94 HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



memorated in verse by Tom Markland. The 

 veteran was consulted by the Duke on matters 

 connected with the chase ; and when the nearest 

 vulpine stronghold to Melton was planted, it was 

 called Burbidge's Covert, with sufficient reason too, 

 for he tended it, overcame difficulties arising from 

 the floods, and did all he could to make it a sure 

 find. Hounds left with a point for Burton Lazars 

 and Great Dalby, crossed the steeplechase course, 

 and ran their fox to ground at Twyford. This 

 was a good hunting run of one hour, scent was 

 never very good, but hounds made the best of it. 

 Old Warrior and his son Wellington, with Patience 

 and Finder, distinguished themselves in maintain- 

 ing the line, for the fox ran 50 or 100 yards on 

 every road he crossed. 



On December 4th from Belvoir a good hunting 

 run resulted, the find was at Muston Gorse, and 

 hounds ran a bee line by Debdale's Covert, Ailing- 

 ton, and Bennington to within a field of Cotham 

 Thorns, where he turned and was killed in the 

 porch of Staunton Church. The parson, Mr. 

 Staunton, was a hunting man, and quickly on the 

 scene when the fox was brought out into the road- 

 way for the final ceremony. On this day Lord 

 John Manners, subsequently seventh Duke of 

 Rutland, went wonderfully well, although the 

 going was terribly deep. It was a rare scenting 

 day, and though the run was all the way on plough, 

 hounds raced as if it had been grass. The distance 

 from Muston Gorse to Cotham Thorns is 8 miles, 

 14 as hounds ran, and the time just over two hours. 



