WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. 



BY AN OLD FOXHUNTER. 



MEET ILMINGTON, ABOUT 1790. 



We had once a fine day's sport, when the meet was at 

 Ihnington. The Field, in the morning, was excellently 

 mounted — the hounds in the primest condition — the hunts- 

 man in famous humour — the morning most favourable — the 

 country good — and the whole company in capital spirits, 

 and determined to go. We found in a small gorse cover 

 on the right of Stoke, as stout a fox as ever led a Field, 

 who sunk the hill as if pointing for Preston Bushes ; but 

 turning short back he regained the hill, and dashed through 

 Stoke Wood, by Foxcote on to Blakewell Bushes. He 

 passed through those bushes, and then crossed the Stour 

 between Halford and Newbold ; over the road by Eatington 

 Church, below Kineton, and we lost him in a large grass 

 meadow ground under Avon Dassett Hill. This was a 

 capital thing, and the distance could not be less than 18 

 miles, which was done in a very short time. 



Under Baker's Hill, which the fox first sunk, Mr. W. 

 Barke, on a young restive horse of Mr. H. Wyatt's, met 

 with a terrible fall ; but quickly remounted, and occupied 

 a good station at the end. Mr. Stubbs, Mr. H. Wyatt, 

 Mr. F. Canning, Mr. R, Canning, Mr. Cockbill, the 

 huntsman, and a few others, were up when we lost. The 

 pace was so quick, and the fences so strong and awkward, 

 that many good-tins stopped at Kineton. 



When Mr. Corbet hunted this country, he resided at Clopton House, 

 a mile from the town, but his hounds and horses were kept at the 

 White Lion, in Stratford. He generally had about 70 couple of hounds, 

 which he divided into two packs, dogs and bitches ; the dogs were the 

 largest and stoutest, but the other pack was preferred by many of the 

 Sportsmen for quickness of scent and activity. — Mr. Corbet dined with 

 the Club at the White Lion, every other Thursday. — an old fox- 



HUNTKR. 



