14 



the side wind, but now lie began to shift, and took the down wind ; 

 at this period our informant's horse was beaten to stand still, and he 

 saw no more of the run, but immediately afterwards the clouds 

 lowered upon the field, as if lamenting the loss of one of the best 

 sportsmen from this excellent chase, and m the end, shed tears in 

 good earnest, which washed away the little scent there was left, 

 and gave the fox time to secrete, and we hope, recover himself in 

 Portslade. 



Jan. 12, 1839. — On Saturday, the East Sussex Fox Hounds met at 

 the Rainbow ; after drawing some small coverts blank, they drew 

 Wallingore wood, where they unkennelled a fine strong fox, which 

 broke cover in good style towards the hills, and through ]\Ir. Cripps' 

 plantation dowTi the road to the chalkpit, where reynard got into the 

 drain under the road, but he was soon unkennelled again, and the 

 hounds drew on the scent, when he took to the Downs, crossing 

 Plump ton and Mr. Moon's hills, leaving the upper plantation to the 

 right, taking a line to the back of Ditchling Bosthill ; here he 

 headed and went straight to the bottom near Standean, making a 

 short head again to the right, crossing the green flats and climbing 

 the steep hill, leaving Clayton Holt to the right, then on to Clayton 

 windmill, where he headed short to the left, leaving Pangdean Holts 

 to the right, dij^prng the green bottom in a line for Patcham, but 

 making a circle over the hill to the right to Pangdean hill, where 

 the hounds ran into him in view. It was a most excellent chase 

 with a lively scent, but the zig zag line made it very difficult to keep 

 the pack together ; at the short head m the bottom, near Standean, 

 the body of the homids and the leading horses were thrown on the 

 back ground, as two couples of hounds which were covering the 

 right wing caught the scent and went off with it such a pace, that 

 the pack could not be got well together until they came to the head 

 of Clayton mill, when they assembled again, and the huntsman 

 hallowed ' ' hold hard, gentlemen, a minute, let me hold them round," 

 when he exclaimed, " Hoi, neighbours, hit him off ; my good 

 hound," and away they went the remainder of the chase at a most 

 clipping pace, and ran into him in full view, killing in fine style. 



Nov. 11, 1843. — On Monday, the East Sussex Fox Hounds met at 

 Abbot's Wood. The spirited master and Press, with a good sprinkle 

 of pink, accompanied by about thirty other sportsmen, seemed to 

 predict and " entertain a sort of inioard feeling " there was some- 

 thing good in store for them. The morning too was just what 

 sportsmen like — without either sun or wind. It was truly a 



Delightful scene, 



Where all around was gay, men, horses, hounds, 

 And in each smiling countenance appeared 

 Fresh blooming health and universal joy." 



The business-like looking pack were taken from the meet to Ludley 

 coppice ; scarcely were they all in cover ere old Druid proclaimed 

 Pug was on foot, he broke on the North side, and made for Chalving- 

 ton and Ripe, leaving the mill to the right — took direct across the 



