FOX CHASES 



Feu. 10, 1824. ^On Thursday, the East Sussex Fox Hounds met at 

 Plumpton Plain ; they threw oft at Mr. Lame's furze, where they soon 

 found a fox, he broke covert into Stanmer Park, going down Mr. 

 Moon's side, and comi^letely ringing the park, coming out within a 

 few rods where he went in ; he then crossed Mr. Moon's hill, a 

 complete burst by Broad Shackles to Boxholt Bottom ; here we came 

 to a check for a few minutes. Perkins held them round and hit him 

 off, we then went down the four-mile course into Ashcombe planta- 

 tion, crossing the road, and climbing Kingstone hill by the sheep 

 ponds, crossing Kingstone and Swanborough hill, round Iford hill, 

 in front of Balsdean by Hervey's Stone and Pickers Hill Barn, (here 

 Major Cater exclaimed, " gentlemen, take care of your horses"). 

 We then went orer Highdoole and Telscombe Tye, crossing the 

 Warren and Great Hoddern Farms, to the cliff near the pay-gate, 

 where w^e came to a check ; and a check it was, for but a very few 

 horses could go on again. It was quite a scene to see the gentlemen 

 dismounted, some slacking their girths, others holding their heads 

 round to the wind, some poking the handle of their whips in their 

 mouths to give them all the air they could, and others walking and 

 leading their horses on homewards ; but now Perkins held back for 

 the short head and hit off the scent ; we went on over Piddinghoe 

 and Newhaven hills into Bullens Bush, here reynard was staying, 

 but broke covert immediately, and away we went down the deep 

 fallow into AVaterman's Bottom, (here the Doctor's old grey mare 

 pitched on her head, a most awful fall) , and across the Great Hoddern 

 Farm by Heathy Brow, to Telscombe Tye, over Highdool, and down 

 Northease Hill, up by the Fore Hill Bushes to the front hill ; but 

 now there were only about seven horses, and they were going one 

 by one, no two together, and the hounds were more than a mile 

 ahead. I got to the top of Iford hill and stood and looked on, 

 Perkins was nearest the hounds, on what I called " old Staring 

 Tom," but his name was Mr. Merriman ; he was obliged to get off 

 and lead him, and could not make him go so fast as he could run, 

 which made him say queer words. They went down across the 

 fallows between Swanborough and Kingstone, by the brick-yard, and 

 over by the six -sweep mill ; here Perkins hailed a gentleman in the 

 turnpike to stop the hounds, which he did, Perkins blowing his horn, 

 got them away, and took them home. This was a most tremendous 

 day, every horse in the field was dead beaten, the chase must have 

 been more than thirty miles ; no one fox could have stood this 

 drilling. I am quite satisfied we changed our fox in Boxholt 



