MR. JOHN COUPLAND 53 



Quorn finished the month by running a fox very 

 smartly from one of the Gaddesby coverts and 

 kilHng him in Beeby village. The same pack 

 had their last day of the season on the following 

 Monday, when they met at Lord Wilton's house, 

 Egerton Lodge, Melton. This was a huge meet, 

 with visitors from all the surrounding hunts. I 

 remember it was Count Charles Kinsky's first 

 appearance amongst us after his success in the 

 Grand National, a few days previously, on Zoedone. 

 He had left us a month before to ride gallops and 

 to get himself fit ; but before going he had told me 

 he thought he had a good chance, and being a great 

 admirer of his horsemanship. I invested my modest 

 sovereign at 20 to i. 



With the ground dry and a hot sun, this last 

 day did not promise much sport. A fox managed 

 to get a long start from Gartree Hill, and it was 

 slow hunting by Little Dalby and Pickwell to the 

 Noel Arms. Firr, however, wanted to finish the 

 season with blood, and sticking to his fox eventually 

 managed to get on better terms, when hounds 

 increased their pace and killed close to Stapleford 

 Park. The Cottesmore finished their season the 

 next day with a very fast seventeen minutes and a 

 kill from Stapleford. 



Season 1883-1884 



October of that year brought us some capital 

 sport. Towards the end of the month the Quorn 

 had a very fast gallop from Gaddesby Spinney, and 

 I do not ever remember hounds running better for 

 thirty minutes. It was not very straight, but we 



