1881] LOED WILLOUGHBY'S PROPOSAL. 61 



meeting that hunting the country cost him more than 

 2000/. a year over and above the subscription he received, 

 and that he could not continue to hunt the country unless 

 600/. more w^as subscribed, or some other arrangement made. 



The members present came to the conclusion that it 

 v^ould be impossible to raise the sum. 



Lord Willoughby proposed not to keep a paid hunts- 

 man (which would save 700/. a year), and to hunt the 

 hounds himself, with a subscription of 1700/. a year. 



Proposed by Sir C. Mordaunt and seconded by H. W. 

 Allfrey, Esq. : " That Lord Willoughby de Broke's offer be 

 accepted." Carried unanimously. 



Lord Willoughby de Broke asked Sir Charles Mordaunt 

 to act as master in the field, and to keep the field in order 

 when he was hunting the hounds. Sir C. Mordaunt 

 promised to do so. 



Letters were received from many owners of coverts and 

 subscribers to the hounds, who were not able to attend the 

 meeting, agreeing to Lord Willoughby de Broke's proposal 

 to hunt the hounds himself, if the extra money could not 

 be raised. 



January 6th 1881, Lower Slmchburgli. — Fine and very cold. Fouud at 

 Calcote Spinney, ran i;p to the liill, and away towards Priors Marston, right 

 ronnd the village, and lost close to Byfield Reservoir, after rnnning one hour 

 and ten minutes. The fox most likely went to ground, as thei'e was a drain 

 open, into which the Bicester had often run to ground ; but we could not 

 mark him. Found again at Watergall. and ran by Knightcote, over Burton 

 Hills, by Harbage's Farm and Old Leys, and across to Radway, and lost 

 between there and Kineton Holt, after running one hour and a quarter. Rode 

 Bona and Brownie. 



January 31st, Compton Verney. — The first day after a very severe frost. 

 The snow drifts were very deep, Pittern Hill being quite full of it up to the 

 top of the hedges. Several people lost their lives at the top of Edge Hill by 

 being lost in the snow. The Avon frozen over, and people skated from 

 Barford to "Warwick. Had a lot of ringing about with bad foxes. The 

 riding still very bad. 



February 3rd, Chesterton Windmill. — Found at Whitnash Gorse, ran 

 tlirough Highdown, by Tachbrook to "Warwick Park ; twenty-five minutes, 

 very pretty. No check liere, but ran out of the park again, over the Sewage 

 Farm, and to ground close to Shrublands and to the town of Leamington, 

 after a very good forty-five minutes. Found several foxes in Itchington 

 Holt ; away towards Chesterton "Wood, turned to the left, and bent as if for 

 Bishop's Gorse ; turned to the left again, and ran through Chadshunt Coppice, 



