MR. RUSSELL.— 1831. 219 



STONELEIGH JANUARY 3UD. 



The Warwickshire hounds met to-day, Monday, the 3d 

 of January, at Stoneleigh, when the lawn of that noble 

 mansion was enlivened by the appearance of some splendid 

 eqviipages, and an assemblage of 200 horsemen, many of 

 whom were gaily clad in the costume of the Field, which, 

 together with the hills and dales in the vicinity, re-echoing 

 the cheering music of the chase, rendered the scene one of 

 the most animating description. Reynard was soon found 

 in Thickthorn Wood, and a fine burst ensued. He crossed 

 the Avon to Berricote, that is on the opposite side of the 

 river, which he crossed three or four times. The last time 

 he went off in the direction of Mr. Burbury's Grange 

 Farm, where, after a chase of nearly two hours, he took to 

 earth, A terrier was let loose into the sough where reynard 

 had taken refuge, and after a short interval he was brought 

 out and killed. 



A second fox was afterwards bolted from the same 

 sough, and afforded an excellent chase of seven miles ; but 

 night coming on, the pack was suddenly whipped off in the 

 neighbourhood of Kenilworth, leaving reynard, for the 

 present, undisturbed possession of his native haunts. 



Owing to the slippery state of the ground, eight or nine 

 gentlemen were thrown from their horses during the chase, 

 but no accident of a serious description occurred. 1 



1 At a time when all the world is run mad about foxhunting, (an 

 old Sportsman remarks) I am surprised so few gentlemen have learned 

 to enjoy it rationally ; the fashion of the present day is hard riding, 

 and at night, when at the convivial board, their only pleasure seems to 

 be in relating the exploits or disasters of their own, or their friends' 

 horses ; not a word about the best or the worst hound in the pack, or 

 any idea started to ascertain whether by system, or by accident, they 

 had contrived to carry a scent twenty miles over a country to kill a 

 fox ; and how so great an event has been achieved, few modern 

 Sportsmen can with any degree of accuracy relate. 



