190 HUNTING REMINISCENCES 



ushered in the January of 1885, but hounds were 

 out of kennel whenever there was half a chance, 

 and on the last day before the frost a large and 

 distinguished gathering were at Croxton Park to 

 meet them. Amongst those present were the 

 Duke of Rutland, on wheels, accompanied by Sir 

 Frederick Leighton, the late President of the 

 Royal Academy, the Marquis of Waterford, Lord 

 John Manners, and a host of Leicestershire and 

 Lincolnshire sportsmen. 



Much good sport was enjoyed during February, 

 and the month was made memorable by the 

 Lincolnshire pink wedding at Rauceby Hall, on 

 the 17th, between two of the best-known followers 

 of the hunt, Major " Fritz " Amcotts, 5th Dragoons, 

 and Miss Emily Willson. The morning was bright, 

 though a powdering of snow covered the ground, 

 a very large field attending the wedding ceremony 

 and the meet at Rauceby in honour of the occasion. 

 The bride and bridegroom joined the hunt, and a 

 fox jumped up off the fallows near to Bully Wells, 

 showing the way nearly to Sleaford town, then 

 twisting back to Rauceby, where he was killed by 

 the Hall, in full view of the wedding party, who 

 were assembled there. Altogether it was a singular 

 occurrence befitting the occasion, for the run 

 lasted one hour and seventeen minutes. It proved 

 a good scenting day, for the evening fox started 

 from Sparrow Gorse gave an eight-mile point. 



An interesting run is recorded from Keisby 

 Wood across a fine stretch of Lincolnshire country 

 in the vale below Lenton, where a course was in 



