foot, one being viewed
towards Shirley Park, and the other back towards the Finney Bank. After a
long check by Rodsley and a long cast back, hounds hit off the line of their fox.

1899] A RADBURNE DAY. 295

but could make nothing of it beyond the covert, where they found him. After
drawing Longford Car blank they went home.

Tuesday, Bramshall. Another sharp frost overnight left the ground in bad
condition, which was answerable for a fall or two, but luckily without any serious
consequences. As a matter of course, thanks to Mr, Blount's fostering care,
hounds found three or four foxes in Carry Coppice, and ran one nicely out on the
lower side. They turned right-handed up the hill again, across the Uttoxeter
road, and hunted prettily towards Woodcock Heath. But before he got there
the fox was marked to ground in a pit-hole. They found again in the Alder
Car, on the farm of Mr, Smith, whose father was such a good man to hounds,
and ran across the Uttoxeter Road, and then turned left-handed over the road
leading to the level crossing over the railway at Bramshall, into the long planta-
tion near the railway. From this covert a few couples slipped on with a decided
lead of the pack and ran at a good pace between the railway and the Uttoxeter
road into Loxley Park Wood. A labourer viewed the fox crossing over the
main road from the wood into the little spinny on the opposite side of the main
road, but there was some delay in forwarding the information, which caused a
check. The huntsman cast forward beyond the spinny, but, not hitting off the
line, cast back, and, dropping on to his fox, brought him to hand just outside
the covert, where he had been headed. They found again in Philips' Gorse
(where Mr. Lovett, the sporting tenant of the farm, never gi'udges a share of
his poultry to the fox), and ran across to Carry Coppice, and thence into Loxley
Park Wood. From there the fox must have got a long start, for only a hound
or two could own the line, which, oddly enough, was exactly the same one which
our Alder Car fox had taken, only the reverse way, for a few fields. Then they
checked on a fallow, and there was a halloa forward, but unluckily its where-
abouts could not be accurately defined, and there was an end of it. After
drawing Kingston Wood blank, the hounds went home.

A nice, warm morning, and a huge field of horse-folk, carriage-folk, and foot
people at Radburne on Thursday, A hound or two spoke in the Rough, but
there was a rumour of a vixen, or something not quite orthodox, and nothing
came of it. The Squire's Gorse, Brickyard Wood, and Potlucks were blank, but
Sandpit Wood held a fox, who went away across the G.N, Railway, Hounds
flashed over the line on the start, and the field did their best to drive them on,
so there was some delay to begin with. When the pack had a chance to settle
to work they hunted slowly to Bearwardcote osier-bed, where they may have
changed, as a brace of fresh foxes went away at once. The one they ran crossed
the tm-npike road, and, swinging left-handed, hounds ran him at a good pace just
past the asylum, which they left on their right. For a minute or two it looked
as if we were in for a good thing, but just past the asylum they checked, and it
was evident that there were two foxes in front of them. A left-handed cast
back to where we started from proved successful, and, leaving Potlucks on their
right, they ran up to Silverhill, through Pildock AVood, slowly and hesitatingly,
nearly up to Langley Common, where an innocent-looking fence, with a small
ditch on the taking-oJT side and a much bigger one on the other one, caused
some diversion. Just beyond this the fox was marked to ground, but, as some-
times happens, he had thought better of it, and had gone on, as hounds testified
by running prettily, with Dalbury Lees just on the left, to within a field of
Burrows. Here the fox turned sharp back across the Derby road, over the two
well-known bottoms which were crossed handily by culverts, and then swung
left-handed. For a few fields hounds chattered along merrily, as they had done
once or twice before in the course of the run, and a few strong fences caused

296 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [189&

some grief amongst their followers. One hard-riding welter weight * got a severe
fall and broke his nose, much to every one's regret. But hounds were soon at
fault again — a farmer's information, wliich put matters right, was welcome. So
they hunted slowly on and got on to tlieir fox, or a fresh one, in Parson's Gorse,
and ran him to within a field of Radburiie Rough. This part of the run was
responsible for bringing disaster on a rare good sportsman, Mr. Maynard, who
got a bad fall, and had to be taken home in a cart. Meanwhile hounds hunted
slowly on by Kook hills, over the Trusley brook — which, like the poor, is
always with us in these parts — till the hunt came to an end, after two hours,
between Trusley village and Crop-o'-Top. Ash Grove and Arbour Field were
blank, and a Hilton Gorse fox was like the Tarwood one of glorious memory,
" He waited not, he was not found," but was away before hormds even got to the
covert. Over the brook he went, and for five blissful minutes hounds ran fast.
It was uncommonly pretty to see them fleeting like shadows, with the modified
cry which betokens pace rising up in the still evening air, while the few who
really were with them enjoyed the feeling of space and freedom as " they shaped
their own course o'er the billowy grass," after the crowded turmoil of the earlier
part of the day, while the hounds themselves must have appreciated it even
more. But, alas! a turn down-wind brought them to their noses, the fire died
out, and they could only work out a line a short distance further, and then had
to own themselves beaten. Still, like the dying reprobate, those who saw it felt
that no one could rob them of " the bit of fun they had had."

Saturday, Walton village. Such a nice, balmy morning, that it was a
pleasure merely to be out of doors, and on horseback ; and, when all is said and
done, can there be a pleasanter way of spending the day than in riding a good
horse about on good, sound grass, in good company, even if hounds do not show
much sport ? It is true that there was more plough thrown in to-day than the
favoured followers of the Meynell hounds are accustomed to ; but even so it
rode light. So a contented field rode off to see Walton Wood drawn, and a fox
was soon on foot and away. For the first few grass fields hounds looked like
running, but a wheat field soon brought them to a check. A halloa from the
carriage folk proved useful, and they puzzled out the line of a well-intentioned
fox on the whole (though he meandered a bit), with the help of another halloa,
to Drakelowe, and then on slowly to Caldwell, when he beat them. The biggest
part of the field was left behind at Drakelowe, and followed on in an extended
line of a mile and a half in length, so perhaps it was as well for some of us that
the pace was slow. They found again at Drakelowe, or rather a fox was
halloaed away a long way in front of them and they hunted him, or her (for
some said it was a vixen), to ground on Messrs. Whittingham's farm at Rosliston.
After drawing Catton blank, hounds went home.

Monday, March 13th, 1899, Doveridge. After drawing the Hare Park and
Lea Hill osier-bed blank, hounds found in Uphill Wood at Doveridge. There
may have been a brace of foxes, for opinions differed very much as to the
description of the fox which went away. Some people averred stoutly that it
was a bob-tailed one, others that it was not, while one good judge pronounced it
to be a heavy vixen. Anyhow, there seemed to be two lines when they got to
the Waldley-Doveridge lane. A single hound appeared to have a line up the
road, while a few couples were equally busy across the road towards the Somersal
brook. Quite half the pack swung towards the road as if the fox's point was for

* Mr. Gisborne.

1899] THE BOB-TAILED DOVERIDGE FOX. 297

Waldley Coppice, and it was noticed tliat hounds were feeling for the scent with
their heads in the air, as if it lay high. Meanwhile the rest of the pack hit a Hne
down a hedgerow towards the brook, and began running fast. Their cry brought
the others flying to them. Down to the brook charged then- pursuers. A very
hard-riding soldier [Captain Dugdale] picked his place and went sailing down to
this " dread stream of historic disaster," as hard as his good, hog-maned, bay
horse's legs could caiTy him. It was in or over, and "over" had it, for this
bold-hearted pair landed on the far side with a fall, and, picking themselves up
quickly, galloped on with a lead. Some of the oldest amongst us may remember
Charles Leedham jumping this same brook at an outrageously wide place on a
wonderful four-year-old, and how his immediate follower did not succeed in
landing much forther than half-way. To-day the rest of us went in and out, and
those who took advantage of the master's quick eye, and followed his lead, were
the quickest over, and hounds went running on. If only there was always a
brook in the first field how much the better would our sport be. Should we ever
hear such sentiments as, " Curse the scent, and hang the huntsman, rot the foxes,
damn the hounds?" Not we. We should only be cussing ourselves for not
being with them.

" So for sundry fair minutes they run and they race,
'Tis a heaven to some, 'tis a life-time to all."

With no one to override them, with plenty of room, and a more than useful
scent, they chirruped along in close order pointing for Mareton Woodhouse.
Right-handed they swung, happening on convenient places for us to cross two
awkward, bottoms, over Mr. Cottrell's farm, to Somersal, past the picturesque,
old-world hall, where their cry made most tuneful melody, dear to the sporting
souls of its owners, than whom none loved better to follow it. Would that they
were here to-day with us in the flesh, as they may have been, who knows, in the
spirit ! A short turn to the right, an equally sharp one to the left, and hounds
Avere at fault on the lane which leads, through grassy fields, to Brockford. Not
for long, though. " Rose again the joyous rally," as the veterans of the pack
fling eagerly forward, left-handed, and, hitting off" the Une, call eagerly to their
mates to join them, as they scud along past the old oak, which has seen the
same merry game played out with chiding hound and flying quarry by English-
man, Norman, Saxon, Dane, or Celt, for aught we know, and will see it for many
a decade yet, till that, it is to be hoped, far distant day when the horn shall
sound no more, when the note of opening hound shall no longer gladden the
heart of man, when the fox, sole remnant of a race as extinct as the dodo, shall
take his place in the Zoo, and the old oak be rotting piece by piece in the sod
where now it stands. But forward, leave oaks and dodos to whom you please.
It is by thinking of such things when galloping across country that folks, as Mr.
Jorrocks observes, " brick their necks," or lose the hounds, which is nearly as bad.
So forward on, nurse your trusty hunter, an you will, up the opposing slope, and
then take your fill of the pretty fencing and sound grass which you will encounter,
as hounds run merrily on straight for Maresfield Gorse. Into the lane from
Somersal to Sudbury they pour and over the fence out of it. Of course our fox
is off" for Sudbury Coppice, and what not beyond ! " Of course " only — a man
ploughmg has headed him, and he has turned right-handed, very short, by Ling's
farm, across the road again, over the Uttoxeter main road, past Lake Banks,
into those alluring meadows by the Dove. Alluring truly, but alarming too, after
thirty minutes, best pace. Is not a horse full of mettle wanted to cope with these
strong, broad-ditched fences, instead of one with the steel half out of him ? But

2i)8 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS [1899

the steel is out of the run, and out of the fox too by this time, and he is creeping
about scentless, while the lumtsman is pitting human brains against his. Man,
the many-counselled one, is after thee, thou robber of hen roosts. And in this
case thy cunning is no match for his. In vain hast thou turned, twisted, and
doubled, do\vn this deep ditch, and up that, along under the river bank, and hast
crept by every depression in the ground, into thy last fancied stronghold. Vixen,
and Verity, Wonderful, Lullaby, and Witchcraft are on your tracks, and death is
not far off. These same lake banks have heard the who-whoop sounded over
many of thy brethren, and they shall hear it over thee. Hark ! they have him.
No ! Yonder he goes. One last effort in the open, but he dare not face it, and
turns back to meet his fate, and to yield his bobbed and draggled brush to be
carried home as a prized trophy, and kindly memento of the huntsman, by the
little boy [Master Basil Randall] on the skewbald pony. " Is it a vixen? " some
one asked the huntsman. " No, sir, quite the contrary," was the dry rejoinder.
The afternoon was spent in running backwards and forwards about Eaton Wood
and the adjoining coverts.

" Life," as Tom Brown somewhere remarks, " is not all beer and skittles,"
and, as in life, so in hunting, for Tuesday was to Monday as small beer is to
champagne. A small field met hounds at Yoxall, and jogged off Blithbury way
in good spirits and sunny weather. Wliy deal with a long string of disappoint-
ments? Not till they got to the Brakenhurst did hounds find a fox, and him
they lost after a very short excursion out Yoxall way. After drawing Byrkley
Gorse, Jackson's Bank, and Dolesfoot blank, they went home.

Thursday, at Willington, was a horse of quite a ditterent colour, as our
American cousins say, and yet it does not lend itself to lengthy description.
There was a thick fog in the morning, a hot sun afterwards, and a scent all day,
but rather of the brilliant than the holding order, as was proved when hounds
got away on the back of rather a poor-looking little fox at Burnaston Gorse.
The leading couples for a great part of the pack were some time in getting up,
ran at a great pace, past the Haycock, and into the little plantation on the
sewage farm, where they checked ; but the fox had been viewed away, and even
over the sewage farm they could run nicely. Over the Burton road they went,
and just beyond a lady [Mrs. Dngdale] had a narrow escape of a bad accident
through the saddle turning round. At the spinny by Mr. Waite's farm they
checked, but a man on a cart had seen the fox, and they got on to his line, and
ran Iiim past Spilsbury's Plantation, and quite nicely for a few fields beyond,
bearing left-handed up to Little Derby. But scent was decidedly evanescent in
the hot sun, and though they did touch the line when the huntsmen cast back
round Spilsbury's, they could not make much of it when their fox had got a bit
in front of them, and he had to be given up. Hounds were some time in covert
at Egginton Gorse before a fox was on foot. But, like Charles Lamb at the
India Office, he made amends for beginning late by leaving early, for, when
once found, he was soon away at the bottom end, crossing the brook and great
Northern Railway. As soon as hoimds had fairly settled to the line they began
to run with a vengeance. Heads up and sterns down, they raced by Horgate
Manor on their left, by Ivy Croft, over the big brook, with Hilton Mill on the
right. Over the lane leading to Marston-on-Dove they ran at an undiminished
pace and with only a select few in their immediate wake. Right-handed, they
swung over the main Derby road, and raced their fox to ground in a pit-hole on
Mr. Tipper's farm at Hilton Fields. A real, soul-stirring little gallop of fifteen
bright minutes, onl}' marred by a series of accidents caused by that awful curse
to a hunting field — barbed wire, to wit. The principal victims were a lady [Miss

1899] BARBED WIRE. 299

Vickers], a visitor to cm- country, who finds no fence too big for her, and a
gallant soldier [Captain Dugdale], who always likes to be in the van and
usually is.

"When thickest the fences and quickest the burst,
'Tis a hundred to one this soldier is first."

It was a melancholy spectacle to see a leading spirit like this condemned to
walk sadly home by the side of his torn and bleeding horse, and shortly after-
wards to meet a fellow-sufferer garbed in a habit in equally evil case.

" Now twist us your binders as strong as you will.
We must all take our chance of cropper or spill ;
Tliere are scores of young ashoH to stiffen the gaps,
And a blind double ditch is the surest of traps.
But remember, fair sportsmen fair usage require.
So up with the timber and down with the wire."

One thing, too, farmers often forget. It is not the gap-jumpers and hedge-
breakers who get caught, but the leading spirits — the men whose horses jump
big and clean — the men whom, so the writer has often been assured by farmers,
the latter like to see riding boldly over the countr)'. It is a pity to kill the good
ones. Remember that

" Here all are equal. No class legislation.
No prejudice hinders, no family pride.
In the image of war show tlie pluck of the nation.
Eide, ancient Patrician ! Democracy, ride ! "

and give them a chance. Foster the one school which is left us, to engender
that spirit, which has made England what it is — that grand exercise ground for

'' Tlie reason firm, the temperate will.
Endurance, foresiglit, strength, and skill."

And all this has come out of two accidents. Bear with it, kindly readers,
" out of a full heart, the mouth speaketh," but the subject shall not be touched
on again — at any rate, not in this year of grace 1899.

Saturday saw a small company hospitably received at Coton, and if any one
went away empty it was no fault of the host or hostess.* A bitter, black morning
took the place of the sunny previous days, and plunged us back into mid-winter
without giving us a scent to make up for it. But the master's arrangement for
the day proved a very happy one. For, finding a brace of foxes in the Fauld
Plaster Pit coverts, thanks to Mr. Shelly's careful earth stopping, hounds ran one
over a charming line of country towards Hanbury, but turned left-handed, and
ran over Mr. Shelly's farm, past Hareholes, over Mr. Foster's (another good
friend to foxes) to Blackbrook, where they turned left-handed past Mr. Snow's
house, and ran by Mr. Archer's, Castle Hayes. Here the fox turned short back,
as if he meant going back to the Plaster Pits, but, being headed by a man
ploughing, turned back, very short, and ran straight for liolleston, where the
park palings stood him in good stead by causing a check, which saved his brush.
Hounds never ran fast, and our fox twisted and turned a good bit, but everybody
enjoyed the fun, for thanks to the good farmers of Hanbury and neighbourhood,
there was not a fence which was not fair and jumpable anywhere. After drawing
the Forest Banks blank from the Greaves to Bank Top, they found a little vixen
in Tomlinson's Corner, who contrived to make herself scarce as soon as found,
and hounds went home, thus bringing a very enjoyable week's sport to an end.

* Captain and Mrs. Dugdale.

300 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [189»

Monday, March 20th, 1899, Sudbury Station. A very sharp frost overnight
very nearly put a stop to liunting to-day. However, the Master decided to try,
and gave the order to trot off to Foston. Hounds found in the Pudding Bag,
and, getting a good start, ran rather nicely across the Scropton lane and over the
beautiful meadows by the Dove up to the osier-bed on the main road near
Sudbury station, where a lady in a pony-cart headed the fox. But, unlike most
people in a similar position, she had seen him and told the Master where he had
gone. So with very little delay the huntsman had hounds on the line, and they
ran back to Foston. After a turn or two up and down the coverts in the Park,
the fox went away the same line as before, but crossed the Sudbury road this
time without intervention. After a very short excursion beyond it he recrossed
the main road near Archdeacon Freer's house, and made his way into Sudbury
Park. Hounds ran him quite nicely about halfway across the Park, but checked
by one of the small plantations, and never got on his Hue again. It is possible
that he had taken refuge in a tree close by, which foxes often use. After drawing
Sudbury Bottoms and the Coppice — where they had been felling timber — blank,
hounds found at Sapperton. Settling to the line, they ran across the lane which
leads to Church Broughton, and across the road from Foston to Boylestone, and
ran nicely up to the main road from Sudbury to Boylestone, which they crossed
just at the top of Boylestone Hill. Beyond the road they bore rather right-
handed, and ran slowly towards Cubley Mill. This is an awkward strip of country
to cross, and most of us were content to watch hounds hunting slowly down to
the brook. Up the opposing slope the pace improved, but they were soon
brought to their noses again, and treated us to a pretty bit of hound work as they
stuck perseveruigly over dry fallows and wind-bitten pastures to a short running
fox, which did his best to baffle them by turning at right angles, acute angles,
tangents, and every intricate figure known to the professors of geometry.
Nearly to Bentley Car they worked out the problem, and " a man we all swear
by, a friend of our own " [Mr. Caldecott], looked like solving a problem still more
obscure, when his good hunter slipped on taking oft" on the treacherous ground,
and went smash into a very strong fence, which luckily broke. So with inward
rejoicing at his escape the Hunt rode happily along, while hounds turned like
harriers with their fox, who went to see why the Eector of Cubley was not out
after him. Merrily they ran for a few' lields, and their cry sent the rooks
clamouring and protesting from the trees where they were busy building. Some
of us knew the way through the Picctor's garden, but others knew better still, and
sat in the road below waiting for hounds to come to them. " Where are they ? "
people are inquiring anxiously, for, though but a few seconds before " the barns,
the cots, and leafless elms return the joyous sounds," now all is silence, and not
a hound to be seen. Ah ! here they come, the trusted comrades of the chase,
questing warily, if haply they may hit his labyrinthian windings. What has
caused the check ? Was it the Eector's great, slashing foxhound puppy joining
unbidden in anticipated joys ? Wait a moment. Flapping nostril and waving
stern will in one moment find a vent in melodious sound? Mark those
leading hounds. Did you ever see such eagerness repressed ? But see, doubt is
giving way to certainty. An electric thrill is running through every nerve of
that old hound's body as she feathers on the scent and proclaims the fact in a
note of tremulous joy. It hardly requires the huntsman's half-unconscious
" forward " to bring up Daylight and Wonderful, Twinkle and Verity, and many
another " comrade brave and true," to follow old Goodness' lead, as with swelling
chorus they sink the hill, dash over the brook, shaking their sides on the
bank, and swarm up the steep bank of the Cubley-Longford lane, while

1899] A GOOD FIVE AND FORTY MINUTES, 301

their clamouring voices disturb the children at their lessons in the school
hard by.

"A puppy just entered a music can speak,
More sweetly sonorous than Homer's own Greek,"

or whatever may be his substitute in our national schools, and if put to the vote
in Cubley school this day, would not the " ayes " have it? I trow, yes. Look
how they are running — the hounds, I mean, not the children. As about the tenth
horseman follows his leader up the steep bank of the lane the hounds are just
disappearing over the brow of the hill running for Stydd. They are bustling
along now, not racing by any means, but dashing and flinging, making their
ground good, all life and eagerness, and getting on with their fox. Their
followers are in two divisions, nay three or four perhaps, but, of the two little
knots nearest to them, one is headed by a gentleman on a brown mare and the
other by a good sportsman [Mr. Tinsley] on a great, slashing, brown, long-tailed,
Wood horse. Now hounds swing towards one division and now towards the
other as " they guide the dubious scent " wavering. Now they swing right-
handed with a decided turn, over the great wide drain which runs between Stydd
and the Yeavely road. The leaders on the left diverge from the line of the
hounds to walk in and out of it, but a very forward light-weight [Mr. Ratcliff ],
like the man in the song, rode down to the little innocent-looking fence, "thinking
a bit to save," and like him of the said song, " found it was a bally new-made
grave. But the pace and his good hunter carried him over safely. Eight-handed
still the little bitches are skipping along, disturbing the cows which, with
distended udders, are drawing up to the homesteads with pleasurable anticipations
of the hour of milking. There is a passage of politeness between the first
whipper-in and a farmer's wife, whose cow is doing her best to join the chase, as
it crosses the Yeavely- Alkmonton road with Yeavley on the left, and the cow's
intentions are frustrated. Who is it says " civility costs nothing, and often
brings in large returns " ? Perhaps it was Solomon, or, if not, it was somebody
else, but, authorship apart, it is a golden maxim for people who go a hunting.
But hounds are presshig on in a determined sort of way which looks bad for the
fox. Longford is not far off, and Osmaston looms up on the left. Can he reach
-either if they keep on as they are doing now ? A man must look to his steps as
he rides, for are there not queer bottoms, whose width is a very variable quantity,
to say nothing of wire ? One of our cheeriest and best heavy-weights [Mr.
Wallroth] is piloting his division as he gallops joyously on in all the peaceful
serenity of one who is quite at home. " To shake him off 'tis vain to try who all
the country knows." Everything looks propitious. There is a more than useful
scent, and our fox is travelling straighter, as if he had some fixed point in his
mind. What it was no one will ever know, for, all of a sudden, just beyond the
bridle-road from Alkmonton to Shirley, and one field from the Alkmonton-
Longford road, hounds were at fault. They made their own cast to the right
over the road, and the huntsman made his to the left, but both efibrts failed.
And so the fox won the trick with honours after hounds had treated us to a very
pretty hunting run of five and forty minutes.

On Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Jack Frost had it all to himself.

Monday, March 27th, 1899, Braiisford Bridge. A delightful change in the
weather made hunting not only possible to-day, but pleasurable. With everything
in favour of a day's good sport, a large cavalcade moved oft" in capital spirits to
Culland. A fox was soon on foot, but our high hopes were doomed to disappoint-
. raent, for he was chopped in covert. The only consolation consisted in the fact of

302 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1899

his being mangy, and therefore, of course, better out of the waj'. Brailsford
Gorse and the Ednaston coverts were drawn blank, but Shirley Park sustained it&
reputation. Hounds were some time before they found, and there was some delay
in getting on to the line of a fox, which went away on the Bradley side and was
viewed across the Derby road. Whether he turned back or whether there was a
brace of foxes was uncertain, but, anyhow, hounds ran one back into Shirley Park.
Going away again, he went to ground in Ednaston Gorse. They found a good
straight-necked fox in Reeve's Moor, and ran best pace to Shirley Park to ground.
The pace fairly spread-eagled the field, who followed in a string a mile long.
Going back to Longford Car, a fox was away like a shot, and hounds fairly raced
across the cricket-ground, over the road by the park palings, and, swinging left-
handed, crossed the Tutbury road near the school. For five or six minutes they
absolutely flew, and it was a treat to see them dashing and flinging, every hound
eager to be first, as it were, romping with the scent like children at play. By
Hill Top farm, where the Guards point-to-point started from, the pace sobered
down, but still they ran nicely, till over Longford Marsh, when a couple of hounds
stole a march on their comrades, and the latter were at fault. A cast to the
right failed to mend matters, but, luckily, some one had seen the leading couple,
and the huntsman, galloping on, hit off the line forward, and thus united his
forces. Disdaining to take shelter in Boden's Thorns, which he passed on his
right, our fox went fairly straight for Thurvaston, which lay on his right.
Hounds hunted nicely on, Avith a little help, across the Trusley brook, and over
Long lane nearly to Parson's Gorse, when they lost him, after a very good hunt
of about forty-five minutes.

Tuesday found a moderate muster of Meynell people, and a fair sprinkling of
strangers at Birchwood Park. Birchwood and the Fradswell Coverts were blank,
but a fox stole away from Chartley Gorse, with a couple of hounds after him, sa
the main body got but a poor start. In spite of this, however, they ran him
quite nicely, down-wind, across the Blythe to gi-ound near Carry Coppice. It was
short, but sweet, and exciting enough to induce a hard-riding gentleman [Mr.
Caldecott], on a good-looking bay mare, to jump a rail gallantly into the river in
preference to making use of the hunting-gate at the ford. Chartley Moss, Grat-
wich Wood, Carry Coppice, Loxley Park Wood, and the Alder Moor were drawn
blank, and hounds went home. It was a great pity they did not find again, as
there seemed to be a very fair scent in the morning.

Thursday at Walton gave us a sort of week-turned-upside-down feeling, and
made it hard to realize the fact that it was Thursday and not Saturday. After
drawing sundry small places blank, hounds found in the gardens at Drakelowe,
and ran in a half-hearted sort of fashion round and about and to-and-fro the
Drakelowe coverts till they lost him. But the feature of the day was the first
call on the new gorse planted by that capital sportsman, Mr. Ilatclift'. Nor was
the call in vain, for a fox was on foot at once and away. As soon as hounds
settled to the line they began to run fast towards Lullington. But the plough
soon brought them to their noses, and it was a treat to see how closely they stuck
to the line of a wavering fox, in spite of dusty plough and the too close attention
of an eager field. Right-handed they bent towards Homestall Wood, making
every inch of ground good over the plough, and driving gaily on where pasture
favoured them. A very hard-riding doctor got a nasty fall and lay still for a few
moments as if he was badly hurt, but to our great relief he was soon on his feet
and, when once mounted again, was sailing along, proving himself to be one of
the right sort. Into Homestall Wood they chattered merrily and out on the other
side, where an awkward bottom with wire on the farther side barred the progress

1899] A HILTON DAY. 303

of their immediate followers. Hounds ran straight on into Catton Wood, and
right through it. Some men were halloaing and holding up their hats on the hill
to the left. But the pack, adopting Bromley Davenport's advice to " beware of
false halloas and juvenile riot," stuck to the line and turned short with the hunted
fox, making rare play up the grassy slope to the right to the covert on its summit.
Rattling him through it, they ran from scent to view, and roiled him over in the
spinny across the lane after a capital hound run of forty minutes. Scent was
catchy, and the nature of the ground and other things against them, so that they
deserve every credit for their performance, while our thanks are due, and no
doubt were duly offered, to Mr. Ratcliff. After drawmg Walton Wood blank,
hounds went home.

Saturday at Dunstall calls for but little comment. In warm, spring-like
weather we rode about on beautiful, springy turf. No pun is intended, but as a
rule there is less spring in the turf as spring comes on. Before long a fox was
on foot, and they ran him across Dunstall and Rangemore, and round about.
Eventually, they ran through Scotch Hills and Yoxall Wood to the BjTkley
boundary, but they could carry the line no farther. A fox was viewed going
away from Scotch Hills, making his way to Rangemore, and this may have been
the hunted one, though of course it is only guesswork. After drawing sundry
Rangemore and Dunstall coverts blank, hounds were moved off" to Sinai Park,
but though there was a report of five foxes having been seen together hereabouts
lately, not one was forthcoming. The Henhurst was blank, and so, alas ! was
our last hope, that beautiful cover, Mosley's Gorse. It was a great pleasure to
every one to see Mr. Gerald Hardy driving about, looking none the worse for
his recent severe accident.

Monday, April 3rd, 1899, Hilton. With everything in favour of a good day's
sport — fair weather, a small field, a capital country, and the certainty of a fox, to
wit — hounds trotted off to draw Hilton Gorse. Cast your eye for one moment
on the beautiful pastoral landscape, which stretches itself out mile upon mile
beneath you to where the soft outlines of the Weaver Hills bound your horizon,
and congratulate yourself, as you probably have done a thousand times, on your
lot being cast in the fairest hunting country in England. If there is one thing
wanting in that Paradise of grass to complete the picture it is the life and move-
ment of a pack of hounds scudding for dear life across it, and the red coats of
their followers to give a dash of positive colour to the subdued green of those
fair meadows below. Have patience one moment and you will have it, for is not
that a halloa, which barely reaches your ear from the leeward side of the covert,
endorsed by the shrill notes of the huntsman's horn, blowing " away." Away,
hoic, away !

" Away ! ere yet that blast was blown
The fox had o'er the meadow flown ;
Away, away, hia flight he took,
Straight pointing for the Hilton brook."

Is there anything in life more exhilarating, anything which sets the blood
dancing in a man's veins, like that first maddening stampede when the fox is first
away? Men say the first rush of a salmon, the sight within range of the
monarch of the glen which, for what seems like hours, has been stalked warily,
or the wild gallop after the mighty boar, can equal it. It may be so, and if it
be, thrice blessed the man into whose favoured life Fortune showers them all.
Meanwhile let the present content us, as, with glad music of straining hound,
jingling bridle, and deep bass of thundering hoofs, the chase sweeps over the

304 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1899

grip-cut surface of the Hilton meadows. Mark those tail hounds threadiiijc their
way through the maze of glittering hoofs, threatening destruction, hut forging
steadily forward to reach the pack which is a field in front of them across the
Sutton-Hilton lane. See, their efforts are rewarded, for the pack is at fault three
fields farther on, and the stragglers have joined the mam hody once more. One
cannot lielp being glad of it, and how they seem to enjoy their share in that
swinging forward cast. A low inviting fence is before us, and fretting horses
and eager riders are edging towards it. " It's no use jumping in there," a farmer
remarked. " Why not? " " Because the fox has got into this stick heap here.
I saw him." Even as he spoke some wide-casting hounds hit off the line forward,
proving tliat the farmer must have been mistaken, or that there were two foxes.
So they hunted nicely over the ploughed land, which came in their way as they
turned left-handed for Sutton. Passing underneath the church, the pace im-
proved on the grass, and they ran quite nicely to Arbour Field, where scent
unaccountably failed. Hilton Gorse failed to respond to a second call on its
resources, but a fox jumped up as hounds were trying a ploughed Held between
the gorse and Church Broughton, and ran a few fields in the direction of the
village to a pit-hole, where hounds checked. The fox may have gone to ground
here, but there was a halloa forward, and they got quickly on the line. The fox
turned back, and, getting a view, hounds coursed him up a hedgerow, and looked
for a moment like catching him off-hand. But the pursixed gained the first cross-
fence before his pursuers, and losing sight of him, they had to tmst to their noses.
This they did to some purpose, for they ran fast across the brook and over the
Sutton-Hilton lane to Sutton Mill, where there was a considerable delay, while
hounds patiently worked out a puzzling line over the brook, through cottage
gardens, and a network of lanes, on to the sound pastures beyond. Here they
began running again prettily up to the lane from Sutton to Hilton, which they
crossed, and it looked as if their fox meant going on. But, changing his mind,
he re-crossed the lane, and turned right-handed for Hilton Gorse, where he never
dwelt for a moment. A couple of hounds slipped on with him, but luckily with-
out escaping the master's eye. A note on his horn gave the office to the Imnts-
man, who lost no time in bringing on the main body of the pack. Catching up
their leaders, they ran nicely across the Hoon Farm, and over the Hoon Lane to
Pennywaste. Running through this, they carried the line slowly through the top
Foston Covert, and then ran smartly to the lane to Foston, where the fox was
viewed just in front of them. With his back up and his brush down, he plodded
across the Park into the Pudding Bag, and it looked any odds on their catching
him. But there was a brace of fresh foxes in the covert, and with one of these,
they came away past the Hall, through the top covert, to a point beyond Penny-
waste, where, being a long way in front of them, he was given up. The hunted
fox was seen, after hounds were gone, crawling about somewhere between Foston
and Scropton. It was a capital hunt of about forty minutes up to the Pudding
Bag, which every one voted most enjoj\able. Later on they found at Potter's,
and ran fast for about ten minutes, over the little brook pointing for Longford,
but turned right-handed nearly to the Spath, and on to the big field beyond
Barton, where they checked, but, hitting off the line a bit to the left, ran nicely
towards Sapperton, and then more slowly, right-handed, across Mr. Wainwright's
farm in the parish of Boylestone, back to Potter's.

Tuesday, Hoar Cross. They found at once in the Birchwood and ran up to
the top end towards Chantry Wood, where they checked. The huntsman cast
back into the wood, but, hearing a halloa towards the Abbots Bromley road,
lost no time in getting to it. Hounds got on the line just before they came to the

1899] HARRY BONNER RESIGNS. 305

road, and ran, intermittently, through Field House Coppice and the spinny
opposite Daisy Bank, to Dog Kennel Wood, where they lost him. They found
again in the Brakenhurst and ran across the Yoxall road towards Yoxall Lodge,
but turned back again into the Brakenhurst, and ran nearly to the road which
divides the latter from Jackson's Bank. Here there were two lines and there
was a halloa towards Yoxall. But hounds must have got to very close
quarters with one fox, for, with a rare crash of music, they raced down the hill,
over the brook, and, bearing left-handed, ran at a great pace to Hoar Cross. Two
people of opposite sexes seemed to be particularly enjoying riding the exact hne
of the hounds across a very strongly-fenced bit of country. Hounds checked
near the Old Hall, but the fox was viewed, and, getting on his line, hounds ran
at a good pace to Birch Wood, where they checked just inside the fence, and
never touched his line again. There was a halloa to the right towards the Hall
just as they got to the Birch Wood, and their fox may have gone that way. No-
fox was to be found in Yoxall, and, though they say there is luck in odd numbers,.
Kingstanding failed us at the third time of asking.

Thursday, Swilcar Lawn, where Mr. Arliss entertained all comers with his
usual hospitality. The clerk of the weather also treated us very well by sand-
wiching a nice still day — quite a perfect one for woodland hunting — in between
two very rough ones. Hounds drew from Bank Top to the middle of Bagot'fr
Wood before they found. The fox set his head for Parkside, but promptly
turned short back. There were two simultaneous halloas in diflerent directions
soon afterwards, so there must have been a brace of foxes, but hounds got on to
one of the right sort, for he ran as straight as a gun-barrel the whole length of
the wood into Lord's Coppice, and out at the end of it. The pack ran well
through the wood, and great was the grumbling of their followers as they plunged
into a soft place here, jumped a ditch to avoid one there, cannoned against a tree,
or scratched their faces in the bushes. However, everything comes to an end,
and so did the wood, but it was not a very large party who got away on good
terms with the hounds, and accompanied the huntsman and first whipper-in, as
the former went blowing his horn for dear life, with the pack striding away best
pace across the open. The master, of course, was one of them, but he had the
bad luck to get hung up in a deer snare in the second field from the wood, but,
luckily, without any bad results. Meanwhile hounds ran fast down to the
Bromley lane, and looked for a moment as if they were going to Bromley Park,
but the fox had been turned, and had run down the lane for a couple of hundred
yards, till he turned out of it to the left. The huntsman cast forward, and
hitting off the line of the fox at once, the pack ran at a good pace left-handed
and then right-handed to where three roads meet, and where the Blithbury road
diverges from the main road from Newborough to Abbots Bromley, where the
run was practically over. They found again in the Rhododendron Covert at
Blithfield and ran very fast to the WaiTen, all along the top of it, across the road
to Newton village by Newton Hurst to gi'ound just outside Kingston Wood.

At the end of the season Harry Bonner resigned and
retired into private life, taking the King's Arms at Bicester.
He had shared the general bad luck of the season, having
illness, bad scenting weather, and sickness in kennel to
contend against.

306 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1899

Field, April 1st, 1899:—

MEYNELL HUNT POINT-TO-POINT STEEPLECHASE.

Ednaston — a prettily-situated village near Osmaston Manor, the stately seat of
Sir Peter Walker, Bart, was the scene last Wednesday of the annual point-to-point
meeting in connection with the Meynell Hunt. A keen frost over night had
rendered the course rather hard, and for some little time doubt was entertained if a
start could be made imder the circumstances. An hour's postponement, however,
rendered matters more safe underfoot, and eventually it was decided to run the
events. The weather at the commencement was most winterly — a cold, piercing
wind, with occasional snowflakes, lasting throughout the whole of the day. Not-
withstanding this drawback, there was a large and distinguished assemblage, most
of the coimty families being represented. The prize-givers were Sir Peter Walker,
Mr. R. Fort, and Mr. F. A. Brace. Kesnlts :—

Light- Weight Steeplechase.

Miss Ida Firman ns. Mr. F. M. Freake's Bilbery II. (owner), 1 ; Mrs. R.
Knowles ns. Mr. Cave-Brown-Cave's Triton (Mr. Green), 2; Miss Saville ns.
Mr. Greville Clayton's Sambo (owner), 3. Twenty-two ran. San Juan drew
away, followed by Bilberry II. and Triton. The leader maintained his position
for about three and a half miles when he fell. Bilberry II. and Triton then took
command, and the first-named was leading a long way half a mile from home,
but Triton got on almost equal terms, and Bilberry won by a length ; Sarabo was
four lengths in rear of Triton.

Red-Coat Steeplechase.

]\Iiss Ethel Okeover ns. Sir Peter Walker's Victoria (Mr. C. F. Cr.awshay), 1 '■>
Miss Marian Hartley ns. Mr. Wm. Nuttall's Gordon (Mr. Chas. Garnett), 2 ;
Miss Chandos-Pole ns, her own mare Duck (Mr. A. Payne Gallwey), 3. Fifteen
ran. Gordon took the lead up to the top of the hill, with Victoria and Duck at
close quarters. Reaching the summit of the hill, Victoria headed Gordon and
held her own to the end, winning by a length and a half.

Farmees' Steeplechase.

Mr. 0. Dixon's Polly (Mr. T. Archer), 1 ; Mr. Wm. Hall's Lilley (]\Ir. F. H.
Unwin), 2. Polly made all the running, and won in a canter.

Welter Steeplechase.

Mrs. Walter Boden ns. Captain Hambro's Salt Fish (owner), 1 ; Miss D'Arcy
Clarke ns. Mr. C. H. Simpson's Gambler (owner), 2; Miss E. Roylance Court ns.
Captain Higson's Batsman (owner), 3. Monte led to the third hurdle in the
straight for home, when Salt Fish went to the front and won by two and a half
lengths : the same between second and third.

( 307 )

CHAPTER XXL

" STEVE " A COUPLE OF HOUNDS DUG OUT OF A DRAIN

GOOD BRAILSFORD DAY A BISHTON FOX — WEDDING

PRESENT TO MR. AND MRS. FRANK COOPER — A GOOD

CUBLEY BYE-DAY A BATCH OF YOUNGSTERS SPORT

IMPROVES A TERRIER KILLS THE FOX A CLINKING

GALLOP FROM REEVE's MOOR — GREAT DAY WITH THE
" squire's " HOUNDS A HARD DAY FROM LONGFORD

1899-1900.

This season was full of promise, and every one felt
satisfied witli the staff. Stephen Burtenshaw had been a
universal favourite as first whipper-in, and justly so, for
a more civil, pleasant-mannered, obliging man there could
not be, while he was as keen as mustard. It is not going
beyond the mark to hazard an opinion that, if the Hunt
had been canvassed, a very large majority would have
been in favour of his being huntsman. William Weston
from Colonel Chandos-Pole's hounds, a fine horseman, was
first, and Tom Taylor, a hard-riding, active fellow, second
whipper-in.

WITH THE ]\IEYNELL HOUNDS.
Monday, October 30th, was the opening day at Sudbury, and for the first time
for many years the Coppice was chosen for the place of meeting, as the song says.
The stars in their courses, we are told, fought against Sisera, but the elements
fought on the side of the Meynell. A down-right soaking rain, which made the
going excellent, made way for a perfect day. Every one could don their new
habit or coat without fear of damaging it, and the rain had rendered it soft falling
for any one who was destined to soil a new pink. No less than three fulfilled
that destiny at the first fence. But we have not got to it yet. We must have a
look at the hounds first, and a pleasing sight they are with their well-filled backs,
fine coats, and bright eyes. It does not take an expert to tell that they are in
rare fettle. Then, are not old friends arriving every minute, and cheery g:-eetings

308 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [189»

being exchanged ; yet, as the poet sings, " Half is mirth and half is sorrow," for
do we not, one and all, miss many a face we would fain see amongst us once
more ? Had they been there they would have rejoiced with us, and, being
absent, they would not grudge us the sport that followed. Sudbury Coppice, of
course, held a fox, who went away across the Oak Lane, and hounds followed at
a good pace over the main Ashbourne road, opposite Cubley Lodge, and, swinging
left-handed, ran down to the Cubley brook near the mill. Without crossing the
brook they turned right-handed, and checked on the top of Boylestone Hill,
where hounds divided, a few couples going for Sapperton, while the huntsman,
with the main body, hunted a cold line to a point beyond Boylestone, where
scent failed. Coming back to the coppice, after a turn or two round the covert,
the fox went away on the Vernon's Oak side, ran through the Oak plantation,
and so out across Malcolmsley, right-handed over the Oak lane, to ground in the
coppice, where he defied all efforts to dislodge him. They found again in the
Alder Moor, and ran across the Twelve Acres farm to ground in Sudbury Park.
They found again in the Lake Banks, and killed. Finding another in the osiers
by the river, they ran to Smith's Gorse, whence a brace of fresh foxes went away,
while they ran their hunted fox back to the osiers. Being a stout-hearted custo-
mer, he swam the river boldly and set his head straight for the great earth at
Houndhill. But the gardener there, having a sporting soul, was one too many
for him, and stopped the earths just in time. So our friend went on his way
towards the woods, rejoicing or not, as the case may be. Meanwhile the first
whipper-in, not to be outdone by a fox, plunged equally boldly into the swollen
Dove in pursuit of the hounds, who had already swum the stream. After him
followed a lady [Mrs. Walter Boden], over whose horse's back the water swirled,
and a few others, all of whom got over in safety. Lower down a solitary horse-
man [Mr. Leonard Carlisle] essayed to cross by the lower ford, but ill-luck
attended his plucky attempt, for he and his horse parted company mid-way,
though they both emerged safely, in detachments, on the farther side. It is ill
swopping horses, say our Yankee cousins, in the middle of the stream. While
all this was happening in full view of those more prudent wights who preferred
the Sudbury bridge, an old hand [Mr. Peacock] had viewed another fox stealing
back from the river towards the Lake Banks. So the huntsman got hold of his
hounds, slipped back Avith them, chased his fox into the Lake Banks, and killed him
forthwith. To be strictly honest, it is necessary to add that there was a difference
of opinion on this point— many people asserting that the same fox crossed and re-
crossed the river, which reminds one of the story of Beckford and his huntsman.
The latter having made an unsuccessful cast, gave his master so many good reasons
why the fox ought to have gone where the huntsman supposed he had, that Beck-
ford laughingly remarked, that " if the fox was a fool that was not the man's fault."

Tuesday, at Blithbury, resulted in the finding of many foxes, reminding us of
the palmy days when Mr. Crossman held sway in those parts, and one of a leash
in Eough Park led hounds a merry dance late in the afternoon to the big wood at
Wichnor, where they were stopped, and did not get back to kennels till seven
o'clock.

On Thursday every one was, as usual, hospitably entertained at Padburne,.
and the Squire was full of the capital day his own hounds had had for their debut
for this season at Hopton on the Wednesday. Hounds drew the Sand Pit blank
but they found in the Potlucks, and ran to the fishpond in the park by the
rectory, and caught him, a result witli which i)erha]»s the human brigade had as
much to do as the canine. Common Nursery was tiien drawn, and held a brace,
one of which went away as far as the main road, where he was headed, and,.

1899J HOUNDS DUG OUT OF A DRAIN. 309

retracing his steps to the Common Nursery, was lost. They then drew Parson's
Gorse, which has been laid since last year, making a grand fox covert, but one
which it takes a very resolute hound to face. A fox was there, and they forced
hira into the open, across the road to the left, ran him down the lane to ground
in a drain on one of Mr. Meynell's farms. The famous Rough proved the piece
de resistance of the day, for it furnished a fox, who ran a nice ring of eighteen
minutes round Mr. Frank Newton's house, and back through the Eough to a
point beyond, where they lost him. The bridges by the Rough proved unequal
to the call made upon them, and gave way, so it was lucky hounds did not run
far or fast beyond the Rough, or there would have been nobody with them
probably. Sutton Gorse, Arbour Field, and Dussy Bank were all blank, but they
found in the osiers below the Ash, with only a score or so of followers left out of
a field of nearly three hundred, and ran along the brook by Dussy Bank and
Sutton Gorse, over a line of country which takes a lot of doing, to gi'ound in a
field by the Ash, after a capital hunt of thirty-eight minutes.

Saturday, Wichnor. — They found in the big wood, and ran out towards Dun-
stall and lost him, scent being wretched. Found again in the Fishpond Covert,
ran up to the Dunstall road, and lost him. They found again in the "White Wood
at HoUyhurst, and ran back to Wichnor to ground in the covert on the side of
tlie hill, where they killed something like five brace of cubs in one morning, cub-
hunting two years ago. Hounds then went to the Brakenhurst, where there were
plenty of foxes, but not an atom of scent.

Rough, boisterous weather is not usually accompanied by brilliant sport,
though, as every one knows, hounds can and do run under all sorts of climatic
conditions ; nor can we expect great things of young foxes in November, and it
is not sui-prising that there is nothing much to chronicle in the past week,

Monday, November 6th, Tutbury Station. — Hounds drew Marston bottoms
and osiers blank, but found no less than four foxes in Hilton Gorse, a brace of
which were chopped in the gorse. A third went away as if for Sutton, but turned
left-handed by the brook, and, making the best of his way downhill, crossed the
main Derby and Uttoxeter road. Bearing a little left-handed, he found refuge
in a drain in a cottage garden at Hatton. Hence it was decided to eject him at
all cost, for it was quite possible that he was the robber of henroosts who has
been creating sad havoc amongst the poultry in these parts. As the digging
proceeded, " the first thing they did find " was Dampish and Truelass, who had
followed their fox down the drain and could not get out again, thus adducing a
novel argument in favour of the unpopular practice of digging. No sooner had
they been rescued than a good terrier bolted the fox handsomely, who ran parallel
with the road from Tutbury Station up to the turnpike road. Crossing this, hounds
ran him on to Mr. Archer's farm, Hoon Cottage, and caught him. They had
been nmning twenty minutes when he got to ground, and they ran him seven
minutes up to the time when they killed him. They then trotted off to Barton
Bloimt, and found in the Rookery Plantation. Crossing Mount Pleasant farm,
they ran pointing for Hilton Gorse, and, turning left-handed, came back to the
Rookery Plantation. Without dwelling here, they ran another ring nearly up to
Church Broughton, and back again to where they found hira. To make a long
story short, they kept ringing and changing for an hour and twenty minutes, by
which time most people had had enough, and hounds went home.

Thursday, Swarkestone Bridge.— They drew the Osiers and Back Cuttings
blank, while the same bad luck pursued us at Sinfin Moor and Sale's Covert.
Hell Meadows, however, held a fox, who took us a ring by Mickleover to the

310 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1899

Bumaston road, where he turned short back through Bunker's Hill, and so, by
Findern, to Hell Meadows, after a nice thirty minutes. Plere he elected to
remain, and, after being hunted round about the covert for twenty minutes or so,
contrived to efface himself somehow. In all probability he got into a rabbit-
burrow, as the earths were securely stopped. Spilsbury Plantations were next
drawn, and held a brace of foxes, one of which led hounds by Mickleover and
Bearwardcote to Bumaston, where, unluckily, hounds divided. The main body
of the pack liit a stale line down one side of the avenue, and, while every one's
attention was concentrated on them, six couples slipped away back on the other
side of the avenue, and were seen running unattended towards Spilsbury's, no
doubt on the line of the hunted fox. The stale line, which was meanwhile
occupying the main body, grew colder and colder, till hounds could follow it no
longer, and it had to be given up as hopeless. An old sportsman used first of all
to ask, " Did you kill your fox ? " and then, if that was answered in the affirmative,
" Did you tire your horse ? " If the answer to this was " Yes " also, he used to
remark, " Then you had a good day." So, as most people's horses were tired,
Thursday might lay credit to having been at least half a good day.

Thursday, November 16th, at Brailsford Hall, was a typical hunting morning,
nor were those who predicted a good scent out in their reckoning. For, finding
at once in White's Wood, hounds got a good start, and pushed along memly,
leaving Mercaston on their right in a generally straight direction for Hulland.
Of course on a nice fine day at this time of the year there are always people at
work in the fields, and with the best of intentions a fox cannot go quite straight.
Still, in spite of a zig-zag now and then, and a sharp turn or two, this fox kept
making his way as if he had a definite point in his head. So things went well
till we got to Tail's Wood, pretty nearly opposite Hulland Hall, where something
untoward usually happens. To-day four or five hounds seemed to have a Hne at
the bottom of the hill below Tait's Wood, and, as a matter of fact, Mr. Hall,
coming out to join us later on, riding bare-backed on a rare good black mare^
reported seeing the fox pointing for Blackwall. But meanwhile a fox had been
viewed in Tait's Wood, and may possibly have got to ground there. Anyhow
the huntsman cast on forward towards Hulland, till a halloa back caused him to
retrace his steps. Just at this moment there was a faint halloa out Blackwall
way. Hounds, however, got on the line of the fox halloaed back, and re-crossing
the lane to Hulland, ran nicely back, and down to the Spinnythorne Brook. Up
to Tait's Wood they had been running twenty minutes, and those twenty minutes
had been most enjoyable. After that it was a case of slow hunting, luckUy, too,
as they crossed and re-crossed the brook, which was wired in most places. The
huntsman got his horse's hind leg caught up in a strand of plain wire, and was
extricated by the aid of some good sportsmen with wire-clippers. Thus the chase
wended its way slowly onwards, bearing always left-handed, •follo^ving more or
less the course first of the Spinnythorne and then of the Brailsford Brook, over a
wild, rushy country. Along the osier-beds below Ednaston they made out the
line with difliculty, till at last it looked Hke a forlorn hope, which was made none
the rosier by the pressing forward of an over eager field. But Hasty helped her
comrades out of their difficulties, and, bearing left-handed still, they carried the
line to Brailsford Gorse after hunting for the best part of two hours. Hence after
some delay a fox went away to the right of Ednaston Gorse, and, turning back,
got to ground by the bridle-road, which leads down the valley between Brailsford
Gorse and Ednaston Gorse, into the Brailsford road. They drew Brailsford Gorse
again, and the fox, trying to break on the Brailsford side, was headed and killed.

1899] GOOD BRAILSFORD DAY. 311

After drawing Culland and Brailsford Car blank, they found in Boden's Thorns a
fox, who went away on the Sutton side, and ran the lane to Sutton for a short
distance, till he made a detour to the right, only to return to the lane again
shortly, which he followed for a hundred yards, and then turned out of it to the
left and then made off towards the Spath. Hounds came into the lane, crossed
it, and ran a line briskly, in the opposite direction, back to Boden's Thorns, when
they dwelt for a few moments, and then went away towards Thurvastou Stoop-
During this little ring a very popular and hard-riding young lady [Miss Geraldine
Mosley] got down through her horse over-jumping himself, but picked herself up
pluckily, declaring that no harm was done. Leavmg Thurvaston on their left,
hounds ran hard by Dalbury Hollow to Radburne Rough. Here they swung
right-handed round Mr. Frank Newton's house at Bearwardcote, as if they were
going for Potlucks, but turned short of this left-handed, pointing for the earths
beyond the Derby and Etwall Road. Before reaching them there were two lines,
but Muslin and Verity were racing up a hedgerow as if they were fairly coursing
their fox, and the huntsman naturally cast in his lot with them. For some
unaccountable reason, however, scent changed in a moment from hot to cold, and
the hounds, which had been chasing like fire, were suddenly brought to their
noses ; so much so, in fact, that eventually all trace of the fox was lost, thus
bringing a capital run of nearly forty minutes, three-quarters of which had been
decidedly fast, to an end. This was voted by a good many people the best day
we have had so far this season.

Saturday. — A dense fog prevailed at Newborough and elsewhere.

Tuesday, November 28th, at Birch Wood Park, and a good old-fashioned
Tuesday too. Hounds never, it is true, ran any great pace continuously, nor
did the fox make any distant point, but when this is said, there is nothing more
to be urged against a very enjoyable day. To begin with, they found at once in
the Birchwood and ran across the Field-Milwich road pointing for Chartley, but
soon swung right-handed for Fradswell dimbles, where they checked. Hitting it
off again, they ran, leaving the Hall on the right, down to the lane below, where
the fox ran the road for a bit, and hounds puzzled it out prettily, till this fox left
it, and turning right-handed, gave them a chance of running a little faster over
sound pastures. Thus they forged ahead over the Gayton-Milwich road, and
across the Gayton brook, till they checked in Gayton Gorse. After being headed
once at the bottom end towards Sandon, their fox broke covert at the top and
led them over a rough sporting country, intersected by deep ravines, and decidedly
hilly. Here the little bitches, having plenty of room, chattered along memly
till they got to Sandon big wood, whence their fox must have got a long start of
them, for, although they could just feel the line back towards Gayton, there was
not sufficient scent to make it worth while to persevere and run the risk of un-
necessarily disturbing coverts in a neighbour's country. They had been running
for over forty minutes up to Sandon Wood, and as far as Gayton Gorse, or
perhaps even a mile beyond it, in a very fairly straight line. They found again
in the Birch Wood, but could not make much of it, so Chartley Gorse was called
upon, and, as usual, not in vain. Like the famous Tar Wood fox of immortal
memory, this one " waited not, he was not found," but slipped quietly away on
the Gratwich side, so that some cattle running about excitedly three fields away,
and hounds striking a line simultaneously, alone gave notice of the fact. Hounds
were away in no time, or a good part of them, at any rate, and turning short left-
handed up-wind fairly raced, with only a gallant captain [Captain Dugdale], on a
rare hog-maned bay, really with them, to the Birch Wood. They checked in the

312 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1899

lane on the Chartley side of the wood, but only for a few seconds, for, dashing
over the lane, they ran the whole length of the covert. The fox, however,
headed probably, turned short back towards Chartley, and they ran him right-
handed by Summer Hill, where they checked. Luckily information came to
hand that the fox had gone on from Birch Wood, so the huntsman lost no time in
getting them on, and they ran nicely to Brinsley Wood. On going away from
here the huntsman and whippers-in got their second horses, while hounds
accommodatingly checked. Hitting it off again, they ran prettily, pointing for
Leigh, over a nice line of country, till they checked in the road to Leigh station,
just before reaching the railway. Loyalty before all is a good adage, and little
Loyalty, a very promising youngster in her first season, gave us a proof of it by
hitting ofl' the line, single-handed, to the right of the road. With a cheer of
encouragement the huntsman clapped on with the rest of the pack, and they ran
on with the railway on their left till they crossed the river and down the road
towards Field. Here Vestal and Precious alone stuck to it all down the road to
the Field farm, where the huntsman held them on past the buildings, when,
getting on the grass again, with a cheering cry, every hound could own the scent.
Their fox tried the pit-hole here, but either the earth was stopped or he was too
hot to go in, for they ran on past it as if for Carry Coppice. But no, he would
not have that either, so, forging on, probably fairly tired by this time, he made
for another shelter. That, too, he passed by and ran parallel with the Carry
Coppice lane, till he got past the coppice. Then he turned left over the lane,
where they checked. Only for a moment, though, for, hitting it off through
the gateway, they ran fast, parallel with the lane, to the four lane ends at the
beginning of Loxley Park Wood. They carried the line down the road towards
Woodcock Heath for two or three hundred yards, and then could hit it off nowhere.
They made their own cast to the right, and Stephen made his to the left, in the
wood, and then a wide one all round and forward to the right, but to no pnrpose.
So a good fox beat them after a capital hunt of over an hour.

The Meynell hounds met at Foston Hall on Monday, December 4th, and
drew together what was generally regarded as a record attendance. It was
'• open house " at the Hall, and the Hon. George and Lady Mildred Allsopp
entertained all comers with the most generous hospitality. Those present included
the Master and Mrs. Fort, Col. R. W. Chandos-Pole (Radburne), Col. the Hon.
Wenman Coke, Lady Mosley and the Misses Mosley, Mr. and Mrs. Wallroth,
Mr. and Mrs. Brace, the Misses Gretton (Sudbury), Mr. and Mrs. Kempson, Miss
Firman, Mrs. Edwards, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Boden, Capt, the Hon. Herbert and
Mrs. Allsopp, Mr. and Miss Victoria Okeover, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Chamngton,
Mr. Maynard, Mr. and Miss Hartley, the Rev. J. S. Penley, Mr. Caldecott, Mr.
and Mrs. Jervis Smith and Miss Smith, Mr. Brenchley, Mr. Power, Mr. Wade,
Mr. Winterbottom, Mr. Henry Boden, the Rev. Charles Boden, Mr. Henry
Charrington, Mr. Bristowe, Major Mcyrick, Mr. Thynne, Mr. and Mrs. Petre, Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Cooper, Mr. Mainwaring, Mr. Tinsley, Mr. Alfred Duncombe, Mr.
J. Smith, Major and Mrs. Dugdale, Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Newton, Mr. and Mrs.
H. Ratcliff, Mr. Richardson, Messra. Carhsle, Mr. and Mrs. Arliss, Mr. and Mrs.
F. W. Peacock, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Gisborne, Mr. Sitwell, General Fowler Butler,
Mr., Mrs. and Miss d'Arcy Clarke, Major Roy, and Mr, G. Statham. A start was
made with a fox in the Pudding Bag, who broke away boldly at the Scropton
end, crossed the main Derby road, and pointed for Pennywaste. Scent was bad,
60 hounds could only poke along after him as he turned for the top covert. Here
they chopped one and got away with another, who led them back to the Pudding

1899] A BISHTON FOX. 313

Bag. Going away from there he pointed for Sapperton, but turned short of it
right-handed, and back again past the Hall on to Mr. Nash's farm between Foston
and Sudbury, where they lost him. They chopped one in the snipe bog, and
found another in the old Dove osiers, who took them into the Fishpond Covert
and away past the Hall, pointing for Sapperton. After running a few fields in
this direction, there was a brace of foxes on foot, and hounds changed from one
to the other till they eventually got back to the Park again, where they lost him.
They found again in the Pennywaste a fox who went away on the Sutton side,
but was promptly headed, and turned back through the covert. He then crossed
the main Derby road, and ran a few fields in the direction of Tutbury, but soon
turned back and ran towards Foston. There was, however, not scent enough to do
anything with him, and they lost him on Mr. Shipton's farm. Every one was very
sorry indeed to see Mr. Cooper, of Barton Blount, being driven home in the Master's
carriage, owing to his having sustained severe injuries to his head through a fall.
Tuesday, Newton village. — A moist, warm morning, not to say foggy.
Warmth in the air and moisture in the gi-ound are usually supposed to be the two
essentials which make for scent. Unfortunately, there are frequent exceptions
to the rule. Hounds drew Coley Gorse blank, and then started on their annual
pilgrimage to the Bishton coverts. The popular owner * was unusually sanguine
that we should find in the gorse, nor were his hopes doomed to disappointment.
No fox was viewed away, but, when a batch of young hounds came bustling out
on a line, and Affable proclaimed it that of a fox, the whipper-in felt justified in
halloaing them away. A few musical notes on Squire Chandos-Pole's horn — he
was acting master for the day in the unavoidable absence of our master — stamped
the hall mark of certainty on a somewhat doubtful prelude, and the band began
to play. A gate let us into the lane, but an uncompromising-looking bit of
timber barred the way out of it, and hounds were running on. It did not take
the huntsman many seconds to make up his mind, and a very bold welter weight
[Mr. Power], following the good example, hit it hard all round, and, siiaking it,
disclosed its frailty. " It is easy enough now," some one exclaimed, as the pent-
up field issued out of the lane over it one by one. Meanwhile hounds, after
checking in the second field, slipped away at a good pace over the Moreton brook,
close to the culvert, into Spencer's plantation. Without dwelling, they dashed
along with a left-hand divergence, which soon swung back into a straight course,
with Bhthfield Gorse close on their left, over the road which leads from Newton
village to the main Rugeley Road, by Admaston, over the Rugeley Road to
Blithe Moor. Through this they ran and through Stansley Wood, past the square
covert, turned short under Duckley Wood, and out on to the hill beyond. Just
short of the road this side of Bagot's Bromley they checked, after a stirring gallop
of twenty-four minutes with an accommodating fox, who chose an easy riding
line, well-gated. A flock of sheep came wheeling over the line, as is their wont,
especially at a tickhsh moment. A wide, forward cast toward the woods, ending
in Duckley Wood, failed to recover the line, but they got on to their fox, or a
fox, outside Duckley Wood, at the Abbots Bromley end, and hunted him slowly
to gi'ound in the pit-hole by Forge Coppice, in seventeen minutes from Duckley
Wood. Had they only got away on the back of their fox at the start, with such
a scent, they must have fairly flown, and it would have been a stout fox indeed if
he had reached Duckley Wood before they caught him. As it is, he lives to run
another day, and is the sort every one likes to see save his brush, if it must be so.
Unluckily they did not find again, having run through all the coverts which were

* Major Charles Wood.

314 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1891)

counted on to furnish a second fox, except the gardens, in which the churchyard
is situated, and hero a child's funeral was being held, so, of course, hounds were
taken quietly away.

Thursday, December 21st, was the first day on which these hounds have been
out since the frost began on Saturday, December 9th. The field, which mustered
at Lees Green to meet them, was probably the smallest on record for a Thursday,
])ecause a gi-eat many people thought it was not fit to hunt. In reality, the
roads and gateways were the only slippery places. Parson's Gorse was drawn
blank, but a fox was soon on foot in the Nurseries, whom they ran for six or
seven minutes up to the road from Eadburne to Derby, where they lost him.
They found again in the Brick-kiln Wood, but lost him after a short run of a few
minutes. Scent was very moderate with these foxes. They then drew the
foTU'-acres and gardens at Mickleover blank ; while the Potlucks, too, was
tenantless. Tlie famous Kough was the p««ce de resistance of the day, and
amply sustained its reputation, for it held that vara avis in these days— a good,
straight-necked fox. On the first blush there did not appear to be much scent,
as hounds checked in the second field, but this was owing to a sharp right-
handed turn on the part of the fox, who had started as if he meant going to
Sutton Gorse. Hounds, however, flinging eagerly to recover the hne, hit it off
without assistance, and then ran — sometimes fast, but always at a good holding
pace — for twenty-five minutes. During these, the brightest from a riding point
of view of the run, they left Dalbury Hollow on the left, ran memly down to the
Trusley brook, and, bearing right-handed, chattered along parallel with it till
nearly opposite Grange fields, where they crossed it. It would not have been
like the Trusley brook not to have taken toll of its passengers, and to-day at least
two of our number had to pay their fare. One of them will soon know all about
the bottoms of the brooks in these parts, like the hard-riding squire, who claimed
to have tested every ditch in Bucks, Oxon, and Northants, in the course of a
long career. With plenty of room and a smaller train, hounds ran on to Over
Burrows, where the fox was viewed, and we hoped to have caught him. But
these hill gentry laugh at twenty-five minutes, unless the pace is a cracker, and
we had been running barely as long as that up till now. Carrying the line over
the road from Brailsford, they ran nicely till the cold, snowy ploughs, just short
of the Car, fairly brought them to their noses, and probably saved the life of this
good-travelling fox. Some foxes might have dwelt in the Car, but not so this
Hector of the hills, for hounds ran straight through and out on the main road
side. Crossing the Derby and Ashbourne main road, they hunted on, at times
even running fast, past Wild Park, over the road between Mugginton and
Mercaston, and over the Mugginton brook. Hereabouts, two men running,
gesticulating, and shouting, two fields in front, naturally raised hopes of our
being close on our fox, but it was their newly-sown wheat which was still more
naturally the source of their anxiety, and every one rode most carefidly round
the extreme edge. Meanwhile hounds were getting behind their fox, owing to
the cold, half-frozen ground on tiie hills carrying no scent, and by the time they
got to the new gorse at Ravensdale Park, it was foimd to be hopeless to pursue
their fox any longer. So ended a capital run of an hour.

This was a day snatched out of the fire, for on Friday we had snow again.

On Monday, Januarylst, 1900, hounds came to Osmaston, but, owing to a thick
fog. were unable to hunt. However, the occasion was utilized for presenting the
Hunt wedding present, a beautiful silver gilt rose bowl, to that best of sportsmen,
Mr. Frank Cooper, and Mrs. Cooper, of Barton Blount. The Master presented the

1900] WEDDING PRESENT TO MR. AND MRS. COOPER. 315

bowl with a few well-chosen words, suitable to the occasion, to which Mr. Cooper
replied in an equally hajipy vein. The latter has always taken the keenest interest
in the welfare of the Hunt, and his coverts are never drawn blank, so it was but
natural that the Hunt should wish to give him some token of the esteem in which
he is held, and this, owing partly to Sir Peter Walker's initiative, took the form of
a wedding present as mentioned above. For the rest the well-known Osmaston
hospitality did all it could to dispel the cold and gloom of an unpropitious New
Year's morning.

Tuesday, Newton village. — Here another fog lay in wait for us, though half a
mile on the Blithfield side of the village the atmosphere was fairly clear. So
men, women, and hounds wandered about like spectres in the mist for an hour
or more, till the Master gave the welcome order to dive down into Blitlifield to
see what it was Hke there. Much better it was assuredly, and a charitable fox
earned our goodwill by turning back towards daylight and Kingston Wood after
a brief ring from the square covert, where we found him, by Duckley Wood, and
back again. From the square covert one fox crossed over into Stansley Wood
and the fog, while, as has already been said, the hunted fox made his way
across to the left of Bagot's Bromley and to the right of Heatley, trying the pit-
hole en route, to Kingston Wood. Twice round the big wood they drove him,
till he was fain to cry, " Enough," and to lie down in front of the hounds. How
he escaped is a mystery, but escape he did, though they were all roimd him,
and went on across Woodcock Heath, sorely tired, down to the river. But
a cold bath, it seemed, was not to his Hking, for though the huntsman cast his
hounds across the swollen stream, while a few hardy spirits followed them, they
could not speak to the line on the further side, so they and their followers had
to come back again, which was a poor reward for enterprise. However, they
hit off the line again on the hither side, and puzzled out an intricate course
patiently into Loxley Park Wood. Here the fox was viewed dead beat, but it
seemed as if they must have left him behind them and must have got away with
a fresh one. Him they hunted slowly to Ashcroft, by Mr. Bateson's farm, where
he beat them. They found again in Bagot's Wood, but six couples slipped on
and were out of sight and hearing in no time, so, as it was getting late, it was
decided to go home. Meanwhile the truants ran by Floyer's Coppice, passed
Mr. Leason's farm with a brace of foxes in front of them, and by Smallwood
back to the woods.

Thursday brought a large field to Sutton village, Boden's Thorns held a good
fox, who took a capital Ime, parallel at first with the Sutton road. Turning left-
handed, hounds crossed this road, and ran nicely by the Spath to Sutton Mill.
There were fences which took some jumping on the way, as a good sportsman
[Captain Holland] found to his cost when he fell headlong into a wide and watery
ditch, and emerged dripping like a retriever. Nothing daunted, he got a change
of clothes — better suited, it is true, for shooting or fishing than for fox-hunting —
and was soon sailing away again in his accustomed place at the tail of the hoimds,
thus bearing testimony to the lines which claim that " 'Tahi't the red coat makes
the rider, breeches, boots, nor yet the cap." Hounds meanwhile continued their
course along the brook till they turned right-handed over the Sutton and Church
Broughton road, through the Eookery plantation, just outside the Barton Blount
gates, and ran their fox to ground in a stick heap after a very nice run of forty
minutes. And what is more, their fox was unearthed and killed. In the after-
noon they found in Hilton Corse a ringing fox, who eventually ran across the
High road to Marston Fields, and back to Hatton, where they lost him. Penny-
waste was blank, but they found in the top Foston Covert, and ran fast through

316 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1900

Mr. Bentley's stackyard, across Firs Lane, where their fox was headed close to
Sailors' Home osier-bed, and turned sharp back over the Marston Fields. Hounds
slipped along at a good pace over the high road, through Simon's home, and
over the Scropton lane, on to Mr. Shipton's farm, down to the railway. Cross-
ing this, they ran down to the Dove, and turned parallel with it towards Tutbury.
But this bold-hearted fox was not to be beaten by any river, for he crossed it
bravely, and set his mask for Castle Hayes. Hounds dashed in in his wake, and
pursued their course, while their followers had to gallop best pace for Tutbury
Bridge, with the exception of the second whipper-in and three or four more, who
made use of the bridge of the alabaster railway. Luckily, hounds ran but slowly
after swimming the river, as is usually the case, so the field, who went by Castle
Hill, Tutbury, caught them up before they got to Castle Hayes, and the fox saved
his brusli, as he deserved to do, by getting to ground in a strong badger's earth
hard by. So ended a capital day's sport, which sent every one home delighted.
On Friday the Master treated us to a bye-day at Cubley Stoop, where a small
but very keen division assembled. Finding in Cubley Gorse, they ran across to
the Car, and drove merrily the whole length of it and out over the lane at the
end. Forging nicely on up-wind, though at no great pace, they hunted up to
Mr. Thorley's farm, Birch Wood Park, and so over the Marston-Montgomery-
Snelston road, pointing for Roston. Perhaps our fox was headed here ; at any
rate, hounds could not carry the line any further, so the huntsman made a quick
cast back over the road again, and, hitting off the Hne, hunted his fox back to
Cubley Gorse. After some delay he was halloaed away at the bottom end, and
they ran nicely along the Car towards the lane at the end, where the fox was
headed. Only momentarily though, for he slipped out behind the people who
had headed him, ran parallel with the lane for three or four fields, pointing for
the Marston-Snelston road, and then, crossing the lane, ran nicely to Birch Wood
Park farm again, but this time our fox turned to the right, and, leaving the
Birch Wood on his left, ran nearly up to the Cubley-Ashbourne road. Being
headed by the carriages, he turned right-handed, parallel with the road, back to
Cubley Car and across into the gorse. Hounds had now been running for the
best part of an hour, if not more, and if we had not changed foxes meantime our
friend should be getting tired. But in all probability we had changed, as two, if
not three, foxes had been in evidence. After bustling about for some time in the
thick covert hounds got away with a fox, who crossed the Marston-Cubley lane,
halfway between Marston and Cubley Stoop, and set his head for Malcomsley.
But he was going a good deal faster than scent would allow hounds to go, and
the too pressing attentions of an over eager field did not improve matters. So
the pace slowed down, till hounds had to look to their huntsman for assistance.
Nor did they look in vain, for a good forward cast put matters right, and they
began running again merrily towards the green lane from Cubley to Vernon's
Oak. Here the fox was headed by a group of second horsemen, and, turning
right-handed, parallel with the main Ashbourne road, made for Sudbury Coppice.
There were two lines in covert, and hounds got away with a fresh one, a good,
straight-necked fox, who took them in a nearly direct line to Bentley Car, Here
the hunted fox was viewed, but there were three or four others on foot, and, if
in the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom, in the multiplicity of foxes there
is safety. So this one heat them after all, after two hours and twenty minutes,
which was a pity, as both huntsmen and hounds deserved blood, having hunted
right well. They found again in Sapperton, and ran hard to Mackley House.
Here, after a momentary check, they hit it off, and ran just outside Sudbury
Park as if they were going for Foston. But they turned right-handed and fairly

1900] A GOOD CUBLEY BYE-DAY. 317

danced across the park with a capital scent, till they checked just in front of the
Hall, and it looked for a moment as if this fox might have found refuge in a
tree. But he had not, for, hitting it off again, they scudded along to the Sudbury
end of the park, turned sharp down the lane by Bakewell's shop, over the main
road by the Rectory, right-handed behind the hall, and, bearing left, slipped
along at a great pace to Wimcombgee. Dwelling here for a moment, they hit it
off again, and ran into the Twelve Acres by the river. Hence a single hound
[Brigand] slipped on, and was not caught till he had gone half a mile or so,
which did not help matters. However, they settled to the line again, and ran
prettily underneath Brocksford Gorse across the Sudbury-Uttoxeter turnpike, by
Ley Hill, and along the Somersal brook side, till they tiu-ned right-handed, and
ran nicely up to Hill Somersal, where they were stopped after a capital and most
spirited hunt of forty minutes,

Saturday, New Inn. There was a crispness in the ah- which felt very hunting-
like. Nor were those who predicted a good scent disappointed, for with their
first fox from the plantation close to New Inn they ran fast. Crossing the road
from New Inn to Kingstanding they ran into Byrkley Park, and by the Home
Farm into Knightley Park, thence across the main road to ground at Tatenhill,
after a nice gallop of about a quarter of an hour. After this scent went from bad
to worse, and the day resulted in finding foxes and losing tiiem as soon as found.
Thus they found in the Holly Wood, ran through Knightley Park to Shore's Wood
and lost. Found a third near Rangemore, but could do nothing with him.
Then, in a cold, soaking rain, found in Byrkley with a like result, while the same
ill-fortune attended the finding of one in the first of the Kingstanding gorses and
a brace in the other.

Monday, January 8th, Osmaston Manor. There was a large field out, partly
owing to its being the last day of the holidays for those who are going to serve
their country and their Queen in South Africa, and who belong to the Derbyshire
Yeomanry, which was to be mobilized in Derby on the following daj\ If thev
charge the Boers as gallantly as they do the fences they will render a good
account of themselves, and may all good luck go with them. But to return to
the subject in hand. Hounds went to draw the Bradley coverts, which were all
blank, as were the Osmaston ones for a wonder, and they did not find till about
two o'clock in Reeve's Moor. This fox took them a ring, by the Longford
gardens and back again, when all trace of him disappeared. They found again
in Longford Car, and ran at a good pace across Bailey's close, over the Longford-
Derby road, crossed the little brook to the left of Alkmonton Bottoms, and ran
parallel with the lane from Longford to the Dairy House. Turning right-handed,
they crossed the lane and ran merrily in the direction of Bentley Car, but, swing-
ing still right-handed before they reached it, they ran through Longford Car to
ground close to the cricket-ground, after a nice run of twenty-eight minutes.
Every one felt the deepest sympathy for the Master and Mrs. Fort in the sad loss
which they have sustained by the death of her brother. Captain Gerard Leigh, and
which prevented the former from fulfilling his duties.

Tuesday saw a remarkably small muster at Blithbury. After drawing Stanna-
ford Wood and Black Flats blank, hounds found a very little fox in Carwarden
Springs, which promptly took refuge in the adjacent farm buildings, where he
remained safely ensconced, in spite of every effort to discover his hiding-place.
They found again in the Grove, a good fox, who was off" like a shot across the
Abbots Bromley road and through Hill Ridware. No sooner were hounds clear
of the houses than they settled to the line, and ran merrily on the line of a

318 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1900

straight-running fox. Up-wind he went, setting his pursuers an easy task as they
flitted along over a charming line of country by Hunger Hill pointing for
Laurence's Wood. So they ran for seventeen blissful minutes to within a field
of the wood —

•• Till at last a check compc41od them
In his face to look;
Forward then their huntsman held them,

Eight across the brook.
Rose again tlie joyous rally,

Clamoured louder still,
Woke the hamlet in the valley,
Echoed round the hill."

Would that it were possible for humbler pens to describe all runs in such melli-
fluous verse, but there is but one Whyte-Melville, and this is a prosaic world. In
everyday parlance, then, a man with a dog had turned the fox, so, after making
sure that he had not made his up-wind point into Laurence's Wood, the huntsman
cast down-wind over the Blythe by Hamstall Kidware bridge, and, hitting off the
line on the further side, hounds hunted their fox nicely, leaving Rough Park on
the left, into the Brakenhurst, after a good forty minutes. Mr. Arliss's stud-groom
viewed him very tired over the road near the bottom of the hill into Jackson's
Bank, and, curiously enough, a few seconds later, Mr. Arliss himself viewed him
back again near the top. Unluckily, there were two lines directly they crossed
the road, the main body going on with the fresh one, while only a few couples
turned back and stuck to the line of the hunted one. But they could not get on
very well with him, and, by the time the huntsman came back with the pack,
the tired fox had got too far ahead, so he beat them in the end after a capital
hunt and close on a six-mile point. They found again in the Birch Wood, and,
after a ring or two round and about the wood with seemingly a moderate scent,
hunted him over into the Chantry Wood, where they checked. But, hitting off
the line between the Newborough road and the wood, they turned right-handed,
and ran like wildfire up the hill for Hoar Cross Park by Mr. Watt's house, with
only one gentleman [Mr. Caldecott] really with them. Across the park they
raced by Bath Wood, and then pointed for Piough Park. This, however, seemed
to be too far a cry for their fox, or perhaps they changed, for they ran back into
the Brakenhurst, through it, and across to Yoxall, losing him close to the Forester's
Arms, after a capital thirty minutes. No doubt he found safety in some outhouse.
Thursday, Spread Eagle. We rode oft" in great hopes of a good gallop to
draw that favourite covert. Hell Meadows. Before long a fox broke away at
the lower end, and ran along the brook pointing for Mickleover, with a couple
and a half of hounds after him. Every one galloped to the corner, and Squire
Chandos-Pole, who was acting as Master in the unavoidable absence of Mr. Fort,
blew his horn, while we waited for the huntsman and the main body of the pack.
But we waited in vain, for while we had been chattering about the war, or our
horses, or anything else you like, the hounds had got away right on the back of
another fox on the other side, and were running up-wind as hard as they could
go, with no one with them but their huntsman, and were not caught till they had
run their fox to gi'ound close to Littleover after a sharp burst of seven or eight
minutes. It was an unfortunate contretemps, and of course every soul laid the
blame on everything and everybody except the right person, which was him-
self. For after all one's self, and nobody else, is to blame, if we fail to be with
hounds ; but most of us try to lay it on something or somebody, which is possibly
more comforting, but does not alter the fact. After every device had been

1000] A BATCH OF YOUNGSTERS. 319

tried to smoke this fox out or dislodge him in some way or other, we had to
leave him after all and ride off to draw Bunker's Hill. Hounds found at once,
and getting away on good terms, ran fast to Pastures, where they checked.
But their huntsman lost no time in casting them to the right of the road, and
they began running again just as if there was a scent. But they soon needed
encouragement to push on with their fox, for scent was evidently failing. A
view close to Mr. Wallroth's house at Mickleover helped matters, and, hitting
off the hne again, after a momentary check, they ran up to the high road to
Derby, but turned back through Mr. Wallroth's garden, and got back to Bunker's
Hill, after running about twenty minutes. On going away again, there seemed
to be a brace of foxes, and the huntsman had some difficulty in getting his hounds
on to the line of one which they eventually hunted slowly up to Chain Lane,
which leads from the Burton to the Uttoxeter main road. Here they checked,
and could do no more good with this fox. After a long jog to Burnaston, they
found again in the gorse, and ran to the sewage farm, where they lost their fox,
after losing a gi'eat many of their followers en route, as it was getting foggy. They
found again in Egginton Gorse, but did nothing beyond hunting slowly towards
Etwall Station. The most cheering feature of the day was the sight of so many
keen young hands out on their ponies eager for the fray, amongst whom were
Masters ChetwjTid (2), Robinson, Montgomery, Holland, Miss Walkden and two
brothers, and Evelyn Charrington on his mother's bay mare. Every one was
glad to see that good sportsman, Mr. Hartley, out again after his illness, while
the absence of another of the right sort in Mr. Dudley Fox through being laid on
the bed of sickness elicited universal expressions of sympathy.

Saturday, at Walton, was a red-letter day indeed ; in fact, one very competent
judge [Mr. Maynard] pronounced it the best day the Meynell have had for four
years, but his opinion may possibly have been biased by the fact that he and
another [Mr. Caldecott], who generally sees more of a run than most of us,
admittedly had the best of the first-rate gallop in the morning. This started
from Drakelowe Gardens, where hounds killed one fox, and, getting away with
another, ran him, as if they were tied to his brush, through Grove Wood and on
to Walton Wood. A good horse of Mr. Winterton's broke his back before getting
there, making the third which has succumbed to the vicissitudes of the chase this
week. Through Walton Wood the dog-hounds drove their fox with a rare dash
and cry, and, swinging in their gallop, turned without a moment's hesitation on
the line of their fox, as he bent left-handed to the LuUington road. With Catton
Rough on their left, they went ding-donging on with a bit the best of the horses,
who probably did not quite agree with the old adage of '"more splash, more sport,"
through Catton Wood, within a field of Homestall Wood, and ran him fairly to
ground in a pit-hole on Lady Lee Farm, LuUington, after a clinking gallop of
forty-five minutes — as good a gallop as you want to see. Hounds ran fast with
great dash and drive. " The best scent we have had this year ; no wire in a single
fence, and the farmers all pleased to see you," was the verdict of a rare good
sportsman, who knows more about such things than most of us, and an account
of a good run could hardly be summed up in a more pithy sentence. The one
thing wanted to make it perfect was blood, and that hounds would undoubtedly
have had but for their fox getting to ground. They found again at Catton Rough,
but, curiously enough, with this fox there was no scent. They then went to
what bids fair to be a famous covert, Mr. Ratcliff's gorse to wit. Hence a gi-and
bold fox was away in a twinkling, with hounds close on his brush. So fast, mdeed,
■did they go, with the deep ground all in their favour, that they were not over-
Jiauled till they got to Mrs. Colvile's house at LuUington. Unfortimately, she

320 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1900

was not out, otherwise no one would have enjoyed this grand ran more tlian she
would have done. From Lullington hounds ran on to within a field of Seal Wood.
Bearing left-handed, they ran back to Caldwell, where they lost him after a
capital ran of forty minutes, thus bringing such a day's sport to a close as must
have satisfied the veriest glutton. If one may be allowed to tamper with the
lines of a poet, nothing seems more applicable to the day than these : —

"Fill your glasses! All good fellows.
Lovers of a burst;
Sportsmen safe, or riders jealous.
Bruising to be first.

" Never spare it ! Let the donor
Drain his cellar's wealth !
Here's the gorse ! And here's its owner,
Mr. RatclifTs health!

"Surely now with each November
In the yearly rounds,
Walton shall we all remember
And the Meynell hounds."

Mr. Ratcliff here mentioned is a nice light-weight and
a good rider to hounds. He married Miss Vaughau Lee,
who also goes very well, and for some years they hunted
from Hilton Cottage. After his father's death, in 1900, he
went to reside on his own property, Stanford Hall, in
Leicestershire. His father, Mr. Richard Ratcliff, lived at
Byrkley for some time, and at Radburne Hall for the two
or three years which preceded the purchase of Stanford.

THE MEYNELL HUNT.

Monday, January 14th, Doveridge. A nice morning and a hearty welcome,,
with open-house hospitality, are two good things in this work-a-day world, and
both of these boons were in store for us at Doveridge. There were foxes, too,
galore — cela va sans dire — and if scent was indifferent, and foxes would not go-
where they were wanted to, why, that, as poor Charles used to say, has happened
before. To make a long story short, hounds found in Eaton Wood and circled
round Doveridge for three mortal hours. A fox did, it is true, go boldly awaj',
pointing for Norbury, but hounds were busy with another which did venture as
far as the Dove, opposite Crake Marsh, only, however, to come back again, which
also has happened before. Then we went to the Hare Park, and from there a
fox went away, who looked as if he might have been bustled a bit earlier in
the day. Three couples of hounds got away on good terms with him, and after
them did " their vexed associates pant," as old Somerville has it. The leaders
ran fast, and a long stream of hounds and horsemen dotted the fair meadows
which lie stretched in verdant beauty between the river and Brocksford Gorse.
Up the hill at the Sudbury end of the gorse dashed an augmented pack, though
how they had got together is a mystery. Can anything beat the dash and courage
of a fox-hound, making up leeway through a field of horsemen ? Past the gorse-

Somersal Hall, Somersal = Herbert.

From a photograph

by

Keene, Derby.

.Modioli iBSi^mo^ ,!icH iBgiamoJi
riqBTSoioricj b moi^

1900] SPORT IMPROVES. 321

they ran riglit merrily up to the main Uttoxeter road. Tumini^ right-handed
they ran parallel with it to Broughton Hollow, where they crossed it, and then
the brooklet, and went chattering over a beautiful line of country, when a little
boy [Master Basil Randall] on a right good bay pony, going gallantly, charged a
fence too big for juvenile effort, and was turned over handsomely. But hounds
kept running on, all in a cluster now, over the road from Sudbury to Somersal,
by Mr. Ling's farm, past Maresfield Gorse, and into the corner of the Alder Moor.
Here the fox, finding people at work, dashed out again in a rare fluster, and,
turning at a right angle, made his way up the hill again by Somersal House, past
Somersal village, nearly to Lea Hill, where he crossed the Somersal brook near
the osier-bed. Then turning right-handed he followed the brook course till he
got to ground in a pit-hole on Mr, Smith's farm at Wardley, almost opposite
"Wardley Coppice, after a very nice gallop of forty minutes, which made ample
amends for a bad morning.

Tuesday, Bramshall. A rainy morning developed into a nice day, and
though the drops hung on the bushes, there was a scent. It was but a small
field — though composed of those who " by hook or crook would have a look,
I'll undertake to say," at hounds, go where they might — which followed the pack
as they settled to the line of a fox who went away on the side of Philips' Gorse
nearest Mr. Lovat's house.

"There's a scent you may swear by the pace that they drive,
You may tackle to work with a will."

And that hard-riding little field did tackle to work, as hounds ran right
merrily to the right of the road, which goes past Philips' Gorse to Field, and
parallel with it, but bearing towards it. Diverging from the road, they ran by
Godstone, with Dodsleigh on their right, pushing along steadily and determinedly
up-wind, fast enough for any one, unless we except the gentleman [Mr. Caldecott]
on the chestnut, who was leading the hunt by two or three fields as the pack
dashed over the road near the boundary of the Meynell and the North Staffs,
hunts, and made a sharpish right-handed turn for Dobson's Gorse ere bearing for
Newhouse Sprink. They went into the Old Gorse at the top end — twenty-four
minutes of the best, a four-mile point, up-wind, on the whole, all the way, except
where the fox made a sharp zigzag here and there, which promptly brought
hounds to their noses — and came out at the bottom, so that of their following the
last became first. The dog hounds were in as good voice to-day as a prima
donna. " I have not heard such music," as the old sportsman said to the young
lady when she rose from the piano, " since my old hound, Bellower, last opened
on a woodland fox." How they threw their tongues as the spray flew over them
while they dashed along the flooded meadows by the brook, and mounted the
hill for Bromley Wood. Yet a little while and they ran merrily, and then came
the inevitable. With an up-wind fox, one of three things, if you do not change,
must happen. You must either kill him — a consummation most devoutly to be
desired— run him to ground, or turn down-wind again. Unluckily to-day the
latter was our fate. It is one thing to run a fresh-found fox up-wind with a good
start ; it is quite a different matter to walk after a half-tired dodging one some
way behind him the reverse way. Besides, do not we all hate retracing our
steps? The up-wind forward is like the descent of Avernus, easy and lovely ;
the down-wind backward resembles the climbing up again, which the poet tells
us is a matter of toil and difficulty. In hunting the latter fall to hounds and
huntsman. Now is the time to watch the former an you will, but, after all, is i
not the pace that gives life unto the chase ? So after leaving Bromley Wood on
VOL. II. Y

322 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [190*

our right we went slowly, if not sorrowfully back, checking and casting, till a
friendly farmer put us on the line of our fox, pointing for Leigh, and "gone three
minutes," he said. But foxes travel fast, and the huntsman was soon forced to
make a wide, speculative cast, based on experience, perhaps, of the run of a
former fox. Galloping off to the right across the river towards Field, he hit off
the line, and they ran, with Carry Coppice on their right, across to Philips' Gorsc.
Just beyond the gorse towards the railway the fox, or a fox — two or three had
been disturbed — was viewed back towards the gorse. Hounds spoke to the line
in the gorse, but, as bad luck would have it, he beat them in the end after a good
hunt of over an hour, more than half of which was in the North Stafford country.
In the afternoon they found in Cany Coppice, and ran partly over the same
ground as in the morning, across the Stone turnpike, by Mr. Lovat's house, and
then left-handed between Field and Leigh. Crossing the BIytbe, they left
Dodsleigh on their right, as they did in the morning, and ran by Brindley
Coppice, through Sherratt's Wood, out on to the Fradswell side, and swung
round by Birch Wood Park Farm to Brindley Coppice.

Tuesday, January 22nd, Chartley. This was a beautiful, warm, cloudy,
mornmg, but there seemed to be httle or no scent with the fox they found fii'st in
Handleasow Wood — a mangy one. They just managed to hunt him into
Gratwich Wood, where they killed him — a good riddance of bad rubbish. As
they were on the point of drawing the gorse, a fox was halloaed in the park,
but some deer ran across the line and caused confusion, and so hounds were
throAvn into the gorse, where perhaps they picked up the same fox. At any rate,
one was soon halloaed away, pointing for Birch Wood. Settling to him, hounds
ran sharply to the farm this side of the Birch Wood, where the fox was headed,,
and, turning at right-angles, pointed straight for the road to Gratwich. After a
momentary check they hit oft' the line and began running hard. Some of the
field kept to the left of them, and a lady [Miss Vaughan Lee, now Mrs. Payne-
Gallwey], charging a gate gallantly, got a nasty fall, fortunately without any ill
effects, and cleared the way for her followers. Meanwhile half a dozen or sO'
went to the right, and hounds turned sharply in that direction. But these fared
little better than the left-hand division, for they were stopped by the well-known
big double, which has brought down many a bold rider from his pride of place.
To-day it was some little time before they could find a way over, and, with hounds
running best pace, even a momentary pause is fatal. So the pack raced away
from them across the Gratwich road, dashing over the Blythe, which proved as
awkward an impediment as the double, and never gave their fox a moment's
respite till they bowled him over handsomely just beyond Gratwich, after a very
sharp burst of eleven minutes, all down-wind. By the time the leading horsemen
arrived there was not much left of the fox. So hounds won the trick with
honours. After a proof of such a capital scent there were naturally high hopes
of a brilliant sequel, but these were doomed to disappointment, for the simple
reason that they did not find again. A hound or two spoke in Chartley Gorse,
and one or two people thought they saw a fox, but nothing came of it. Turner's
Gorse, the withy-beds, and the Park coverts were all blank. There seemed to
be a stale line in the Moss, but you cannot extract much from a stale line. So
after drawing Anglesea Coppice and Grindley Wood blank, hounds went home.

On Monday, January 29th, hounds went to Darley Moor, but were unable to
hunt on account of the snow.

On Tuesday, at Newton village, snow was still on the ground, and balled a
good deal in the horses' feet, which was responsible for the fall on the flat later

1900] A TERRIER KILLS THE FOX. 323

on in the day of a well-known member of the Hunt, but it luckily only resulted in
spoiling a good hat. The day began badly in a series of disappointments, for
Newton Gorse, the Rectory Plantation, Spencer's Plantation, Blithfield Gorse,
and the Bishton coverts were all drawn blank. A fox, however, was at home in
Coley Gorse, but whether the covert being drawn the reverse way to what it
usually is upset his ideas or what, he obstinately refused to quit his quarters, and
had to be left there. They found in the square covert at Blithfield a mangy fox,
who sought shelter and a substitute in Duckley Wood, and found both. For
after being there for the best part of ten minutes hounds got away with a fresh
one, and ran him nicely across to the Warren, and then by Newtonhurst and
Bagot's Bromley into Bagot's big wood, where a rare good terrier, who was
rabbiting with Abberley, the keeper, nailed the fox and held him till the hounds
came up and finished him. Time, twenty-five minutes, including the interval in
Duckley Wood. They then drew Kingston Wood, and, finding a good straight-
necked fox, ran him by Dowry Wood, and left-handed by Callow Hall on to the
Warren. Here their fox made a loop before reaching Stansley Wood, and
hounds, overrunning the line in their eagerness, came to a check. The huntsman,
however, soon set them right — in fact, all through this good hunt they never
looked to him in vain — and they bustled merrily through Stansley Wood out on to
the far-stretching meadows by the Blythe down to Blithe Moor. Here they swung
left-handed over the lane, and with Forge Coppice well on the left, hunted slowly,
but prettily, to ground in a rabbit-warren one field beyond Ox Close Wood on the
Blithbury side. They never ran very fast, it is true, as the time, fifty-four
minutes with a five-mile point, goes to show ; still, those who were with them had
the pleasure of watching hounds hunt in peace and contentment, while they rode
at their ease over a charming line of country, undisturbed by a large crowd of
emulous horsemen, than which nothing so mars the enjoyment of a hunting run.
On Thursday we looked out on a white world, and there was just room for
doubt as to whether hounds would bunt. However, on they went to Thurvaston
Stoop, and, as good luck would have it, the snow went too, so that, though it
balled a little in the morning, by the afternoon it was all gone. Culland was
drawn first, and every one must have regretted the absence of its owner, Mr.
Gisborne, who, in company with others of our best and bravest, has exchanged
the image of war for the reality — all honour to them. There was a brace of
foxes, and one — a mangy brute — did his duty by falling a victim. The other they
ran slowly, crossing the boggy brook en route to the Fishpond Covert at Brails-
ford. Here they probably changed, and, bearing left-handed, ran out over the
Ashbourne-Derby road, through the corner of White's Wood, pointing for
Mercaston, before reaching which they lost him after a slow hunt of twenty-five
minutes with an indifferent scent. A miserable, cold hour, or the best — if there
was any best — part of one, was spent by Brailsford Gorse with a bad or unlucky
fox, for, breaking on the Ednaston side, a sheep-dog coursed him back again.
Perhaps the memory of the sheep-dog headed him when he turned back after
going two fields on the other side, and nothing would induce him to venture forth
again, so he had to be left where he was. They found again in the Fishpond
Covert, and ran slowly back for Burrows, turned to the right, and with Pool Head
on the right, passed Culland on the right, crossed the brook, and hunted slowly
along the wet meadows pointing for HoUington. Bearing to the left before
reaching it, they checked by the old stud farm at Longford. A backward cast
recovered the line, and they hunted slowly back towards Culland till they were
quite run out of scent, as the fox had got a long way in front of them, after
twenty-seven minutes. Boden's Thorns holds good foxes, and one of the right

324 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [looo

sort was there to-day, for, in spite of being headed in such a way as to daunt aiiy
but a bold fox on the Long Lane side, he went away on the Sutton side witli
equal courage. After a long check by the cross roads the huntsman hit him off'
by the bridle-road to Longford, and hounds began to run towards the Spath, as
'ar as the road to Longford. Here they turned sharp right-handed in the direction
of Culland, crossed the Longford-Derby road half a mile or so on the Derby side
of the Longford inn, hunted on over the brook, and checked. Hitting it off again,
they hunted slowly on over the Longford-Brailsford road, left Reeve's Moor just
on the right, Longford Car on the left hand, and made their way over the lane to
Rodsley by the end of the Car. Here they checked, but a good forward cast set
matters right, and they hunted on, parallel with the bottom, pointing for Yeaveley.
Just behind Yeaveley church this fox was given up, as it looked as if hounds
would probably disturb coverts wanted for the next day. This was the best hunt
of the day, as the fox had made a fair point after they had hunted him for nearly
an hour, with a very catchy scent.

Friday was devoted to a bye-day at Snelston, though a sharp frost overnight
made the possibility of hunting doubtful. However, the going on the grass was
all right, even if the roads and the arable land were hard. Hounds found at once
in the New Gorse, and ran across to the Holly Wood, after checking beyond the
road which divides the two coverts. They re-crossed the same road close to
Darley Moor, and ran into the road from Darley Moor to Snelston village, which
they followed for a short distance, till they turned right-handed over the Park,
and crossing the road to Clifton just short of the top of Colliecroft Hill, ran
into the Holt. Coming away at the top, they crossed the road from Rodslc}-
to Ashbourne, swung tirst left-handed and then right-handed over the road
from Edlaston to Osmaston, by the little brook in the bottom, and so on
into the osier-bed at Osmaston. Here they checked, and the wire-netting
had evidently puzzled the fox, whose windings equally puzzled his pursuers,
till Tuneful cut the Gordian knot by getting away on his line at the Shirley
Park end. Up the hill they went, with Shirley Park just on their left, and
sinking the hill again, ran nicely up to the earths in the spinny by the bridle-
road which leads from the Yeaveley-Shirley road to Osmaston. Luckily the
earths were stopped, and our fox had crossed the last-mentioned road, pointing for
Longford, There was a good deal of wire hereabouts, which somewhat hindered
our progi-ess, but hounds were some way behind their fox and could run but
slowly, till they were checked by the brook this side of the road which leads from
Alkmonton to Longford. A cast towards the last-named place set matters
right, and they hunted slowly through the corner of the Car up to the earth by
the cricket-ground, which the Colonel [Colonel the Hon. W. Coke] had promptly
occupied in anticipation of the fox's move. Some thought that our fox had
turned to the left past the Hall, but Wedlock and one or two other trusted
comrades of the chase ruled it otherwise by hitting the line down the road
towards Mamerton. It was wonderful that they could own the scent on a hard-
frozen road, but own it they did and carried it nearly to Mamerton. Just beyond
this the huntsman cast to the right and hit off" the line of a fox pointing for
Barton Blount, which, however, they could not carry for more than two or three
fields before they checked again. A cast to the right hit off a line pointing
straight for Potter's, which it was not deemed advisable to disturb, and the
hounds were stopped after hunting for about an hour and twenty minutes, during
which there had been a fall or two, but with no ill effects. Take it altogether, it
was a much better hunt than we had any reason to hope for under rather adverse
climatic conditions. They found a fox, or rather a brace, in Cubley Gorse and

1900] A CLINKING GALLOP FROM REEVE'S MOOR. 325

ran one into the Car, whence they went away at the north end and ran quite fast
parallel with the lane which leads past Cubley Car into the Marston-Montgomery-
Snelston road. Before they reached this, however, the fox was headed and
turned sharp left-handed, pointing for Marston-Montgomery. Here Mr. Charles
Garnett, well known between the flags, got a very ugly fall over some high, strong
timber, into the squelchy lane from Marston to Snelston, and lay where he fell
for some time before he was able to get on a very quiet horse and start home to
have his injuries attended to. Hounds, meanwhile bearing still more left-handed, ,
completed their circle back to the gorse in about ten minutes from the find.
There the thickness of the gorse saved him, and he had to be given up. Hounds
did not find again.

Monday, February 27th, at Brailsford Bridge, was the sort of day which was
fit for nothing but fox-hunting. What else would induce any one to stay out
of doors all day with any prospect of pleasure ?

"The hunter knows no sorrow here,
The cup of life to biin,
A bumper bright of fresh delight,
Fill'd sparkling to the brim."

And so it proved on Monday. In spite of torrents of rain, in spite of deep ground
and sobbing, labouring steeds, every one came home jubilant, for had not the
Meynell hounds had a capital run and killed their fox handsomely at the end
thereof? So would they far oftener than they do if the ground always rode as deep
as it did that day. A country which is favourable for horses is unfavourable for
hounds, said a great authority. " The worst of this country is," poor Charles
used to say, "that it rides too sound; they are always on their backs." It
will not require much ingenuity to substitute the nouns for the pronouns. What
boots it to tell how hounds caught a mangy fox at Ednaston ; how they drew
desert places at Bradley to find them deserted indeed ; how for a wonder the
Shirley coverts dishonoured the Master's draft; and how many thought longingly
of their firesides as hounds went off to draw Reeve's ^loor. But all such regrets
were cast to the winds by the welcome note of opening hound. " Now where
are all your sorrows, and your cares, ye gloomy souls ? or where your pains and
aches, ye complaining ones ? " One halloa has dispelled them all. Ay, there,
it is. Wait a moment, though ; the fox has turned back into covert. Hark •
he is away again. No; his heart |has failed him. Tally-ho! Huic away,
awa-a-y, awa-a-ay ! Ah, now he is gone ; you may gallop your best. Just one
hover, and the little bitches have hit the line ; there is a sort of electric quiver
through every nerve of the leading hounds' bodies as the maddening scent strikes
their questing nostrils, and, dropping their sterns straight as pipe -stems, they fly
to the front with a whimper of delight, while their comrades score to cry
straining every muscle to overtake them. Who cares a fig for the rain now?

" Chime, ye dappled darlings,
Down the roaring blast ;
You shall see a fox die
Ere an hour be past."

Chime they do, too, as they dash over the Hollington road, and sweep on for where
the plantations of Culland show dark against the stormy sky. Horses are labouring
and struggling along in their wake. The Master's office, as he gallops on, as near
hounds as any one, is a sinecure. " My friends, I give you leave to ride and catch
them if you can," may find an echo in his heart, as he watches the pack turning
and twisting with their fox, never giving him a moment's respite. What a

326 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1900

cry there is, too, as they slip along past Culland, over an extremely awkward
line for their followers, pointing for Ednaston Hall. Deep ground may make
horses sob, but it brings out the music in a pack of hounds. The high road
again — but what do roads matter with such a scent as this ? Vixen, and little
Laundress in her first season, who have been leading the van all the way — youth
will be served — are into it and over it, throwing their tongues gladly as they
top the bank. The field, like sweetness long drawn out, files through the farm-
yard into the road, the leaders galloping on in hot pursuit. But still " hounds
have it " is the honest verdict. Now they swing towards Shirley village, now
they set their noses northwards, and run right through Mr. Cowper's gardens at
Ednaston close, treating their followers to a bit of the steeplechase course en route,
and picking up a fresh addition to the company in the shape of a hunter of Mr.
Cowper's out at grass, who enjoys the chase none the less, perhaps, for being
rider-free. On over the main road they go by Ednaston Lodge, where the fox
is headed, and for the first time the huntsman has to come to their assistance.
The knot is soon unravelled, and they run on through the Oak Wood, past
Yeldersley Plall and the old hall, past the Firs, and into Job's Wood, over a
wild, pew-y coimtry, better fitted for pewits and fox-hunting than for aught else.
The Bradley brook, better loved by fishermen than by fox-hunters, should drain
it, but does not, and has to be reckoned with a second time to-day, as hounds
recross it with a very tired fox close in front of them, pointing back for the out-
side Osmaston coverts. Longingly, no doubt, he thinks of a possible substitute
for the main earths at Ednaston, but it is not to be. Harassed and weary, he
meets first one straggling sportsman and then another. His heart fails him.
But one shelter offers itself, and of this he avails himself in sorest need. Crouch-
ing amongst the old iron in an outhouse, he meets his doom, and pays for years
of rapine and license— for a veteran was he— as every fox should. Full fifty
minutes had he stood up before hounds for close on nine miles, and had afforded
as good a run as has been seen for some time.

Tuesday, Kingston village. Drew Kingston Wood, all the Woodcock Heath
coverts, and Loxley Park Wood blank, but found at once in CaiTy Coppice.
Tlie fox went away at the bottom at the end nearest the main road from
Uttoxeter to Stafford, and turned left-handed for Philips' Gorse. After a short
check at the start, hounds ran quite nicely into the Stone turnpike this side of the
gorse. After carrying the line well down the road for a hundred yards or so,
they turned out of it left-handed and ran nicely through the plantation at the
field end of Carry Coppice to the pit-hole just beyond. But the earth-stopper
liad done his work well, and they ran on pointing for the river. Before reaching
it, however, hounds divided, one lot turning short to the left, and running nicely
along the river, up the hill back again, past Carry Coppice, to Philips' Gorse.
Five couples crossed the river, the Master and first whipper-in, followed by most
of the ladies, forded the river, which was brimful, and, stopping these hounds
which were pointing for Chartley, galloped off in pursuit of the huntsman and the
main body. Casting round by Gratwich and Carry Coppice, he caught them up
near Philips' Gorse. After making his ground good first, the huntsman tried back
into the gorse, where a fox had been viewed. This customer was headed once,
and, on breaking away the second time, was chased by a sheep-dog. Hounds
got on the line, but checked on the Stone road. A cast up the road set matters
right, and they ran nicely to ground in a pit-hole close to Field. They found
again in Chartley Gorse, where our old friend the woodcock was also in evidence,
and ran smartly in the direction of Fradswell, with, the Park on their left, as if
they meant going for Turner's Gorse. But they turned sharp right-handed, and

1900] GREAT DAY WITH THE "SQUIRE'S" HOUNDS. 327

ran down, with Fradswell on their right, to the main road from Milwich to
Gayton, where they checked. Hitting it ofi" beyond the wood, they hunted slowly
«p to Sandon Wood. Without touching this, they bore right-handed nearly to
^lilwich, and, working round by Coton, lost their fox at Witheysitch. He must
have been a travelling customer, for, though they ran mostly up-wind, he fairly
van them out of scent. A curious incident of the run was the picking up of
four couples of the North Stafford hounds, who had met that day at Sandon.
These joined ours, and went home with them. If we killed no fox, we at least
saved the life of a sheep, who was rescued by some keen fox-hunters on foot
from a thicket, where he lay fast bound on his back, and where he would
inevitably have died, had the Hunt not happened to have passed that way.

On Thursday, from Radburne, the Squire's hounds had a remarkable run of
over three hours, with an eight-mile point and fully twenty miles as hounds ran.
It was a great day and deserves a longer account than it is possible to give in
these notes. Langley on one side of the country and Sapperton on the other
were the farther points. The hunted fox went to ground in Hilton Gorse, and
no doubt the rest of it, from Hilton Gorse by Hatton, Pennywaste, Sapperton,
and Barton Blount, was with a fresh one.

On Friday, Walton sustained its reputation, for hounds found in Walton
AVood, ran fast by ^Mr. Ratcliff 's Gorse, nearly to Lullington, turned right-handed
]iy Homestall Wood to Catton, where they ran into him handsomely in the
hollow by the keeper's house, after a capital thirty-five minutes, in the very spot
where they killed one this year, and also one last season. In the afternoon they
found in Edengale osiers, and ran liy Haselour down to the Mease. Here the
fox crossed the river by an overhanging pollard willow, and every hound in tuni
followed suit. So they ran in a lojig streamer, unaccompanied, for no horseman
can cross the river here, to Elfonl Gorse, where the field got up to them. Hence
they hunted on to Harleston and lost him.

Saturday, Anslow. — They ran fast from behind Needwood House to the
Deanery and lost him. The rest of the day calls for but little comment.

Monday, March 12tli, at Bentley Brickyard, was a day which rather lent
itself to lengthy description. It began well and ended well, while the middle
part was not without interest — three things which, they say, go to the making
of a good novel. And has not every hunting day somewhat of romance in it ? A
good deal, a cynic might remark, if you listen to some people. Well, to make a
start after this preamble. Hounds found a fox in Bentley Car and ran him right
merrily to ground in the well-known earth close to Osmaston, by the side of the
bridle-way from the Alkmonton- Shirley road to Osmaston Manor. Short and
sweet, and indicative of better things to come. Yet faith was needed, for they
were long in coming. Bentley Car foxes had taken the hint from the first draw,
and were not there at the second time of asking. Nor was there a fox in Cubley
Car, though the gorse proved staunch. A small ring thence and back again, with
a poor scent, was the prelude. Away again over the Cuble^'-Marston lane, then
right-handed by the Thurvaston Arms, down towards Boston, where three forward
riders [Mr. Barnsley, Mr. Maynard, and Mr. Tinsley], each picking his own place,
gallantly charged the Roston bottom, and each and all, side by side, kissed their
Mother Earth. Each one had cause to remember the embrace, though no serious
harm was done. Bearing right-handed, hounds lost their fox near Cinder Hill.
He may have got into the old quarry workings. Another fox — verily, the
Snelston and Norbury estates held foxes galore this day — was viewed going
away from Shutt's Dumble (whence the great run in the Squire's time, in 1888,

328 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS, [1900

from Snelston to Mickleover, started), but they lost him in Snelston Park. They
then drew the Holt, and ran out towards Osmastou, slowly, with a poor scent,
back again by the Holt, and lost him. The Holly Wood, Snelston, held a fox,
who led them, slowly again, by the Holt, out towards Osmaston, back by the
Holt, into Snelston New Gorse, whence he was viewed away by a man at work,
" very tu-ed." Most foxes that people see are in that condition. However, " very
tired " or not, as the case might be, he made good his escape. Then came the
good thing at last. No one seemed anxious to go to Longford, so, as a last
resource, the Master bethought him of trying the undisturbed Cubley end of the
Holly Wood, and sure enough a fox was there. Hounds came away with a great
dash, ran two fields towards the Cubley-Darley Moor road, and checked. The
small band who were left looked in one another's faces as if to say, " Ah, a mere
flash in the pan ; no scent ; all over." The huntsman cast forward over the road.
No go. But a cast back to where they had checked proved successful, and
hounds set to and ran hard. Back through the Cubley end of the Holly Wood,
out over the road, the httle bitches flew ; parallel with the Cubley road they
chattered away men-ily, making up so much leeway that, halfway to Cubley
Gorse, they were in the same field as their fox. Had they caught sight of him it
must have gone hard with their quany. But bustled foxes travel fast, and this
one reached the gorse in front of them. A short pause, and they were away
again, across the Marston-Cubley road, right-handed nearly to Marston, left-
handed just short of Iligg's Lane, nearly to Vernon's Oak, and then back again by
Malcomsley to Cubley Car. Through it they ran to ground close by the main
road to Ashbourne, a few fields further on. Forty miimtes, a four-mile point,
and as many miles as hounds ran as any one likes to call it. No bad scurry for
a bitter cold evenmg in merry March.

Monday, March 19th. Marston-Montgomery. Hounds came at twelve instead
of eleven o'clock for the first time this month, and a goodly number of people,
including a fair sprinkling of farmers for these days, arrived to meet them.
Marston Wood was blank, but a brace of foxes was soon on foot, and one went
away boldly at the Marston end, but the other was mang}', so it was decided to
stick to him and to try and kill him. Fortune, however, was on his side, for
scent there was none. Still they poked about and got him across to Red Niche,
and back again into Eaton Wood, while people rode about with cold noses and
faces shrivelled with the bitter March wind. When he did go at the Marston
end hounds got away a long time behind him, and could barely hunt their fox
for three or four fields, when scent failed on Mr. Smith's farm, between Wardley
and Mai-ston. Wardley Coppice, Uphill Wood, and Lady Wood were all blank
— matters not being improved for the moment by a cold, drenching rain. This,
however, seemed to do good in the end ; or was it in the change of soil? Any-
how, hounds ran smartly with a fox — well found and well started with — from the
Hare Park, coming away with a rare dash and cry. It is an intricate bit of
country from here to Brocksford, a bridge and a locked gate checking the pace
of horsemen, while hounds, running the inside track, improved theirs, and came
over the road at the bridge below Ley Plill with a clear lead, and on excellent
terms with their fox. Up the brook side they ran like mad, all together, carrying
a rare head, and crossed over to the Doveridge side by the Snake Grove osiers.
And a nice dance they led their followers over a line that took some doing. But
have we not the authority of the Meynell Hunt song for the fact that —
"A Derbyshire man, when he's leading the van,
Of the biggest fence ne'er had a dread."

1900] A HARD DAY FROM LONGFORD. 329

Who it was that led the van to-day, let those say who were near enough to
see, but he had his work cut out as he, and those with him, galloped best pace all
along the brook side till they came to the old lane from Doveridge Woodhouse to
Somersal, where they shot across the Doveridge-Wardley road, and breasted the
steep ascent to Uphill Wood, catching hounds, who had checked, at the top. At
a much moderated pace these hunted their fox to the comer of Eaton Wood, back
again to Wardley Coppice, over the Somersal brook, by Wardley village, and so
to Marston Woodhouse, where they lost him. Sudbury Coppice and Vernon's
Oak were next drawn, and those who availed themselves of Mr. and Mrs.
Peacock's never-failing hospitality, got the best start when hounds went away
with their fox across the Oak Lane, pointing for Cubley. Unluckily he was
headed before gomg half a mile, and turned back for Marston. Meanwhile
another was halloaed between the Coppice and the Alder Moor. Bravo, Sudbury !
The hunted one went on to Rigg's Lane, where he turned left-handed, through the
Marston end of the Oak Coppice, and, after twisting and dodging about, was lost
between Somersal House and Marston-IMontgomery, scent being indifferent.

Monday, March 2Gth, Longford Village. The day furnished a good object
lesson in the geography of the Monday country, for it was fairly drawn from end
to end. The Car, of course, held a fox, who broke away across the Rodsley lane,
and hounds hunted him slowly up to the bridle-way to Shirley, whence he turned
back and was lost close to Reeve's Moor. This covert was drawn blank, and on
the way to Alkmonton bottoms there was a halloa, to which hounds were taken,
but it proved, to every one's amusement, to be nothing more than a woman
shouting to her husband to come to dinner. A mangy fox was found in Alk-
monton bottoms, and was promptly killed, owing to the first whipper-in's
exertions. Potter's Covert was blank, but an outlying fox — another mangy one —
jumped up on a ploughed field near Barton and shared the fate of his predecessor.
Hilton Gorse, where it was said there was already a litter of cubs, was blank, and
then came a snowstorm. The Foston coverts were all drawn blank — all those, at
least, which were tried — but a mangy fox was found and killed in Brocksford
Gorse. It was after six o'clock when hounds found in the Hare Park, a good fox
who led them straight to the Alder Moor, adjoining Sudbury Coppice. A lady
[Mrs. Walter Boden], who seldom turns away from any fence, no matter what,
got an ugly fall at a place with a wide ditch at the taking-ofF side, near Ley Hill,
and, report says, injured her back, while a gentleman [Mr. Caldeoott], for whom
no fence is too big, successfully cleared the dreaded Sudbury bottom. The fox
was lost by the Alder Moor at about half-past six, bringing a long day to an end.
One enthusiastic sportsman did not get home till nearly nine o'clock.

Saturday, April 7th, when Colonel Chandos-Pole, by the courtesy of Mr.
Fort, brought his hounds to Quarndon, was no common day in the annals of fox-
hunting. For was it not the last day on which the Squire of Radburne, who
has shown unrivalled sport in Derbyshire and Dorsetshire for twenty years, was
to take the field as a Master of hounds? In both masterships good runs were as
plentifid as blackberries, while the woodland foxes of Staffordshire had as good
cause to rejoice over his retirement as had their brethren in the wild Cattistock
country. In other papers abler pens have had the privilege of recounting the
glorious runs of former times. It is our sad task to sing a requiem. Thus it was
with mixed feelings that many of us followed for the last time the killing pack,
descended for the most part from the Irish hounds purchased some years ago
while the Squire was Master of the Meyaell, and which accompanied him to the
Cattistock, to return in due course to Radburne. Gossamers hung on the bushes,

330 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1900

boding evil for the prospects of scent, with a glaring sun, parched pastures,
and dusty fallows, adding their baleful testimony. In Colvile's hollow wood,
wliich generally holds a fox, hounds spread and tried, like the foraovis drawers
they are, to the encouragement of tlieir huntsman's familiar voice, but all in vain.
Nor in the Allestree big wood did they fare any better. Meynell's Gorse held a
fox, as indeed it seldom failed to do within the memory of man, but it was the
wrong sort, and a heavy vixen found a refuge in the buildings on Mr. Smith's
farm at Kirk Langley, where she was left in peace. Brickyard Wood held a fox,
which narrowly escaped being chopped, and sought refuge in hot haste in an open
earth two fields away with Bender close on his flank. Just as the fox got in,
JMiss Chandos-Pole, riding resolutely at a great rotten-banked dyke, got her horse
in too, though she saved herself cleverly by slipping over his shoulder before he
fell back into the chasm. So two digging operations went on simultaneously not
far from each other, and the horse was the first to be got out. Soon after a big
dog fox was unearthed and eaten, while the Squire's who-whoop woke the echoes,
80 that it was not surprising that Pildock Wood hard by was tenantless when
called upon. Parson's Gorse was blank, but our spirits rose as we neared the
famous Rough— /o?is et origo of many a glorious gallop. A banging great dog
fox stole away at once towards the Hall, and might have escaped scot-free had
not the Squire's butler proclaimed his flight with a ringing halloa. An inspiriting
blast of the horn, the meaning of which was as unmistakable as it was musical,
brought hounds flying out of covert, and a galloping field in their wake. But
their fox had got a good start — too good for a quick thing. Still, the ftict brought
out the good scenting qualities of the hounds, which is what vi'e all come out for
to see. They ran him across the Dalbury road, and for a moment, when they
checked by a small plantation, it looked as if their fox had got to ground, but he
had not, for, hitting off the line in a swinging cast on their own account, they
ran on slowly across the Etwall road down to the brook, which they crossed close
to the bridge on the Dalbury road. This our crafty friend ran for a good quarter
of a mile, and it was a treat to see old Alfred, Druid, and Bertram go feathering
along, picking out a cold scent on its dried-up surface. Sharply they turned out
of it to the right, throwing their tongues right tuneful! j', with their admiring
comrades scoring to cry. Patiently they hunted a twisting fox over wheat and
dusty fallows. Beyond the Lees Green road to the right of Dalbury Hollow they
got on the grass, and, mending their pace, pointed for the brook. But a vacillating
fox changed his mind, and turned back again. By the Trusley road they checked,
and the Squire just tried a short cast to the right of the road before casting to
the left towards the brook, while old Cottager feathered along the road, showing
where the fox had gone. But the huntsman got a little nearer his fox, and hounds
ran better down to the two brooklets and over them, before they checked again.
A field sown with soot had bothered them before, and now a highly flavoured
muck-heap and well-spread fields added to their difficulties. Holding them on
well beyond these fox- favouring savours, their huntsman got them going again,
and they got up to their fox in Boden's Thorns, carrying a line right into it.
Hence they did not get well away with him, but an awkward slip stile proved
no obstacle to their huntsman in getting them on the line. A lady and
one or two others followed him — a weight-carrying chestnut walking through like
a man. This by the way. To the left of the road to Sutton they ran nicely for
a few fields, and might have gone on doing so had not our fox begun to zig-zag
again. A difficult brute to hunt was he. So they checked, and checked again
just short of the road up to Sutton church. Perhaps he thought of going on to
Dussy Bank, but if he did he thought better of it, for a cast towards the Spath

1900] THE LAST DAY OF THE "SQUIRE'S" PACK. 331

hit ofif the line just under Sutton church, and once again rang out that joyous
chorus — surely

"A cry more tuneable
Was never halloaed to nor cheered
with horn" —

as they hunted him, making good every inch, through the corner of the Spath on
to the fair pastures beyond. Oh for just a little bit of luck to aid their efforts !
But Fortune frowned. Beyond the brook he ran the road this side of Mamerton,
and only left it for dusty fallows, over which they unravelled a tangled skein
towards the Rookery Plantation on the outskirts of Barton Blount. Beyond this
carry it they could not. A cast, which must have crossed his line, met with no
success, and thus an interesting himt of over an hour, full of good hound work,
with close on a four-mile point, came' to an end. Sutton Gorse, alas ! held no
fox, and thus, long after six o'clock, the musical notes of the Squire's horn,
blowing hounds out of covert, fell with a saddening cadence on the still evening
air.

So ended a season, of which the reader can form his
own opinion, but it is not likely that he will call it a good
scenting one.

THE MEYNELL ENTRY, 1899.

BOBK.

Name.

Sire.

Dam.

Walked by Messrs.

June 8th ...

Abbot 1
Archer 1
Artist j •••
Amabel;

Damper

Amazon ...

Wakelin, Yoxall.
Bagshaw, Hanburv.
Bathew, WanfiekL
Miles, Tatenhill.

April 4th ...

Derelict i
Despot 3 [
Detriment 1 1

Grafton.
Despot

Lullaby

H. Bond, Uttoxeter.
Webster. Cublev.
Collier, Draycott.

April 4th ...

Doric \
Draco 1
Drover 2 [
DragomanJ

Grafton,
Dissolute

Glossy

Wainwright, Boyle-
Ditto, [stone.
Smith, Lees Hall.
Wibberley, Yeaveley.

March 26th

Dryad

Damper

Lilac

Brenchley, Derby.

April 16th ...

Gadfly

Challenger

Goodness ...

Caldecott, Foston.

April 4th ...

Laundress )
Laughter 4 /

Marvel

Languid ...

Smith, Brocksford.
Watts, Hoar Cross.

March 29th

Lecturer)
Linguist [
License [ "•
Loyalty J

Damper

Lozenge ...

A. Salt, Tutbury.
J, Shipton, Foston.
TunniclifF, Hilton.
Schwind, Breadsall.

June 22nd ...

Legacy 3 \
Ludicrous/

Lounger ...

Listless ...

HawkesworthjBarton.
Robinson, Brereton.

April 13th...

Manfred 1 1
Mystery 2 j

Manifest ...

Dangerous

Bagshaw, March-

ington.
Randall, Hanbury.

March 29th

Merlin

Mentor

Weatherglass

Winterton, Walton.

332

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1900

THE IVIEYNELL ENTRY, 1S99.— continued.

BORX.

Namk.

SntE.

Dam.

Walked by Messks.

June lOtli ...

Spoiler \
Sparkle/ -

Lounger . . .

Spotless ...

Salisbury, Church

Broughton.
Stanley, Burton-on-

Trent

March 30th

Tancred 1 ^

Fisher, Foston.

Tarquiu 1
Truant >
Termagant |
Traffic ^

Truthful ...

Lupin

Coxon, Cubley.
Lloyd, Upwoods.
Ratclitr, Hilton.
K. Shipton, Scropton.

February 24th

Treasurer ...

Truthful ...

Wearisome

Harrison, Cubley.

The numerals against hounds' names represent the prize-winners.
Dogs, 8i couples ; bitches, 7i couples. Total, 16 couples.

{ 333 )

CHAPTER XXII.

FINIS CORONAT OPUS — GOOD RUN FROM BODEN's THORNS —
A LONG BLITHBURY DAY — A DARLEY MOOR DAY —
A NICE SUDBURY DAY — MR. DUNCOMBE MASTER FOR
THE DAY — GOOD DAY FROM FOSTON — AN UNRULY
FIELD — A GOOD DAY FROM NEW INN — A FOX- KILLING

DAY — PRESENTATION TO STEPHEN BURTENSHAW THE

MEYNELL ENTRY — THE GOOSE WITH THE GOLDEN EGGS.

1900-1901.

There was do change in the staft' this year, except that
Joe Overton was second whipper-in instead of Tom Taylor.
The author's original intention was to give an account of
every day, but space did not admit of it, and the
first week's sport at all worth chronicling began on
November 12th.

Monday, November 12th, Dailey Moor, and a soaking wet day. In pouring rain
hounds found a fox in the New Gorse, Snelston, and ran him into the Holly Wood,
and thence across the road to the Holt, where they lost him. A second fox was
soon on foot in the Cubley end of the Kolly Wood, and he, too, went by the New
Gorse to the Holt, and disappeared. After drawing the Park spinnies blank, they
found in Shutt's durable, and a single hound coursed the fox for a field or two as
if she meant catching him oiF-hand, However, the fox went a bit the fastest,
as he generally does, and stayed the longest, and the pack, overtaking their
leader, ran slowly over an intricate country, crossing a durable and a bottom or
two, which proved to be very awkward places for their followers, to the road from
Darley Moor to Norbury, and on to the Holly Wood, thence to the Holt, a name
which seemed to be appropriate to-day, for it was a veritable stronghold or holt
for foxes. This last one was marked to ground, and in all probability his two
predecessors were in the same earth. Then a new covert [Hell Hole], belonging
to Captain Clowes, near Hope Wood, was drawn for the first time, and honoured
the draft, for a fox went away from there by Raddle Wood to Hope Wood.
From the last-named coverts hounds slipped along quickly for a few fields, but
soon came to slow hunting, as they passed to the right of Roston, parallel with
the road that leads to Marston-Montgomery, and to the right of it. Crossing it,
they checked, but, hitting off the line again, they hunted on by the Dyche farm

334 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1900

to the long plantation on the outskirts of Marston Park. An awkward place is
this to get in and out of, and to-day a considerable detour had to be made just at
a time when hounds wanted help badly. As it was, they were run out of scent
close to the top of the Rocester Hill, after a slow hunt of forty minutes.

Tuesday, at Newton village, was a horse of quite a different colour, as our
American cousins say, for the day was as fair as yesterday was foul, and Newton
village is — well, let us say — Newton village, for comparisons are odious, as the
copybooks used to tell us. The words of the old Warwickshire hunting song,
" 'Tis a fine hunting day, and as balmy as May," seemed singularly appropriate,
and he must have been a more than ordinarily melancholy Jacques who did not
feel his spirits rise to the occasion as hounds trotted oft' to draw Dapple Lea
brake. A fox was soon on foot in Newton Gorse, and was even more rapidly
brought to hand. Why he succumbed so easily was not apparent, for there
seemed to be nothing to head him. Then came a long jog to Coley Gorse, of
which nothing came. There seemed to be a stale line — very stale — and that
was all. A ride over a country autumnally tinted with red boards and white
flags — the former a warning, the latter an invitation, though the space marked
out as jumpable was by no means alluring — brought us to Blithfield Gorse and
plenty. How many foxes there were it is difficult to say for certain, but there
was at any rate a leash. A good-looking, bright-coated gentleman, with a white
waistcoat worthy of an alderman, and a small white tip to his brush, was the one
hoimds ran merrily to the Rectory Plantation, but whether it was the same one
which they took from there (a brace went away) nearly down to the river is not
quite plain. Having no liking for a cold bath, even on a warm morning, he
turned back over the hill for Blithfield, and, after a short check, hounds ran him
nicely to the pit-hole just outside the Park on the Newton side. But this time
the earths were stopped, and, without dwelling, they ran prettily to the bridge,
where the road from Newton Hurst crosses the Blythe. Evidently our fox pre-
ferred a dry crossing to a wet bath. Old Daylight could just feel the line up the
road, but could not speak to it till she dashed into the little spinny on the
farther side. There, indeed —

" Every maith was open, from the old 'un to the pup.
An' aw the pack together took the swellin' chorus up."

The huntsman's cheery " Forrard, forrard," helped to put life into the chase,
when hounds, getting together again as they left the spinny behind them,
skurried along by the Callow farm, and bent towards the main road. But it was
only a bend, for they soon flung into a straight line again for Kingston Wood,
rimning parallel with the bridle-road. In the wood they checked, but were soon
on the line again, and out and over the main road into Bagot's Wood, with a
brace of foxes before them.

"Ah, much it grieves the Muse to tell
At Clanfield how Valentia fell,"

sings Mr. Egerton Warburton, in the poem of the Tarwood Hunt, and equally
does it gi-ieve the present scribe to relate how what looked like developing into
quite a good run died ingloriously away owing to there being two lines. Half
the hounds ran on nearly to Park Stile before they were stopped, while a couple
and a half crossed over into Floyer's Coppice, with a tired fox in front of them.
Meanwhile the other half hunted their fox into Lord's Coppice and out nearly to
Duckley Wood, where he was given up. After the divided pack had joined
forces they found in Duckley Wood and ran out to Abbots Bromley, and
eventually into the woods.

1900] A GOOD RUN FROM BODEN'S THORNS. 335

Thursday, Brailsford. A lovely morning and a lot of people. After drawing
White "Wood, Mercaston Wood, and Brailsford Car blank, hoimds found in
Brailsford Gorse. They hunted a rather vacillating fox slowly to Lamb's farm
and checked. His point seemed from the first to be Ravensdale Park, and he
kept on working down-wind, but in a by no means straight line. But a series
of successful casts on the huntsman's part enabled hoimds to hunt slowly on the
whole — though now and then, when the fox turned up-wind temporarily, they
could bustle along for a field or two — by Mercaston Wood and over Wood Lane.
Then they pointed for Kedleston, but soon turned left-handed for Weston
Underwood, crossed the road and the brook, and lost their fox between the last-
named place and Mugginton, after about forty minutes. CuUand was blank, but
they found, after a long draw, in Boden's Thorns, and ran out over the Trusley
road, and, bearing right-handed, ran fast by Thurvaston Stoop. Swinging left-
handed, still fast, they came to the road from Thurvaston and checked. Hitting it
otf again, they bore left-handed over Thurvaston Marsh, where Mr. Rupert Leigh,
on a grey horse, sounded the depths of a wide ditch, and so on, to the Stretton
farm, where wire abounds. They ran parallel with the road for some time, and
checked just before reaching the road from Boden's Thorns to Sutton. Here a
funeral procession was on the point of starting on its melancholy journey, and
there was a startling sense of incongruity between the life and animation of the
chase and the sad, slow, solemn progress to man's long home. But little time
was left us for moralizing, however, for a patient bit of questing on the part of
hounds and huntsman resulted in ousting, first a black cat and then a somewhat
draggled little fox from among the cabbages in a field beyond the road. Getting
away right on his back, hounds began to run like mad, parallel with the road
leading to Boden's Thorns. Just before reaching that snug covert the fox was
headed and turned sharp right-lianded parallel with the Trusley road, over the
brook, past Trusley, to Radburne Rough, hounds running fast all the way.
Without entering the covert, they ran nearly up to Parson's Goi-se, but turned
short of the Derby road left-handed over the Trusley brook and a small tributary
beyond, by Woodhouse. Once over the brook there w^as a longish check, and
then they hit it off and ran, rather slowly, over Hardley Hill till they lost their
Ibx near Sutton church, after a capital run of an hour and ten minutes.

Saturday, Yoxall village. Found in High Hall Hill Wood, and kept running
round and about Wichnor Park for an hour or so with a bad scent. Once their
fox lay down, and they ran right over him, but he beat them in the end by
getting to ground in a gravel-pit beyond the lodge on the Lichfield side. Found
in a small cover between the big wood and the Barton road. Ran up to the
road and back to the Big Wood. Out again, up-wind, over the road, passed
Longcroft Hall and White's Wood, to the Black Firs, Dunstall, thence to Fern
Hill Wood on the Rangemore road. A cast towards Dunstall Hall succeeded in
hitting off the line between Black Firs and the road by the Hall, but the fox had
got too long a start, and was given up. If hounds could not run very well up-
wind, it is not surprising that they could not run at all any other way, and,
though they found plenty of foxes, they could do nothing with them.

Tuesday, November 20th, Loxley. This was a capital day's sport. Few of
us will forget the great run which one of Mr. Blount's foxes treated us to some
years ago to Moddershall Oaks, and the old customer of to-day was one of the
same good travelling sort. There was no scent in covert, and consequently
hounds were a long time in finding, and, when at length the fox was halloaed
away over the miry lane at the top of Carry Coppice, they did not hit his line at
once. With a travelling fox a good start is half the battle, as every one knows.

336 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. 1 1900

To-daj' there was a fair liolding scent, but hounds never really pressed a fox who
waited nowhere for them to get up to him. But all this is beginning at the
wrong end. No sooner did hounds settle to the line than they ran straight to
the pit-hole out towards Field, which proved to be stopped, for, though they
dwelt for a moment, they ran on over it, across the main road to the right of
Field, and swam the river, parallel with which they ran for a short distance
smartly. Tlien they turned left-handed away from the water towards the road
which leads to Leigh Station, and checked. Here some hounds had shpped on,
and the huntsman, catching hold of the pack, lost no time in setting off in
pursuit, and soon overtook them. They hunted very prettily, if slowly, by the
new plantation and to the left of Brinsley Coppice to the Sprink, which they left
on their right, over the marshy meadows beneath it. The fox had not waited,
nor, for that matter, gone into it, and we began to wonder what his ultimate
point might be. Slowly and prettily still hounds hunted on, puzzling out many
an awkward twist and turn up to Fulford, where there was a long check, and
catching the fox was now quite out of the question, unless they could get up to
him in some covert. Spotacre Nurseries, some thought, might be the desired
haven, but no, they turned away from there. Then there was a rumour of some
main earths hard by, but the pack did not point that way either, descending the
hill as they did for Spot Grange. They just managed to touch the line towards
Vernon's Gorse, but scent failed them entirely before reaching it, and the fox had
to be given up, after a capital hunting run of an hour and twenty-eight minutes,
with a seven-mile point, which did great credit both to hounds and huntsman,
and which gave great enjoyment to the field, for it was never fast enough to
prevent any one seeing it all. May we find this fox again with a better scent,
kill him, and drink Mr. Blount's health afterwards. A long, long jog back to
Birch Wood Park was rewarded by a smart scurry, after a long draw, through
the new plantation, to the road from Middleton Green to Dodsleigh, which
they crossed near the first-mentioned place, and then ran parallel with the
road till they cut a corner into it again where it descended sharply into the
valley. Do\vn the road they ran like mad, and perhaps oveiTan it, for they could
make nothing of it when they cast themselves left-handed to the right of Leigh
Lane by Wood Farm. The farmer said he had seen the fox " gone ten minutes,"
but hounds could not own the line. Though the huntsman did eventually hit
it off, there was not scent enough to do any good. So a good day's sport came
to an end.

Monday, December 24th. Tutbury station in a dense fog, with the prospects
of hunting very doubtful indeed, as we jogged and walked about the roads, hoping
for a clearer atmosphere. At last, by way of a little diversion, some one got up
a race for juveniles in an adjoining meadow, which Master Harry Brace won by
a neck from Master Hodgson, with Master Basil Randall and Miss Dorothy Brace
third and fourth. Immediately after this the fog lifted sufficiently to encourage
the Master to draw Hilton Gorse. A fox soon darted off into the gloom on tlie
side nearest the main road, and crossed the brook at the bottom corner of the
covert. This afibrded some excitement, more than one rider having to part
company with his horse after plunging into the stream, and Miss Dorothy Brace
was amongst them, seeming rather to enjoy wading about than otherwise. How-
ever, she pluckily stuck to her pony's reins, and was pulled out by them none the
worse. Meanwhile hounds were bending to the right, and ran a small ring back
by the gorse, thence by Hoon Mount to the familiar pit-hole on Mr. Orme's fiirm,
which was duly stopped, and so the fox turned Fostonwards, curling round just

1900] A LONG BLITHBURY DAY. 337

short of the top covert down to the main Derby road, which he crossed and
recrossed, eventually getting to ground in Hilton Gorse after a twisting, ringing
hunt of about forty-five minutes. Hounds did not find again, though they drew
most of the Foston coverts, but they had run close enough to the Top Covert.
Penny waste, and Jackson's Planting to disturb any but the most phlegmatic fox.
Wednesday, Blithbury. We were favoured with a lovely morning after an
exceptionally boisterous night, and, in one sense of the word, this was a hunting
day if ever there was one, for, when once hounds had found their fox, which they
did in a field just across the main road from the Stych, Mavesyn Ridware, they
were at work all the time till night overtook them. They never ran very fast,
it is true, and they probably changed more than once, ending up with a leash of
foxes in front of them. Briefly the line they ran, or rather, hunted slowly, was
back over the main road to the Stich, thence across the same road again and the
Bentley brook, pointing for Pipe Wood. After crossing the lane which runs
parallel with the brook and beyond it, they turned right-handed to near Hamstall
Ridware, with Hamstall Hall on their right, to Laurence's Wood, which the fox
must have gone right through, for, though they spoke to it in covert, they could
not make much of it, till the huntsman cast on beyond it, when they hit it ofif
and crossed the river, only, however, to recross it and to get up to their fox in
Pipe Wood. Here a brace was on foot, one going away for Laurence's Wood,
while the other one, which they hunted, dwelt in covert. Eventually he went
away over the lane, which bounds the wood on the Mavesyn Ridware side, and
ran a semicircle left-handed to the top comer of Laurence's Wood. Passing
just outside this, he made his way through Blithbury Gorse down to the river,
and, crossing, set his head for Hoar Cross, but turned right-handed on a rather
backward tack into Rough Park, where there was a shooting-party and another
fox. Thence away to the river, then for Cross Hayes, and so back to Rough
Park, after two hours and three-quarters. The end of it all was a faint line out
towards Morrey.

Thursday, Thurvaston Stoop. This was a foggy, rainy day, \vith the glass
falling rapidly and no wind to speak of. There was a brace of foxes in Culland,
and hounds divided in covert, seeming to prefer the scent of the one, which we
did not hunt, and he broke back Thurvaston way. Ours, on the contrary, started
out over the brook, and ran parallel with it for a bit, till he recrossed it and
pointed straight for Brailsford church. Most of the field naturally crossed the
brook with the hounds, and Mr. Cecil Leigh got immersed and had to part
company with his horse. A fresh fox jumped up on a ploughed field, but hounds
could never make anything of it. Very likely the drenching rain to which we
were soon subjected had something to do with it. The huntsman cast for
Brailsford Gorse, but it was no good, and there was no fox there, but an
abundance of rain. Then we had a long jog back to Boden's Thorns, where
there were two foxes on foot, and a rare scent in covert, with the little bitches
fairly swearing hard words at him, till a great big fox went away by Thurvaston
Stoop, and another, having notice to quit, went in the same direction, with his
ejectors flying out of covert not far behind him. Very nippy they were, too, as
they came out all dash and drive, throwing their tongues sharply. Three of the
sisterhood were a little too quick for the rest, coming slipping along by Thurvas-
ton Stoop ; but the Master's horn was going out towards Long Lane, so he
probably had his eye on them, and the huntsman, catching hold of the pack,
soon had them on the line. It would be a pleasure to tell how first this hound
and then that guided the pack in unravelling every turn in the tangled skein
which followed, but, as it is, it must suffice to say that hounds and huntsman did

VOL. 11. Z

338 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1900

their several parts well, as they followed their fox first parallel with the Long
Lane practically, though there was many a twist and turn in the doing thereof,
not to mention a saddle or two emptied and much gallant riding, till eventually
they did cross the Long Lane and ran past Longford Rectory over the road to
Longford, to the pit-hole on Mr. Hawksworth's farm, Barton Fields, after an
interesting hunt of twenty-eight minutes. It looked as if the fox had got in here,
but while people Avere looking at their watches, taking a pull at their flasks, and
diving into sandwich cases, the huntsman cast forward, hit off his fox, and they
himted him slowly over the road which goes by Boden's Thorns, then parallel
with it, till they finally cast up at the Thorns aforesaid, when they chattered
merrily at their fox for a minute or two, and then — a silence, which each one can
explain to his satisfaction, no doubt. Then they found in Parson's Gorse, crossed
the main road in a murky atmosphere, as if going for Eadburne, and, turning
short back left-handed over the main road, lost most of their followers. With
only four with them, though a fifth joined later on, they ran between Parson's
Gorse and Langley Common, towards Langley, by Radburne Rough, through
Pildock Wood, back to Parson's Gorse, and lost their fox or were stopped by
Silver Hill. No doubt the five enjoyed themselves. Two of their names are
honestly unknown to the writer, but of the other three it may safely be said —

" Tlicy care not a jot for the fame,
But hunt for the fun of the game.
If each in his heart was well pleased with hia part,
What boots it to mention a name ? "

Saturday, Walton. A beautiful morning after as wild and rough a night and
day as any one could expect to see. Hounds found in Walton Wood, ran down
the ploughed field on the Walton side, turned left, pointing for Oaklands, to the
road from Walton, where the fox was headed, and ran a ring, no doubt intending
to make his point good if he could, but met the field about the end of his ring,
if at least this hypothesis is correct, squatted in a ditch, was nearly jumped on
by some of the leading horsemen, and hounds killed him in the open. One
gentleman fell, neck and crop, over the fence, almost amongst the hounds, who,
in the excitement of the worry, surged up towards the prostrate pair. They
found again in Mr. Ratcliff's gorse, and ran, a nice twenty minutes, over the road
pointing for Homestall Wood, left-handed for Coton, nearly up to Seal Wood,
where there was a long check, the huntsman eventually hitting off his fox, wliich
hounds ran slowly past Caldwell Hall, and there lost him.

Monday, December 31st, Darley Moor. The wind was keen from the north,
but otherwise there was nothing to complain of on account of the weather, and
the ground was wet enough for scent, on which score also there was no cause
for grumbling. A leash of foxes went away from the Holly Wood with a couple
or two after one on the Yeaveley side, but the main hunt was concerned with
one, with which they got a bad start, and which crossed the main Ashbourne
road. They ran this fox nicely to the road which goes by Cinder Hill to Norbury,
and it looked for a moment as if he had got to ground in the old copper work-
ings. But it was not so, for a cast round to make the ground good succeeded in
crossing his line, and they ran pointing for Raddle Wood, but could not carry
a line quite up to it, and lost him, after about ten or fifteen minutes. Found in
Cubley Car, ran to the gorse, and back into the car, and there seemed a fair
chance of repeating our experience of our last visit here. But what with a
sheep-dog coursing the fox into the car, and a good smacking of whips on the
gorse side of it, our friend altered his plan, and went away over Hollis' lane.

1900] A DARLEY MOOR DAY. 339

Settling to the line, hounds ran best pace in the direction of Snelston up to the
main road close to Birch Wood Park Farm, where, perhaps, the fox was headed.
Anyhow, he turned sharp left-handed, and hounds ran fast up-wind over the well-
known bottom, pointing for Cinder Hill. This same bottom is a queer place to
get over, as a very keen young lady and two gentlemen found to their cost.
The lady's horse was in evil plight,

"And Dobbin, released from his work at the plough,
Had to aid the fine hunter stuck fast in the slough."

But there was but little time for any one who wanted to be with hounds, as
they rattled on, to stop and look, though plenty of good Samaritans did lend a
hand. A brief, merry skurry ended in about eight or nine minutes in the okl
copper mine at Cinder Hill, and the fox did not have much the best of it. They
found yet another fox in Cubley Gorse — Captain Clowes's health ought to have
been diimk to-night — and ran out the same way as before, but turned up the
hill and Cubley-way to the main road, where they checked. It was a treat to
see the way the little bitches ran over the ploughed land beyond the road, when
once they settled to it, with Vixen in the front, as she usually is, unless, indeed,
the young ones flash over it, when " Youth is by wiser age reproved," for she is
not of the sort that go beyond the line over much. Wish we had a whole pack
like her ! Leaving Stydd Hall on the left, they ran down the hill and up the
opposite slope just to the left of Bentley Old Hall, and checked short of Bentley
Car. Diving into this stronghold of foxes, they drove their quarry out on the
Alkmonton side, and ran him to Mr. Saint's farm, just this side of the Alkmontou
Bottoms. Mr. Saint, standing there with his gnu, had seen him, " black and
dirty he was, too," but he had not been able to see exactly where he went after-
wards, and there was a check, worse luck, in consequence. However, as soon
as the huntsman had satisfied himself that the fox had gone towards the Dairy
House and Potter's, he cast beyond Alkmonton bottoms, down-wind, and hit off
the line, but the pursued had put some distance between himself and his pursuers.
Casting on across the Alkmonton-Longford road, he hit him oft' again, and for
a few fields Yeaveley-way things looked better, but a stern chase is a long chase,
and it was evident that the fox had got too far ahead. Bentley Car was tried
again as a forlorn hope, and that was the end of it. Twenty minutes, or possibly
only fifteen — the official time-keeper was otherwise engaged — but it was merry
while it lasted, and, with just a bit of good luck, they would have made it very
interesting for the fox.

Tuesday, Bramshall Village. They found in Philips' Gorse, and ran sharply
to ground at Field. Had the earths only been stopped, there was every chance
of a good run and a kill, for scent was more than useful. It is enough to make
Job himself swear to see fox after fox get off" like this. At a rough guess, close on
twelve brace of foxes have been run to ground up to date. What chance is there
to kill a fox after a chase when some friendly refuge offers itself as soon as he is
pressed ? The rest of the day was spent in the woods with no particular result.

But Saturday was another affair altogether, we have not had such a day in
the woods for a long time. There was a scent ; the little bitches chased like fire
when occasion served, kept well together, and turned like harriers. The earths
were stopped, when their tired fox tried them as a dernier ressori, and the con-
sequence was they killed him handsomely. Eunning heel and trying back is
contrary to the true spirit of fox-hunting, but both of them sometimes occur in a
day's sport, so even now there is nothing for it but to go back from the kill to
the find and try to unravel the skein. Well, to begin with, unluckily the Master

340 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1901

was unavoidably absent, and Mrs. Fort did duty for him. It was freezing and
it was foggy, and few people were out. There you have the mise en scene.
Now for the play. A fox was halloaed away from Frame Bank at Park Stile,
and they ran him as hard as they could split through Hill's Wood nearly to
Thatched Lodge, where they turned sharp back as if going for Floyer's Coppice.
The writer viewed the fox over the open, going for Hill's AVood, and he also
saw them run into their quarry at the end, and it looked like the same fox.
But that, of course, is a mere matter of opinion, and can be taken for what it is
worth. They may have and probably did change more than once in the
interval. Going into Hill's Wood, hounds ran nearly two hundred yards wide
of the line, and yet ran as if they were chasing. This eagerness, no doubt — and
they were keen and no mistake — caused them to overrun it in Hill's Wood, and
there was a check. But the huntsman held them on into the Park, and they
ran fast over the open to Dog Kennel Wood, back again through Frame Bank to
Hill's Wood, when the huntsman tried back into Frame Bank, where they began
running again, probably riot. Blowing his hounds out, he tried through Hill's
Wood, where there was more riot, and then over the road into Kingston Wood,
which was not successful. So back again into the big wood, where the fox was
viewed, and broke away across Lord's Meadow into the Park, but soon headed
back into Bagot's Wood again. Working along by Frame Bank and Dog Kennel
Wood, the huntsman tried the earths at the top of - Butter-milk Hill, and so
evidently had the fox. Casting on into the Forest Banks, he viewed his fox,
very tired. The first whipper-in stopped a bit of a riot, which looked like
upsetting everything for a minute, in the nick of time, for hounds had not at that
moment got on the line of the hunted fox. When they did, however, they never
left him till they rolled him over handsomely in the ride at the bottom of the
wood, within a hundred yards of Woodlands or Woodrofie's Cliff. Finding again
in Swilcar Lawn, they could not do much, but either getting up to him, or finding
another in Ash Bank, they hunted him well the whole length of the banks and
away by New Lodge to Parson's Gorse, where they were stopped, as they had
divided in the Greaves. It was a capital day's sport.

Monday, January 14th, Sudbury Hall. After partaking of the hospitality
which was dispensed at the Hall, a rather large field moved oflf to see
hounds draw Sudbury Bottoms, when a great, very light-coloured fox was soon
viewed away. Breaking covert on the side nearest the Park, he soon turned
back through the bottoms for the Alder Moor. Settling to the line, hounds ran
at a good pace through this, over the lane from Somersal to Vernon's Oak, swung
left-handed, and leaving Somersal House a couple of hundred yards on their left,
crossed the Somersal-Marston-Montgomery lane. Still running nicely, they came
down to Somersal brook, across Mr. Cottrill's farm, and it looked as if the fox
meant going for Eaton Wood. But instead of going on there he turned short to
the left along the brook side, with hounds running at a great pace over these
good-scenting meadows, where there was a fence or two which took a good deal
of jumping, though the Master's grey horse made nothing of them; in fact, all
through this good run he was the beacon bj' which many of us steered. So they
ran hard by the osier-bed below Ley Hill, over the turnpike road to the Hare
Park, whence the hunted fox was viewed away, and he ran below Brocksford
Gorse, hounds running him well across the turnpike again to the right of Ley
Hill, and then parallel with the lane from Brocksford to the Sudbury-Somersal
road over Mrs. Townsend's farm, and checking just short of the road nearly
opposite Maresfield Gorse. There was a useful halloa from a man ploughing, and

1901] A NICE SUDBURY DAY. 341

hounds were soon on the line again, running nicely by the gorso back to the
Sudbury bottoms. From here the fox was viewed by Miss Jervis Smith, who
had seen him go away at first, and who was sure it was the same fox, from his
peculiar whitish colour,'crawling dead beat into the Alder Moor. There he must
have either lain down or got to ground, for hounds could not carry a line out nor
did any one see him go away. It was a capital ringing hunt of fifty minutes
over a good line of country. A leash of foxes went away at once from the
Coppice — proving that there is the right sort of keeper at Sudbury — and the
field scattered in all directions. Some galloped off, boundless, for Cubley, some
waited for the body of the pack to join the one couple which came out with their
fox at the Hare Hill end, and a minority cast in their lot with the Master and the
huntsman as they rode best pace Somersal way. These latter caught hounds
between the Oak Plantation, between Vernon's Oak, and the Somersal-Marston-
Montgomery lane, which they eventually crossed by Marston Woodhouse. Turn-
ing back right-handed, they got to Brickhills on the Hollyhurst farm by Rigg's
lane, where they lost their fox. Trotting oS" to Eaton Wood, they found another,
who was off in a trice, through Lady Wood and Uphill Wood, and crossed the
Somersal brook just where a gallant soldier [Capt. Dugdale], now just back from
South Africa, jumped it — was it a year ago, or two ? Hunting slowly on up the
hill by Mr. Cottrill's house, they pursued their fox over Mr. Peacock's farm, by
Brickhills, over Rigg's lane, by Malcolmsley, across the Sudbury-Ashbourne main
road, to near Cubley Lodge, where they lost him ; probably through his getting
to ground in the warren there, after a nice hunt of about forty minutes. Sapper-
ton and the small plantations in Sudbury Park having been drawn blank,
hounds went home, thus bringing a good day's sport to an end.

On Tuesday frost stopped hunting at Birch Wood Park. A good grey
pony, which was being driven to the place of meeting, slipped his bridle ofi'
and bolted. The driver wisely jumped out, and the pony, dashing furiously
into the hedge at the bottom of the hill by Field, staked himself, and was killed
instantaneously.

Thursday. Mercaston Stoop an<l a thick fog. Hounds found a fox by the
pond in Kedleston Park, and ran fast into the fog by the gardens, and so to
Vicar Wood, whence they ran over the road which skirts the Park, leading to
Meynell-Langley, and pointed for Weston-under-Wood. Turning back right-
handed, they ran past the blacksmith's shop, up to the lodge on the Derby
road, where they were stopped, and a good thing, too, for it is ill work hunting in
the dark.

On Tuesday they came again to Mercaston, but had their journey for
nothing, as the fog proved once more too thick for hunting.

Saturday. Foremark and a soaking wet day. In hunting, as in life, it is
the unexpected which always 'happens, and probably few people who sallied out
in the rain anticipated the treat which was ie store for them. Finding in Robin
Wood, hounds ran well for the best part of an hour ; so well, in fact, that many
a man who seldom goes home before the hounds was fain to turn his horse's head
homewards at the finish. Briefly, the run was as follows : They ran from Robin
Wood to Avithin a field of Ticknall Church, turned right-handed on to Smith's
Gorse, which the fox skirted, a cast forward hitting off the line on the farther
side, whence they ran through the Alders to South Wood, where they turned to
the left, and so on to Calke, through the farm buildings and on to the Abbey.
The fox was viewed away from here, and into a field of cabbages and turnips, not
far in front of hounds, but somehow he gave them the slip after all. This is but
a brief outline of a capital hunt, which only needed blood to make it perfect?

342 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1901

but, as every one knows, more foxes are lost just at the start and at the finish
of a run than at any other time. Nothing much was done afterwards.

Monday, January 21st, Ashbourne Station. This was a nice, promising
hunting morning, nor did subsequent events behe the promise, for there was a
tsccnt all day, though luck was against us. Hounds found in Bradley Wood, and
ran out a short way towards Osmaston, when the fox was headed, and nothing
more was done with him, though the Wood was tried again unsuccessfully. Then
they found again in Bradley Rough, but the fox had no chance of doing great
things, as every hill was lined with spectators. So hounds ran a ring sharply
out towards Osmaston, and then left-handed back to the Rough, from there to the
similar covert near it, of which the \vriter does not know the name. From here
they ran back to the Rough, whence the fox was viewed away and was halloaed
by horsemen some distance off' on the next hill across the bottom, but, somehow
or other, hounds did not get on his line, and he was given up. They got away
on capital terms with a fox from the historic osier-beds, near Ednaston, whence
the great Winster run started, and ran like blazes for twelve minutes, straight on
end to Bradley Wood, and caught their fox handsomely just at the top of the
covert, outside. The dog-hounds made horses gallop, and no mistake. Then
they found in Shirley Park, and ran best pace, up-wind, to ground in the main
earths by the bridle-road. Had these only been stopped, they would have made
things very interesting for the fox. Finney Plantation was blank, and so was
Reeve's Moor, but a little fox went away from the Car into the gardens, where
lie was headed more than once and had a rare game with the hounds, once
actually jumping on to a window-sill, whence he skipped over the expectant pack
and escaped. Finally, in spite of obstructions, he slipped through to the Car and
got to ground. They then went to Alkmonton Bottoms, and there was a stale
line in the direction of Longford.

Tuesday, Newton Village. This was a lovely day to ride about, and to
enjoy the beauty of Cannock Chace and its surroundings, which showed to the
greatest advantage, lit up by the fitful gleams of pale January sunshine, but from
a hunting point of view there was not much to see. Coley Gorse held a fox,
who was headed once or twice, and then disappeared. The Bishton coverts
were all blank, and so were Spencer's Plantation, Blith field Gorse, Walker's
Springs, the Gardens, and Blithe Moor, but Duckley Wood held a brace, one of
which went across to the Square Covert, while the other broke away in the
opposite direction. Crossing the main road, hounds ran fast over Mr. Cottrill's
farm, bearing left-handed till they came to the lane from Yeatsall to Abbots
Bromley, where they checked for a moment, but a lady, holding her pet dog in
her arms for safety, showed us exactly where the fox had gone, so no time was
lost. After crossmg the lane, hounds ran merrily to Abbots Bromley down-
wind, and there seemed every chance of a good run, but, unluckily, the fox was
headed one field beyond the village, and turned back.

" Thro' every homestall, and thro' every yard,
His midnight walks, panting, forlorn, he flies."
Not that he was exactly panting or forlorn, so those adjectives do not apply so
well as the first part of the quotation. That, however, fairly describes his
progress through Abbots Bromley, to the great excitement of the inhabitants.
Having amused them sufficiently, he ensconced himself in the earth in Duckley
Wood, close to which he was found at the start The Square Covert, Stansley
Wood, Kingston Wood, and Ash Croft having been drawn blank, hounds went
home, and at night came the sad news of our national loss [the death of the
Queen], which -will naturally put an end to hunting for some time.

1901] MR. BUNCOMBE MASTER FOR THE DAY. 343

Monday, February 11th, Darley Moor. — The Master, to every one's regret,
was not well enough to be out, from the effects of his bad fall on Saturday, but
he was reported to be going on as well as could be expected. We generally
come in for something disagreeable at Darley Moor in the shape of weather, and
to-day was no exception, for there was still a great deal of snow left from the
recent storm, so it was decided to leave this cold spot and to go to Cubley. Mr.
Duncombe was acting master for the day. Hounds found at once in the gorse
and ran across to the Car, whence the fox succeeded in getting back to the
gorse. Hounds could barely own the line into it, and there did not seem to be
much scent. Perhaps it was with another customer that they got away again
on the Sudbury side. He turned up-wind, short back, before he got as far as
tlie farm between the gorse and the Marston-Cubley road, causing a short
clieck ; but no sooner did the hounds settle to the line than they ran hard for
ten blissful minutes, parallel at first with the grassy lane which leads Snelston-
wards, and then, still straight on, about three hundred yards to the right of the
Marston-Snelston road, to the right of the Cinder Hill Quarries, which looked
like his point, to ground under the road which leads from Cinder Hill to the
main Ashbourne road, just by the Queen's farm. This gallop was sweet, if
sliort, and was responsible for more than one dirtj' coat ; for, at the pace the
dog-hounds went, there was not much time for peeping at the fences. After
drawing Cubley Gorse again in vain, we went to Bentley Car, where a good fox
was waiting for us. First he tried to break covert on the top at the Alkmonton
end, but we were most of us there, and headed him. Then he tried the end
towards Bentley Old Hall, and a bevy of second horsemen and others headed
him. Next he went away towards the clump on the top of the hill, only to be
turned back once more. Nothing daunted, away he went at the bottom towards
Alkmonton bottom, but meeting a man with a dog, sought refuge in covert.
At the next attempt he succeeded in effecting his object, and was halloaed away
towards Bentley Old Hall. Getting on his line immediately, hounds ran him
from past the hall, down the hill to the brook below, and up the opposing slope,
leaving the Stydd just on their right. With unabated speed they still ran
u|)-wind, over the heavy plough towards the Ashbourne main road, pointing
straight for Cubley Gorse. On the road he was headed, and hounds checked
fur a moment ; but hitting it off, unassisted, just where the bridle-road from the
Stydd joins the main road, they ran on, twisting and turning with their fox
most beautifully, and going quite fast enough for most people over a deep and
heavy country, always to the right of the main road, pointing for the Holly Wood,
Snelston. Just skirting this, they passed to the right of it, turning rather down-
wind, and only running now in fits and starts, but never off the line. Shirley
Park looked like the point now, and they crossed the road which leads from
Wyaston to Yeaveley, where, scrambling down the steep bank into it, a capital
sportsman* had the misfortune to cut a good hunter's knees. Turning a point
more down-wind, they ran nicely to the earths by the bridle-road which leads to
Shirley Park ; but either they were stopped or the fox was too hot to go in,
for they ran on nicely to the road from Yeaveley to Eodsley, and then, slowly,
for a short distance parallel with the bridle-road, wliich takes you from here to
Alkmonton. Diverging from the bridle-road and pointing for Longford, some
arable land brought them to their noses, and while they were puzzling it out
patiently, some hounds ci'ossed the bottom below and started running back up
the hill towards Alkmonton. A fox has been lying hereabouts all the winter,

* Mr. Tinsley.

344 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. Ci90i

and may liave jumped up hearing hounds coming, and led them oft' the hne of
their hunted one. Anyhow, a change came over tlie spirit of the dream. They
were at fault before reaching the Alknionton-Longford road; and though the
Inmtsman made a very careful all-round cast, he never succeeded in recoveruig
the line. Thus ended a capital, good, wide ring, of thirty-eight minutes, with
a good scent, and a fox who knew his way abont. Hounds then went to Long-
ford, but did not find.

We had to pay for our good scent on Monday with a sharp frost, which
stopped hunting for the rest of the week.

The Master's fall, mentioned above, was caused by bis
striking his head against the bough of a tree under which
he was jumping, near Anslow. Hounds were at New Inn
on that day, February 9th, the first after the stoppage.

Monday, February 18th. Hounds were advertised to come to Marston-on-
Dove, but frost stopped them.

On Tuesday they came to Blithbury, although the "going" left much to be
desired. Still, according to the late Mr. Clowes's axiom, there was no reason
why we should not have hunted ; for he always stoutly maintained that, if there
was nothing to hurt hounds' feet, horses might look after themselves. And
to-day, at any rate, the opinion held good ; for, though there was one dirty coat,
the wearer seemed none the worse for his fall. We did not find till we got to
Pipe Wood, though a fox was seen and halloaed while hounds were drawing the
Lawn, but when the huntsman went to the halloa they could make nothing of
it. A brace went away from Pipe Wood, but scent was catchy, not to say bad,
and they ran, checking in every field, across the road pointing for Laurence's
Wood, which they left well on the right to what is diversely called BHthbury
Bank, Blithbury Gorse, and Pear Tree Gorse, so the writer hopes to have
pleased everybody. Here they dwelt, but at last made out a line over the main
road which leads to Blithbury, pointing for Ox Close Wood, losing their fox
unaccountably before they got there. A cast back to Pipe Wood, as a last
chance, failed to hit the mark, and we jogged off to Rough Park. Hence a fox
was soon away on the Wichnor side, and they ran smartly in that direction,
while most of us galloped hard along the road to the detriment of our horses'
legs and the salvation of our necks, catching hounds this side of MoiTcy.
Casting just to the right of it, the huntsman hit off his fox, and they carried the
line into the spinny on the hill opposite, towards Wichnor, but could do nothing
beyond. Finding, or refinding as the case may be, in the big wood, they ran
out at the Barton end, and pointed for Hollyliurst, but the fox turned short
back, and they ran well for two or three fields, up-wind, to ground in the main
earth in Wichnor big wood. Then off to the Brakenhurst. Found at once, and
ran out into Yoxall Park, nearly to the Lodge, whence they turned back for
the Brakenhurst, while we slithered and slid down the hillsides after them.
The going in the wood was not so bad. Then they ran back and forth in the
Brakenhurst and Jackson's back with foxes everywhere, till night overtook them.
Quite a good enough day for the state of the ground.

Monday, March 4th. The Cottage, Foston, where the Master and Mrs. Fort
made every one welcome. A soaking wet morning was not a promising begin-
ning, but by ten o'clock the rain had ceased, and gave place to a beautiful day,
and a good scenting one to boot, for no sooner were hoimds away with their fox

19011 GOOD DAY FROM FOSTON. 345

from the Pudding Bag, than by the way that they drove any one could see that
scent was a good bit above the average. How the dog-hounds did slip along,
too, across the Scropton lane and over the fair pastures and big flying fences of
Mr. Shipton's farm, with the tenant of it very handy to them, as seemed only
right and fitting. Almost opposite Pennywaste they turned sharp left, wheeling
like a flock of pigeons, crossed the main Derby road, and ran straight for the
last-named covert. A fence into a grassy lane with a yawning ditch on the far
side caused some hesitation amongst the front rank, and brought Miss Miles to
grief, who had been going uncommonly well on a clever chestnut. Past Penny-
waste they turned to the right, and pointed for Hilton Gorse, but swung to the
left again on Mr. Orme's fai-m, where the well-known pit-hole was evidently
stopped. Kunning along the brook side, with Church Broughton on their right
front, they left that village on their right, and it looked for a moment as if the
top Foston covert was the fox's point. But if it was he changed his mind, for
hounds swung to the right, pointing for Barton Blount, but were brought to their
noses on some cold ploughed land, and checked just by Mr. Edge's farmhouse on
the Foston-Boylestone road. The huntsman cast towards Sapperton, giving no
time to call to mind the attempts which had been made to jump this " dread
stream of historic disaster " on the part of Messrs. Chaplin, Charles Cummmg,
Hamar Bass on a six-hundred-guinea one, and W. Fitz Herbert — the latter, I
believe, being one of the very few who got over without a fall. But all this refers
to the past, and to-day, as we rode along the brook, there was a halloa from the
first whipper-in, who had got reliable information on the hQltop towards Barton
Blount, and right gladly we went to it. Hitting the line, hounds ran slowly
towards Barton, while we rode in safety by the bridle-road which leads thither
from Church Broughton. In fact, from this on " the pace which gives life unto
the chase " was wanting, and it was a happy family party which saw hounds
unravel the tangled skein, full of good hound work, between Potter's and Barton.
At one time things looked bad, but a forward cast, with Potter's in the rear on
the left, recovered the line, and they hunted on to near the Dairy House spiuny,
where they began to run again sharply, crossing the road to Longford with
Potter's on their left. Here the fox ran as if he was fairly beaten, and they
recrossed the road above mentioned, pointing for Barton Hall. Hereabouts, it
seems, they got on to a fresh one and ran faster, with the Dairy House on their
left, pointing for Bentley Car, but some one viewed the fox going for Alkmonton
Bottoms, and they ran smartly by them to Longford Car. Carrying a line in,
they ran from end to end and away on the Shu-ley side, across the Park to the
spinny on the bridle-road , to Shirley, where they overran it, but Lancet —
Merryman blood again — turned short with his fox and put them right. " Forward
it is," and patiently they stuck to the line, with Shirley Park on their left, past
Hollington, and on, pointing for Brailsford, up to Ednaston Old Hall, where they
checked, after crossing the Brailsford road, and there a first-rate hunt of two
hours and a quarter came to an end. It was a run which did the dog-hounds
great credit. They ran and drove hard when scent served, and they hunted
when they had to hunt. In fact, they quite deserved the high praise awarded
them by the laureate of the Meynell Hunt a quarter of a century ago, when he
sang —

" When the scent is breast high, swift as pigeons they fly.
When it's cold to the line close they stick."

In the afternoon they ran a good ring of forty-five minutes from Shirley Park, and
back to ground in the main earth, but lack of space forbids entering into details.

346 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1901

Tuesday, Tiie Red Cow, and a boisterous day. First of all we went to look
for some outlying foxes, who have been doing a great deal of damage, but tliese
robbers of hen-roosts were not to be found in their accustomed haunts. Mr.
Beech, of Thorn Tree farm, who loves to see a fox hunted, and who has set a
good example to his neighbours in taking down every bit of wire on his farm,
without even being asked, showed us where to go, and it must have been some
satisfaction to him to see hounds run a fox from the Woods to his spinny,
though he would have been better pleased still if they had killed his enemy, but
tliat may come yet. An old hand viewed a mangy fox in Bagot's Wood, and set
the ball rolling. After that we had plenty of hunting. Up and down and round
about hounds ran, with as many as a leash of foxes in front of them at times.
More than once they got out in the open, but scent was poor and things did not
turn out quite happily ; there was always something to upset the apple-cart.
They ran out, as was said before, to the spinny on Mr. Beech's farm, but
unluckil}' they changed from the line of the last fox, which went away, and on
which they started in grand style, on to that of his predecessor, who was gone
some time, and so that came to an end. Then they found again in Bagot's
Wood and ran the usual sort of way, till at last they got a fox away from Dog
Kennel Wood into the Banks. He only just went out again on to Lower Sale
farm, across Buttermilk Lane, passed between Daisy Bank and the covert
opposite to it, over the brook where Mr. Maynard had a bad fall and had to go
home, up into Hart's Coppice. Then back again over the brook and into Daisy
Bank, when he was given up, having got too far ahead for hounds to do any good.
Tomlinson's Corner held a fox, as it always has done this year (for which our
thanks are due to Mr. Clay), and with him we had a real good, old-fashioned
tow-row, up and down the Banks, and got him fairly tired, till, after hairbreadth
escapes, he got to ground, and saved his bmsh. It was a hard day for hounds,
but they kept bustling to the finish. By-the-by, they ran their mangy fox to
gromid on Mr. Cope's farm by Marlpit House, earlier in the day.

On Thursday, and a very rough Thursday it was, too, hounds came to Brails-
ford Bridge, where a large field met them. A fox — a mangy one — was soon on
foot in Brailsford Gorse, and after one or two abortive attempts broke away at
the lower end over the lane, but turned back over it, and pointed for Mercaston.
When hounds had once really settled to the line they ran fast, just cutting a
corner into the road to Mercaston Stoop, down which they ran for lialf a mile as
hard as they could lay legs to ground to the Stoop, swung sharp to the right,
still on the road, without hovering even, for a short way till they turned out of
the lane, without checking, and ran hard along the hill side, crossing the Turn-
ditch, Brailsford road, and the Black brook, and went swinging up the hill at best
pace for the new gorse. Two fields from the covert they overran it, only
Drover sticking to the line, and turned short uphill into the gorse, the pack going
on beyond it. This caused some delay, and hounds dwelling in covert, when
tliey did get on the line, the fox, a travelling sort, got too long a start for them to
do any more good, though they did speak to it now and then, through the corner
of the old covert, Eavensdale Park, almost up to Breward's Car. This held no
fox, neither did Eavensdale Park (which was not surprising), nor Wild Park, nor
White's Wood, nor the Brailsford home coverts, but they found a brace in
Culland, one of which they ran into about halfway between Cullaud and Brailsford
Hall. Boden's Thorns held three or four foxes, which went away pretty much
at the same time, and what with wild weather and a very impatient field, it is
not sui-prising that hounds made wild work of it, and could settle to nothing.
Eventually the main body managed to get clear of the crowd, and ran hard

1901} AN UNRULY FIELD. 347

nearly to Sutton Gorse, where they were stopped, while the huntsman, with about
three couples, all he could collect out of the melee, was doing his best to set
things straight

" When, starting from the cuvver sold, ye see bowd Reynard burst.
Ye canna' 'ave no 'unting if the gemmen go it first."

This was the couplet which might well have been ringing in every one's ears to
the accompaniment of the howling wind. It was a calmer field which jogged off
Trusley-wards in pursuit of the missing couples, which we found with the first
whipper-in and Mr. Garnett, they having succeeded in stopping them before they
got into Sutton Gorse. This having been drawn blank, we went to the Spath
and found. Hounds ran fast from the Sutton end to the left of the church,
nearly to Dussy Bank, where they checked. There were two foxes in front of
them now, and the huntsman cast to the left, and hounds could just ovm the
line, but it was evident there was no scent, so the master gave the order for
home, for which probably few people were sorry, as it had been, from a climatic
pomt of view, a remarkably disagreeable day.

Saturday, New Church. A rising glass and a really nice morning may have
had something to do with the large number of people who put in an appearance.
Hounds found almost immediately in Yoxall, and running over to the Brakeu-
liurst, soon marked their fox to ground. He was eventually dug out and killed.
When we had done with the Brakenhurst, Birch Wood, Bath Wood, and Nicholls'
Wood were all drawn blank, so hounds tried the Brakenhurst again, but it was
not till they got to the far end of Jackson's Bank that we heard —

" Their doubtful notes, preluding to a cry
More nobly full, and swell'd with every mouth."

A brace of foxes went away and ran round the New Church, back into the
Brakenhurst, and it was with a grand cry indeed and great dash that the little
bitches chevied their foxes in two lots parallel with each other, till, halfway
through the wood, one fox went away on the Newborough side, and the pack
joined forces. Driving their fox through from end to end, without giving him a
moment's respite, they killed him fairly and squarely in the open just below
Jackson's Bank, after a spirited sixteen minutes, and a fine old dog fox he was.

Monday, March 18th, Hilton Village. A bitterly cold north-east wind was
blowing strong, when hounds were thrown into Hilton Gorse, whence a fox went
away on the side nearest the village, but was not pursued. Then they found
an unlucky fox in a spinny below the gorse, who was drowned in the brook.
Pennywaste was blank, but they found in Jackson's plantation and ran to the
left of Pennywaste, checking just beyond the road from Heath top to Heath
House Green. A cast to the left recovered the line, and they ran nicely up-wind,
crossing the road to Church Broughton, which village lay on their left as they
ran over the brooklet, which caused some grief, nearly up to the Rookery Planta-
tion, Barton Blount, where they lost their fox. The Foston top covert was
blank, but they found in Park Covert, and ran out towards the Dove, cross-
ing the Sudbury-Scropton lane, where the fox was viewed. But scent seemed
to be bad, for they could make but little of it, and a smgle hound slipping on
towards Sudbury station did not help matters. The huntsman, however, soon
made up his mind which way his fox had gone, and holding his hounds on
between the river and Scropton- Sudbury lane, came to the Sudbury main road
on the Derbyshire side of the bridge. Here a lady homeward-bound had seen

348 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1901

the fox and had enlisted a small boy to halloa for her. So the huntsman soon
had hounds on the line, though the fox was a good ten minutes in front of them,
and they hunted liim into the Sudbury lake hanks. Hence he went in a
vacillating, half-hearted fashion, with two couples of hounds close at him. The
huntsman soon caught them up with the main body, and they ran, pointing for
the Hare Park, only to turn back for Brocksford, which was a little hard on the
man on the grey [Mr. Caldecott], who, going straight as a gun-barrel, had
secured a long lead. Just below Brocksford Gorse the fox was not far in front
of hounds, and they ran him merrily to the Hare Park. Going away from this,
he crossed the river gallantly by Woodford, and, settling to the line, hounds ran
him slowly, with an over-eager field thundering in their wake, up to Moisty Lane,
better known as the back road from Marchington to Uttoxeter, where they
checked about halfway between Marchington and Woodlands Hall. Casting
on over the road, the huntsman hit off the line and they hunted prettily on over
Mrs. Hall's grounds, with Brook House on their left, crossed the main Uttoxeter
road, and ran between Hodge Lane and the road to Smallwood Manor House,
till, just below Marchington Woodlands Church, they ran into their fox after a
capital hunting run of a little over an hour.

Tuesday, Newton Village. This was a typical March morning, rough, cold,
and boisterous, with snowflakes, Boating about, and that north-easter, of which
Charles Kingsley alone of mortals could sing the praises, in the ascendant.
" Breast high lies the scent," sang he, and breast high or thereabouts it must
have been, when hounds came a-flying iu the wake of a bold fox, who dared to
face the gale and snowflakes, from the famous Coley Gorse. At the first lane
Bishton-wards they hovered, but not for long. Away they went again at a good
pace, but by no means racing, for you had time to retrieve mistakes and hats and
all sorts of things, and yet to catch them up again, as they swung first left and
then right towards ^Bellamoor, till they came up to the Blithfiekl-Rugeley road,
just at the point where they crossed it a year or two ago in two good runs. To-
day, however, the}' turned left, short of it, and gave one or two adventurous
spirits the opportunity of jumping the More ton brook, which most people crossed
on the road. Parallel with this the pack ran right merrily till they turned to
the left, and dashed into a grassy lane, down which they ran like wildfire. Just
a hover, and they are out of it, and here is Spencer's Plantation, with the cream
of the fun over at the end of a good twenty minutes. In a blinding snowstorm
they ran to the right of Blithfield Gorse, into the Park, up the Admaston Lodge,
back to the gardens. Here the storm abated, and so did the scent. Nevertheless,
they hunted on across the Park and over the Blythe, through Stansley Wood,
and checked. Telltale, sticking modestly but persistently to the line down the
road, and yet not quite daring to speak to it, was joined by Hasty, and the two
ladies, young and old, feathered along with lashing sterns, while the huntsman
was casting towards the Warren ; but, seeing them, he hastened on with the
pack, who gave vocal testimony to the scenting powers of two good noses. Still,
it was but the last flicker of the candle, for in the earths by the spinny on the
road to Newton village just opposite Bagot's Bromley they marked their fox to
ground, and did not he deserve to reach his haven after standing up before hounds
in the teeth of such a storm for fifty minutes? After this good gallop came a
series of disappointments. Duckley Wood and the Square Covert blank, a fox
chopped in the spinny between Newton Gorse and Chartley Moss, which was
blank. Then the worst snowstorm of a snowy day, while the coverts between
Chartley Moss and Grindley were being drawn in vain, as also were Wanfield
Coppice and Woodcock Heath, and Kingston Wood. They found a fox or two in

1901] A GOOD DAY FROM NEW INN. 349

Bagot's Wood, but no one could stick to hounds in the woods in such a howling
tempest, while no fox was likely to face it outside such snug shelter for long, so
the first time hounds got outside and showed a tendency to return they were
stopped and went home.

Thursday, Chellaston. There are many blanks in a lottery, and the pro-
ceedings to-day resembled one, with the difference that there was no winning
number, for the find at Hell Meadows at two o'clock was no prize, inasmuch as
the fox, probably a vixen, could not be induced to go away. There was some
talk, indeed, of a fox having been viewed away, but hounds could not endorse
this view. Every other covert was drawn blank.

Saturday, New Inn. Probably few people who visited this rather popular
fixture anticipated the treat in store for them. It was a still, grey morning
with a north-east wind and a rising glass, and there was a foxy whifF in the
air. Mosley's Gorse was drawn — and well drawn — blank, but Needwood Gorse
held a fox. A great rough-coated rascal it was, which ran a ring to the
plantation by the pond towards the Tutbury road and back again to the gorse
by the Duchy Wood, having been headed in the park. Once more he started
on the same round, only to be headed again, and to be dubbed a soft-hearted
brute for his pains. And, indeed, it looked like it. But he was only biding his
time, and, by running the road which bisects the plantation on the gorse side
of the house, he put the hounds to fault and gained what he wanted — time and
space, to wit. Then he set his head ^straight. A wheat-field bothered his
pursuers after they crossed the road which goes from New Inn by Needwood
House to the Duchy Farm ; but, when once they were on the grass, with the
New Inn plantation on their left rear, they started to run sharply. Across the
Burton Road they went straight for King's Standing, dwelling for a moment in
the park beyond the house. There they swooped down into the covert below
and away for Jackson's bank, not touching it, but running the road for New
Church, with timely aid from their huntsman. A turn to the right out of the
road brought them full cry into the Brakenhurst, through which they ran,
without dwelling, whilst their shrill cry rang and re-echoed amongst the tree-
tops, leading us all merrily down to the bottom opposite Hoar Cross. A woman
and some children had viewed him, while the leading couples darting out into
the open backed up the human tongues with their own. " Forrard " it is. For
a moment it looked like the usual line under the wood to Jackson's Bank, but
this fox had a nobler idea of his duty, for he crossed Pur brook and made his
way by Mr. Watts's house into Hoar Cross Park, with hounds running bravely
in his wake. What a merry gallop it is ! Prose cannot rise to the occasion.
The pen must be dipped for a moment in the Spring of Parnassus, 'ere it sinks
back, like our horses, into the labouring stroke of mere prosaic description.

" With that merry music ringing,

Father Time ia surely flinging
Golden sand about the moments as he shakes them from the glass;

Horn and hound are chiming gladly,

Horse and man are vying madly
In the glory of the gallop. Forty minutes on the grass ! "

How good it is. Hounds dwell for a second in the park. See! there is a
■quiver, and a dart, and a fling, and they are off again at score, with Bath Wood
on their right. The gate is locked, but a man [Mr. Dudley Fox], who takes no
<lenial, sums up the situation in a moment as he sails over the uninviting fence
by the side of it — " Farmer's Pride is the sort to ride," and he cracks never a

350 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1901

twig. Now we are loosed out again into a beautiful stretch of country, hounds
running sharply, while we,

"O'er the open still careering,
Fence and furrow freely clearing,"

can go galloping joyously on, over Bentilee Park, down a ploughed field, which
stops hounds no more than does a wired gap the man who is nearest to them
[Mr. Power]. The barbed abomination snai)ped at his onslaught hke the cords
in the hands of Samson, and his followers had cause to be thankfid. Over the
Ash brook hounds run merrily, but a baked fallow brings them to their noses,
while the huntsman holds them on till they begin to run again on the grass, and
Abbots Bromley blocks the way. Just where the bridge on the main Voad from
Newborough crosses the Ash brook, the fox, too, had crossed the road. Up
the brook side they ran hard, over the Abbots Bromley end of Dirty Gutter
Lane, pointing for Lord's Coppice, but our fox had turned to the right of Bagot's
Park, by park side, and just short of Moors' they checked. Hitting it off again,
they ran to the left of the Hare's Back, when they seemed to have got close to
their fox, for they made the dust fly as they scuttled over the fallows, pointing^
for Hart's Coppice. After this momentary flash they came to slow hunting,
and it seemed to be all over between Hart's and Field House Coppice, after an
hour and a quarter, a six-mile point, and close on eleven miles as hounds ran.
But the Master must have had a shrewd idea that the Birch Wood was his fox's
point, for no sooner were hounds thrown in than up jumped the fox, and they
ran him well to the right of Chantry Wood, nearly down to the Shoulder of
Mutton, Hoar Cross, back up the hill, to the left of Birch Wood, through Bath
Wood, turned sharp to the right, and raced him to ground not sixty yards in
front of them this side of Bromley Hurst. A capital hunt and a good fox.
Nearly every one now went home, and space forbids anything more being said
about a good day's sport.

Monday, March 11th, Darley Moor. The exception proves the nile, and
luckily to-day was the day in ten when fair weather favoured us at this bleak
fixture. Hounds looked like going, being full of muscle, coats fine, and ribs just
showing, though their backs were well filled enough. Go they did, too, when
they drove their fox over the main Ashbourne road, just on the Cul)ley side of
the place of meeting, pointing for Snelston Firs. Up-wind this, but they ran just
as fast when they turned short down-wind after crossing the awkward dumble.
In fact, you might gallop your best without fear of overriding them. After this
down-wind turn it required no wizard to see that it was a hounds' day. How
they did fly right-handed to the bye-road from Snelston to Darley Moor. Just a
hover on the road, and then, heads up, sterns down, away they scurried across the
Park to the New Gorse. Not long did they dwell here before they were off across
the Ashbourne road, with Collycroft Hill on their left, straight for the Holt.
Just short of this there runs a brook, nothing in itself, but jealously guarded by
a fence with a horrilile drop, and rails in all sorts of awkward positions. Some
galloped left to the lane, and did well ; others wanted to cut the Gordian
knot, but could not for the moment find the weak spot. At last some one found
it, as some one usually does, if you wait long enough, and the pent-up little
throng charged up the opposing slope. A steep slope it was, too, and hounds
were out of covert and away over the road from Ashbourne to Edlaston
before any of this lot got to them. Here three couples slipped on, crossing
the Osmaston-Edlaston road. Running hard for Shirley, along the bottom.

Meet at Etwall, 1900.

From a photograph by Elliott and Fry.

Names (reading from left to right) : —

Joe Overton (second Whipper=in).

Colonel R. S. Chandos = PoIe, M.F.H.

Mr. R. Fort, M.F.H.

Stephen Burtenshaw (Huntsman).

Jack Goddard.
Will Weston (first Whipper-in).

.ooQi ,llBWi3 Jb isaiM
,' vH brie JJoili3^dl riqBisoioriq k rnoi'HI
'JitiTin oi rt^l moi^ gfiibBSi) gamBl^
oqqIriW bnoDse) no:ri3YO aoL

.biBbboO Ao&l
... . .;,;y/ jaiiti noJJi^W IliW

1901] A FOX-KILLING DAY. 351

which lies below Wyaston, the main body caught up their leaders. At least
it looked like the main body, but it turned out later on that about six couples
had run sharp to the left Bradley-wards just before this, with half the field
with them, and had eventually been stopped by the first whipper-in, ynth a very
tired fox just ahead of them. Pity they did not go on and catch him. Mean-
while, the main body, in fact, ran into Shirley Park with their fox sorely dis-
tressed, not fifty j^ards in front of them, though they, for some strange reason,
checked outside. They were soon on the line, and pushed their fox right through
and out on the top side towards Rodsley. No sooner were they away than they
turned very short left, sinking the hill, and slipping every one for the time being
except the Master, who was with them, till they killed their fox in Shirley
village, after a first-rate hound run. The only drawback was their dividing.
After rejoining forces, they found in Shirley Park, and ran fast to the well-known
earth on the bridle-road to Shirley, where they checked. There was a halloa
back and the huntsman cast that way, but soon realizing that it was no good, he
caught hold of his hounds, and by a rattling good bold forward cast towards
Longford, recovered the line, and hounds ran nicely to Longford Car. They
were no sooner at one end than the fox was halloaed away at the other towards
the Hall, and they ran well by Reeve's Moor, across the Hollington road, till they
bowled over a dog fox halfway between Longford and Culland.

" Never more for the covert, liis purpose had failed hiui.
Tho' to gain tlic old slielter hu gallantly tried
In vain the last double, for Derelict nailed him.
Who, whoop ! In the open the veteran died."

After drawing Alkmonton Bottoms blank, they found in Bentley Car, and caught
this fox, too, in the open, after but a short shrift. Then they found in Cubley
Gorse, and ran well to ground in the Cinder Hill quarries, thus ending a capital
day's sport with no fox unaccounted for. Could any hounds do better?

Tuesday, Birch Wood Park, and another beautiful hunting morning. Drew
Birch "Wood blank, though they found and chopped one in the Fradswell durables.
Every one, by the way, was glad to see Mrs. Murphy out again after her illness.
Then we went to Chartley Gorse, ran one to ground, and started digging, while
hounds drew on for another, which they found and ran out towards Fradswell,
checking after running two fields. However, a left-hand cast recovered the line,
and they ran well by Turner's Gorse and over the Stafford turnpike to the right
of Mr. Nuttall's house and checked, pointing for Chartley Gorse. liUckily the
Master knew something, or had information, for he advised a cast back over the
road, whence we came, and it proved successful. Hitting the line, hounds ran
well to the left of Mr. Nuttall's house, more or less parallel with, and sometimes
on, the railway to Grindley station, to the left of which they ran, till they crossed
it, and marked their fox to ground on the banks of the Blythe, opposite Wanfield
Coppice, after a merry twenty-seven minutes — official time. Then we went back
to Chartley Gorse to see how the digging prospered, and on the way there Mrs.
Fort, in opening a gate, had the misfortune to dislocate her elbow. This
necessitated the Master's going home, and threw a gloom over the subsequent
proceedings ; so much so, in fact, that every one thought of going home at once.
But it is quite certain that Mrs. Fort herself would have been the last one to have
wished it. Still, the writer feels that he is safe in saying that any mishap to Mrs.
Fort is looked upon as affecting the whole Meynell Hunt, and thus, if sympathy
is any consolation, she may feel sure that she has it to the full. There were two
foxes in the earth, a dog and a vixen. The former was duly killed and eaten,

352 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1901

and the latter, fortunately, was uninjured. Carry Coppice was blank, but they
found in Philips' Gorse, and ran to Carry Coppice, where, on the return journey,
oddly enough, there was certainly a brace, possibly a leash, on foot. Hounds got
away with a fox, over the miry lane at the top, and he tried all the pit-holes
between the covert and the river, finally getting to ground in the one nearest
Field. And so another day came to an end with every fox accounted for.

But Thursday, at Allestreo, was a horse of quite a different colour, for a worse
day's sport could hardly be imagined. Hounds chopped a fox in Allestree big
wood, and then drew Colvile's Wood and Farnah blank, and ran to ground
in Broward's Car. Then came a succession of blanks, Kedleston, Meynell-
Langley Gorse, Parson's Gorse, Potlucks, the Brickyard, and Radburne Rough,
where men have been at work, and so home.

Then came Saturday, at Bretby. Perhaps some one who saw it will write an
account of the best run of this season, or, as some say, of many seasons. From
what the present writer can glean, hounds found in Robin Wood, and ran hard
to Repton Shrubs ; so much so, in foct, that it is said some horses had already
bad enough. Still, running hard, they went through Carver's Rocks to Pistern
Hills, where the first check of only two or three minutes occurred. Hounds,
however, soon hit it off, and ran on through South Wood and Spring Wood, till
they fairly pulled down a good game fox, in the middle of the field by Cole-
Orton Hall, after a splendid hound run of an hour and ten minutes, with only one
couple of hounds away, which turned up at the kennels before the pack got home.
One was badly cut, which accounted for her absence. Rumour has it that it
was only a very small and select party which was in at the death.

" Fain would I relate their glory,
Name eacli favourite mount ;
But the scribe who tells tlie story
Was not there to count."

So let each take to himself or herself as much credit as is their due, and
perhaps next week some one will give a fuller account, with names and all.

Subsequently an eye-witness gave the writer the follow-
ing names, and if any one is omitted, he trusts the error will
be pardoned — Mrs. Walter Boden, Mrs. Charrington, Mr.
Fort, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Garnett, Mr. '' Bertie " Crompton,
Capt. Holland, Mr. Whittingham, Stephen Burtenshaw
{the huntsman), and Will Weston (first whipper-in).

This was the best day of the season.

Monday, April 1st, Ashbourne Station. After drawing Bradley Wood and
all the coverts thereabouts blank, hounds found a brace of foxes in Shirley Park
— a mangy one and another — but did no good with either. They then found
in one of the outside Snelston coverts, and ran out nearly to Hope Wood, but
turned short back into the Holly Wood, Snelston. Going away thence, they
ran out by the Stydd, and swung round to Cinder Hills, where they lost their
fox.

Tuesday, Blithbury. They found at once in Pipe Wood, and ran to ground
about halfway between tlie Wood and Mavesyn Ridware. After drawing the
Lawn, Mavesyn Osiers, and the Stych blank, they found in Laurence's Wood,

1901] PRESENTATION TO STEPHEN BURTENSHAW. 353

and ran to ground a few minutes later to the right of Hamstall-Eidware. A fox
was soon away from Rough Park on the Hoar Cross side. Hounds crossed the
brooklet and ran fast over Park Hill, bearing always left-handed, down to the
Blythe, as if they were going for Laurence's Wood. But they turned short along
the river, best pace, with Hamstall-Ridware well on their right, and, still working
left-hand-wards, ran nearly to Bancroft before they turned left into Rough Park.
A fox was halloaed away thence, and hounds crossed the brooklet again, dweUing
on the plough before they got to the road from Hamstall-Ridware to Hoar Cross.
No doubt there was a brace of foxes on foot here, for there was a halloa back
towards the covert which they had just left. But an old hand, standing in the
road just mentioned, had seen the fox going on ; so on we went, hounds running
by fits and starts, with a twisting fox, in the direction of Hoar Cross, till they
eventually marked him to ground between Bentilee Park and Bromley Hurst,
after a good forty-five minutes. After drawing Dolesfoot blank, they found
quickly in Jackson's Bank, and ran out to the New Church road as if for King-
standing, but the fox turned short at the road, through the corner of Jackson's
Bank, and set his head for Hollybush. Hounds ran fast nearly to Newborough
before they turned into Elton Covert, Hollybush, right through it, across the water
and up to the road which goes from Six Roads Ends to Newborough, and checked
in the lane which leads to Agardsley Park. Here Liable hit ofif the line down
the road, but, unluckily, the huntsman, casting to the right, did not see her, and
some little time was lost. However, the mistake was soon rectified, and, catch-
ing up the leading hound, they checked just short of Swilcar Lawn, after running
for twenty-five minutes. The fox had been viewed over the road by several
men, and hounds carried the line into Swilcar, but were too far behind him to
do any good, so the Master gave the order for home.

Thursday. It would be difficult to find a more truly English scene than the
meet at Radburne on the occasion of the ])reseiitation to Stephen Burtenshaw
of a cheque for £220, a clock, and a beautiful gold watch (this latter from the
farmers in the Hunt), as a testimony to the goodwill of all classes towards him.
As you rode through the Park under the oaks, whose gnarled trunks and naked
limbs looked as if they had stood the storms of a thousand j'ears, and you saw
the hounds in the foreground, where the pink of the men's coats lent a touch
of positive colour to the picture, horsemen standing about here and there, while
behind them the great house reared its massive walls of ruddy, time-mellowed
brick — as the eye took in all this, and noted the group on the steps in front of
the house, with the familiar figure of the Squire in the centre, the observer
could not fail to be struck with the singular harmony of every detail. The few
well-chosen words which accompanied the presentation thoroughly expressed
what every one else must have felt. The Squire reminded us of the fact that
he had been the means of bringing Stephen into the Meynell country, and said
how sorry he was that he was leaving, ending up with paying a well-earned
tribute of praise to the latter's many good qualities. Steplien's reply did equal
credit to his head and his heart, and the genuine ring of the compliment paid
to his successor must have struck every one. It falls to the lot of but few people
to be equally popular with all classes, but Stephen seems to have been one of
those few ; and it was evident that Mr. Joseph Shipton's words, when he pre-
sented the gold watch subscribed for by the farmers, did no more than express
the opinion of those for whom he spoke. He had a very pleasing, though, at
the same time, a painful duty to perform, he said, in presenting a gold watch to
their huntsman, Stephen Burtenshaw, on behalf of his farming friends. He was
sorry that his (Stephen's) career as huntsman in this country had come to an
VOL. 11. 2 a

354

THE MEYNELL HOUNDS.

[1901

end so soon, and he was afraid some people had been a Httle too impatient when
luck had failed the huntsman. The latter had proved that, when he had a
straight-necked fox with a scent, he and his hounds were equal to the occasion,
and that they could not only run, but could race their fox down and kill him.
Mr. Shipton concluded with good wishes for success to Stephen in the future.
(Stephen asks the editor to be allowed to return his very best thanks to those
ladies and gentlemen who were not present on Thursday at Radburne, but who
subscribed to the handsome gift.) Hounds then moved off to draw the Eadburne
coverts, and found a fox in Pildock Wood, who led them, at a good pace, to
the Rough, where he got to ground. While they were drawing the last-named
place a snowstorm came on, which, added to the hurricane which kept blowing
all day, reached the acme of discomfort. Now that the whole field was drawn
up in one place, one could not fail to be struck by its numbers, augmented as
they were by a large contingent from Cheshire. The huntsman-elect had come
with them, and, report says, expressed surprise at the smallness of the field.
After the Rough a move was made for Parson's Gorse, and a fox jumped in
the field just outside it, and was hunted as far as Kirk Langley. In drawing
Meynell-Langley Gorse, they found him, or another, and he ran much the same
line as before, nearly to Parson's Gorse, but, turning left-handed, was lost in
Langley village. Then came a long jog to Sutton Gorse, a mangy fox, and a
little dart out across the brook (which a few bold spirits jumped, while the
majority crossed by a ford), to the road just this side of the Rough. Here the
fox was headed by a second horseman on the road, and doubled back along the
brook in the direction whence he had come. But this was discovered too late to
be of any use, so the fox was ost, and a bad scenting day came to an end.

Saturday, Anslow. Found in the Henhm-st, ran two rings back and forth,
and lost. Found in Rangemore Gorse, ran nicely to Sinai Park, where scent
failed utterly. A fox from Byrkley Gorse was just lost outside Rangemore, and
one from Yoxall took them to Hollyhurst.

THE MEYNELL ENTRY, 1900.

March 18th

March 5th...
March 5th...

May 25th ...

Albion \
Arnica j
Artful \
Arsenic 1 1
Artifice /

Finder]

Fifer J

Marl-
borough
Marker

Marksman
Pageant
Parody
Pai-tial

=1

Tynedale
Albion

Warwick-
shire Fireman

Tynedale
Albion

Pytchley
Pageant

Vestal

Chastity

Muslin

Whimsical

Walked bt Messrs.

Poyser, Mickleover.

Archer, Scropton.
I Collier, Draycott.
\ Plant, Cubley.

Hawks worth, Bar-
l ton.
[Goodall, Cubley

Stoop.
[Harrison, Cubley.

Wainwright, Boyle-
i stone.

, Wainwright, Boyle-
/ stone.

Hunii)hrey, Cubley.

i Robinson, Brereton.
Miles, Tatenhill.
Tunniclifif, Hilton.

1901]

THE MEYNELL ENTRY.

THE MEYNELL ENTRY, 1900— continued.

355

BOEN.

Name.

Sire.

Dam.

Walked bt Messes.

March Tth...

Pastime ...

Tynedale
Albion

Purity ...

Bagshaw, Marching-
ton.

March 3rd...

Saintlyl
Saucy /

Warwick-
shire
Tancred

Symphony

1 Gould, Wellington.
IKempson, Densy.

May 17th ...

Trader )

Trappist}...

Tribute

Truthful ...

Kitten ...

(Townsend, Sudbury.
JBathew, Wanfield.
(Caldecott, Foston.

May 27th ...

Wakeful 3

Oakley
Dandy

Wonderful

Fisher, Scropton.

The numerals against hounds' names represent the prize-winners.
Dogs, 4:\ couples ; Bitches, 5i couples. Total, 10 couples.

GRAFTON AND BROCKLESBY DRAFT, 1900.

Dam.

May 24th .
March 22nd.

June 5th

July 12th
May 1st
May 18th

May 27th
June 12th
June 23rd

July 28th

Audrey

Festive
Flighty
Flippant

Riot

Risky

Rival

Rapid

Ringwood

Fairy \

Fashion/

Frenzy
Gravity
Wilful \
Wrangler/

Notable

Brocklesby Ajax ... Brocklesby Susan.
Warwickshire Fire-

Warwickshire Turn-
coat

Brocklesby Rawdon
Grafton Fencer

Grafton Whynot . . .

Grafton Fencer
Pytchley Gambler . . .

Grafton Whynot ...

Grafton Deserter ...

procklesby Sunbeam.

[Brocklesby Redwing.

Brocklesby Arrogant.
Brocklesby Ringlet.

Brocklesby Fanciful.

Brocklesby Dundess.
Grafton Prudence.

Brocklesby Dainty.

Grafton Narrative.

1 couple of Dogs ; 7 couples of Bitches. Total, 8 couples.

356

THE MEYKELL HOUNDS.

[1901

THE MEYNELL ENTRY, 190L

RORN.

Namk.

Sire.

DAsr.

Walkkd nr Messrs.

July 6th ...

Anchorite 1
Antidote J

Lucifer ...

Amazon ...

(H. Walker, Chapel
< House.
[Garratt, Radburne.

July 16th.. .

Bandit ...

Mr. Pole's
Bender

Affable ...

Spence, Byrkley.

Junel8th...

Bedford 1 \

Beatrice

Benefit

Mr. Pole's
Bender

Spotless ...

/Fisher, Scropton.
Archer, Foston.
Mrs. Harrissou, Cub-
ley.
.Elkington, Brailsford.

Bertha

July 31st ...

Comedy ...

Lord Har-
rington's
Adam

Comfort ...

F. Wint, Bagots
Bromley.

July 7th ...

Charity ...

Lounger ...

Chastity ...

J. Wint, Hamley
House.

February 17th

HarjDer |

Grafton

rChandos-Pole, Rad-

Harmony]

Fencer

Hasty ...

1 burne.

j Newton, Bearward-

l cote.

May 25th ...

Heroine 1...

Lord Har-
rington's
Adam

Helen ...

Bagshaw, Hanbury.

July 16th ...

Kempton
Kenyon

Trimmer ...

Kitten ...

[Bagshaw, Marching-

1 ton.

(Mynors, Doveridge.

June 16th...

Mayflyl
Magic / "*

Lucifer ...

Muslin ...

/Holme, Quamdou.
\ Plant, Cubley.

June 25th...

Primate ...

Painter ...

Ladylike . .

Goodall, Reptou.

April 25th...

Puzzle 3 ...

Trimmer ...

Purity

Collier, Draycott.

July 1st ...

Patrick 3 j
Pattern j

Pytchley
Pageant

Vestal ...

[Ashmore, Hamstall

Rid ware.
[Wibberley, Yoxall.

July 25th ...

Pansy

Painter ...

Languid ...

Caldecott, Foston.

March 10th

Whittaker 2
Whimbrell 2

Pytchley
Pageant

Whimsical

(Shipton, Guinea

j Farm.

(Arliss, New Lodge.

The numerals against hounds' names represent the prize-winners.
Dogs, ih couples; Bitches, 7 couples. Total, 11 J^ couj^les.

i!)0lj THE GOOSE WITH THE GOLDEN EGGS. 357

XORTH CHESHIRE DRAFT, 1901.

January 19th i Falcon "j
FalstafifJ
Fallacy]
Governor ■»
Gossip /

June 6tli

April 14th
April 23rd

April 14th
April 28th

Nathan

Plaintiff^
Planter /

Statesman ]
Stately |
Stanza ... I
Starlight J

Wary

Warwickshire Tuscan

Bel voir Governor ...
North Cheshire Nail or
North Cheshire Trifler

North Cheshire Trifler
North Cheshire Despot

/North Cheshire Fanci-
\ ful.

r North Cheshire Gos-
\ samer.

North Cheshire Tune-
ful.
/North Cheshire Play-
1 ful.

/North Cheshire Soli-
\ tude.

North Cheshire Waste-
ful.

Dogs, 3\ couples ; Bitches, 3 couples. Total, 6i couples.

So ends tlie History of the Meynell Hunt. Long may
it be ere the prophetic words of the verses, with which it
concludes, come true !

THE GOOSE WITH THE GOLDEN EGGS.

By J. L. R.

A.D. 19 — . An old farmer sings to the accompaniment of the rattle of
the express nishing through the Midlands.

We lamed the nags, we maimed the men, we rolled them in the mire.
We killed the goose with golden eggs with thrice-accursed wire.

Can it really be November? Can winter have begun?
There's the usual loss of verdure, and the absence of the sun !
Oh yes, there are the common signs ! But one, I hnd, we lack —
The huntsman's horn, the cheering cry, the music of the pack.
Oh, dull and drear's the time of year when nothing gives relief
From the settled gloom which follows the falling of the leaf !
Who lamed the nags and maimed the men, and rolled them in the

mire ?
We killed the goose with golden eggs Avith thrice-accursed wire.

358 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS

oh, what were trampled pastures, and, oh, what was damaged wheat,
Or poultry raised and fattened which the foxes used to eat?
Oh, what were broken fences, what was stock all gone astray 1
Great houses bought our produce then, great stables used our hay.
There was stir and animation, the country-side was gay
With all the pomp and glitter and i)ride of a hunting day !
Who mangled them and tangled them and rolled them in the mire
We killed the goose with golden eggs with thrice-accursed wire.

The halls are all deserted now where gentry used to be.

There's no one left but t' doctor, and t' rector, and Hodge, and me ,

There's no one rides about the laud, and I miss the friendly nod

I got on hunting mornings, though the horse hoofs cut the sod.

Though many's the time I've grumbled, yet now I should rejoice

To see a smiling countenance and hear a cheery voice.

Who lamed the nags, and maimed the men, and rolled them in the

mire?
We killed the goose with golden eggs with thrice-accursed wire.

There are tons of hay uneaten and lying in the mow.
Is the meadow grass worth cutting at the price it fetches now?
The towns are full of loafing men who used to earn their bread.
All idle since we farmers knocked fox-hunting on the head.
The blacksmith's in the workhouse, and the saddler's ruined too :
We little thought all this would come of what we meant to do.
Who lamed the nags, and maimed the men, and rolled them in the
mire,

The whippers-in are in " the House," the huntsman's breaking stones,
The doctor's lost the goodly job of setting sportsmen's bones.
While us as stays must pay the rates — there's no one else to pay —
It's twice as hard upon the rest now they have gone away.
And Parson says there's no one now to help the poor in need.
Dal ! All the World looks black at us — the men as done the deed.
As lamed the nags, and maimed the men, and rolled them in the

mire,
And killed the goose with golden eggs with thrice-accursed wire.

The Shires are quite a desert now the Quality has fled :
Their homes are still and silent as the dwellings of the dead.
There seems a blight upon the land. Accursed be the day
That spoilt their sport, that robbed the land, and drove their wealth
away,

THE GOOSE WITH THE GOLDEN EGGS. 359

When the gold they spent with us went with them across the sea.
Ah, well, 'twas our own doing : that's as plain as plain can be.
Who lamed the nags, and maimed the men, and rolled them in the

mire,
And killed the goose with golden eggs with thrice-accursed wire.

Where are those stalwart riders? Where those forms of winsome

grace

Gone ? Ay, and gone for ever ! Who will till the vacant place ?

They're off to Pau and Zanzibar, to Paris and Peru,

To Nice, and California : there was nothing else to do.

You can't expect a sporting race to stay when sport is dead.

They've taken flight, and with them too Prosperity has fled.

We mangled them, and tangled them, and rolled them in the mire,

And killed the goose with golden eggs with thrice-accursed wire.

APPENDIX I.

MASTERS.

^^'^-'B^'ircwr^'K

1875 to 1878, ditto.

1878 to 1881, Lord Waterpark.

1881 to 1884, Mr. R. W. Chandos-Pole.

1884 to April, 1886, Mr. R. W. Chandos-Pole.

/ Mr. R. W. Chandos-Pole \ j • 4-
April, 1886,to March, 1888 Mr. Hamar Bass, M.P. j ^^^ '

[ Mr. Pole's private pack two days per week.

March, 1888, to April, 1893, Mr. Hamar Bass.

A M iQoo i A n -lonA r Mr. Hamar Bass.
Apnl, 1893, to Apnl, 1894 | ^^ ^ ^^^^ (Deputy-Master).

April, 1894, to April, 1896, ditto.

April, 1896, to April, 1897, ditto. (Mr. Fort resigned.)

April, 1897, to February, 1898, Mr. Hamar Bass,

February, 1898, to April, 1901, Mr. R. Fort.

April, 1901 (term of one year), Mr. R. Fort.

COMMITTEE.

Appointed 1875 /or three years.

Lord Bagot, Mi*. Duncombe.

Hon. E. Coke. Mr. T. W. Evans, M.P.

Mr. M. A. Bass, M.P. Lord Vernon \

Mr. Levett. Lord Waterpark > ex-officio.

Mr. W. Boden. Mr. M. Clowes, M.P. )

COMMITTEE.

Elected January ith, 1878.

Lord Bagot. Mr. T. J. Levett,

Hon. E. Coke. Mr. S. W. Clowes, M.P.

Mr. T. W. Evans, M.P. Mr. W. Boden.

Mr. M. A. Bass, M.P. Lord Waterpark.

Captain A. C. Duncombe. Lord Vernon.

362 APPENDIX I.

COMMITTEE.

Elected March 18th, 1881.

Lord Bagot. Mr. W. Boden.

Hon. E. Coke. Lord Waterpark.

Mr. T. W. Evans. Lord Vernon,

Captain Duncombe. Mr. R. W. Chandos-Pole.

Mr. T. J. Levett.

MEYNELL HUNT COMMITTEE.
Elected January 25th, 1884.

Lord Bagot. Mr. C. AUsopp.

Lord Vernon. Mr. W. Boden.

Lord Waterpark. Mr. Chandos-Pole.

Hon. E. Coke. Mr. C. Finney.

Sir J. Hardy.

Elected April IGth, 1886.
Mr. Hamar Bass, Joint-Master, ex-officio.

November, 1885.

Hon. W. Bagot took the place of Lord Waterpark, resigned
November 3rd, 1885. The above gentleman (Hon. W. Bagot) became
after his appointment Lord Bagot through the death of Lord Bagot.

COMMITTEE.

Elected April Ut, 1887.

Lord Vernon. Mr. Gerald Hardy.

Lord Bagot. Mr. Walter Boden.

Lord Hindlip. Mr. C. Finney.

Hon E. Coke (Chairman). Mr. R. W. Chandos-Pole \ .

Mr. S. W. Clowes. Mr. Hamar Bass ^ex-ojficio.

COMMITTEE.

Elected December 7th, 1888.

Hon E. Coke (Chairman). Sir T. W. Evans.

Lord Waterpark (vice-Chairman). Sir R. Hardy.

Lord Bagot. Lord Hindlip.

Lord Burton. Mr. T. P. Kempson.

Mr. W. Boden. Colonel Levett.

Mr. S. W. Clowes. Lord Scarsdale.

Mr. A. Crossman. Lord Vernon.

Mr. H. J. Cumming. Mr. P. C. Walker.
Mr. A. C. Duncombe.

APPENDIX I.

363

Farmers elected April lOih, 1889.

Mr. S. Buckley. Mr. J. Swinnerton,

Mr. C. Miles. Mr. S. Vicker.

Mr. Hamar Bass, M.P., Master, ex-officio.

Together with Trustees not elected December 7th, 1888.
Lord Bagot. Sir W. Evans.

Lord Burton.

Hon. E. Coke.

COMMITTEE.

Lord Waterpark (Chairman).
Lord Bagot (Vice-Chairman).
Lord Burton.
Mr. W. Boden.
Mr. S. W. Clowes.
Colonel Hon. W. Coke.
Mr. A. Crossman.
Mr. H. J. Cumming,
Mr. A. C. Duncombe.
Mr. S. W. Evans.
Sir R. Hardy.

1891.

Lord Hindlip.
Mr. T. P. Kempson.
Colonel Levett.
Lord Scai'sdale.
Earl of Shrewsbury.
Lord Yernon.
Mr. P. C. Walker.
Mr. S. Buckley.
Mr. C. Miles.
Mr. J. Swinnerton.
Mr. S. Vicker.

Colonel Coke and Lord Shrewsbury added to committee, April 1st, 1898.
Mr. H. Bass, M.P., ex-officio.
N.B, — Lord Hindlip resigned, April, 1892.
(Hon. E. Coke, deceased.)

COMMITTEE.

Elected April I5th, 1893 (for one year).

Lord Waterpark (Chairman). Sir R. Hardy.

Lord Bagot (Vice-Chairman). Mr. G. H. Hardy.

Lord Burton. Mr. E. C. S. Holden.

Sir P. Burdett, Colonel Levett.

Colonel Hon. W. Coke. Sir O. Mosley,

Mr. A. Crossman. Lord Scarsdale.

Mr. H. J. Cumming. Earl of Shrewsbury.

Mr. R. Fort. Lord Vernon.

Mr. L. G. Gisborne. Sir P. Walker.
Mr. H. Bass, M.P., ex-officio.

364

APPENDIX I.

COMMITTEE.

April m, 1894.

Confirmed that Committee be permanent.
See List of Rules.
Same Committee as last year.

COMMITTEE.

1895.

Lord Waterpark (Cliairman).
Lord Bagot (Vice-Chairman).
Lord Burton.
Sir F. Burdett, Bart.
Colonel Hon. W. Coke.
Mr. A. Grossman.
Mr. H. J. Camming.
Mr. A. C, Buncombe.
Mr. R. Fort.

Mr. L. G. Gisbome.
Sir R. Hardy.
Mr. E. C. S. Holden.
Colonel Levett.
Sir O. Mosley, Bart.
Lord Scarsdale.
Earl of Shrewsbury.
Lord Vernon.
Sir P. Walker.

Mr. H. Bass, M.P., ex-officio.

COMMITTEE.

Elected April 10th, 1896.
Lord Burton added to Trustees.

Lord Waterpark (Chairman).
Lord Bagot (Vice-Chairman).
Hon. George Allsopp.
Lord Burton.
Sir F. Burdett.
Mr. F. A. Brace.
Mr. W. Boden.
Colonel Hon. W. Coke.
Mr. A. Grossman.

Mr. H. J. Gumming.

Mr. A. G. Duncombe.

Mr. R. Fort.

Sir R. Hardy, Bart.

Colonel Levett,

Sir O. Mosley, Bart.

Lord Vernon.

Sir P. Walker.

Hon. F. L. Wood.

Mr. H. Bass, M.P., ex-ojicio.

COMMITTEE, 1897-8.
Elected April Uth, 1897.

Lord Bagot (Chairman).
Colonel Levett (Vice-Chairman).
Hon. George Allsopp.
Lord Burton.
Sir F. Burdett.
Mr. S. Blount.
Mr. W. Boden.
Mr. F. A. Brace.

Colonel Hon. W. Coke.
Mr. A. G. Duncombe.
Mr. R. Fort.
Mr. L. G. Gisborne.
Lord Scarsdale.
Lord Vernon.
Sir P. Walker.
Hon. F. L. Wood.

Mr. H. Bass, M.P., ex-officio.

APPENDIX I.

365

Lord Bagot.
Lord Burton.

COMMITTEE, 1898-9.
Elected April 7th, 1898.

Trustees.

Mr. R. W. Chaudos-Pole.
Colonel Levett.
Mr. L. G. Gisborne.
Mr. J. Gretton, jun., M.P.
Sir R. Hardy, Bart.
Lord Harrington.
Mr. O. Mosley.
Lord Scarsdale.
Sir P. AValker,
Hon. F. L. Wood.

Lord Bagot (Chairman).
Colonel Levett (Vice-Chairman).
Hon. George AUsopp, M.P.
Mr. S. Blount.
Mr. W. Boden.
Mr. F. A. Brace.
Sir F. Burdett, Bart.
Mr. G. A. Clay.
Captain H. Clowes.

Mr. R. Fort, M.F.H., ex-ojjicio

Lord Bagot.

Lord Burton.
Lord Bagot (Chairman),
Hon. Geo. H. Allsopp, M.P.
Mr. S. Blount.
Mr. W. Boden.
Mr. F. A. Brace.
Mr. G. A. Clay.
Captain H. Clowes.
Colonel Hon. W. Coke.
Mr. A. C. Duncombe.

R. Fort, ex-officio

COMMITTEE, 1899.
Elected March 29ih, 1899.

Trustees.

Mr. R. W. Chandos-Pole.

Lord Waterpark.
Mr. L. G. Gisborne.
Sir R. Hardy.
Lord Harrington.
Mr. Oswald Mosley.
Mr. F. W. Peacock.
Lord Scarsdale.
Sir P. Walker.
Hon. F. L. Wood.

Lord Bagot.

Lord Burton.
Lord Bagot (Chairman),
Mr. S. Blount.
Mr. F. A. Brace.
Colonel Cavendish.
Mr. G. A. Clay.
Captain H. Clowes.
Colonel Hon. W. Coke.
Mr. F. Cooper.

COMMITTEE, 1900.
Elected April I2th, 1900.

Mr. R. W. Chandos-Pole.

Lord Waterpark.
Mr. A. C, Duncombe.
Mr. L. G. Gisborne.
Sir R. Hardy, Bart.
Mr. O. Mosley.
Mr. F. W. Peacock.
Lord Scarsdale.
Sir P. Walker.
Hon. F. L. Wood.
Mr. R. Fort, ex-officio.

366

APPENDIX I.

COMMITTEE, 1901.
Elected April 3rd, 1901.
Trustees.

Lord Bagot.
Lord Burton.

Lord Bagot (Chairman).
Mr. S. Blount.
Mr. F. A. Brace.
Colonel J. Cavendish.
Mr. G. A. Clay.
Captain H. Clowes.
Colonel Hon. W. Coke.
Mr. F. C. Newton.
Mr. A. C. Duncombe.

Mr. R.

Mr. R. W. Chandos-Pole.
Lord Waterpark.

Mr. L. G. Gisborne.
Sir R. Hardy, Bart.
Lord Harrington.
Mr. Oswald Mosley.
Mr. F. W. Peacock.
Lord Scarsdale.
vSir P. Walker, Bart.
Hon. F. L. Wood.

Fort, Master, ex-officio.

SECRETARIES.

Mr. W. C. Watson (Derby), May, 1872, Secretary.
Mr. F. L. Sowter (Derby), April 28th, 1882, Secretary.
Mr. F. C. Newton, March 20th, 1888, Honorary Secretary; July
1st, 1893, Secretary.

Mr. F. Cooper, July 1st, 1901.

APPENDIX 11.

SUBSCRIPTIONS.

Season.

£

s.

d.

Season.

£

s. d.

1872-1873

3995

15

0

1887-1888

3517

5 9

1873-1874

3941

2

10

1888-1889

2940

16 0

1874-1875

3781

10

8

1889-1890

3060

16 0

1875-1876

3765

14

6

1890-1891

3162

4 6

1876-1877

3523

6

9

1891-1892

3163

9 0

1877-1878

3314

13

5

1892-1893

2981

7 0

1878-1879

3482

9

0

1893-1894

3885

2 0

1879-1880

3463

7

9

1894-1895

3968

7 0

1880-1881

3697

4

0

1895-1896

3884

16 1

1881-1882

3670

14

0

1896-1897

3804

9 0

1882-1883

4035

14

6

1897-1898

3853

3 0

1883-1884

3562

4

4

1898-1899

3899

16 7

1884-1885

3410 18

0

1899-1900

4047

13 0

1885-1886

3442

5

3

1900-1901

1886-1887

3342

18

10

COMPENSATION.

Year ending

£

8.

d.

Year

ending

October 1st, 1873 ..

113

17

0

October 1st

1887 ..

1874 ..

167

18

6

1888 ..

1875 ..

124

15

6

1889 ..

1876 ..

181

18

0

1890 ..

1877 ..

228

7

6

1891 ..

1878 ..

166

7

6

1892 ..

1879 ..

173

10

6

1893 ..

1880 ..

210

4

0

1894 ..

1881 ..

170

11

0

1895 ..

1882 ..

195

0

9

1896 ..

1883 ..

354

1

0

1897 ..

1884 ..

346

18

6

1898 ..

1885 ..

519

16

9

1899 ..

1886 ..

. 450

4

11

1901 ..

£ 8. d.
479 16 11
555 7 2
488 6 0
543 5 1
367 14 6
508 3 1
566 18 11
656 19 10
665 9 5
690 9 9
848 14 7
1089 10 7
976 7 11
973 2 1

APPENDIX III.

RULES FOR FUTURE GUIDANCE OF COMMITTEE.

{Passed General Meeting, April 6th, 1894.)

(a) That the Committee consist of twenty persons, four of whom
shall be tenant farmers, chosen so as to represent, as nearly as possible,
all the divisions of the country, together with the Trustees of the
Hounds, and the Master.

(b) That the Committee be permanent, six members (of whom two
shall be farmers) to retire annually, but be eligible for re-election.

(c) That the six to retire (three from Staffs, and three from
Derbyshire), one from each county being a farmer, be selected by lot
until the Committee is exhausted, then by seniority.

N.B. — Staflfordshire includes the Tuesday and Saturday country.

(d) That one month's notice of the General Meeting be given to
the Subscribers and Public, and all notices of motion to be made at
the General Meeting shall be forwarded to the Secretary fourteen
days before.

(e) That a Committee Meeting be held not less than seven days
before the General Meeting.

APPENDIX IV.

MEYNELL HUNT.

Rules and Standing Orders.

1. The general meeting of the Meynell Hunt shall consist of land-
owners, covert owners, subscribers of five pounds and upwards, and
tenant farmers of fifty acres and upwards.

2. A general meeting shall be called by the Chairman of the
committee once in each year, in the month of March or April.

3. Notice of such meeting shall be given to landowners, covert
owners, subscribers of five pounds and upwards, and tenant farmers of
fifty acres and upwards, not less than twenty-eight days previously.

4. The Chairman of the committee may at any time call a general
meeting, of which seven days' notice shall suffice, and any five covert
owners or subscribers of the Hunt may call u|X)n the committee to
call a meeting, and if the committee shall within seven days neglect or
refuse to call such meeting, then the five members of the Hunt may
themselves call a general meeting, but no subject shall be discussed
thereat unless it has been set forth in the application to the committee.

5. The Chairman of the Hunt committee shall (if present) be
Chairman of the general meeting ; otherwise the meeting will elect its
Chairman.

Notices of Motion.

6. All notices of motions to be moved at an ordinary general
meeting shall be forwarded to the secretary fourteen days previously,
otherwise they shall be considered out of order. •

Order of Business.

7. The Chairman having taken his seat, the secretary will read the
notice convening the meeting ; he will then read the minutes of the
last meeting, and the Chairman will move that they be confirmed,
and, if passed, he will sign them, and proceed to the next matter.

8. No debate or motion shall be permitted on any subject, as
aiising out of the minutes, unless any members dispute the accuracy of
the report, and if so, he may challenge it, and move that it be corrected.

VOL. II. 2 R

.370 APPENDIX IV.

9. Reports or i-ecommendations of the Hunt committee will next be
brought up by the Chairman, and moved from the chair. Such reports
will not require to be seconded.

Notices of Motion.

10. Every motion or amendment shall be reduced to writing by
the mover, and having been read by him shall be handed to the
Chairman; the mover may then speak in support thereof, and, if
seconded, the motion or amendment shall become subject for debate.

11. No member having seconded a motion or amendment shall speak
on the same motion or amendment, unless he shall have seconded it
without any speech.

12. No motion or amendment shall be withdrawn without the
consent of the meeting, and no member may speak upon it after the
mover has asked permission for its withdrawal unless such permission
shall have been refused.

13. Every amendment shall be relevant to the motion on which it
is moved. The mover of every original motion shall have a right to
speak on any amendment thereto before it is put to the vote.

14. Whenever an amendment upon an original motion has been
moved and seconded, no second or subsequent amendment shall be
moved until the previous amendment shall have been disposed of, but
notice of any number of amendments may be given without speaking
thereto.

15. An amendment shall be either^ — ■

(a) To leave out words.

(6) To insert words or add words.

(c) To leave out words in order to insert or add others.

16. If an amendment be rejected other amendments may be moved
on the original motion.

If an amendment be carried, the motion as amended shall take the
place of the original motion, and shall become the question upon which
any further amendment may be moved. When the original resolution
has been amended it shall be put to the vote as the main question.
No amendment can be moved to any portion of a resolution which
precedes an amendment already accepted.

17. No member may speak more than once on any one motion or
amendment. But, the mover of a motion or amendment may reply to
anything said, at the close of a debate, provided he does not introduce
new matter.

Voting.

18. Every question shall in the first instance be determined by
voice " aye" or "no," but if the decision shall be challenged a show of
hands shall be taken, and if the decision thereon shall be again

APPENDIX IV. 371

challenged, the names for and against the motion or amendment shall
be taken down in writing and entered on the minutes. A member
not voting on a division shall not, whilst the division is taken, remain
in that part of the room allotted to members.

19. No speech except that of a mover of a resolution shall exceed
ten minutes, unless by special desire of the meeting.

Rules of Debate.

20. A member of the Hunt when speaking shall stand uncovered
and address the Chair. Whenever the Chairman rises no member
shall continue standing, nor shall any member rise until the Chair be
resumed.

21. The decision of the Chairman on all points of procedure and
order, and his interpretation of the standing orders, shall be final. No
debate may ensue thereon.

22. If two or more members rise at the same time to speak, the
Chairman shall determine to whom priority shall be given.

23. A member who speaks shall direct his speech strictly to the
motion under discussion or to a question of order. No member shall
be entitled to read his speech.

24. Any member may take the opinion of the Chairman on any
point of order at the time when the question of order arises. The
Chairman's ruling shall be final.

25. The Chaii-man may call the attention of the meeting to continued
irrelevancy and tedious repetition, unbecoming language, or any breach
of order on the part of a member, and may direct such member if
speaking to discontinue his speech, or in the event of persistent dis-
regard of the authority of the Chair, to retire for the remainder of the
meeting, and on his refusal to do so may order his removal from the
room.

26. No member (except he rises on a point of order) may interrupt
the speech of another member. No member may impute motives or
use offensive expressions to any member of the Hunt.

27. No member shall address the meeting more than once on any
motion or amendment except the mover of an original resolution, who
shall be allowed to reply, but he shall strictly confine himself to
answering previous speakers, and shall not introduce any new matter
into the debate. The right of reply shall not extend to the mover of
an amendment which, having been carried, has become the substantive
motion. The mover of an original motion shall not reply on the
debate until called on by the Chairman. Any member may speak in
explanation of some material part of a speech made by him which he
believes to have been misunderstood. After the reply the further
question shall be put forthwith without further debate.

APPENDIX V.

LIST OF MASTERS, HUNTSMEN, AND HOUNDS.

Mastek.

Huntsman.

1818

Hugo Charles Meynell, Esq

Thomas Leedham.

1836

Do. do.

Joseph Leedham (father
of Charles).

Do.
Thomas Leedham.

Do.

1841

1856

1871

1872

Hugo Francis Meynell Ingi-ara, Esq

Do. do.

Hon. E. Coke

/ Lord Waterpark \ j . ^

1878

1881

\W. Clowes, Esq./ ii^^o^cio

Lord Waterpark

Reginald Chandos-Pole Esq. . . .

Do.
Do

1886

1888

/ Reginald Chandos-Pole, Esq. \ Joint-
\ H. Bass, Esq. / Masters

H Bass Esq

Do.
Do.

1898

R Fort Esq

H. Bonner.

1899

Do

S. Burtenshaw.

1901

Do

F. Gosden.

OCTOBER, 181
Nine Yeaks Old.

Name.

Sire.

Dam.

When-
drafted.

Costly

Reveller

Clara

Eight Years Old.

Name.

Sire.

Dam.

When

DRAFTED.

Nora

Madcap

Mr. Heron's Nelson ...
Mr. Smith's Chorister...

Mr. Talbot's Ruby

Milliner

...

APPENDIX V.

Sevex Years Old.

373

Name.

SIBE.

Dam,

When

DEAFTKD.

Joyful

Fleecer

Justice

Rarity

Fairy

Six Yeaks Old.

Name.

SiBE.

Dam.

When

DRAFTED.

Dreadnought \
Dragon 1
Delia j
Damsel '
Pontiff

i

Mr. Smith's Ramper ... ' Dauntless

1
Do. Pontiff j Nora (2)

i

Five Years

Old.

Name.

Sire.

Dam.

Whek
drafted.

Bachelor

Nathan]
Nimble

Bachelor

Reveller

Sudburv Vi"ilant

Wilful

Nora (2)

Nancy
Vanity

Their Ruby

...

FoCB Years Old,

Name.

SIRK.

Dam.

When

DRAFTED.

Abigail

Lord Lonsdale's Author

From Lord Foley's

From Mr, Newman's ...
Dreadnought (3)

His Diligent

Caroline

Dreadnought...
Pastime

Pastime

Davmtless

Wilful

Ravengerl

Racer }

Rival

Regent

Warrior"!

Wanton/

Wilfred

Rallywood

From Mr. Newman's . . .

Tirpaflnniio'bt (^\

Lord Lonsdale's Wonder

His Midnight

...

Three Years Old.

Name.

Sire.

Dam.

When-
drafted.

Basker ]

Bachelor (3)

Dauntless

Mr. Arkwright's Violet

Bacchanal ]
Chorister

Sudbury Finisher

374

APPENDIX V.

Two Years Olp.

CourtCBy

Glaucus . . .

Governor 1
Guider j
Heedless
Niobe . . .
Jessamine
Pillager ...
Songstress
Verity |
Votaress j
Wisdom...
Warbler^
WalsomJ

Lord Althorp's

Champion
Barrister

Lord Sondes's Dinger

Lord Ludlow's Hotspur
Lord Ludlow's Looby

Dragon (3)

Pontiff(3)

Danger

Lord Ludlow's Hotspur

Dreadnought (3)

Lord Sondes's Piagman

Lord Lonsdale's Actress

Mr. Arkwright's
Gamesome

His Gamesome

! His Pamela ....
His Lapwing .

Joyful (2)

Damsel (3) ....

His Pamela

Wilful

His Wanton

Onk Year Old.

When

DRAFTED.

Baronefk
Brusher/ '
Brilliant...,

Champion ■>
Clara /
Craftv \
NeedJuU
Baneful ...
Fallacy ...
Ferryman
Needwood')
Nectarine J
Nelly

Bachelor (3)

Justice

Ravager (4)

Mr. Newman's

!Mr. Heron's Bumper ...
Mr. Heron's Mercury ...
Mr.Newman's Ferryman

Wilfred (4)

Mr. Heron's Blucher

Damsel (3) ...
Bridesmaid (4)
Cowslip

His Dorcas . .
His Fairmaid
His Ellen

Nora (2)

His Needful..

1827

ENTERED IN 1819.

Abelard . .
Amulet ..
Barrister
Barbara
BonnylassJ
Cheerful .
Cottager \
Conqueror]

Nathan (3; ; Abigail (3) ....

Bachelor (3) i Rival (4)

SirH. Every's Ferryman His Granite ....

Captain Bridesmaid (4).

When

DRAFTED.

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1819— continued.

375

Name.

SlIlE.

Dam.

When

DRAFTED.

Facer ^
Finisher

Foreman

Frantic

Fairy

Juliet

Facer

Wilfred (4)

Delia(3)

Jovfiil t9.\

Ranter )
Rambler}

Ravager (4) TTppdlPss r.'i^

Ruler J
Wilful

Warbler (5)

Wanton (4)

i\Ir. Smith's Conquest...

Winifred \
Woful /

Lord Yarborough's
Wildboy

ENTERED IN 1820.

Name.

Sire.

DAM.

When

DRAFTED.

Alfred

Archer

Amulet
Dauntless ^
Delia

Nathan (3)

Wilfred (4)

Wilfred (4)

Ravager (4)

Fleecer (2) . ...

AbigaU (3)

Damsel (3)

1828

Dorcas j
Dreadnought;

Joyful

Madcap

Rarity

Regent

Reveller
Vanity \
Victory/

Joyful (3)

1828

1829

1829
1828

1828

Madcap (3)

Rival (4)

:\Ir. Osbaldeston's
Rallywood

Vanity (3)

When

DRAFTED.

Pytchley Abelard

Bajazet
Basilisk
Beatrice
Benedict /
Bertram
Bluebell ;
Daffodil ]

Danger > j Pytchley Abelard

Destiny J j

I Glaucus (5)

]\Ir. Arkwright's Villager

Ganymede.
Norval ....
Kallywood"»
Rhapsody j

viSiS} >'-''-°^<'^)

Ravager (4)

Bridesmaid (4).

Damsel (3)

Nelly (6) ....
His Nimble .

Heedless (5) .
Vanity (3) .

n827

376

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1822.

SntK.

When

DRAFTED.

Barrister \
Bashful / ••
Champion '
Commodore
Caroline i
Costly

Fleecer

Columbine..

Fairmaid ..
Ruby\

Rival/

Symmetry...
Vengeance

Wisdom I
Wonder/ "

Rambler (8)

Bonnybell.

Needwood (6)

Courtesy (5).

Ravager (4)

Duke of Grafton's

Cruiser
Basker (4)

Baronet (6)

Fairy (7) ..
His Rosy ..

Frantic (7)
Rival (4) ..

fl82!>
[1829
1829
1829
1826
.1826

1829
.1828

Ravager (4) j Brilliant (6)

Mr. Osbaldeston's j Lord Sondes's Rosebud

Vaulter j

Bertram (9) I Wanton (4)

ENTERED IN 1823.

Name.

SiKE.

Dam.

When

DRAFTED.

Blowsy \
Bluebell/ -

Chorister

Darter

Bajazet(9)

Bacchanal (4)

Niobe (5)

/1829

11829

1826

1830

Chorister (4)

Lord Sondes's Gabriel

Rambler (8)

Falstaff \

Forester/

Harmony \
Hyacinth / ' "

Needwood

Nathan \

Nelson/

Warrior

Fallacv (Q) ....

iiiiiili

Ravager (4)

Do. (4)

Bertram (9)

Do. (9)

Ravager (4)

Heedless (5)

Nectarine (6)

Nellv (6) ..

Wanton (4)

WUdboy ]
Wonder [ ...

Winifred (8)

ri830
{1828

Woodbine]

(l826

ENTERED IN 1824.

Name.

SrRE.

Dam.

Whkn

DRAFTED.

Bachelor!

Bravery/

Confidence ...

Baronet (6)

Ravager (4)

Cheshire Ban ger

Bertram (9)

Bajazet (9)

Basilisk (9)

Courtesy (5)

/1827

\1832
1832

Daphne
Diligent

Destiny (9)

(1827
h828

Dragon j

Fencer

Melody\

Mira /

Woodman

Fairmaid (10)

Madcap (8)

[l830

1833

/1831

\1832

1827

Do. (9)

Wanton (4)

APPENDIX V.

377

ENTEKED IN 1825.

Challenger'
Comrade
Comedy
Hannibal j
Harbinger >
Hercules J
Stella ....
Jessamine]
Justice I
Juvenal J
Tarquin ....

Lord Anson's Comrade i Caroline (10)

Bajazet (9)

Nathan (12)

Lord Middleton's Van-
guard

Sir Thos. Mostyn's
Tandem

Heedless (5)

When

DRAFTED.

1832
1829
1830
1831
1831
1831

Symmetry (11) '■ 1829

1 (1832

Joyful (8) I 1832

(1829
Duke of Beaufort's
Rampish

ENTERED IN 1826.

When

DRAFTED.

Basker \
Brilliant;
Gertrude
Norman]
Nimrod [
Nimble j
Matchless

Pilgrim ...

Rhapsody
Rosebud
Songstress
Vanity ...
Wisdom...

Conquest
Tuneful...

Bajazet (9) Bonnybell

Ganymede (9) Columbine (10)

Nathan (12) Joyful (8)

Lord Yarborough's His Constant

Minister j

Duke of Grafton's Pala- I Mr. Oxenden's Amazon

tine j

Bajazet (9) | Raiity (9)

Regent (9) i BasiUsk (9)

Nathan (12) Symmetry fll)

Bajazet (9) ! Victory (10)

Lord Yarborough'i

Woldsman

Bertram (9)

Sir R. Sutton's Trim-

bush

His Daphne .

Caroline (lOj
His Factious

/1834
\1830
1830
1833
1832
1832
1829

1829

1829
1831
1831
1832
1829

1831
1827

Conquest and Tuneful not in T. Leedham's Manuscript.

378

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1827.

Namk.

SIKE.

Dam.

When

DRAFTED.

Coral

Courtesy

Bustler )
Blameless/ "*
])readnoiight\
Driver 1

Bertram (9)

Baronet (G)

Dragon (12)

Justice (13)

Caroline (10)

Courtesy (5)

1830
1830

Basilisk (9)

Dauntless (8)

/1828

\1830

(1833

1829

Damsel {
Dainty j
Ferdinand]

Fencer (12)

Needwood (11)

)1833

11832

(1833

1833

Freedom J

Melody (12)

Daphne (12)

His Welcome

1833
1829

Reveller

Wilful \
Wanton/

Rambler (8)

Lord Lonsdale's Palafox

1834
|1832

ENTERED IN 1828.

Adamant^
Amazon )"

Costly

Gamesome)
Gravity /

Jessica

Ijatimer ]
Lionel > ..
Lounger]
jVIarmion
Madrigal
IVIyrtle
Marplot j
Monitor > .
Modesty)
*Ruby ...

* Primrose .

* Pastime

* Saucebox

* Demirep

* Nestor ...
*Hio:hland(

Mr. Chadwick's Rifle-
man
Rambler (8)

Needwood (11)

Nathan (12)

Justice (13)

Wildboy (12)
Dragon (12):..

Destiny (9)

Columbine (10)
Gertrude (14) ..
Jessamine (13)..

Daffodil (9)

When-
drafted.

Mira (12) ....

Melody (12),

Mr. Chadwick's Rifle- j Destiny (9) .
man i

Nelson (12) i Mr. Chadwick's Primrose

Mr. Foljambe's Piper ...

Do. Royster

Do. Stroker

Lord Tavistock's Prophet
Do. Hermit

Mr. Saville's Welcome
Do. Safety .
Do. Delicate
His Niobe....
His Milliner .

1829
1832
1833
1829
1831
1837
1833
1829
1832
1835
1832
1834
1829
1829
1834
1832

1835
1835
1833
1836
1832
1830

Hounds marked thus * are found in the next year,
this entrv.

as two-season hounds with

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1829.

AVhek

DRAFTED.

Benedict

Bloomer

Boaster

Barbara

Beatrice,

Ebony

Emily

Eleanor

Edgar

Emerald

Furrier ,

Jasper \

Junket/ '

Milliner ,

Niobe ■>

Notary/'

Roguish ,

Woodbine

Nelson (12)
Rifleman ...

Fencer (12)

Fencer (12)

Joker

Rambler (8)
Nathan (12)
Rifleman ...

Nelson (12)

Bravery (12) ..
Bashful (10)

Harmony (11) ..

Confidence (12)

Dauntless (8) ..

Mira (12)

Jessamine (13).,

Mr. Chadwick's

Dauntless
Wisdom (14) ..

1837
1837
1835
1834
1830
1835
1836
1836
1 1835

1834
/1 830
\1834

1837
/1831
\1833

1831

1836

ENTERED IN 1830.

Admiral.,
Bachelor
Bridesmaid
Bluebell
General . . .

Romulus
Concord

Governor
Margaret ]
Matchless)
Nightshad(

Sailor \
Saracen/
Wonder...
Vestal\
Violet/ •••

Norman (14) .,

Wildboy(12) .

Wildboy (12) .

Wildboy (12) .
Belvoir Singer .

Needwood (11)
Challenger (13)
Nathan (12)

Needwood (11)
Nathan (12)....
Bajazet (9)

Amazon (16)

Bravery (12)

Sir H. Mainwariiig'i

Gravity

Rhapsody (14)

Sir H. Mainwaring'i

Concord
Gertrude (14)

Melody (12)

Mr. Chadwick's
Racket

Songstress (14) ...

Wanton (15)

Victory (10)

When

DRAFTED.

1831

[1838
1833

[1837
1836

1831
1831

1835
fl838
U831

1837

fl832
11833
1835
^1837
[1839

380

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1831.

Alfred \
Archer I
Adamant j
Adelaide )
Bertram
Danger j
Dragon J
DaffbdilJ
Fleecer \
Foreman/
Modish ...

Piper

liacer ^
Ranter I
Ravager j
Rambler;
Rakish |
Rarity [
Rosalind]
Wilful \
Winifred)

Wildboy (12)

Nathan (12)

Mr. Shaw's Workman.

Fencer (12)

Wildboy (12)

Nathan (12)

Reveller (15)

Nestor (17)

Wildboy (12)

Amazon (16) ,

Mr. Chadwick's Buxom
Damsel (15)

Wilful (15)

Mira(12)

Pastime (17)

Welcome

Rosebud (14)

Wanton (15)

When

DKAFTED.

(1836
1835
1835
1839
1837
(1834
1834
[1834
/1837
\1836
1833
1832
1839
1836
1832
1836
(1835
1832
(1836
/1832
\1832

ENTERED IN 1832.

Name.

Sire.

Dam.

Whek

DRAFTED.

Dorimant

Factor

Basker(14)

Wildboy (12)

Demirep (17)

Freedom (15)

Duke of Beaufort'sHeroine

Jessica (16)

Mira(12)

Purity

Madrio-al (16)

1840
1834

Henchman . . .

Joyful

Melody

Pillager\

Proctor/

Rally wood ^
Regent 1

Mr. Watson's Villager

Nectar (17)

Wildboy (12)

1834
1833

Nathan (12)

Rifleman

Mr Shaw's Vioprnv

fl838
[1838
fl839
1834

Rival j ••■
Romulus '
Valiant

Myrtle (16) . .

1839
,1835
1838

Warrior \
Woodman/ "•
Songstress

Needwood (11)

Fencer (12)

Welcome

Songstress (14)

rl839
il840
1838

APPENDIX V.

381

ENTERED IN 1833.

Admiral \
Abigail I
Arrogant (
Artful )
Boniface]
Basilisk i
Brilliant J
Champion
Chanticleer
Cottager
Delicate . . .
Falstaff I
Forester/
Herdsman
Madcap . . .
Norval . . .
Pilgrim \
Pontiff/
Rasselas"»
Rarity /
Rosebud

Alfred (20)
Bertram . .

Welcome

Myrtle (16)

Fencer (12) i Columbine

Nathan (12) Demirep (17) . . .

Fencer (12) Nightshade (19)

Henchman (21) : Ebony (18)

Fencer (12) ■ Moorish

Nathan (12) I Damsel (15)

Basker (14) Pastime (17)

Bertram (20)

Mr. Applethwaite'sDiomed

Whex

DRAFTED.

Mr. Chadwick's Racket
Do. Rosebud.

1841

1835

1841

1840

1834

1839

1838

(1835

1834

[1840

1835

/1 837

\1840

1834

1840

1836

/1839

\1835

jl839

\1838

1841

ENTERED IN 1834.

When

DRAFTED

Bustler

Contract)
Cheerful [ .,
CoimtessJ
Driver "l
Damsel > .
Delia j
Facer i
Fencer/ '
Hotspur ■»
Hyacinth/ *
Jessamine'^
.Jezebel /
Marplot \
Meranon /'
Nimrod "j
Norman [ .
Needful]
Rummager,
Racket
ReHsh
Victory \
Volatile/

Rifleman

Diike of Rutland's
Contract

Dreadnought (15)

Fencer (12)

Henchman (21)
Nathan (12) ..
Basker (14)

Nathan (12)

Duke of Rutland's
Wonder

Proctor (21)

Bluebell (19)
Joyful (21) ...

Myrtle (16) ..

Jessica (16) ..
Eleanor (18)
Junket (18) ..
Margaret (19)

Purity

Rosalind (21)
Vanity

1836
1841
1842
1835
(1836
1836
(1836
/1 836
\1838
/1 835
11835
/1836
11837
/1835
\1835
(1840
1 1840
(1842
(1835
1837
(l836
/1837
11840

382

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1835.

Bower |
Bracelet! ,
Brusher j
Baronet]
Bruiser [ ,
Bustard j
Chorister ")
Conquerorj
Ferdinand
Fugleman
Gamboy,..,

Hebe

Juvenal ....
Marksmanl
Midnight J
Modesty

Nora

Piper

Patriot

Splendour ,
Vanguard
Wildboy \
Wanton I
Whimseyr
Wisdom '

Bertram (20)

Bertram (20)

Falstaff(23)

Foreman (20)

Lord Yarborough's

Gambler
Lord Southampton's

Halard
Basker(14)

Dorimant (21)

Mr. Drake's Murmurer

Basker(14)

Falstaff(23)

Alfred (20)

Dorimant (21)

Belvoir Vanguard

Alfred (20)

Purity

Rival (22)

Columbine

Adelaide (20)

Mr. Drake's Wrathful

Mr. Drake's Wanton

(16)

Margaret (19)

His Volatile

Nightshade (19)

Pastime (17)

Prejudice

Songstress (22)

Mr. Drake's Madrigal

Welcome

When

DHAFTED.

ri836
1837
[l836
(1836
1836
[1841
/1836
1 1838
/1836
\1841

1836

1842

1837
/1841
\1841
1837
1842
1837
1836
1836
1836
1837
1843
1843
1843

ENTERED IN 1836.

Name.

SlEE.

Dam.

When

DKAI^TED.

Banker >

Blowsyj

Cerberus
Champion

Bertram (20)

Falstafr(23)

Rival (22)

Cheerful (24)

Columbine

His Fairmaid

Artful (22)

/1 845
\1844

ns37

J 1839
( 1837

1841
W840

1838

Countess
Cowslip y
Fatal

Belvoir Fatal

Friendly

Gaudy \

Gaylass j

Reveller \
Roman /
Roderick J ...
Royalist (
Kuramager )
Vaulter

Victor

Lord Yarborough's

Gamester
Sir H. Mainwaring's

Galliard

1837

/1841

\184a

1841

1844

1839

Nightshade (19)

Lord Yarborough's

Regent
Do. Playful

Do. Regent

Lord Yarborough's
Vigilant

1840
1842
1842

1844

APPENDIX V.
ENTERED IN 1837.

383

Sire.

Archer "»
Audrey/ "
Barrister^
Brnsher / "

Justice

Lucifer]

Lively >

Lavish J

Marquis

Needwood \
Notary [
Nimble j
Vagrant ]
Vocal
Votaress]
Vengeance

Wilful

Racer (20)

Collier

Admiral (22)

Piper (26)

Dorimant (21)

Cottager (23)

Cheshire Guardsman

Mr. "Wichsted's

Vulpecide
Badsworth Random

j Whek

I DRAFTED.

Adelaide (20) ...

Bluebell (19) ...
Jessica (16)

Joyful (21)

Milliner (18) ...

Nightshade (19)

Volatile (25)

Badsworth Truelo\
Do. Woodbine

/1839

\1845

/1 843

\1838

1843

(1845

1839

(1843

1843

1845

1838

1838

1839

1838

1839

1839

1842

ENTERED IN 1838.

Abigail "»

Active /

Charger

Dauntless ..
Ferryman!
Fleecer /
Fatima "l
Frantic j "

Honesty

Hyacinth . .

Nathan]
Nelson > ..
Nectar )
Palafox ]
Platoff ..
President)
Vanquisher"!
Viceroy j
Splendour "i
Syren j

Villager

Draco

Negligent ,.
Rally

Lord Yarborough's

Pirate
Lord Segrave's Demc

Piper (26)

Lord Yarborough's

Finder

Do

Reveller (28)

Norval

Bel voir Rasselas

Lord Yarborough's
Pirate

Do

Norman (25)

Roderick (28)

Lord Segrave's Hotspur

Do. Nobleman

Duke of Beaufort's
Rubens

Adelaide (20)

His Comfort...
Daphne

Artful (22) ...

Rosebud (23)

Hebe (26)

Lord Yarborough's
Hopeful

Nightshade (19) ..

When-
drafted.

Cheerful (24)

Volatile (25)

Rosy

Violet (19)
His Dulcet
Do. Dinah
Do. Redrose

fl844
L1839
1839
1846
ri839
11839

11840
1845
1840

1839
1842
1839
1839
1840
1842
1839
1844
1839
1845
1839
1847
1839
1839

384

APPENDIX V.
ENTERED IN 1839.

Abelard ,

Lord Yarborough's
Finder

Do

Lucifer (28)

Admiral (22)

Lord Yarborough's Pirate

Reveller (28)

Badsworth Tomboy ...
Lord Yarborough's Pirate

Reveller (28)
Victor (28) ..

Adelaide (20)

Gaudy (27) ...
Margaret (19)

Matron

Arrogant (22)

Artful (22) ...

Rosebud (23)
Rival (22)

Whimsey (27)
Nora (26)

When

DRAFTED.

1848

n844

1840

(1842

1844

/1843

1840

1841

1846

V1846

(1841

1842

[l840

1841

1847

1843

1841

1846

1843

(-1848

1845

[1847

1843

H846

11846

J1847

(1844

1844

ENTERED IN 1840.

When

DRAFTED.

Cardinal ..

Edgar \
P^mperor
Eleanor I
Elegant ( "
Emerald
Emily J
Gilder \
Governor/"
Harmony ..
Juneval |
Juliet [
.Jessamine]
^lariner 1
]\Iemnon> ..
Miracle j

Nigel

Tancredj
Tarquin > ..
Trifle I

Reveller (28)

Rummager (28) ....

Badsworth Tomboy
Lucifer (28)

Justice (28)

Cheerful (24)
Gaudy (27) ..

Gaylass (27)..
Hebe (26)

Daphne

Rummager (28) Matron

Lancer [ Needful (25).

Badsworth Tomboy Gaylass (27).

1841

^846

1844

1847

1846

U844

1847

/1844

\1841

1843

1843

1842

1841

ri841

1841

1841

1849

1841

1841

1841

APPENDIX V.

385

ENTERED IN 1841.

Active 1

Amazon/

Comedy..

Damsel ..

Gamester

Gossamer

Graceful

Gravity

Mercuryl

Monitor [

Myrtle j

Kapid ]

Ringlet}

Ruby j

'raraerlane

Tempest

Woodbine

Reveller (28) ...

Rummager (28)
Marquis (29) . . .

Reveller (28) ...

Lucifer (28)

Belvoir Governor

Tamerlane

Rummager (28)

Arrogant (22)

Cowslip (27)...
Daphne

Gaudy (27)

Matron

Rosy ,

Dauntless (29).
Wilful (29) ....

/1849

\1843

1849

1849

1847

1849

1848

1842

(1842

1844

(1848

1848

1849

I a848

I /1842

i \1845

1 1847

ENTERED IN 1842.

When

DRAFTED.

Adamant \

Archer

Auditor

Amulet

Amethyst

Actress

Adeline ^

Ebony "»

Empress/

Forester

Hannibab

Harlequin^

Hercules

Hotspur

Hecuba

Heedless

NautilusV

Nimrod / *

Pontiff ■»

Primrose/ '

Ravager....

Trimbush"!

Tuneful /

Winifred .

Woodman .

Sampson .

VOL. ir.

Abelard (31)

Emperor (33)
Glider (.33) ...

Needwood(20)

! Roman (28)

Reveller (28)

Roman (28)

Reveller

Wellington (32)

Mr. Foljambe's Sampson

Honesty (30)

Hebe (26)...
Fatima (30)

Mr. Foljambe's Herald Gaudy (27)

Emerald (33) ..

Pamela (31)

Wanton (27) ..

Termagant (32)

Whinsey

Cheerful (24) ..
Matron

/1843

1 1843

/ 1847

1845

1849

1849

.1849

/1844

11843

1846

1850

1847

1844

\ 1844

1848

\1848

/1 844

\1843

/1847

\1844

1846

/1843

11843

1843

1843

1843

2 c

386

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1843.

Name.

Sire.

Dam.

When

DRAFTED.

Victor (28)

Lord Yarborough's
Prodigal

Wellington (.32)

Lazarus (31)

Lord Yarborough's

Prodigal

Do. Prodigal

Do. Prodigal

Vaulter (28)

Emily (33)

1848

Fencer i
Ferdinand \ ...
Fairmaid j
Ganymede j
Governor > ...

Fatima(30)

Gaudy (27)

n844
1844
1 1850
fl844
{1849

Gertrude j
Legacy]

Lively

Lesbia
Playful

Platofif

Regulus

Vanquisher!
Villager ...
Venus j
Trajan \

Tuneful/

Watchman ...

Syren (3)

Emerald (33)

Elegant (33)

Rosamond (32)

Trifle (34)

Termagant (32)

(l849
(1848
{1847
(l844
1844

1844

1845

(1845

{1844

Wellington (32)

Victor (28)

[1849

/1846

\1848

1844

Wanton (27)

ENTERED IN 1844.

Bracelefl
Brajela /
Commodore]
Conqueror > ,
Coral j

•Cerbenis "»
Comrade/ "■

Editor

Garland

Harbinger ]
Handmaid \
Heroine j
Ransom ]
Rhapsody >
Rosalind j
Vanity
Vigilant
Vestal
Victory
Violet
Volatile/
Waverley

Lord Yarborough's
Basilisk

General (31)

Bads worth Cryer. . . .

Vanlter (28)

Glider (33)

Harlequin (36)

Vaulter (28)

Victor (28)

Badsworth Why not.

Emerald (33) .
Comedy (34) .

Eleanor (33)....

Elegant (33) .
Honesty (30) .

Rapid (35) ....
Rosamond (32)

Woodbine (35)
Damsel (34)....

/1849
\1852
(1846

1845
(l849
jl847
\1847

1846

184!)
(1850

1848
1 1845
(1846

1847
[1845

1847

1846

1849
11848

1850
1 1845

1846

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1845.

387

When

DKAFTED.

Admiral.
Emperor
Emerald
Ensign
Oadfly I
Gladsome)
Glory ]
Hotspm* i
Hyacinth/"
Harmony .
Nerval ....
Racer \
Rattler
Rarity .
Relish
Rosebud /
Symmetry .
Vengeance
Villager^
Vocal / •
Woodman .
Wildboyl
Wonder / '

Roman (28)

Lucifer (28)

Cheshire Gulliver . . .

Roman (28)

Harlequin (36)

Nigel (34)

Cheshire Rattler

Belvoir Splendour ...
Mr. Drake's Vaulter

Belvoir Victor

Mr. Drake's Warbler

Wellington (32)

Actress (35)..
Eleanor (33)

Rosamond (32)

Heedless (36)

Sanguine (32)
Hecuba (36)

Ringlet (35)

Elegant (33)....
Emily (33) ....

Woodbine (35)

Rapid (35) ....

Fairmaid (37) .

1851
(1853
h850
(l846
(1846

1847
(1846
/1849
\1853

1849

1846
/1 847

1847
{1847

1849
U849

1848

1847
/1847
\1847

1846
/1846
\1848

ENTERED IN 1846.

Name.

When

DRAFTED.

Agnes \
Adamant I
Albion I
Archer j
Bluebell I
Bounty /
Challenger
Comus
Caroline
Ferdinand
Flasher
Foreman
Furrier
Grecian ^
Gulliver/ "
Rosamond .
Saladin"»
Sultan / ■
Valiant j
Vanguard I
Volatile j
Alderman .

Careful ...
Reuben ...

Abelard (31) j Ringlet (.35)

Belvoir Victor Brazile (38)

Comrade (38) Violet (39)

Lord Yarborough's
Flasher

' Eleanor (33)....

: Stormer (32) j Gossamer (34) .

j Harlequin (36) Rosamond (32)

' Stormer (32) i Venus (37) ....

Belvoir Victor

Woodbine (35
Ariel

Restless

Lord Yarborough's

Rallywood

Do. Comrade His Susan

Lord Fitzwilliam's Do. Notable..

Roman
Do Do. Primrose

11855
1851
1847
1848
/1847
\1848
(1847

1852
(l852
(1854
1 1848
11852
11852
/1 849
\1847

1849
/1847
\1849
(1847

1849
(1847

1849

1849
1851

1849

388

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1847.

Amulet

Albion

Chorister]
Cruiser > , .
Costly J
Fatal 1
Fleecer/ "
Forester ..

Guardian ..

Lucy

Pilot

Prodigal "l
Prudence/
Prizer

Regent \
Ringwood I
Romulus I
Rival j
Songstress]
Stella
Sybil J
Sentinel . .
Vulcan "k
Virgin /

Storraer(32)

Mr. Foljambe's Albion

Badsworth Whynot

Oakley Singer

Lord Yarborough's

Cashier

Oakley Ferryman

Badsworth Lubin

Prodigal ,

Lord Yarborough's

Prodigal
Lord Yarborough's

Guider

Abelard(31)

Furrier (41)

Mr. Drake's Saladin
Belvoir Victor

When

DBAFTED.

Actress (35)

Lord Yarborough's
Actress

Comedy (34)

Oakley Fallacy
His Prosody....

Their Gaudy .
Emily (33) ....
Damsel (34)....

Oakley Dainty .

His Pensive . . . .

Ringlet (35) . .

Susan (32) ..

His Laudable
Legacy (37)..

1851
1854

1849

1855

1853

j /1854

I U848

[ 1848

i 1848

; 1848

i 1854

/1848

\1848

1848

1854
1850
1848
1848
1849
1849
1850
1849
i /1848
11848

ENTERED IN 1848.

When

DRAFTKD.

Absolute "I
Alfred
Affable V
Amazon
Artful J
Benedicts
BobadU I
Barbara | '
BluebeU )
Boxer ....
Falstaff

Ferryman"*
Florizel /
Gulliver "j
Guardian >
Gaudy )
Hermifk
Hector / '
Heedless .
Hermitude

Doninjrton Absolute

Lord Harewood's
Benedict

Victory (39)

Damsel (34)

Abelard (31) ! Brajela (38) ...

Lord Yarborough's | Hyacinth (40)

Flasher |

Ferdinand (41) ! Relish (40) ...

Adamant (41) Gertrude (37)

Harlequin (36)

Do. (36)

Emperor (39) ..

Legacy (37)...

Amethyst (35)
Handmaid (38)

I 1849
! 1855

j rl852

' U857

185ft

1854

1853

/1852

t \1852

1856

1850

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN ISiS— continued.

389

Name.

Sire.

Dam.

When

DRAFTED.

Needwood ...

Nelson ]
Nimrod>

Lord Yarborough's
Norman

Nerval (40)

Fairmaid (37)

Rapid (35)

1855

(1855
1855

Nelly J
Ravager '
Roderick
Roguish - ...
Rosy
Rarity
Rachel ]
Rhapsody [ ...
Rosalind J
Wanton )

Qnorn Fugleman

Hannibal (36)

Flasher (41)

Rosebud (40)

Ringlet (35)

Woodbine (35)

His Ardent

Do. Hopeful

Do. Needful

|l851
ri849

1850
\ 1856

1854
L1851
(1853

1857
[1856
/1852
\1849

1850

1850

Witchcraft / " ' '
Forester

Lord Yarborough's

Flasher
Do. Rallvwood

Newsman

Do. Flasher

1850

ENTERED IN 1849.

Name.

Adjutanfi
Ajax /
Alaric ...,
Commodon
Chorus
Columbine
Fencer "k

Frantic/

Oranby ">

Olory /

Hasty

Hero

Lictor"»

Lucy J

Norman

<3rpheus

Rasselas 'I
Rifleman/
Selim ^
Sylvia I
Symmetry!
Syren j

Telltale ]
Termagant
Trifle V ,

Tuneful I
Twilight J
Viceroy "i
Vengeance/ '

Adamant (41)
Do. (41)

Foreman (41)

Comedy (34)
Violet (39) .

Careful (42) .

Do. (41)

Mr. Drake's Collier
Lord Yarborough's

Actress (35) ...

Gertrude (37)
Hyacinth (40)

Ottoman

Do. Harbinger I His Rachel ....

Mr. Drake's Layman ... Ringlet (35) ....

Norval (40) Songstress (44)

Lord Yarborough's Caroline (41) .

Ottoman ^

Hotspur I Rosebud (40) .

Ferdinand (41).

Belvoir Trouncer
Fife Vanguard

Sanguine

Agnes (41) .
Amulet (42)

When

DRAFTED.

/1855
\1856

1851
(1853

1850
(1857
/1850
\1850
/1 857
\185G

1856

1855

/1855

\1855

1852

1853

/1858

\1854

1850

1850

1853

1856

ri853

1854

} 1854

I 1850

L1850

/1850

11850

390

APPENDIX V.
ENTERED IN 1850.

Archer\

Afifable/

Abelard

Bonnybell ..
Challenger..
Clinker i
Conqueror [
Charlotte J
Harmony ..

Hostile

Forester i
Fencer \ ..
Fairy J
Lapwing . .

Marplot

Minor

Nimble

Relish ]
Rival [
Rosamond]

Pilgrim

Vocal

Adamant (41)

Sir W. Wynne's Admiral
Hercules

Mr. Lumley's Chanter

Lord Yarborough's
Forager

Florizel(45)

Sir \V. Wynne's Admiral

Duke of Beaufort's
Fairplay

Badsworth Lubin

Sir R. Sutton's Trusty
Mr. Lumley's Fleecer
Lord Yarborough's Ruler

Ferdinand (41)

Belvoir Prompter
Lord Yarborough's
Wellington

Coral (38)

His Parody

Brajela(38)

Sir R. Sutton's Goneril

His Charlotte

Heedless (45)

His Harmony

Fairmaid (37)

N. Staftbrdshire Delicate

His Musical

Belvoir Melody

His Nightshade

Rhapsody (46)

Sir R. Sutton's Paragon
Sir W. Wynne's Victory

When

DRAFTED.

/1 855

\1859
1857
1857
1855
1853
1856
185->
1852
1858
1855
1851
1851
1854
1854
1851
1853

(1857
1858

[l85('»
1851
1857

ENTERED IN 1851.

When

DRAFTED.

Alderman 'j
Abbess I
Abigail |
Amazon j
Cardinal n
Chancellor
Chanticleer
Charon
Collier
Captive
Clara

Crafty '

Charmer . .

Mendicant..
Prosperine"!
Pamela J
Rantipole ..

Rattler \
Random/ ""
Rector j
Redrose \ ..
Resolute)
♦Tuneful ..

Adamant (41)

North Staffordshire
Wildboy

Lord Fitzhardiuge'

Boxer
Do. Potentate

Rifleman (47)

I Lord Fitzhardinge';
Boxer

Rifleman (47)

Hyacinth (40)

Caroline (41)

His Columbine.

Do. Madrigal

Lord Yarborough's

Phoenix
His Rustic

Ruby,

Mr. Lumley's Render . . . Amulet (42)

Sir R. Sutton's Trueman , Atherstone Delicate

1857
185:»
1854
1855
,185-2
1857
1856
1 1858
il854
1854
'l85.')
4855
1856

1855
1851)

1855

-1853
1859
1858
1856
1859
1855

APPENDIX V.

391

ENTERED IN 1852.

Alaric -j
Actress I
Adeline j ' '
Arrogant;

Fairy

Fearnought^
Fugleman /
Madrigal]
Melody [ ,.
Mira j

Pilgrim

Roderick \
Roundelay/
Sailor]

Susan [

Sybil j

Tarquin

Vanquisher

Falstaff (45) Agues (41)

Ferdinand (41)
Falstaff (45)

Cheshire Monitor.

Pilot (43)

Ferdinand (41) .

When

DBAFTED.

Rhapsody (4G).
Artful (44) ....

Tuneful (51)

Roguish (46)
Rosv

Ferdinand (41) ' Sanguine

Alfred (44) i Telltale (48)

Lictor (47) I Virgin

(1860
1857
1855
1860
1853
/1 853
11853
ri853
1859
(185G
1854
/1854
U854
(1858
1853
[1853
1858
1858

ENTERED IN 1853.

Name.

SiBE.

Dam.

When

DllAPTED.

Auditor

Champion^
Conrad / ' '
Factor^

Frolic J

Herald \
Hercules/
Laura

Falstaff (45)

Sir R. Sutton's Time-
man

Ferryman (45)

Adjutant (46)

Artful (44)

Columbine (47)

1858
/1858
\1855
/1 858
\1855
/1856
\1860

1859

Ruby

Hyacinth (40)

Rasselas (47)

Lucv ("47)

Pillager 1
Pontiff 1
Prodigal }■ ...
Prompter
Paragon J
Ranter

Belvoir Pilot

Caroline (41)

Rosalind (46) . .

ri857

1856

<! 1856

Do. Ranter

Lord H. Bentinck's

Regent
Belvoir Sultan

1858
1859
1855

Rosebud ....

Rhapsody (46)

1858

Sultan

Roguish (46)

1859

Twilight

Rasselas (47)

Trifle (48)

1859

392

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1854.

Name.

SiKE.

Dam.

E

When

RAFTED.

Active

Falstaff(45)

Agnes (41)

Rhapsody (46)

1»(;ik

Croesus ^
Constance/ "■■

Cardinal

Hermit

/1855

\1855

1856

1860

Do. (47)

Do. (47)

Affable (48)

Hasty (47)

Playmate

Rifleman (47)

Purity

Rantipole (51)

1857

Ransom

Do. (47)

Belvoir Prompter

Commodore (47) . .

1860

Racer

Rallywood

Ravager

Royalist

Racket

Rally

Raglan

Redrose (51)

Resolute (51)

[1859
1860
1860
1860
1859
a860

Tamerlane

Rasselas (47)

Clinker (49)

Tuneful (51)

1859

Tempest

Termagant (48)

18.^7

ENTERED IN 1855.

Admiral....
Captain j
Cardigan I
Celia [ •
Cheerful j
Facer
Flasher
Freeman .
Fairy
Fancy
Gaiety ]
Graceful > .
Goneril j
Harper ....

Nestor ....
Olga

Painter \
Pilot J!
President j *
Priam j
Rarity . . . .

Ruby

Selim •»

Splendour/

Thelis

Thisbe

Tigress

Trinket

Traffic

When

PKAFTED.

Sailor (52) Agnes (41) .

i
Rifleman (47) j Captive (50).

Duke of Beaufort's ; Redrose (51).

Foreman

Rifleman (47)

Glory (47)

Lord Yarborough's ! Lucy (47)

Harper

Nelson (45) ; Arrogant (51)

Lord Yarborough's 1 Charmer (50)

Orator !

Pilot (43) ' Rhapsody (46)

Mira (52)

Duke of Beaufort's

Rufus
Falstaflf (45) | Roguish (46)

Sailor (52) Affable (48) .

Pilot (43) : Termagant (48)

Falstaff(45) ' Trifle (48)

1856

1866

1857

1861

1859

1857

1861

1862

1861

1862

fl857

I 1861

(1859

1861

1862

1856

1858

I 11857

1857

1856

1856

1862
/1 860
\1858
/'1860
11857
)1860
11860

1861

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1856.

393

Sire.

When

DEAFTED.

Absolute ■»
Alice / *
Adela^
Alma/ •*■■
Cottager\
Clara j '
Fairmaid |
Fallacy > .
Fatima j
General 1
Garland/ '
Ganymede.
Hazard \
Hector I
Heroine! '
Hopefulj
Newsman ■»
Norman j
Rambler .
Rantipole .
Render ....
Trajan .. .
Valentine .
Virgin ....

Pillager (53)...
Adjutant (46)
Charon (50) ...

Florizel (45)...

Agnes (41) ..
Rosebud (53)
Roguish (46)

Affable (48) ..

Granby (47)...
Hercules (53)

Falstaff (45)

Rival (49)...
Glory (47)

Hostile (49)

Needwood (45) J Arrogant (51)

Adjutant (46) [ Redrose (51)

Grove Tamerlane ! Rhapsody (46)

Adjutant (46) Resolute (51)

Tarquin (52)

Rasselas (47)

Cheshire Victor

Relish (49)

Vocal (49)

North Staffordshire
Legacy

/1863

\1861

/1861

\1857

/1862

\1862

I n863

1863

1861

/1859

\1857

1859

rl862

1 1862

11862

11857

/1 859

\1858

1861

1857

1862

1863

1857

1861

ENTERED IN 1857.

When

»BAFTED.

Abigail "»
Amazon/ "
Challenger..,
Constance ...

Comus

Grappler \
Gadfly I
Gamesome |
Gaudy j
Harbingei'^
Harmony
Hecuba
Heedless j
Hopeful J

Helen

POgiim ^
Pontiff I
Pastime j ■'
Primrose;
Reginald I
Roguish j ■■■
Radical \
Remus |
Romulus
Rachel j
Rapid /
Saladin

Rasselas (47) ..

Alaric (51)

Chancellor (50)
Hercules (53) ..

Actress (51)

Charmer (50) .,

Lucy (47)

Columbine (47)

Belvoir Grappler .

Alaric (51)

Hercules (53)

Do. (53)

Lord Scarborough's
Reginald

ReUsh (49)

Hostile (49)...,

Random (51) .
Paragon (53) ,

Roguish (46)....

Rasselas (47) ' Arrogant (51) .

Sultan (53) | Rhapsody (46).

/1861

\1861

1858

i 1859

j 1863

(1863
1863
1860
I /1864
1864
1863
1864
\1862
1860
^1861
1 1858
11863
11863
/1863
\1864
/1859
f 1864
1861
1863
VI 860
1863

394

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1858.

iTsm) Belvoir Trusty.

Bounty Mr. Morrell's Bajazet . .

Challenger Lord H. Bentinck's

: Challontrer

Columbine | Charon (50)

Commodore ... Cheshire Rockwood.

Gaiety . . . .
Garland \
(rossamerj
Lapwing
Legacy
Lively
Mariner ....
Patience ]
Princess >.
Prudence]
Rosalind\
Rosy / •
Rantipole .
Volatile....

Ganymede (57)

Do. (57)

Sailor (52)

Hercules (53)

Tarquin(52)

Tamerlane (54)

Mr. Foljambe's Rocket
Lord Yarborough's
Vaulter

When-

DKAFTED.

Their Nightshade |}^^^

Mr. Thomson's Blossom 1859
Ruby (56) 1865

Roguish (46)

Noith Staffordshire

Comfort
Thetis (56)

Hostile (49)

Laura (53)
Melody (5-2)
Pamela (50)

Random (51)

North Stafford Watchful
Do. Bridesmaid

1861
1859

1862

/1864

\1859

1859

1860

1860

i 1862

I (1865

S 1863

I (l864

I /I 859

j U861

; 1864

I 1863

ENTERED IN 1859.

Name.

Adeline "»
Agnes / ••••
Clasher "j
Comrade > .
CounsellorJ

Costly

Dragon 1

Dreadnought
Daffodil J

Gambler ]
(ray lass > .
Gossamer)
Forester . . . .

Hebe

Hyacinth ....
Minstreh
Music J ■ ■■
Pontiff ).
President J ' ' ' '
Prodigal\
Playful / ••••
Seaman \

Sybil ; •••■

Tancred ]
Tomboy > ...,
TruemanI

Sire.

Dam.

Ganymede (57) Alice (56)..

i
Cottager (57) Traffic (56)

Alaric (51)

Belvoir Trust v

When

DRAFTED.

/1860

\1860

(1861

1863

I (i860

Cheerful (55) 1861

: (1860

Arrogant (51) {1866

[i860

Hostile (49)

Do. Gambler

Hercules (53 [ Fairy (55)

Do. (5.3) ...".'.' .'."

Do. (53)

Alaric (51)

Ganymede (57) ....

Sailor (52)

(1864
)]

Tarquin (52)

1865

[1865

1865

1866

Celia(55) j 1865

Melody (52) {{HI

Pamela (50) {^gg^

Proserpme (50) il86'^

Ransom (54) 1863

•1865
1854
1865

Rally (54).

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1860.

395

Alfred )
Amethyst/
Amuletl
Artftil / ■
Carv'er ....
Chacer ....
Chorister .,
Conqueror .
Fugleman 1^
Florence /
Guider \
Gertrude I
Gladsome j
Goneril j
Hotspurl
Harriet / '
Laura I
Lucy / *•••

Rakish

Roderick ..
Rosahnd^
Rosebud/ '
Tamerlane^
Tempest /

Gadfly (58)
Active (54)

Alaric(51)

Argus (60)

Mr. Lane Foxe's Carver i Pamela (50) , ,

Do j Rachel (59)...

Do Fairmaid (57)

Do I Fancy (55) ...

When

DRAFTED.

Argus (60)

Alaric (51)

Hercules (53)
Alaric (51) ...

Do. (51)

Argus (60)

Reginald (59) ..
Ganymede (57)

Fairy (55)

Graceful (55)

Paragon (53)

Laura (53) ..

Racket (54) ..
Resolute (51)

Heedless (59)
Trinket (56)..

/1 865
\1862
/1867
\1867

I 1861
1862

I 1861

, 1867
/1866

I \1865

(1863
1867
1867
1864
/1864
\1864
/1863
\1866
1863
I 1867
i /1863
\1864
/1861
\1864

ENTERED IN 1861.

Name.

Sire.

Dam.

When

DRATTED.

Aflfable

Dairj'maid

Clasper^

Conrad/

Ferryman

Finder \

Fleecer/

Hero

Alaric (51)

Grove Duster

Lord H. Bentinck's

Clasper
Pilgrim (59)

Graceful (55)

Princess (60)

Harmony (59)

1864

1868

/1865

\1862

1866

Fallacy (57)

/1 862

\1862

1863

Grappler (58)

Sir W. Wynne's
Grappler

Do. Royal

Reginald (59)

Do.(59)

Ravaffer(.54)

Helen (59)

Pamela

Phoenix

Purity
Royal ]

Rarity}

RelishJ
Ringwood \
Rosamond/ ■•'
Tamerlane \
Trimbush / •■
Tmieful \

Twilight/

Wanderer \
Winifred 1
Winsome ( ■"
Witchcraft;

Primrose (59)

Fancy (55)

(1862
1862
(l867
(1868
h866

Rally (54)

(l868
/1862
U862
/1866
U866
/1865
\1866
(1867
1862
ll867
11868

Trinket (56)

Thetis (56)

Lord H. Bentinck's
Wanderer

Hecuba (59)

396

APPENDIX V.
ENTEKED IN 1862.

Name.

Agent 1
Auditor I
Adelaide 1
Amethyst;
Baronet j
Bluecap \ ..
Beatrice]

Druid

Fairplay^
Fencer / "

Fatima

Freedom .
Gamester^
Gloiy /

Hasty

Hermit "l
Honesty/ "'
Merrimac]
Monitor \
Mira )
Pilgi-im 'i
Paragon/ *
Sailor ^
Senator/ "

Valiant

llallywood.,

SiBB.

Belvoir Agent

Mr. Fitzwilliam's Blue
cap

Belvoir Druid

Alfred (63)

Mr. Fitzwilliam's Finisher
Reginald (59)

Pilgrim (59)

Reginald (59)

Hector (57)

Reginald (59)

Grappler (58)

Guider(63)

Forester (62)

Belvoir Rally wood ....

Hopeful (59)

Ruby (56) ...

Fallacy (57)...

Fancy (55) ...

Fairmaid (57)
Fairy (55) ...

Gadfly (58) ...

Heedless (59)

Alice (56)

Harmony (59)

Playful (62) ...

Sybil (62)

Virgin (58) ...
Graceful (55)

When-

DRAFTED.

{1869
1865
1869
1864
(1863

1864
(1868

1866
/1870
\1863

1866

1866
/1 865
\1868

1867
/1864
\1865
fl865

1869
(1864
/1867
\1869
/1864
\1865

1863

1864

ENTERED IN 1863.

Same.

SiKE.

Dam.

Whex

DRAFTED.

Albion ■>
Amazon/

Brainham General

Lord H. Bentinck's Falcon
Prodigal (62)

Bramham General

Do

Amulet (63)

Playful (62)

/1867

\1870

1865

Factor \
Ferdinand/ ■"
General
Gleaner

Fancy (55)

/1 869
\1869
(1870
h869

Rosalind (64)

Gravity
Governor

Princess (60)

Gladsome (63)

Gamesome (58)

(l866
1868

Laura "»

T • 1 >

Lord H. Bentinck's

Larkspur
Prodigal (62)

/1 869

\1870

1867

Lively/

Rector |
Rockwoodj ■■■
Saracen ]

Starlight}

Sylvia J
Songstress!
Syren* / •••
Termagant
Traffic

Reginald (59)

Primrose (59)

/1 865
\1869
(1869
1865
(l865
/1869
\1867
(1867
h868

Saladin (59)

Belvoir Stormer

Prudence (60)

Harriet (63)

Garland (60)

Tr.ni'an rE9.\

Tragedy ] j

Warrior ■» Lord H. Bentinck's

Fallacy (57)

(l864
/1869
\1867

Watchful/ •••

Warrior

This Bitch was walked by Rev. R. Chandos-Pole.

APPENDIX V.
ENTERED IN 1864.

397

Actor \
Abigail/ "
Absolute I
Adjutant/ *'
Commodore'
Counsellor ,

Cruiser

Larkspur^
Lavish / "
Monarchi
Madcap
Madrigal I
Matron
Melody-
Music
Nelson \
Nimrodj "
Regulus"k
Ringlet / "

Rosy

Ruby

Sanguine .,

Stately

Wonder ^
Workman/

Alfred (63)

Alfred (63)

Conqueror (63) . . . .

Belvoir Chanticleer
Lord H. Bentinck's
Larkspur

Merriraac (67)

Belvoir Nimrod ...

Lord H. Bentinck's
Regvilus

Reginald (59)

Do. (59)

Comus (58)

Belvoir Stormer ...

Conqueror (63) ....

Relish (65) ....

Rarity (65) ....

Fairmaid (57) .
Gaylass (62) .
Patience (60) .

Hyacinth (62) .

Garland (60) ,
Harmony (59)

Gossamer (62)
Amulet (63)
Sybil (62) ...
Adelaide (66)

Winsome (65)

/1868

\1871

/1871

U866

/1868

\187l

1868

(1866

\1865

1871

1868

1870

1869

1870

U871

/1870

\1869

/1866

\1870

1868

1866

1870

1865

/1860

\1867

ENTERED IN

1865.

Name.

SiBE.

Dam.

When

DRAFTED.

Arrogant

Alice.

Comus (58)

Artful (63)

1872

Asent (66)

Sylvia (68)

Hyacinth (62'i

1870

T?^lvr>,-r r.linnt.Vlppr

1867

Chorister ; Comus (58)

Columbine ... Cnnmiprnr (C)?{^

Para"-on (67)

1873

Garland (60)

1871

Coni-ad

Do. (63)

Belvoir Stormer

Hasty (66)

(1873
1871

Cowslip
Draco ")
Daffodil)

Dairymaid (64)

1871

(1866

1871

Damsel )

Conqueror (63)

Merrimac(67)

Lord Yarborough's

Nathan
Duke of Beaufort's

Guardsman

Rockwood (68)

Hebe (62)

(l866
1866

Manager"!

Marquis j

Nathan \

Nimble /

Pamela

Reveller]

Tuneful (65)

/1 872
\1869
/1872
U872
1870

(1869
1870

Gladsome (63)

Prudence (60)

Amethyst (66)

Redrose j
Victory\

Violet /

Wanton

' Duke of Beaufort's
Vaulter
Wanderer (65)

Witchcraft (65)

Gertrude (631

(1870

/1867

U872

1869

398

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1866.

Adamant
Abbess
Adeline
Agnes
Ardent ...
Alaric ...
Bachelor ■>
Rai'onet /
Dorimanfk
Dragon )
Finder \
Flasher I
Frolic I
Fallacy )
Fleecer ]
Flyer j
Forester]
Gaiety . . .
Marmion^
Marplot J
Primrose

Rival

Splendour
Statesman
Symmetry
Trinket...

SiBE.

Rockwood (68) Amulet (63)

When

DRAFTED.

Do. (68) ' Artful (63) ..

Druid (66) Affable (64)..

Do. (66) Beatrice (66)

Grove Damper Paragon (67)

Alfred (63)

Forester (62) ...

Druid (66)

Merrimac (67)...

Do. (67)

Rockwood (68)

Grove Roderick

Merrimac (67) ..

Freedom (66) ..

Dair^'^maid (64)

Gertrude (63) ..

Witchcraft (65)

Purity (65)

Amethyst (66)..

S>Ten (68)

Tuneful (65) .,

1872
1873
1872
1871
1872
1870
/1873
\1869
/1868
\1873
1872
1872
1873
1870
1872
1871
1872
1873
1871
1873
1872
1868
1867
1869
1869
1871

ENTERED IN 1867.

Name.

Sire.

Dam.

When

DRATTED.

Albert \

Archer/

Fatima

Asrent (66)

Beatrice (66)

Winsome (65)

Mira (67)

Gladsome (63)

|1872

Belvoir Falstaff

Mira

Needwood
Needful

Albion (67)

Nimrod (70)

1869

ri870

1871

Norah J
Ranter \
Rustic 1

Roval C65^

Lively (68)

[1873

1-1869

1871

Rachel j

Ransom;
Regan \
Rosamond/

Rivulet

Singer \
Sorcerer 1

Regulus (70)

Albion (67)

Regulus (70)

Wanderer (65)

Songstress (68)

Ringlet (70)

Syren (68)

j 1873

11871

/1869

11869

1872

1872

1874

Stormer 1

Stately j
Wilful

Dairymaid (64)

1874
1873
1874

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1868.

399

When

DRAFTED.

Abelard...
Coaster i
Caroline \
Comely )
Challenger
Falstaff
Fugleman
Fairy
Frantic
Cuider "»
■Graceful / "
Harbinger j
Harmony \
Hai-riet j

Milliner

Roderick \
Ruby / •
Sprightly ..
Wellington |
Woodbine I

Absolute (09) Laura (68)

Conqueror (63) | Witchcraft (65)

Madcap (70)

Sir W. Wynne's Chacer
Belvoir Falstaft"

Gleaner (68)

Lively (68)
Artful (63)

Counsellor (69) Hasty (66)

Albion (67) Matron (70)

Royal (65) Columbine (71)

Conqueror (63) Sanguine (70) .,

Wanderer (65) Dairymaid (64)

1875
1871
1876
1871
1873
(1869
1 1869
11874
U874
/1875
\1875
(1872
1873
(l876
1874
/1874
\1871
1871
/1870
\1873

ENTERED IN 1869.

Active . . .

Benedict

Champion

Draco

Dryden

Daphne

Fairmaid

Gamester"^

Gertrude j

Lavender!

Lavish

Minstrel

Madcap

Matchless

Margrave

Margaret

:Marigold ,

jNIarksman . .

Pilgrim \

Pilot / ••

Rapid

Rummager
Vanquisher

Winifred \
Winsome/

Agent (66)

Grove Comus

Do

Fairplay (66)

Do. (66)

Gleaner (68)

Chorister (71)

Fairplay (66)

Grove Comus

Marmion (73)

I Royal (65)

Mr, Chaplin's Reguk

Fairplay (66)

Mr. Chaplin's
Vanquisher

Rockwood(68) ....

Purity (65) ...
Beatrice (66)
Sanguine (70)

When-

DKAFTED.

Dairymaid (64)

Amazon (67) ..
Ardent (72)

Laura (68)

Music (70)

Matron (70)

Columbine (71)

Pamela (72)

Cowslip (71) ..

Ringlet (70)

Redrose (72) ..

Witchcraft (65)

1874

1872

1874

1875

1873

1881

1876

/1875

\1871

/1875

\1876

(1876

1876

[l876

(1870

1870

(l870

1872

/1876

U873

1876
1874

/1875
i \1872

400

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1870.

When-
drafted.

Admiral^
Amulet / "
Audrey \
Amethyst/
Cardinal ]
Chanticleer |
Constance I
Crystal J
Carver "k
Contest) ■ ■
Favourite ..
Galloper "l
Cxossaraerj

Leader

Lovely

Magic i
Miracle [ ..
Mischief)
Mariner ■>
Myrtle / •■
Nelly j
Nosegay j "'
Nigil li
Norman J " '
Selim

Alaric(72) ! Adeline (72).

Grove Leader ' Al )igail (69) .

Counsellor (69)

Belvoir Contest

Nimrod (70) ..

General (68) ..

Grove Leader ..
Do

Counsellor (69)

Do. (69)

Nimrod (70)

Chorister (71) ..
Marmion (73) . .

Abbess (72)

Cowslip (71)

Frolic (73)

Columbine (71)

Lively (68)

Mira(74)

Music (70)

Madrigal (70) ..

Countess (71) ..

Nimble (71)

Sanguine (70) ..

/1871
\1875
/1871
\187G
■1874

1877

11875

i 11874

/1875

\1874

1875
/1 875
\1875

1872

1872
fl871
{1876
(l871
/1875
\1873
/1 875
U875
/1874
\1871

1876

ENTERED IN 1871.

When

DKAFIED.

Albion ]
Alfred .
Adelaide]
Comrade ■>
Cheerful / '
Dahlia ....
Fatal )
Faithful [ .
Fearless]
Falcon I
Fancy /"■■
Governor .
Lexicon ....
Notary ^
Notable/ '
Rosamond ,
Speedwell .

Sybil

Welcome]
Wisdom >.
Wildfire )

Needwood (74)

Chorister (71) .,
Dragon (73)

Fairplay(66) .

Ardent (72) ..

Caroline (75)
Madrigal (70)

Fatima (74) ..

ri875

1 1873

[1873

/1877

\1873

1873

1873

1876

Do. (66) Columbine (71)

Guider(76) Cowslip (71)

Chorister (71) Lively (68)

Counsellor (69) Needful (74) ..

Needwood (74) Ringlet (70) . .

Challenger (75) I Sprightly (76)

Counsellor (69) ....

Bramham Fugleman ...

Stately (75)
Wilful (75)

/1876

\1875

1876

1877

/1872

\1877

1876

1874
ri875

1875
1 1877

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1872.

401

When

DRAFTED.

Admiral \
Affable / •

Baronet

Bertram \
Bluecap I
Bonny bell |
Buxom }
Cameron^
Careful / "
Dorcas .....
Ferryman ■»
Florizel /
Ladybird "»
Larkspur / ' '
Marquis ]
Melody [ ..
MischiefJ
Needwood..
Rallywood]
Regent >
Rosebud j
Statesman •J
Saucebox I
Scornful j
Spinster j
Saladin]
Sultan [ ..
Skilful j

Vanity

Watchful]
Wishful ..
Woeful

Adamant (72)

Bachelor (72)

Bachelor (72)

Chorister (71)

Draco (77)

Contest (78)

Do. (78)

Manager (71)

Challenger (75) ..
Belvoir Rallywood

Belvoir Stormer ..

Belvoir Ruler

Bachelor (72)

Chorister (71)

Columbine (71)
Winsome (78) ..

Milliner (76) ..

Countess (71) ..
Harmony (76) ..
Frantic (75)

Lavish (77)

Lavender (77) . .

Nimble (71)

Trinket (73)

Adeline (72)....

Stately (75)

Violet (72)

WUf\il(75)

1878
1879

)1873
U873
^1874

1873
/1874
\1877

{l878
fl876
J 187a
(1877

1876
ri876

1873

/'1875
1873

1 1873
(1873

1873
[1873

1873

1876
1876

ENTERED IN 1873.

Name.

Sire.

Dam.

When

DRAFTED.

Bachelor (72)

Winsome (78)

Madcap (77)

1877

Bismark

Do

1877

Do

Rivulet (74)

Fatima (74)

Harmony (76)

1874

Claimant^

Captious/

Durable

Conrad (71)

/1874
\1877

Draco (17)

Frisky

Furrier "»
Famous/

Dragon (73)

FroHc(73)

Fairmaid (77)

Rachel (74)

1874

Chorister (71)

/1874

\1876

1875

Guider (76)

VOL. II.

2 D

402

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1873— continued.

Dam.

When

DRAFTED.

Lightfoot 1
Linkboy
Lucifer V
Legacy
Levity J
Rarity\

Rattle/

Render ....

Sportsman

Sonnet

Stella

Vengeance

Venus

Volatile

Wildboy ]

Wrangler >.

Whimseyj

Manager (71) .

Miracle (79)...
Rummager (78)

Miracle (79)....
Rummager (78)
Contest (78) .

Lavish (77) ....

Rapid (77) ....
Adeline (72)....

Stately (75)....
Violet (72) ....
Woodbine (76).

1876

[1874

1878
1876

1875
1876
1875
1877
1877
1876

ENTERED IN 1874.

Ajax \
Anguish/
Banker ]
Boniface > .
Brilliant/
Bentinck \
Blameless/
Candidate .
Cottager \
Cromwell \ .
Capable j
Dancer ....
Denmark I
Darling /'
Farmer j
Firebrand I
Flagsman j
Fabulous ;
Foreman!
Florida / '
Millicent .
Nestor ....
Remedy....
Warlike\
Wary / '

Challenger (75) Active (76)

When

DRAFTED.

Bachelor (72) Fancy (80) ....

Lord Yarborough's , Winifred (78) .

Bentinck

Conrad (71) j Faithful (80) .

Draco (77) ' Constance (78).

Do. (77) ! Frolic (73) ....

Do. (77) : Harmony (76).

Lord Yarborougli
Blazer

Frantic (75).

Miracle (79) Fairmaid (77) .

Bachelor (72) I Matchless (77).

Challenger (75) \ Nosegay (79) .

Rummager (78) Adelaide (80) .

Lord Yarborough's
Rocket

WUful 75)

/1876
\1877

[1877
1 1876

1875

.

1876
1875

11875
11875

{:::

1875

1876
/1 876
\1875

APPENDIX V.
ENTERED IN 1875.

403

Name.

Artist \
Augury/
Acrobat 1
Agatha >
Audible j
Cerberus 1
Charon I
Ceres I
Circe j
Dexterous
Fancifulj
Festive /
Finisher...

Gamecoclv
Gondola
Marian )
Mildred [
MysteryJ
Namesake
Nicety "l
Niobe / ■■■
Rubicon \
Resolute/
Sunrise ...
Wakeful j
Warning/

SiBE.

When

DBATTED.

Minstrel (77)
Abelard (75)

Amulet (78)...
Watchful (83)

Draco (77) Constance (78)

Do. (77) Mill)ner(7G) .

Linkboy(84) Frantic (75)

Lord Fitzhardinge's j Fairmaid (77) ..

Wonder '

Guider(76) j Favourite (79).,

Do. (76) j Matchless (77)..

Challenger (75) Notable (80) ..

Belvoir Rally wood j Nelly (79)

Rummager(78) Winifred (78) ..

Stormer(75) Famous (83) ..

Belvoir Warrior Woeful (83)

(1876

,1876
1876

•1876

1876

1875

ENTERED IN 1876.

Namk.

Barrister^

Barmaid /

Clinker j

Conjuror I

Claribel j

Damon ...

Gaylad ...

Guilty 1

Glaucus/

Guardian \

Gratitude/

Handmaid

Heedless

Hostile

Layman

Lecturer

Lawless

Liberty

Lilian

Loyalty

Lydia

Lightfoot (84) ' Barbara (83)

I Milton Somerset Caroline (75)

Rallywood (82) Durable (83)

East Sussex Gaylad . . . Mr. Talbot's Barmaid .

Guider (76) Faithful (80)

Do.(70) Notable (80)

Quorn Alfred ' Harriet (76)

Miracle (79).

Lavish (77)

When

DRAFTED.

404

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1S76— continued.

When

DBAFIBO.

Marmaduke]
MeiTylass [
Modesty j

Riot

Sentinel ^ ;
Snowdrop/ "
Watchman \
Willing. / •

Baronet (81) ..

Rummager (78)
Do. (78)

Milton Ransack

Matchless (77).

Wishful (83) .
Speedwell (81)

Watchful (83) .

ENTERED IN 1877.

Whek

DKAPTKD.

Benjamin I
Baroness /
Borderer)

Charmer]
Chaplet }
Charity j
Congress .
Despot "»
Dexter / '
Fabian )
Falkland (
Fashion |
Folly J
Granby ..,.
Linguist \
Lightning/
Memory .
Nobleman
Norval
Nonsuch
Novelty .
Remus
Romeo
Romulus
Rufus
Scandal
Wayward
Wistful ..

Belvoir Whynot
Baronet (81) ...

Grove Reginald

Contest (78) ..
Rallywood (82)

Farmer (86) ..

Belvoir Gallant
Linkboy (84) ..
Miracle (79) ..

Sir W. Wynn's Random

Grove Reginald

Brilliant (85)
Warning (88)

Caroline (75)

Mischief (82)
Darling (86)

Ceres (87) ..

Rapid (77) .
Careful (81)
Famous (84)

Notable (80)

Madcap (77)

Farmer (86) Spedwell (81)

Belvoir Wanior Rattle (84) . . .

Rallywood (82) Watchful (83)

APPENDIX V.

405

ENTERED IN 1878.

When

DRAFTED.

Advocate \
Alderman I
Aconite i
Antidote ;

Bellman

Cherub

Frenzy

Freshman]
Frequent >
Fretful J

Gossip

Laudable ..

Merciful \
Mermaid/ * '
Nickname . .

Novelist

Radiant

Ranger\

RaUy /

Socrates 1
Solomon/
Spanker ]
Sparkler [ ..
Spartan j

Quorn Alfred

Baronet (81)

Duke of Beaufort's

Freshman
Baronet (81)

Duke of Beaufort's
Freshman

Gaylad(89)

Duke of Beaufort's
Freshman

Bramham Mountebank

Duke of Beaufort's

Freshman

Render (84)

Do. (84)

Duke of Beaufort's

Freshman

Puckridge Challenger . .

Cerberus (87)

Legacy (84)

Stena(84)

Captious (83)

Florida (86)

Resolute (88)

Affable (81)

Ladybird (82)

Agatha (87)

Namesake (88)

Notable (80)

Speedwell (81)

Riot (90)

Mr. Tailby's Solitude

Scornful (82)

1878
(died)

1878
1878

1878

1878
1878

ENTERED IN 1879.

When

DRAFTED.

Arsenic 'J
AiUficej ••••
Bacchus 1
Boaster
Byron >

Bluebell
Bridesmaid J

Balsam

Bridget

Comforter
Coroner
Catherine
Courtesy

Cyprus

Felix

Gaylad(89)...

Baronet (81)

Conjuror (89)
Barrister (88)

Linkboy (84)

Grove Clinker
Flagsman (86)

Affable (81)....

Willing (90) .

Blameless (85)
Careful (81)....

Claribel (89) .

Capable (85) .
Loyalty (89) .

1879

406

APPENDIX V

ENTERED IN ISld— continued.

Geniusj
Gaudy/
Hilary

Latitude j
Laughter \
Laundress)
Methodist .

Rattler

Russian .....
Schoolboy]
Screamer \
Scrutiny j

Linkboy (84)

Lord Yarborough's
Amulet

Baronet (81)

Mr. Chaplin's Gamester

Grove Reginald

Baronet (81)

Falkland (91)

I Whek

DKAFIED.

Gratitude (89) ,
Hostile (89) ...

Ladybird (82)

Merrylass (90)
Liberty (89)...
Riot (90)

Stella (84) ...

ENTERED IN 1880.

Bellicent ...

Bounty

Consul \
Convict/
Corporal ...

Daisy

Delicate 1
Duchess/ ■"
Gallant I
Gaylass/ " "
Gracious . . ,

Grateful

Lancelot . .
Lazarus ^
LoUypop/ ■■

Mayfly

Merlin
Mountebank
Notary \
Nemesis/
Rosalind . .
Rubens \
Kuler / *•
Sanguine ..
Wildiose ..

When

DKAFTED.

Conjuror (89) '

Mr. RoUeston's Lincoln |

Linkboy (84) j

Cerberus (87)

Mr. RoUeston's Pillager !

Belvoir Dolphin |

Granby (91) I

Lightfoot (84) }

Mr. RoUeston's Warrior 1
Lightfoot (84) j

Baronet (81) \

Mr. RoUeston's Rustic... I

Baronet (81)

Rufus(92)

Mr. RoUeston's Lincoln

Baronet (81)

Mr. RoUeston's Stormer
Denmark (86)

Bosnia (90) .,
His Bracelet

Claribel (89)

Legacy (84) .
Darling (86).

Mr. RoUeston's Stately
Liberty (89)

Gratitude (89)

His Gipsy

Chaplet (90)

Lydia(89)

His Magic

Marian (88)

Nonsuch (91) ,

His Royalty....

Rally (93)

His Rapid

Wayward (92) ,

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1881.

407

Sire.

When

DRAFTED.

Almoner^
Andred / '
Arnica ....
Bushman I
Bashful [.
Bravery j
Confidence

Clara

Florican ]
Flighty [.
Florence)
Ganymede.
GuUiverl
Garland/ '
Hubert ....

Harper

Landlords
Lawful / ■
Latimer'i
Logic / ■
Magnet "k
Milkmaid/'
Nectar \
Nihilist/ •
Revelryl
Ruin / •
Satin

Artist (87)

Milton Sultan

Conjuror (89)

Do. (89)

Granby (91)

Mr. Rolleston's Stormer

Advocate (92)

Milton Reveller

Linkboy(84)

Belvoir Rockwood

Granby (91)

Conjuror (89)

Marmaduke (90)

Advocate (92)

Conjuror (89)

Charon (87)

Laudable (93)

Antidote (92)

Bosnia (90)

Rally (93)

Claribel(89)

Folly (91)

Gratitude (89)

Gossip (93)

Handmaid (89)

Mr. Rolleston's Honesty

Lawless (89)

Loyalty (89)

Mermaid (93)

Niobe(88)

Riot (90)

Scrutiny (95)

ENTERED ESf 1882.

Artful

Bracelet....

Blossom....
Brusher....
Comely \
ChantressJ
Candid ....
Constable .
Dorimont"*
Driver /*
General"*
Gipsy / *
Gladsome j
Goneril /

Music

Monarch '
Messmate
Melody
Mindful .

Advocate (92)

Lord Yarborough's
Roman

Benjamin (90)

Boaster (94)

Conjuror (89)

Do. (89)

Congress (91)

Grove Dorimont ..

Granby (91)

Guardian (89)

Boaster (94)

Marmaduke (90) .,

When

DBAPTED.

Riot (90)^

Bridesmaid (94)

Gossip (93)

Catherine (94)..

Rally (93)

Wildrose(97) ..
Balsam (94)

Willing (90)

Courtesy (94) ..,

Aconite (92) ..
Mayfly (96)

Arsenic (94)

408

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1882— continued.

Kagman)
Ranter )
Racer
Random
Ringwood
Rival
Smoker ..
Primate \
Playful /

Sire.

Remus (92)

Lord Yarborough's
Racer

Mr, Lane Fox's Smoker
Lord Yarborough's
Primate

Dam.

When

DRAFTED.

(90) ..,

Antidote (92)

Florida (86)..,
Liberty (89)..,

ENTERED IN 1883.

When

DRAFTED.

Admiral"!
Amazon/
Abbess ....
Bonnylass .
Cardinal...,
Felon "k
Fairy/ •-■
Fisherman.
Gamesome.
Gadfly\
Glory / — •
Lictor
Lottery
Lightning I
Lovely
Merrymanl
Mariner J
Manager)
Mvra [
Myrtle J
Matron ...
Starlight
Warbler...
AVarrior...

South Notts. Stormer (92)

Congress (91)

Oakley Stormer

South Notts. Stormer

Atherstone Traitor

Romulus (92)

Granby (91)

South Notts. Stormer .
Boaster (94)

Marmaduke (90)

Do. (90)

Do. (90)

Boaster (94)

Oakley Warbler

Do. .

Antidote

Arnica (97)

Bluebell (94) ..
Charity (90)

Fashion (91) ..

Frequent (93) ..
Laudable (93) ..

Grateful (96) ..
Liberty (89)

Merciful (93) ..

Arsenic (94)

Balsam (94)

Stella (84)

Bridesmaid (94)
Bosnia (90)

APPENDIX V.

ENTERED IN 1884.

409

Adelaide . . . .
Bruiser^
Brevity/
Constance . . . .

Comus

Chanticleer .
Dreadnought]
Druid I

Dainty

Daphne J

Dandy \
Dowager I
Dauntless I
Dairy Maidj
Denmark'^
Dulcet / •
Gambler"!
Oraceful/

Luxury

Lavish j
Languish/
Pastime ]
Patience >
Pamela j

Eacket

Sailor

Advocate (92)

Nectar (98)

Lord Portsmouth's
Sailor

Boaster (94)

General (99)

Advocate (92)

Duke of Grafton's
Dandy

Duke of Grafton's
Denmark

General (99)

Nectar (98)

Landlord (98)

Belvoir Proctor . .

Remus (92)

Lord Portsmouth's

Sailor
Atherstone Solon

When

DRAFTED.

Mindful (100)
Blossom (99)
Claribel (89)...

Catherine (94)
Charity (90)...

Delicate (96)

Bridesmaid (94)

Laughter (95) ..

Bluebell (94) ..

Liberty (89)

Garland (98) ..

Willing (90)

Laundress (95)
Gossip (93)

Daisy (96)

ENTERED IN 1885.

Active

Brutus ]
Benedict [ .
Bridegroom J

Bluecap

Bellman 1
Barmaid f ""
Bachelor \
Bajazet i . . . .
Beeswing]
Dash wood ....
Dimity "»

Damsel/

Freeman . . . .
Gainer j
Gamester)....
Garnish j

Boaster (94)

Bushman (97)

Landlord (98)

Boaster (94)

Bushman (97)

South Notts Dashwood

Driver(99)

Do. (99)

Gallant (96)

Whbx

DRAFTED.

Arnica (97) ....

Gaylass (96) .

Blossom (99) .
Gipsy (99) ....

Artful (99) ....

Their Glory....
Gladsome (99).
Frequent (93) .

Grateful (96) .

410

APPENDIX V.

ENTEEED IN I'^h—cordmned.

Namk.

Siui;.

Dam.

When

DRAFTED.

Milliner

Gallant (9G)

Mavflv C96)

Prudence\

Pillager /

Pilgrim 1

Proctor

Patty c

Dorimont(99)

Belvoir Proctor

Belvoir Stainless

Playful (100)

Portia
Phyllis J
Syren \
Songstress/ *"
Workman \
Welcome/ -

Bluebell (94)

Ruler (96)

AVilling(90)

ENTERED IN 188G.

Name.

Sire.

Dam.

When-
drafted.

Bellicent (95)

Bertha \

Boimty/

Barmaid

Clinker

Curious

Chanter \
Cruel 1

Boaster (94)

Landlord (98)

Dorimont (99)

Fisherman (101)

Quorn Gamester

Denmark (103)

South Notts. Pilot

Denmark (103)

Dorimont (99''i

General (99)

Arnica (97)

Blossom (99)

Catherine (94)

Constance (102

Comely (99)

Crocus j

Countess j

Satin (98)

Diaper

Dorothy

Danger \

Dewdrop/

Fireman \

Faithful/

Frolic

Daisy (96)

Daphne (102)

Mindful (100)

Fashion (91)

Florence (97)

'j^lieii' Tractable

Primate (100)

Atherstone Gay Lad ...

South Notts. Somerset

Quorn Gamester

Bushman (97)

Landlord (98)

Belvoir Pi'octor

Greenwood . . .
Gilbert \
Gorgeous/ ••"
Glancer \
Generous/ "■
Layman

Lapwing/

Landlady

Pluto \

Pedlar

Phcebe J
Pilot

Matron (102)

Bashful (97)

Playful nOO^

South Notts. Pilot

Atherstone Royal

Belvoir Stainless

Do

Mayflv (96) .'

Kodney

Stainless'!
Solitude /

Their Spiteful

Lavish (103)

Mira(lOl)

1

APPENDIX V.

411

ENTERED IN 1887

Namk.

SiKE.

Dam.

Whkx

DBAFTEO.

Alaric )
Ajax [

Pillager (105)

Abbess (101)

Anthonyj
Broughtonl
Blowsey / ' '
Bankeer\

Blucher/

Champion

Conquest^

Comedy /

Crinoline

Despot (91)

Brevity (102)

Bushman (97)

Denmark (103)

Ranger (93)

Dimity (104)

Candid (99)

Constance (102)

Charmer (90)

Pillager (105)

Diligent

Didler

Driver (99)

Dorimont (99)

Driver (99)

Gallant (96)

Fisherman (101)

Dorimont (99)

Limerick Samson

Gallant (96)

Dulcet (103)

Giosv (99") . ...

Darling

Glory (101) ...

Duster \

Duchess/

Frantic

Dowager (103)

Daphne (102)

Governess

Guider

Gaylass(96)

Their Gratitude ..

Gaudy \

Gambol/

Hannibal

Dauntless (103)

Their Hasty

Sempstress (103)

Their Skilful

Ruby 1

Roguish/

Sultan

Ranger (93)

Limerick Hector

Sportive

Lord Lonsdale's Shiner
North Cotswold Suitor
North Cotswold Surgeon

Lovely (101)

Their Rally

Supplement ...

Theii' Maiden

INDEX.

Aaron (horse), i. 28, 79

Abberley, keeper, i. 136

Abbots Bromley, i. 104 ; ii. 187, 212.

Accidents and exciting incidents, ii.

267
Adamant (hound), i. 30
Adelaide, a yawl, i. 250
Admeston, ii. 218
Advocate (dog) bit off man's nose, i.

293
Agardsley Park, ii. 187, 353
Agnes (hound), i. 28
Albert, son of Henry Martin, whip, i.

211
Alder Car, ii. 212.
Alderman (horse), i. 28
Alder Moor, i. 69, 96, 231 ; ii. 188,

210
Alderwasley, i. 116
Alexander, Lord, i. 23
Alexander, Miss, of Wichnor, i. 395
Alexander, Mr., i. 360
Alkmonton or Orkmington, i. 115,

131,208,254; ii. 324
Allestree, kill at, i. 30, 232, 265; ii.

191 ; gi-and baU at, 218 ; bad day's

sport at, 352
Allsopp, Mr. Charles, in a melee at a

political meeting, ii. 242
Allsopp, Hon. George, i. 12 ; ii. 45, 47,

177
Allsopp, Hon. George and Lady

Mildred, ii. 312
Ambergate station, ii. 217
Anglesea Coppice, ii. 322
Anglesey, Lord, i. 182; Waterloo hero,

182
Annual Puppy Show luncheon, ii. 199
Anslow, ii. 327, 354
Anson, Lord, i. 75
Applewhaite, Mr., i. 14, 120
Arbour Field, ii. 309
Archer, Will, L 174
Arden, Captain, i. 86
Arkwright, Mr., i. 10, 85, 193
Arleston Gorse, i. 280 ; ii. 33
Armson, Dr., ii. 179

Armitage Park, i. 99

Amaud, Mr., 1. 158, 202

Ash Bank, Draycott, i. 291

Ashbourne, i. 61, 85

Ashbourne Hall, now an hotel, i. 196

Ashby Old Parks, i. 121

Aston, i. 8 ; Hall, meet at, 179

Atherstone territory, boundaries of, i.
11

Atlow, i. 118, 232

AtlowWhin, i. 132

Audinwood, Mi'., i. 181

Austui, Philip, Mr. Coopei-'s game-
keeper, ii. 184

Aylesbury, ii. 198

Bachelor (hound), ii. 2, n.

Back Cuttings Bank, ii. 309

Badger (horse), good, i. 226

Baggallay, Sir Richard and Lady, ii.
175

Bagnall, J., ii. 128

Bagot,Hon. W., ii. 128

Bagot, Lord, vii. ; ii. coming of age of,
10; list of guests at, 11

Bagot, Wilham, third Lord; on Mr.
Bass's resignation of the master-
ship, ii. 239 ; his death, 140

Bagot, Miss, ii. 99

Bagot, Richard, letter of, i. 162

Bagot, Sir Charles, first Governor-
General of Canada, i. 50

Bagot, Sir Hervey, i. 160-162; married
Millicent de Stafford, 162

Bagot, Sir Ralph Knight, i. 159;
marriage of, 159; became pos-
sessed of the estates at Blithfield
and Littlehay in Colton, 159

Bagot's Park, i. 45, 46; the oldest
enclosed deer-park in Stafford-
shire, 48 ; a capital gallop of forty
minutes to Grindley station, ii. 229

Bagots founded the oldest known hunt
in Staffordshire— the blue coat, i.
164

Bagot's Woods, i. 98, 114, 116; Brom-
ley, 159, n. ; Park, 184, 195, 224,

414

INDEX.

292 ; several ruus to, 323, n. ;
ii. 21, 212
1 '.ally's Beads (a fomous horse), i. 223

Bancroft, ii. 353

Bannisters Rough, i. 288

Barbed wire, first seen, ii. 143

Ikrdon Hill, i. 97

l^aronet (hound), ii. 1

BaiTow Hill, ii. 212

Barton, ii. 182

Barton-Blount, i. 132, 241 ; ii. good
run from, 39, 309

l')arton Church, i. 53

Barton Turns, i. 10

I'artram's Dingle, i. 210

Bass, ]\Ir., death of, ii. 110

Bass, Mr. Hamar, marriage to the Hon.
Louisa Bagot, ii. 32 ; becomea
joint-master with Mr, Chandos-
Pole, ii. 128, 133; an appreciation
from the Burton Chronicle, 153 ;
re-elected master, 165, 199 ; re-
signs mastership, 235; consents
to continue mastership, 241 ; last
season. 246 ; resignation of master-
ship, 247 ; death of, 253

Bass, Mr. M. T., father of present Lord
Burton, i. 209

Bass, Hon. Nellie, wedding of, ii.
204

Bass, Michael, i. 22, 229, 259 ; account
of Radburne run, 265 ; letter of, to
Mr. H. Meynell, 270-1

Bass, Michael, father of Lord Bur-
ton, i. 29, 123 ; waded across
Trusley Brook, 125 ; caught chill,
125; reminiscences by James
Whiteley, 125 ; sold his horse,
125, 203

Bateman, Mr. "Chev," i. 225; ii. 178;
died a young man in 1896.. 178,
210

Bates, Harry, second horseman, ii. 197

Bath, ii. 218

Beal, Tom, i. 142, n.

Bearwardcote, home of Mr. F. C. New-
ton, ii. 191. 214, 224, 310

Beaudesert, i. 106

Beaufort (Duke of), 1.117

Beauty Ball, the, ii. 37

Beckett-Denison, Miss, ii. 82

Beckford Mr., i. 24, 58

Bedford, Duke of, good story of, i. 158

Beggar's Oak, i. 45, 50

Bellowor (hound), ii. 321

BeWs Life, viii.

Belmote Cireen, near Anslow, i. 53

Belvoir Kennels, i. 218

Bentilee Park. ii. 353

Bentley Car, i. 69, 115, 118, 131, 234:
good run from, ii. 225.

Berkeley, Lord, i. 184

Bertram (hoimd), i. 38

Best story re frost, i. 129

B.iddle's Field, i. 7

Biggin, i. 58, 261

r>illiard Table Coppice, ii. 214

Billy, ison of Sir Wm. FitzHerbert, i.

265
Bingham, Mr., i. 110
Birchwood Park. i. 76, 176
Bird in the PLind, ii. 200
Bird, Mr., vii ; ii. 156
Bird, Mr. E. J., i. 225, 226
Bird, Mr. Harry, i. 138; death at

Gibraltar, 229
15ird, Wra., i. 2
I'ishton coverts, ii. 323
Bishton fox, a, ii. 313
Black Slough, i. 77, 78, 9,'), 191, 222
lilack Slough Moore, i. 99
P.lackwall, i. 262
Blain, Sir Seymour, i. 24
Blakeley Holt, i. 2.30
P>lakiston, Sir Matthew, Bart., i. 22,

131, 200
Blanc, Sir Seymour, i. 147, 153, 199;

drowned, 199
Blithbury, an excellent day from, ii.

85; run from, 212, 308
Blithfield, i. 95, 118, 159; charming
place, 162, 184; ii. a good day
from, 171, 219
Blithfield Gorse, i. 29
Blithmoor, i. 163
Blount, Mr., ii. 266
Blue Coat hunt, i. 164
IMythbury, i. 100, 210, 240, 278
Blythe, i. 278 ; ii. 200, 212
Boden, Henry, debut in the hunting
field of, i. 147 ; abstention from
alcohol and almost from tobacco,
147, 149 ; clears a scattblding-
pole, 149; had four sons, 150,
184, 225; ii. m, 83; accident to,
168, 205
Boden, Master, i. 199 ; good cricketer,

199
Boden, Messrs., vii.

Boden, Mr. Walter, i. 89, 103, 198;
married, 201, 225; ii. 152, 241,
308
Boden, Mrs., i. 147
Boden's Thorns, i. 148 ; ii. first time

drawn, 87, 221, 323
Bogie (one of Lord Lonsdale's five-
hundred-guinea flyers), ii. 216
Bolivar (horse), ii. 121
Bond, Jack, i. 87, 278
Bonner, Harry, ii. 305; took King's

Arms at Bicester, 305
Boothby, Mr., i. 35

INDEX.

415

Boscobel, i. 2

Bott, Misses, vii.

Bott, Mr., vii. ; i. 122

Boucheret, i. 70

Boucherett, Captain, i. 195

Boutbee, Mr. John, i. 98

Boylestone road, i. 131

Boylestone, i. 72, 241

Brace, F. A., ii., 159

Brace, Mr. and Mrs., ii. 194 ; hospi-
tality of, 194; names and prices
of horses belonging to, 195

Bradley, meet at, ii. 86, 221

Bradley Hall, i. 71

Bradley Moor, i. 101

Bradley Pastures, i. 278

Bradley Wood fox, i. 26, 27

Bradshaw, Miss, ii. 182

Brailsford, a good day, great run from,
ii. 101-3, 124, 160

Brailsford Gorse, i. 107, 242; ii. 180,
190

Brakenhurst, i. 71, 95, 112, 209; good
old-fashioned run from, ii. 157

Brampton (horse), i. 361

Bramshall, i. 74 ; meet at, ii.200, 212,
321

Bramsliall Park, i. 94

Brassington llocks, ii. 221

Breadsall, i, 85

Breedon, i. 97

Breedon Cloud, i. 96

Brenchley, Mr., ii. 233

Brer Kabbit (horse), ii. 233

Brereton Hays, i. 99 ; village, 99

Bretbyor Bradby, i. 74, 76, 80, 112,
118, 186; guests at, on January
1st, 1857 .. 187 ; out of favour, 278,
290

Bretby, meet at, and account of, i. 190

Bretby Mill, meet at, ii. 83

Brewards Car, i. 75, 115 ; ii. 218

Brickhill plantation, i. 241

Brilliant run, a, about 1835, i. 121

Brindsley Heath, i. 127

Brizlincote Hill Covert, i. 80

Broadhurst, Mr., ii. 176, 177 ; death
of, 177

Broadlow Ash, i. 85

Brocksford, ii. 210

Brocksford Gorse, ii. 317

Bromley, Mr. Davenport, i. 89

Bromley -Devonport, Mr., ii. 199

Bromley Park, ii. 187

Brook Hav, i. 7

Brook, Sir N., i. 107

Broughton, Sir John, i. 14

Browne, Captain, of Hall Court, i. 272

Buckston, Rev. German, i. 22 ; good
story of his keeper, 39, 75, 142;
death of, 143, 188, 196

Buildwas, i. 2

Bull Gap, near Swinscol, ii. 218

Buller, Colonel Reg., i. 89 ; ii. 117

Buller, E., Esq., M.P., i. 126 ; Colonel
p:dmund, i. 337

Buller, Hon. J. Yarde, i. 337

Buller, Hon. Eleanor, i. 337

Bunker's Hill, ii. 319

Bunker's Wood, ii. 213

Burdett, Sir Robert, i. 96, 109

Burnaby, Mr., ii. 197

Burnaston, i. 116, 222; ii. 179,310

Burtenshaw, Stephen, first whip, ii.
209 ; carried the horn, 221 ; tes-
timonial to, 353

Burton Chronicle, viii.

Burton, Dick, whip, i. 10

Burton, Lord, i. 12.^, 209; presenta-
tion to Charles Leedhara, ii. 251

Burton sewage farm, ii. 352

Buttermilk Hill, ii. 187, 290

Byrkley Gorse, ii. 354

Byrkley Lodge, i. 66, 69, 112, 209

Cabin'et (hound), winner at the Puppy

Show, ii. 256
Cackle Hill, i. 214
Caldecott, Mr., ii. 216
Caldwell, i. 8 ; ii. 320
Calke, i. 107
Calke Abbey, i. 74
Calvert, Mr., agent to three Lords

Vernon, i. 50, 139
Calwich, i. 115,255; ii. 217
Campbell, Mr., of Woodseat, ii. 228
Cannock Chace, i. 7, 99, 127, 211 ; too

much wire at, 272
Carlisle, Mr. Douglas, ii. 234
Carlisle, IMr. Leonard, ii. 308
Carry Coppice, i. 176, 205, 209; ii.

187, 201, 212, 322
Carsington, ii. 218
Carwich Coppice, ii. 187
Castle Hayes, i. 71
Cattistock country, ii. 77
Catton, i. 79, 80
Catton Wood, i. 120
Caulke Harriers, i. 58
Cavendish, Lord R., i. 35, 77
Cavei-swall Park, i. 177
Cawarden Spring, ii. 33
Chaddesden Wood, i. 115
Chadwick, Mr., i. 78
Chainwood Forest, i. 97
Chandois, Sir John, a famous warrior,

i. 64
Chandos, i. 60
Chandos-Pole, Mr., diary of, dated

September, 1790, i. 55, 59
Chandos-Pole, Colonel, vii.; elected

Master of the Meynell, ii. 66 ; gets

416

INDEX.

a bad fall, 71 ; accident to eye,
72 ; presentation on his marriage,
72 ; death of his wife, 73 ; some
good runs, 80; put his shoulder
out, 88, 200; proposes to hunt an
extra day a week, 131 ; private
pack, 131 ; resignation of the
Mastership, 146; presentation on
retirement, 158

Chandos-Pole, Colonel, i. 55 ; places of
meeting, 55

Ohandos-Pole, Mr. C. A., ii. 242

Chandos-Pole, Miss, ii. 76

Chandos-Pole, Mr. Christopher, i. 115

Chandos-Pole, E. S., i. 98, 139

Chandos-Pole, Mrs., i. 226

Chandos-Pole, Mrs., with the North
Stafford, ii. 89

Chandos-Pole-Gell, Mr., i. 233, 237

Chandos-Pole, Rev. Reginald, i. 22, 62

Chandos-Pole, Rev. W., ii. 70, n.

Chaplin, Mr., i. 23, 223

Chapman, Bob, a dealer, i. 92

Charity (horse), i. 267

Charles II., King, i. 2

Charles, nephew of Tom Leedham, i.
165

Charon (hound), ii. 84

Charrington, Miss E,, ii. 319

Charrington, Mr. H. S., ii. 174

Charrington, Mrs. H. S., ii. 175 ; mis-
fortune to her horse, 230

Charterhouse, i. 85

Chartley, i. 70, 76, 95, 124, 129 ; Park,
135; history of, 175, 176; post-
poned meet, 208, 233

Chartley Gorse, ii. 188,211

Chase, remarkable account of, with
Pole's hounds, i. 54

Chaunt of Achilles, i. 62

Cheadle, i. 127 ; ii. 75

Chellaston, ii. 189

Chesterfield, Lord, i. 199

Chetwynds, Misses, i. 178

Chillingham, i. 137

Chorister (hound), i. 244

Christian Dick, i. 77

Church Broughton, i. 215, 239, 309,
345

Churston, Lord, i. 360

Cinder Hill, ii. 338

Clasher (horse's name), i. 127

Clay Cross, ii. 125

Cloud Wood, near Breedon, i. 97, 107

Clowes, Captain H. A., i. 150; diary,
151, 152 ; marriage of, 251 ; joined
Staffordshire Yeomanry, 251

Clowes, Mr., i. 23, 225, 246 ; interesting
diary of, 246 ; fall, 247 ; travelled
for a year, 248 ; went to Ceylon,
248 ; hurt his side, 248 ; married,

248 ; resigned the reins to Marquis
of Hastings, 249 ; gave up hunting,
1893..250; died, 1898.. 250; suc-
ceeded by son. Captain H. A.
Clowes, 251 ; retires from joint-
Mastership, ii. 8, 47

Clownholme, i. 310; ii. 188

Coke, Colonel the Hon. Wenman, i.
237; A.D.C. to Lord Rokeby,
237 ; Master of the Meynell hounds,
238, 324

Coke, Hon. E. K. W., ii. 60

Coke (the Hon. IMward), of Longford,
i. 89, 225; Lord Chief Justice of
England in time of James I., 236;
married, 236

Coke, Hon. E., presides at meeting of
subscribers, ii. 130

Cole-Orton Hall, i. 122

Coley Gorse, ii. 313

Collinson, Peter, i. 232

GoUumbell, *' Sandv," ii. 215

Collycroft Hill, ii. 350

Colraan, Rev. Mr., i. 139

Colonel (hound), ii., 174

Colvile, Colonel, ii. 100

Colvile, Hon. Mrs., i. 207, 296

Common Nursery, ii. 308

Constable, Sir C, i. Ill

Conyers, Jack, i. 225

Cook, Colonel, author of " Observations
on Fox-hunting," i. 10

Cooper, Mr. and Mrs., wedding present
to, ii. 314

Cooper, " Frank," ii. 182 ; goes abroad,
secures the largest bear, 184

Cooper, P. H., i. 25

Cope, E., Esq., i. 97

Copestake, Mr., i. 132

Corbet, Mr. R., i. 233

Costly (first hound in Meynell Kennel
Book), i. 74

Cotmanhay Wood, i. 115

Coton, ii., 192, 300, n.

Cotton, Captain, i. 193

Cotton, Mr. F., i. 225 ; verses on the
Meynell Hmit, ii. 92-4; walk to
Perthshire, 94-5; anecdotes of,
96-98 ; match with the Marquis of
Queensberry, 97, 98 ; " Derbyshire
Hunting Song " by, 167

Cotton, Mr. Stapylton, i. 226

Cotton Mill, i. 80

Cottrell, Fred, whip, i. 29, 240; ii. 19

Court, Mr. William, ii. 145

Coxbench, ii. 32
Coyney, Chas., Esq., i. 177
Crakemarsh, i. 118
Craven, Mr., sportsman, i. 176
Crewe, Sir George, i. 107
Crewe, Sir Henry, i. 11.

INDEX.

417

Crompton, Mr. "Bertie," ii. 178, 233

Cropper, Mr., i. 97

Cross Hays, ii. 214

Crossman, Mr., ii. 308

Crowder, Mr., i. 372, 372 n. ; ii. 96

Croxall, ii. 272

Cub-hunting in Bagot's Woods, ii. 3,

49
Cubley, i. 69, 72, 78, 105, 131, 223 ; ii.

53 ; a good day at, 160
Cubley Bottoms, i. 71
Cubley Gorse, i. 118, 230; ii. 212
Cubley Lodge, ii. 308
Cubley Parsonage, i. 77
Cuckold's Haven, ii. 212
Cuckold's Haven Gate, i. 241
Culland, i. 367 ; ii. 191,311
Culland Meadows, i. 233
Cumming, Admiral, ii. 18
Gumming, Mr. Charles, i. 223 ; ii. 176
Cumming, Mr. H. J., ii. 152
Cumming, Jack, ii. 198
Cumming, Mr. John, ii. 176
Cumming, Miss, ii. 176
Cupandition Covert, ii. 6
Curborough Wood, i. 99
Curious old customs, i, 51
Curley, i. 115
Curzon, Lord, verses by, upon Sudbury

Hunt, i. 15-17

Daddy Loxgleos (horse), i. 29

Dalbury, i. 265 ; ii. 224, 226

Dale, Miss, i. 61

Dampish, ii. 309

Dapple Lee brake, ii. 334

Darley, i. 232

Darley Moor, ii. 217

Darley Oaks, i. 209

Davenport, Mr., of Maer, i. 197

Dawson, Captain, vii. ; ii. 212

Dawson, Captain Arthur, i. 192 ; en-
thusiastic fisherman, 193

Dawson, Captain Henry, distinguishes
himself, i. 194

Dear Heart (famous grev mare), ii. 196

Deer Park, ii. 214

Deerstealers, stories of, i. 46, 47

Delacombe, Colonel, ii. 70

Derby Hunt, i. 58

Derby Mercury, viii.

Derbyshire hunting song, ii. 167

Derby subscription hounds, i. 10, 11

Derby Week, i. 318. 319

Devonshire, Duke of, i. 52

Dickens, Stephen, i. 232

Dickson's Hills, i. 95

Dilhorn, i. 126

Dirty Gutter Coppice, i. 209

Distemper amongst the pack, ii. 273

Dog Kennel Wood, i. 49

Dolesfoot, ii. 353

Doncaster (horse), i. 28

Donington country, i. 24

Donington hounds, i. 147

Donington Park, i. 107

Dove Valley Harriers, ii. 55, 55 n,

Doveridge, meet at, ii. 320

Downshire, Lord, i. 7

Dowry Wood, ii. 323

Draco (hound), ii. 84

Dragon Fly cricketers, ii. 244

Drakelowe, i. 210

Drake, Squire, Master of the Bicester,

i. 78
Draycott Cliff, i. 76
Draycott-in-the-Moors, i. 76 ; Wood,

176
Draycott Woods, i. 74
Dreadnought (hound), i. 219
" Druid," the, i. 26, 27
Drury, Captain, i. 38
Dubridge, old spelling of Doveridge, ii.

187
Duckley Wood, i. 163
Dugdale, Captain, ii. 173, 180 ; wife a

firstrate horsewoman, 180, 188,

268
Duncombe, Mr. A. C, i. 255 ; account

of, 256 ; offers to take the hounds,

ii. 165 ; horse bolted, 179, 239
Dunnett, Mr., ii. 186
Dunstall, good run from, ii. 29, 177
Dunstall Hall, meet at, i. 204, 205
Dussy Bank, ii. 309
Dussybed, ii. 221
Dydon Wood, ii. 218

Eaton, Mr. Charles, i. 232

Eaton Wood, i. 114, 118, 254; ii. 188

Edingale, i. 80

Ednaston, i. 230, 241 ; ii. 190 ; point-
to-point race held at, 216, 221,
272, 306

Egelred, King, i. 51

Egginton, i. 9, 58, 77, 106, 238, 253 ;
ii. 179

Elford, i. 287

Elsenham, i. 258

Elvaston, i. 147

Elvaston Castle, ii. 189; curious ride
in a fog, 189 ; grand ball at, 21

Elwell, W. E., ii. 173

P^mery, Mr., i. 2

End of season 1899, ii. 331

Etwall, i. 101, 203, 220, 253; ii. 224

Etwall cheese factory, ii. 224; gas
factory, 224

Evans, Mrs. John, ii. 129

Evans, William, the original of Adam
Bede, i. 145, 212; story of, 212,
I 213

2e

418

INDEX.

Every, Sir lleury, i. 9, 38, 73

Fallacy (horse), i. 27
Famous hill run, ii. 218, 218 «.
Famous jumping powder recipe, i. 227
Fanny (horse), i. 79
Farmers' Steeplechase, ii. 306
Faro (horse), winner of the Point-to-
point Steeplechase, ii. 253
Feeble (horse), i, 69, 79
Feilden, Mr. R., vii. ; ii. 32
Fenny Bentley, ii. 221
Ferrers, Robert de, ii. 182
Ferrers, Right Hon. Earl, i. 126
Field, The, Vm.
Fielden, Robert, famous horse, the

Robber, i. 25
Findern, i. 80; ii. 310
Finney Bank, i. 238
Finney, Mr., ii. 213
Firman, Miss, ii. 19
Firman, Miss Ida, ii. 306
Firth, Mark, ii. 159
FitzHerbert, Sir Richard, vli.
FitzHerbert, i. 82, 83, 87
FitzHerbert, Richard, i. 84, 90, 182-4.

201, 203, 225, 278
FitzHerbert, Miss, i. 84
FitzHerbert, Colonel, i. 83, 90
FitzHerbert, Major, i. 83
FitzHerbert, John, i. 22, 85
FitzHerbert, Miss Mildred, i. 91
FitzHerbert, Miss Rose, i, 91, 194
FitzHerbert, Miss Mabel, i. 91
FitzHerbert, William, i. 131, 184
FitzHerbert of Somersal, i. 178
FitzHerbert, Sir Henry, Bart., i. 102
FitzHerbert, Miss Wilhelmina, good

stoiy of, i. 261 ; tragic end of, 261
FitzHerbert, Lieut.-Colonel R. H., i.

259
FitzHerbert, Mr. Beresford, i. 220,

223
FitzHerbert, Mr, R., ii. 129, 138
FitzHerbert, Sir William, ii. 45
FitzHerbert, Sir W., "the father of

the Hunt," presentation to Lord

Waterpark, ii. 45, 196
FitzwilUam, Hon. George, i. 218
Fitzwilliam, Lord, i. 117
Fleming, Colonel, i. 103
Fletcher, Dr., i. 294
Flitch of Bacon, i. 10, 11
Floyer's Coppice, i. 95
Fole Hall, ii. 81
Foljambes, Mr., i. 117
Foreman (hound), ii. 84
Foremare, i. 80
Forest Banks, i. 50, 104
Forester (horse), i. 79
Forge Coppice, ii. 218

Fort, Mr., i. 147; ii. 138; and his

I famous horse Silver King, 143,

! 162; bad fall, 178; broke his

I collar bone, 179, 180, 196 ; marri-

i age of to Miss Leigh, 198 ; resigned

] his commission in the 11th Hussars,

i 198; M.P. for Clitheroe, 198;

j succeeds Mr. Bass as Master,

248 ; speech at the Meynell

Puppy Show, 257 ; last season as

Deput5'-i\Iaster, 229 ; resignation,

234; asked to reconsider same,

241

Fort, Mrs., ii. 200 ; dislocates her
elbow, 351

Foston, i. 98, 222, 233, 239 ; evening
gallop from, ii. 51, 176, 177, 198

Foston Hall, meet at, record attend-
ance at, ii. 312

Foston Mill Dam, i. 222

Fox, Mr. Dudley, in the Ingestre rail-
way accident, ii. 89, 90, 162, 178

Fox, Mr. Lane, i. 244 ; amusing letter
of, 244

Fox, Mr. William John, ii. 90

Fox, Mrs., ii. 91

Fox, Mrs. Dudley, a very finished
horsewoman, i. 228

Fox-hunting in Staffordshire, pamphlet
by Captain Paul Webster, i. 12 n.

Fox killed on the ice at Sudbury, ii. 25

Foxes, a novel contrivance for ousting
from trees, ii. 130

Foxes, accounting for three brace and
a half in one day, ii. 231

Foxes, mange amongst, ii. 143, 157

Fradswell, i. 74

Fradswell dumbles, i. 138

Frame Bank, ii. 340

Francis Margaret, i. 84

Frank, L. W., i. 197

Frank, Mr. and Mrs., i. 196

Freakes, Mr. F. i\I., ii. 306

Freetrade (horse's name), i. 124

Friary Cricket Club Fancy-dress Ball,
ii. 69

Frost stops hunting for twenty-five
days, ii. 171

Fulford Heath, ii. 211

Gallway, Mrs. Payne, ii. 322
Gally-Knight, Mr. and Mrs., i. 85
Gal way, huntsman, i. 193
Gamble, James, i. 28
Garnett, Charles, whip, ii. 227
Gavboy (a fine timber jumper), i. 312
Geil, Mr. John, i. 37
General (horse), i. 79
George IV. and Michael Turner,
anecdote of, i. 48

INDEX.

419

Giffard, Mrs., i. 2

Gisborne, Mr., ii. 323

Gisborne, Mr. Lionel, ii. 239

Glass Lane, ii. 218

Goat Lodge, run of five hours, ii. 139

Gobbo (horse), i. 292

Good story of Bishop Wilberforce, i.

143
Goodwin, Captain, i. 193, 361
Goodwin, Miss, i. 194
Gopsall, i. 7, 8
Gordon, Captain, of the 12th Lancers,

ii. 216
Gorstey Fields, i. 208
Gorstey Leys, i. 76
Gorsty Lees, i. 96
Gosden, huntsman, ii. 200
Grace Dieu, i. 96
Gracedieu Park, i. 97
Gracedieu Tollgate, i. 97
Grafton, Duke of, amusint^ story of, i.

158
Graham, Sh- B., i. 14, 71, 72
Grange Fields, ii. 222
Grange Mill, i. 70
Grasshopper (horse's name), i. 124
Gratwich Wood, i. 95, 126
Grayling (horse), ii. 109
Greaves, i. 71

Green Covert at Eggington, ii. ] 29
Gresley, Sir Robert, i. 14, 42, 108
Gresley Wood, i. 8, 120
Gretton, Major, ii. 250
Gretton, Misses, ii. 250
Gretton, ]\Ir. Fred, ii, 250
Gretton, Mr. John, ii. 250
Greville, Fulke, afterwards Lord Broke,

i. 160
Grey Heron (horse), ii. 121
Grey, Lord, i. 92

Griesley, Sir Nigel Bowyer, i. 108
Griffiths, Arthur, i. 192 ; writes over

the signature of A. G., 222
Grindley station, ii. 191
Groom of Mr. Nathaniel Curzou broke

his leg, i. 286
Grosvenor, General, i. 68
Guards' Point-to-point, i. 23
Guests at Eadburne, list of, i. 63
Gummy Ruffles (horse), i. 247
Gurney, Dick, i. 229

Hall, Mr., ii. 10
Hall, the Misses, i. 238
Hamstall Ridware, i. 101, 104 ; ii. 179
Handleasow Wood, ii. 187, 188
Hanwell, Major, death of, ii. 275
Harbord, Hon. Edward, i. 9
Harding, John, i. 139 ; seriously hurt,
139

222

i. 256 :

Hardley Hill, ii. 335

Hardy, Jlr. Gerald, i. 361

Hardy, Sir Reginald, ii. 241

Hardy, Messrs. S. and L., ii, 128

Hardy, Mr. Gerald, ii. 176, 177 ; leaves
Meynell country, 177

Hargreaves, " Mr. Johnny," ii,

Harold (famous shire horse),
shot in 1901.. 257

Harpur, Sir Henry, i, 107

Harrington Cup, won by Mrs. Hartley's
Leotard in 1896, ii. 227

Harrington, Earl of, on Mr, Bass re-
taining the mastership, ii, 237

Harrington, Lord, ii. 82, 83, 189

Harrison, John, Esq., i. 212

Harrison, Mr., i. 138 ; ii. 212

Hartley, Mr,, ii, 227, 228

Hartley, Mrs,, ii. 201

Hart's Coppice, ii. 213

Hastings, Marquis of, i. 24

Hatherton, i, 7

Hatton Common, i. 234

Hawke, Lord, i. 50, 51

Hawkes, Mr., jun., i. 99

Hawkes, Charles, whip, ii
: Hay, Mr., i. 107
i Hay's Wood, i. 115
j Hedgford, i, 127

Heinbush (horse), i. 28

Hell Meadows, i. 80, 252 :
derivation of, 252 ;
I 187, 224, 309

Henhurst, i. 102 ; ii. 354
I Henry HI., i. 102

i Henry VH., while hunting, lost his
i way, curious storv, i. 51, 53

Heron, Mr., i. 27, 217

Heseltine, Mr. and IMrs.,

Hilderstone, i. 233

Hill, Richard Clarke, E»

Hill, Ridware, ii. 212

Hilton Gorse, i, 208, 239; ii. 179;
mangy vixen found at, 179, 336

Hilton, near Wolverhampton, i, 2, 222,
253

Hindlip, Lord, tragic end of, ii. 18, 242

Hindlip, Lord, Samuel Charles, suc-
ceeds to the title, ii. 242

Hoar Cross, the Hoar Cross Hunt of
1816, i. 25, 104, 128, 164, 173;
diary recommences. 194, 195, 235,
239, 244, 321 ; ii. 179, 213, 218,
305

Hoar Cross Hounds in 1812, list of, i.
67

Hoar Cross Hunt, first meet of, i. 12,
66 ; hounds, list of, 67 ; hounds
found at, 69, 70, 76 ; names of
horses, 79 ; harrier pack, 154

Hoare, H. S., ii. 173

3.21

brook, 252 ;
ii. 178, 179,

216

177

420

INDEX.

Hodgson, Mr., i. 203; ii. 19, 20

Hognaston, i. 232, 2G2

Holden, Mr. J., i. 247 ; of Aston, ii.

122
Holland, Captain, vii. ; ii. 120, 121
Holland, Mr. W. R, ii. 203
Holland, Mrs., bad fall, ii. 128, 191
Hollington, i. 208, 232 ; ii. 323
Hollybush, i. 102, 105, 107, 114
Hollyhurst, ii. 354
Holly Wood, i. 230
Honiestall Wood, a good run as any

one would wish to see, ii. 127
Home, verses on, i. 382
Hoon Cottage, ii. 309
Hoon Moun't, i. 234
Hope Wood, i. 229, 231
Hoppas Hays, i. 72
Hopton, i. 118; ii. 308
" Horn Dance," curious custom at

Blithfield, i. IG8, 1G9
Horsley Car, i. 73, 199
Horsley Hall, Yorks, ii. 125
Horsley Parks, i. 56 ; Castle, 115
Hostile (hound), i. 28
Hoimdhill, i. 50 ; originally called

HowenhuU, 51, 139, 228
Hounds, Osbaldeston's Furi'ier, i. 7 ;

Lord Vernon's Rocket, i. 7
Hulland, i. 118, 230
Hulland House, i. 71
Hulland Ward Gate, ii. 218
Hulland Wood, i. 58, 77, 85, 94, 96
Humphrey, Rev. Cave, i. 295
Hunger Hill, ii. 318
Hunt meeting, to appoint a Master in

place of Mr. Bass, ii. 235, 241 ;

resignation of Mr. Bass, 247 ; Hunt

Servants' Benefit Society mooted

at, i. 215
Hyacinth (hound), i. 28
Hyde-Smith, Mr., i. 193

Idridgeiiay, i. 262

Ilkeston, i. 115

Inge, W. F., ii. 128, 177

Inge, Rev. George, i. 40, 41

Ingestre, i. 7, 272

Ingestre Hall, destroyed by fire, ii. 98

Ingestre railway accident, ii. 89

Ingram. See Meynell Ini^ram

Ireton Rough, i. 80

" Iron Duke," i. 112

Irwin, Viscount, i. 37

Isaac Walton, ii. 220

Isley Watton, ii. 189

Jackson's Banks, i. 209
Jackson, Harry, huntsman, i. 7, 9, 14
Jackson, park keeper, i. 223
Jackson, Rev. Roger, i. 84

Jacobson, Captain, ii. 204

Jacobson, Mrs., ii. 205

Jaggard, Mr. Henry, i. 209 ; ii. 73.

158
Jarratt's Gorsc, i. 230
Jawbone's Farm, ii. 285
Jay's Coppice, i. 99
Jervis-Smith, Mr., i. 297
Jervis-Smith, ]\Irs., ii. 3
Jessie (famous mare), ii. 108
Joan (horse, winner of Sir Peter

Walker's light-weight race in

1898, and the Harrington Cup in

1899), ii. 228
John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, at

Tutbury Castle, i. 51
John, son of Sir Henrv FitHerbert,

Bart., of Tissington,'i, 102
Johnstone, Sir Frederick, i. 23, 223
Jones, G., i. 321

Jones, Thomas, whip, diary of, i. 37
Jonson, Ben, story of, i. 122
Jumbo (horse), ii. 121

Keates, Mr., in the Ingestre railway

accident, ii. 89
Kedleston, i. 12, 29, 73, 75, 108, 116,

118, 149,235; ii. 178; Park, 264
Kedleston Inn, i. 29, 232
Kempson, Mr., anecdote of, i. 193, 226 ;

ii. 19, 156, 218
Kendrick, Mr., i. 178
Kennel lore, ii. 85
Kingstanding, ii. 317
Kingstone Woods, i. 292
King's Bromley, i. 222
! Kirk Hallam, i. 115
Kirk-Ireton, i. 262 ; ii. 218
Kirk Langley, ii. 354
Kneightley Park, i. 69
Kniveton, i. 101,232; ii. 221
Knockerdown, ii. 218
Kynersley, ii. 185

Lady Lee Farm, ii. 319

Ladywood, i. 93

Lake Banks, ii. 308

Lampton, Mr., i. 9

Landor's mare, i. 79

Landor, Mr., fall of, 79, 81,86

Landor, Rev. Charles, i. 39

Langley, i. 115, 265, 266; Wood, 208

Langtry, Mrs., ii. 36, 37

Languid (hound), ii. 215

Launde Abbey, i. 192

Laurence's Wood, ii. 212, 318

Lavington, i. 129

Lawley, Samuel, huntsman, i. 7, 8,

9, 13
Lawley, T., i. 113
Lawley, Wm., whipper-in, i. 7, 104

INDEX.

421

Lawrence, stud groom, i. 150

Lazarus Wood, i. 129

Leedham, Chas., i. 22, 29, 90, 141;
favourite saying of, 241 ; a lucky
man, 289 ; death of, 295 ; ii, 26, «.,
43, 181 ; ; presentation to, 249-
253

Leedham, Jack, i. 28, 124, 149, 195;
trod on by W. Shipton, 195, 210;
master took him to Scotland as
health failing, 240; came back,
married, lived at Hoar Cross as
bailiff, 240

Leedham, Joe, i. 28, 93, 12G ; bitten \
in the heel, 128, 179 |

Leedham, Tom, i. 25, 26, 64, 68, 89,
104; age 71 years in 1835.. 125;
last season as huntsman, 127 ;
death of 1839.. 139, 165, 177; I
amusing story of, 180; son Tom's |
death, 188 ; favourite story of his
breeches, 203, 217, 243 ; presenta-
tion to, by Lord Alex. Paget, 244,
265 ; hero of the day, 267 ; detailed
description of presentation to, 268 ;
" doggy man," 305 ; career ended
as huntsman, 306 ; testimonial,
307-309 ; last run, 310, «. ; death
of, ii. 112

Leedham, William, baptism of, i. 1 1

Legard, Mr. Cecil, i. 217, 225, 295

Leicester racecourse, kill on, i. 35

Leigh, i. 209; ii. 212, 322

Leigh, Captain Gerard, ii. 197

Leigh, Lord, i. 209

Leigh, Miss, ii. 82, it.

Leigh, Mr. Cecil, ii. 177

Leigh, Rev. G., i. 38

Leigh Church, i. 126

Leighton, Sir C, i. 213

Leotard (horse), owned by Mrs. Hart-
ley, ii. 227

Levett, Mr. Basil, ii. 293 j

Levett, Colonel T. J., death of, ii. 291 ; 1
as a county man, 293 ; political !
activity, 294; our oldest county j
magistrate, 294; as a sjwrtsman, |
294 ; as a benefactor, 294 ; buried
at Wichnor church, 295

Levett, Lady Jane, ii. 172

Levett, Theophilus, Esq., i. 98

Ley, Mr. Rupert, ii. 335

Ley Hill, i. 201

Lichfield, Lord, i. 14

Lightweight Steeplechase, ii. 306

Lilies, a run of an hour and fifty
minutes from, ii. 163

Lily Pool, ii. 286

Limbersitch brook, i. 208

Limekiln Covert, ii. 217

L'Inconnu, ii. 70

Linkboy (hound), i. 293, 341

List of celebrities out with the hounds,

i. 229
Little Bessie, Mrs. Charrington's bay

mare, ii. 175
Little "Tom," whip, i. 106 ; promotion

of, 118
Littleover, i. 80 ; ii. 213
Littleton, Sir Edward, of Pillaton, i. 142
Locker's Knoll, i. 115
Locko, i. 93
Long account of gems of the kennel,

i. 273-275
Longest frost, ii. 214; played hockey

on the ice, 214
Longford, i. 79, 115, 123; thoroughly

Meynellian, 235 ; originally called

Laganford, 235, 236, 265
Longford Brook, i. 208
Longford Car, i. 97, 208, 233; good

run from, ii. 13
Lonsdale, Earl of, i. 108
Lonsdale, Lord, i. 117
Lonsdale, Mr., Master of the Bicester,

ii. 268
Lord's Coppice, ii. 214
Loverock's farm, i. 210
Lowndes, Squire Selby, i. 154, 180, 289
Loxley, i. 88, 94, 185, 205, 209 ; ii. run

of the season, 7, 185; held by

Robert de Ferrers, 185, 186, 212,

335
Lucas, Captain, ii. 69
Lullington, i. 242

Lyon, Arthur of Clownholme, i. 193
Lyon, Miss, vii.
Lyon, Mr., i. 367

McBean, Captain II., ii. 173
Macclesfield, Lord, ii. 17
Mackenzie, Sir Kenneth, i. 250
Mackley, i. 233
Mackworth, i. 80, 116
Madeley Wood, i. 118
Magheramorne, Lord, ii. 173
Magnate (hound), ii. 174
Mainstay Wood, i. 106
Mainwaring, Sir H., i. 107, 108
Malabar, king of the deerslayers, i. 47
Mamerton, ii. 324
Manager (hound), ii. 135
Manners, Captain Fitz-Alan, ii. 230
Manningham-Buller, Sir Morton, i. 337
Marchington, ii. 212
Marchington Cliff, i. 100, 101, 113,209
Marchington station, ii. 210
Maresfield Gorse, i. 201
Markeaton, i. 80 ; ii. 10
Marmaduke (hound), ii. 84
Marquis of Hartington, i. 188
Marriott, Mr. J., ii. 69

422

INDEX.

Marston, i. 69, 106, 118, 239

Marston Montgomery, ii. 190, 325

Maiston Park, i, 76, 78, 194, 230 ; ii.
188

Martin, Henry, good pilot, i. 211

Marvel (hound), ii. 182

Mary Queen of Scots, at Cliartley, i.
136

Mavesyn Ridware, ii. 212, 352

Mavesyn Ridware Osiers, ii. 82

Mayfield, i. 115

Maytiard, Jeff, ii. 126; married eldest
daughter of Mr. S. Sitwell, ii. 126

Mayuard, Mr., vii. ; gets a fall, ii. 171

Maynard, Mr. E. A. J., ii. 125

Mear Heath, i. 177

Mease, the, i. 242

Meeke, Mr., i. 80

Melbourne Park, i. 107

Melville, Whyte, i, 155

Mentor (hoimd), ii. 166

Mercaston, ii. 180

Mercaston Stoop, i. 260 ; ii. 139

Mercnry (horse), ii. 122

Merryman (hound), i. 293 ; ii. 99

Meynell, Alderman Francis, i. 35

Meynell, Admiral, ill in Paris, i. 234 ;
death of, 234

Meynell, Mr. Hugo (father of fox-
hunting), married, in 1754, Anne,
daughter of Mr. John Gell, i. 37 ;
in 1758, married Miss Booth by
Scrimshire, 37, 38; 7, 11, 22, 34,
35 ; anecdotes about, 35, 36

Meynell, Mr. Hugo (father of Mr. H. C.
Meynell Ingi-am), i. 37, 38

Meynell, Mr. G. F., i. 225

Meynell, Captain Edward, i. 99, 144

Meynell, Godfrey, i. 185

Meynell, Mary, i. 84

Meynell, Miss Georgiana, i. 188 ; leg
broken, 239, 287

Meynell country, early history, i. 7 ;
boundariesinl860 .. 20;bomidaries
in 1901 .. 21 ; the grassiest country
m England, 21 ; "a handy horse
that can jump water is required,"
23 ; first printed records of fox-
hunting, 37 ; what Cornelius Tonge
thought of it, 216 ; sul)scriptions
allowed to covert fund, 243

Meynell hounds, last week of the
season, i. 395; pedigi-ees of, ii.
1-3; splendid nm, Etwall, 23;
opening day, 1879,. 24; hounds
on the snow, 25 ; accoimt of a run,
seldom equalled, never surpassed,
55 ; discussion about the kennels,
63 ; question of expense, 65 ;
reminiscences of forty years with,
112-119; puppies destroyed on

account of disease, 124 ; serious
accident with, 179 ; extraordinary
run, 201-203 ; list of those at the
finish, 203 ; hill run, 219 ; account
of run, 222 ; list of hounds, 181,
194, 208,215, 242, 257, 259, 331,
354-357

Mejniell hounds, G. S. L. on, ii. 135-358

Meynell Hunt alphabet, ii. 68

Meynell Hunt, verses on, by Frederick
Cotton, ii. 92-94 ; list of new
names, 205 ; new sul)scriber8, 98,
110, 120, 142 ; report of special
committee, 151, 159 ; annual
meetinir, 1900 .. 165 ; annual meet-
ing, 1891. .17.3, 194,216,254

Meynell Hunt ball, Prince Imperial
present at, ii. 20

Meynell Hunt point-to-point steeple-
chases, ii. 253

Meynell Hunt, worst season on record,
ii. 253

Meynell Hunt club ball, i. 98

Meynell Hunt, only printed account of
the Meynell doings, 1863, i. 224

Meynell Hunt race, competitors must
be nominated by a lady who must
have received a nomination from
Sir Peter Walker, i. 103, 145 ; Lord
Bagot, chairman of the committee,
164 ; hounds, good nms with,
166-168

Meynell Hunt subscription list, new
names, ii. 98, 110, 120, 142, 159,
173, 194, 216, 226, 232, 258, 260,
261

Meynell-Langley, i. 361

Meynell-Langley Gorse, a splendid
gallop from, ii. 144, 354

Meynell Puppy Show, ii. 256

Meynell worthies, i. 34, 35

MeyneUs averse to publicity, i. 107

Meynell Ingram, Miss, u 88, 125 ;
celebrated horsewoman, 178, 298 ;
death of, 298

Meynell Ingram, Hon. Mrs., vii., i. 66;
kindness in lending the Hoar
Cross diaries, 238, 253, 270 ; offers
kennels and stables at Hoar Cross,
315 ; declined, 315 ; vote of
thanks to, 320

Meynell Ingram, Mr. H. C, i. 12, 25,
66, 69, 72, 75, 78, 96, 101 ; only
diary that mentions the individual
work of hounds, 113 ; son's illness,
116 ; death of father-in-law, 116 ;
complains of hounds being over-
ridden, 117 «., 119 ; gallant run
with, 128, 129 ; complimentary
dinner to, 139, 140, 144

Meynell Ingram, Mv. H. F., first

INDEX.

423

mentioned as "little H.," i. 112,
140, 144, 173; recommences the
HoarCrossdiary,194,215; hismar-
riage, 229 ; appeals to the county
to preserve foxes, 242 ; his ac-
count of the fastest run, 254;
"Cecil's" appreciation, 277; his
favourite horse Elford, 298 ; acci-
dent at Kedleston, 298 ; his death,
300 ; leaves the hounds to the
county, 302

Moynell Ingram Hunt, company pre-
sent at last meet of, i. 307 ; Mr.
Clowes and Lord Waterpark
willing to accept mastership, 314 ;
kennels and stables, 315 ; selection
of site, 316; covert find, 316;
list of subscribers, 321 ; kennels,
347 ; estimates and report, 349 ;
subscriptions promised, 352

Mickleover, i. 72, 80, 113, 205,265;
ii. 213, 309

Middleton, Lord, i. 9, 117 ; green, 176

Milwich, ii. 187, 192

Milwich Heath, i. 74

Miracle (hound), ii. 2

Mitchell, Mr. George, i. 228

Moddershall Oaks, i. 233 ; notable run
to, ii. 185, 200

Moira, Earl of, now Marquis of Hast-
ings, i. 107

Monte (horse) wins Sir Peter Walker's
point-to-point races, ii, 233

Moore, George, of Appleby, i. 122,
190, 248

Moreton brook, ii. 313

Morley Tollgate, i. 114

Morris, Dinah, i. 214

Morrison (horse), i. 28

Moses (horse), i. 79

Mosley, Lady, i. 293

Mosley, The Misses, ii. 171

Mosley, Sir Oswald, ii. 169, 240

Mosley, Sir Tonman, death of, ii.
164; amusing story of, 169

Moss, a wild natural covert, i. 137

Mostyn, Sir Thomas, i. 8

Mugginton, i. 115, 116; ii. 314

Mundy, E. M., i. 9

Mundy, Mrs., ii. 37

Murphy, Mr. and Mrs., i. 138

Musketeer (horse), ii. 180

Muslin (hound), ii. 311

Musters, Jack, i. 24, 25

Musters, Mr. and Mrs., i. 286

Mutton Inn, i. 227

Mynors, Mr. John, i. 28

Mynors, Mr. W., ii. 108

Natham (horse), i. 27
Needwood, ii. 187

Needwood Forest, i. 43 ; derivation of

name, 45
Needwood (horse), i. 79
Nelly (horse), i. 27
Nettleworth, i._85
Newborough, ii. 35, 311, 353
New Coppice, i. 107
Newdigate, Colonel, i. 209
Newhouse Sprink, ii. 321
New master appointed in place of Lord

Waterpark, ii. 61 ; meeting held

at Derby, 61
Newton, Mr. F. C, vii. ; ii. 152, 191 ;

marriage of, 191, 250
Newton Folly, i. 80
Newton Gorse, i. 129
Newton Solney, i. 76, 228
Nigel (hound), i. 30
Nightshade (hound), i. 28
Norbury, i. 78
Normanton, i. 86
North, Christopher, i. 146
North Stafford Hounds, straightest run

ever witnessed, ii. 88
NottHill, i. 118
Nugent, Sir Charles, ii. 159, 188
Nun's Fields, ii. 352
Nuttall, Mr., ii. 137

Oakley Wood, i. 107

O'Callaghan, Dr., ii. 269

Okeover, Miss Ethel, ii. 306

Okeover, Mr., vii. ; father of Lady
Walker, i. 103, 145, n.; height,
146, 214 ; ii. 96 ■

Okeover church, restoration of, i. 145

Old Brown Forest, verses on, i. 43

"Old Doctor," i. 170; gave his ser-
vices, human and equine, 171 ;
illness of, 171

Orgreave Hall, i. 228

Osbaldeston, Squire, i. 10 ; unpleasant-
ness with Sir Henry Every, 10;
challenges Sir Henry to a duel,
11, 14, 105, 108, 184

Osgathorpe, i. 97

Osmaston, Mr. John, i, 102

Osmaston, i. 70, 102, 103 ; ii. 180, 219

Osmaston Manor, ladies' cricket
matches at, ii. 243

Otter, i. 77 ; ii. 75

Over Burrows, i. 208

Overton, Joe, whip, ii. 333

Ox Close Wood, ii. 323

Paddy (horse), killed in the Ingestre

railway accident, i. 293
Paget, Lord Alexander, i. 207 ; tragic

end of, ii. 18
Paget, Lord Berkeley, vii.; i. 23, 182 ;

424

INDEX.

father died, 1869.. 183; narrow

escape of, 185, 200, 222
Paget, Mr. Charles, ii. 227
Parish of BHthefield, townships in, i.

IGO
Parker, Lady, ii. 17; tragic end of, 18,

99
Parker, Lord, ii. 17; amusing story of

a pound of treacle, 17 ; tragic end

of, 18
Parker, Thomas Ha we, i. 177
Park Hall Covert, ii. 212
Parry, Captain, ii. 69, 70
Parry, Miss, i. 2
Parry, Mr., i. 225
Parson's (iorse, i. 204
Patriot (horse), i. 79
Pavilion (Mr. Cavendish's horse), ii.

212
Payne, whip, i. 62
Peacock, Major F. W., ii. 104
Peacock, Mr., vii. ; married, ii. 104,

220
Peacock, Mrs., gets the brush, ii. 104,

105
Pear Tree Gorse, ii. 213
Peekforton Hills, ii. 76
Peel, Mr., ii. 142
Peel, Mr. Edmund, i. 98
Peel, j\Ir. 11., i. 38
Pembina, ii. 183
Pennywaste, i. 233 ; fast gallop from,

ii. 41, 327
Percy, Major Heber, i. 92
Peterborough Show, i. 290
Peter (horse), i. 361
Peyton, Sir Algernon, i. 255
Pheasant Coppice, i. 50
Philips' Gorse, i. 253 ; ii. 212
Phillips, i\Ir. Lort, ii. 180
Phcebe, sister to Tom Leedham, i. 304
Pierrepoint, Hon. E., ii, 82, 129
Pigg (horse), i, 79
Pildock Wood, i. 254 ; ii. 214, 354
Pipe Wood, i. 278; ii. 212
Plantagenet, ii. 83, 84, 105
Plaster Pit Covert, ii. 189
Piatt, Mr.J., i. 383
Point-to-point steeplechase, ii. 164,

306
Pole, Captain, i. 104 n.
Pole, ]\Ir. Christopher, ii. 272
Pole, H., i. 215, n.
Pole, Peter de la. Sir, i. 64 ; marriage

of 64
Pooltail, i. 116
Porteous, Mr., ii. 138
Potlocks, i. 77, 80
Potluck osier-bed, ii. 213
Potter, prince of horsedealers, i. 153
Potter's Covert, i. 254

Power, Mr. W. S., ii. 108; earned
the soubriquet of " No Surrender
Power," 109, n., 139, 159;
"Bill," 210; Meynell race \y>m
by, 216
; Poyser, F., ii. 173
' " Premier," in memoriam, i. 258
I Prince de Joinville, i. 133
! Prince Imperial present at the Hunt
: Ball, ii. 20 ; bad fall, 20

j Prospector (chestnut horse), ii. 217
Puckeridge, i. 229
Pulerton, Mr., i. 10

QuAiJNDON Car, i. 73
Queen Adelaide at Sudbury, i. 140
Queen Elizabeth at Chartley, i. 136
Queensberry, Marquis, match with Mi-.

Cotton, ii. 97
Quicksilver, an extraordinary water

jumper, i. 184
Quorndon, i. 217
Quorndon pack, top of list for speed,

i. 208

Kadborne Hunt, Christmas, 1802,

verses, i. 59
Radbume, i. 10, 54, 58; hounds, 56;
Derby week at, 63, 100, 101, 105,
109, 110;Car, 113, 116, 120, 215;
good run from, 230, 232 ; meet at,
ii. 81; a capital day, 129; good
gallop in the Radburne country,
214; the run of the season 1897
..230,308,327
Radburne Rough, i. 64, 123, 232;
great event of season, account of,
254 ; the great run, 259 ; song of
run, 269, 269 n.
Raddle Wood, ii. 217
Rake Edge, ii. 44
Rallywood (hound), i. 219
Randall, Mrs., ii. 188
Randall of Chester, mentioned in (Con-
nection with Robin Hood, i. 136
Rangemore, i. 78, 209
Rangeraore Gorse, ii. 354
Ratcliff, Mr. R., i. 209
Rattler, Miss Chandos-Pole's horse, ii.
I 77

J Raven's Oak, i. 45

Ravensdale Park, i. 116
! Rawnsley, Mr. E. P., i. 372
: Redcoat Steeplechase, ii. 306
i Redfern's " Ilistorj' and Antiquities of
I Uttoxeter," i. 51, 52 n.

j Redleston Village, i. 115, 124
I Reeve's Moor, i. 238, 254
Rendall, Mr. Frank, ii. 83
Renishawe, i. 58
Repton Shrubs, i. 74, 76

INDEX.

425

Resignation of the " Squire," ii. 149

Reveller (hound), i. 28

Reynolds, Mr., i. 178

Ringthorpe (horse), wins the light-
weight race, ii. 233

Robber, Mr. Robert Fielden's famous
horse, i. 25.

Robert de Ferrars, or Robin Hood, i.
102, 136

Roberts, Wenman, took name and
arms of Coke, 236 ; nephew of
Robert Coke, 236; M.P. for
Derby, 236

Robin Hood at Chartley Castle, i. 136;
ii. 186 ; said to have been born
and married at Loxley, 186

Robin Wood, i. 107

Rocester, i. 69, 193

Rockwood (blood-hound), i. 49

Rodsley, i., 230

Roister (hound), ii., i.

Rolle, Hon. Mark, i. 141

Rolleston, Mr., i. 25

Rolleston, good run from, ii. 5; to
Bagot's Park, run from, 79

Rolleston Hall, ii. 169

Rolleston's Hounds, a good run with,
Jan. 1, 1881, i. 150

Roman (hound), i, 28

Rookhills, ii. 224

Rosamond (hound), ii. I

Roslistone, i. 120

Roston, i. 69, 229

Roston bottom, ii. 327

Rosy Morn (horse), i. 264

Rough, foxes at, i. 65

Rough Heanon, ii. 213

Rough Park, ii., 212, 308

Rubv, blood-hound named, i. 49

Rugeley, i. 107

Rummager (hound), i. 28

Run of the season, the, i. 56

Russell, Rev. John, i. 247, 296 ; ii. 75

Sacheveiiell, Edward, Squire, i. 61 ;

marriage of, 61 ; death of, 62
Sailor (horse), i. 79
Saint's Covert, usually called Potter's,

i. 373
Sale, Mr. R., ii. 66; death of, 157
Sale's Covert, ii. 309
Salt, W. S., ii. 128
Salusbury, Sir Thomas, i. 99
Sampson, Mr., i. 278
San Juan, ii. 306
Sandon Wood, i. 7
Sandy Acre, i. 93
Sapperton, i. 129, 223, 233, 241 ; ii.

190
Satan (horse), ii. 80
Scarsdale, Lord, ii. 65, 66, 240

Scorey, whip, ii. 21

Scott, Gilbert, i. 145

Scrimshire, Miss Boothby, i. 37

Seabright, Tom, whip, i. 10, 184

Seal Wood, i. 80

Sedley Gorse, i. Ill

Sedsall Rough, ii. 35

Selborne, i. 146

Selby Lowndes, Squire, ii. 198

Selina's Elm, i. 82

Sharpley Rocks, i. 97

Sheep-dog kills the fox, ii. 57

Sherratt's Wood, i. 210 ; ii. 187, 200

Shipley, i. 10, 115

Shipton, Mr. Joseph, ii. 353

Shirley, Sir Thomas, i. 102

Shirley Park, i. 69, 75, 77, 94. 95, 101 ;

derivation of name, 102, 105, 107,

145, 208, 230, 241 ; ii. great run

from, 55, 123; a splendid gallop

from, 161, 190, 345
Shottle, i. 116
Shottle Car, i. 56
Shrewsbury, Lord, i. 227
Shugborough, i. 127 ; ii. 218
Silverhill, i. 311

Silver King (horse), ii. 143, 187, 197
Sinai Park, ii. 354
Sinfin Moor, ii. 187,309
Sir Garnet (horse), ii. 121
Sisera, ii. 307
Sitting Bull, ii. 183
Sitwell, Mr., of Stainsby, i. 24, 25, 58
Slacker, Mr, Joseph, i.l40; supposed

to be a nickname for Joe Leedham,

140
Smallwood, ii. 20, 20 n.
Smalhvood Manor, ii. 212
Smisby Common, i. 74
Smith, Sir John, i. 227 ; legal adviser

to the hunt, 346
Smith, Dr. Lionel, ii. 86
Smith, Mr., ofEhnhurst, near Lichfield,

i. 42
Smith, Mr. Broadly, i. 227
Smith, Mr. Reginald, i. 297
Smith, Mr. Tom, of Worcester, ii. 82
Smith's Gorse, ii. 308
Snelston, i. 78, 115, 212, 229, 230;

wonderful run from, ii. 145
Sneyd, Thomas, ii. 185 ; took name of

Kynersley, 185, 185 n.
Somersal, i. 69, 86, 92 ; ii. 210
Somersal Brook, i. 83
Somersal Herbert, i. 82, 84, 259 ; ii.

211
Sondes, Lord, i. 73
Songs of the Chace, i. 31
South Wood, i. 74
Sowter, Mr. F. L., ii. 61
Spath, i. 223, 253

426

INDEX.

Spencer's plantation, good run from, i.
220

Spicer, Captain, ii. 197

Spilsbury, Rev. B. W., i. 121

SpiJsbury, Rev. Francis Moslev, i. 86

Spilsbury, Rev. F. W., i. 22, 40

Spondon, i. 246

Sport good but not historical, 1828-29,
i. 114

Sporting Life, viii.

SportiiKj Magazine, viii.

Spotacre Nursery, ii. 200

Spotacre Nurseries, ii. 336

Spring Wood, i. 97, 107

Sprite (creamy-dun horse), i. 311

Squire of Wichuor, good fox preserver,
ii. 266

Squitch Oak, i. 195

St. Helens, Lord, i. 84

St. Lawrence, Captain the Hon. K., ii.
173

St. Ryce's Day, i. 51

St. Stephen's Hill, i. 160

Stafford, Edward, letter of, i. 161

Stafford, ^larquis of, ii. 88

Staffordshire Advertiser, viii.
Stailington Hall, i. 177; Grange, 177,

178
Stamford, Lord, i. 249
Stanhope, Lord, i. 23, 90 ; hit by a

labourer, 238
Stannaford Wood, ii. 317
Stansley Wood, i. 163; ii. 323
Stanton Wood, i. 115
Stapenhill, i. 123
Startley Head, i. 99
Statham, Mr. G. A., M.R.C.V.S., i. 170
Statham,Mr. George, HI, 170
Staunton Springs, i. 96
Stella (hoimd), ii. 84 |

Stenson, i. 80; ii. 179
Stepney, Captain, i. 193; ii. in a pond,

117
Steve, ii. 307

Stewart, J., ii. 173 I

Stone, i, 74 \

Stone's Gorse, i. 93, 112
Storey, Captain, i. 190; met with

accident, 190
Story, J., i. 153

Story, Mr., Master of Donington |

Hounds, i. 147 j

Story, Mr., of Lockington, i. 24 I

Strutt, Hon. A., i. 266 ; tragic end of, !

267
Stud list of horses' names, i. 70, 71
Sturston brook, i. 70
Stvdd, i. 102, 115 I

Stydd Hall. ii. 339 |

Sudbury, season began at, ii. 4 ; open- i
ing day at, 21, 190

Sudbury Hall, presentation to Charles

Leedham at, ii. 249
Sudbury Hounds, i. 1, 4
Sudbury Hunt, verses by Lord Curzon

upon, i. 15; coppice, 116, 252
Sudbury Hunting Song, i. 4
Sultan (horse), i. 79
Summary, ii. 59
Summer Hill, ii. 312
Summers, R., whip, i. 321, 383 ; ii. 3
Sutton Chamell, i. 9
Sutton Gorse, i. 149, 203; ii. good run

from, 23 ; a very sharp burst, 162
Sutton Park, i. 8
Swarkstoue Bridge, i. 76
Swarkeston, meet at, 189 ; account of.

189, 190, 222
Swearing match, ii. 117
Sweyne Park, i. 80
Swilcar Lawn, ii. 353
Swilcar Oak, i. 45
Swyiuierton, i. 249

Tailby, Mr. James, ii. 3

Tailor, amusing story about a, ii. 16!t

Tait's Wood, ii. 310

Talbot, Hon. and Rev. Geo., i. 8;
death of, 9; letter of, 12; hunting
song, 17

Talbot, Lord, i. 7, 178

Tamworth, great run to, i. 287

Tancred, prize puppy, i. 294

Tasker, James, whip, i. 341 ; whip, ii. 3

Tasker, Jim, i. 226

Taylor, i. 53

Tean, i. 179

Teddesley, i. 12

Teddeslev Park, i. 127

Tegleaze Wood, i. 129

Telegram, famous forged, ii. 143

Tempest, Captain, " white-headed
Bob," a familiar sobriquet, i. 23

Temple Newsam, i. 12

Thacker's Wood, i. 120

" The Goose with the Golden Eggs,"
verses on, by J. L. R., ii. 357-359
Thomas, Arthur Francis, ii. 180
Thomson, Colonel Anstruther, letter

of, i. 245
Thorniwell, Miss, ii. 99
Thornley's Gorse, i. 71
Thunder (horse), refused seven hundred
pounds for, ii. 76 ; wonderful jump
of, 77
Thurvaston, i. 128, 239, 265
Thurvastou Stoop, ii. 337
Tinsley, Mr. vii. ; ii. 233
Tissington, i. 85, 86, 102, 232
Tittensor Common, i. 178
Tixall, i. 202
Tollbar, i. 115

INDEX.

427

Tomlinson, Mr., i. 278

Tomlinson, Mr. William, i. 155; made
presentation to Mr. Chandos-Pole,
i. 155 ; death of, 155 ; letter
written not long before his death,
156

Tomlinson, Mr., vii. ; ii. 158

Tonge, Cornelius (Cecil), i. 216

Townshend, Mrs. Harry, ii. 128

Travers, Mr., i. 266

Trevanion at Sutton, i. 74

Truelass (hound), ii. 309

Trusley, i. 233, 239 ; brook, 265 ; ii.
221

TumbuU, i. 131 ; ii. 162

Turnor, Henry, i. 49

Tumor, Michael, i. 45, 46, 48

Turnor, Mr. Pickering, i. 49, 50

Tutbury, i. 106 ; river-bed, gieat dis-
covery of coins at, June 1st, 1831,
117; ii. 309

Tutbury bull-running, i. 51

Tutbury day, i. 52

Tytler, Mr. Fraser, ii. 162, 188, 200

Ulvebscroft Abbey, i. 97

Unique day, a, for the ten who saw the

last run, ii. 232
Unmanageable field, an, ii. 27
Upfield Coppice, ii. 51
Uttoxeter, i. 94; Neio Era account,

396 «., 397 ; account of a meeting

held at, ii. 192, 193
Uttoxeter-Abbot's-Bromley, i. 163
Uttoxeter steeplechases, 1878, ii. 15,

16, 186

Vaughton, Mr., i. 98

Verity, ii. 311

Vernon, Henry, i. 2

Vernon, Lord, ancestor of the Meynell
Hunt, i. 1,4; death of, 14 ; hunt-
ing song by, 15, 48 ; the hunting
lord, 54, 217, 307-309; ii. 45, 48,
. 62 ; death of, 110 ; ancestors, 111 ;
death of, 273

Vemon Hunt, colours, i. 7 ; districts,
7 ; subscription list iu 1808-9 . . 13 ;
plan of, 13

Vernons of Hilton, lawsuit with Lord
Vernon, i. 1, 84, 98

Vernon's Oak, i. 240 ; ii. 188, 329

Verses of a wonderful run, i. 2

Vevers, Rev. H., i. 39

Vicar Wood, i. 266

Violante (horse), i. 79

Wade, Misses, ii. 99

Wagstafife, nicknamed AVag, i. 55 ;

nearly suffocated, 56 ; death, 56
Waite, Mr., vii. ; ii. 201

Walkden, Miss, ii. 319

Walker, Lady, i. 103

Walker, Messrs. J. and W., ii. 128

Walker, Sir Andrew, i. 102

Walker, Sir Peter, i. 102, 139, 147;
the first point-to-point races held,
account of, 205-208 »., 206;
dinner to the Meynell Hunt, 211 ;
names and weights of guests, 21 1 ;
ii. 110

Wallroth, Mr. C. A., ii. 3, 162, 198

Walmsley, George, i. 99

Walmsley, Mr., i. 107

Walmsley, Mr. Paul, ii. 177

Walter (brother of Henry Boden), i.
148

Walters, Mr., of Checkley, i. 178

Walton country, i. 78

Walton, good day from, ii. 126

Walton Wood, i. 120

Wanfield Coppice, i. 253

Wapiti, i. 103

Warburton, Mr. Egerton, i. 311; ii.
334

Ward, Robert Plumer, Esq., author of
" Tremaine," i. 145 ; marriage of,
145

Warwickshire Subscription Hounds, i.
10

Watei-park, Lord, i. vii., 76,76 n., 195,
212, 249 ; diary of, 323-333, 334-
340, 341-345, 353-359, 362-381,
384-394, 396; ii. diary of runs in
1878, 4, 9, 11-15, 22, 31, 33-42;
some good runs, 44 ; presentation
to, 45 ; speech by, 46, 47 ; last
season of. 49 ; diary of runs,
1880-81, 49-59 ; retirement from
Mastership of Meynell Hunt, 64,
67, 240

Watts, Mr., of Hoar Cross, vii.

Weathergauge (hound), ii. 166

Welter Steeplechase, ii. 306

Wemington, i. 178

West, Mr., of Derby, killed, i. 286

West, Mrs. Cornwallis, ii. 37

Westmorland, Lord, i. 183

Weston, William, ii. 307

Wettest season ever known, ii. 213

Whistley Wood, i. 158

White Heather cricketers, ii. 244

White, Gilbert, i. 146

White, Mr., ii. 237
i White, Mr., of Egginton, ii. 147

White Wood, ii. 309
I Whitely, James, horseman, i. 123
j Whittingham, ii. 217

Whitwich, i. 97
I Whyggs, ii. 189
i Whyte, Mrs., i. 192
: Wichnor, i. 10, Qi^, 100, 112; ii. two

428

INDEX.

three-legged foxes killed at, 90,

308
Wicksted, Mr., i. 192
Wild Park, ii. 180
Wilkes, stud groom, ii. 20
William of Tissington, Sir, i. 84
Williiigtoii, Lawyer, of Tamworth,

i. 86
Willough Bridge, i. 105
Wilmot, H. S., i. 100
Wilmot, Mr. Frank, i. 38, 173
Wilmot, Mrs., widow of Rev. Edward

Wilmot, i. 61
Wimcombgee, ii. 317
Windy Hall Wood, i. 253
Wingfield, Tom, i. 26
Winnepeg, ii. 183
Winslow, ii. 198
Wire, barbed, first seen, ii. 143
Wirksworth Road, i. 232
Witherley, i. 10
Wolsley Park, i. 107, 116
Wonderful run of five hours, ii. 139
" Wonderful run " with Mr. Vernon's

hounds, verses of, i. 2
Wood, Hon. Emily, daughter of

Viscount Halifax, i. 229
Wood, Major Charles, popular owner

of Bishton Coverts, ii. 313, n.
Wood Farm, i. 118
Woodcock Heath, i. 291

Woodford Rough, i. 94; ii. 188

Woodgate, near Uttoxeter, ii. 212

Woodroffe's Cliffe, ii. 187, 211, 212

Wootton, i. 78

Wootton Park, i, 75

Worthington, Mr., vii.

Worthington, Mr. Albert, i. 50 ; break-
fast at East Lodge, ii. 86

Worthington, Mr. A. 0., i. 228; ii.
128; owner of Maple Hayes
estate, 204; D.L. and J.P. for
Staffs., 204

Worthington, W., i. 8

Wright, Mr. John, i. 89

Wright, Rev. Banks, i. 91, 148

Wyndham, Colonel, i. 129

Yates, Mr. Arthur, steeplechase rider.

i. 132
Yates, Mr. Trevor, i. 95, 129, 132,

146, 363 ; death of, 132
Year of great frost, ii. 210
Yeavely, i. 102 ; ii. 343
Yeldersley, i. 246
Yeldersley Rongh, ii. 201
Yeovely, i. 105, 131
Young, Mr., stayed at Hoar Cross for

season 1830-31, i. 39, 117
Yoxall, good day, ii., 35, 179, 354
Yoxall Lodge, i_._ 69, 100,112
Yoxall villaore, ii. 335

THE END.

h

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