MR. RUSSELL.— 1831. 221 



This being Colonel Berkeley's month for hunting the 

 neutral country, the hounds were taken in the direction of 

 Eatington, the nearest cover ; and upon drawing Alder- 

 uiinster Bank, an old hound challenged before the rest got 

 well up. Here as gallant a fox broke cover as ever crossed 

 a country. Being viewed into Rough Hill, where the 

 hounds settled to him, he went direct for Eatington Grove, 

 passed straight through it, and over two fields towards the 

 Idlicote country, where he was headed back to the Grove. 

 On being forced, reynard immediatelj'^ broke away at the 

 bottom, and then made for his old point, in the direction of 

 Idlicote; but suddenly turning he crossed Mr. Shirley's 

 park, then to the river Stoiir, at the village of Tredington. 

 Here the gallant nature of our fox became manifest ; not in 

 the least daunted, he crossed the river where there was no 

 cover within many miles of the place. He then led his 

 pursuers over Newbold open fields, to Mr. Fellowes's 

 house at Talton, then over the Moreton railway, and about 

 a mile up, crossed Talton brook, and after passing through 

 Armscot open fields, reached Wimpstone Downs. At this 

 time the pace was so great, that two or three old hounds 

 were left behind. Wimpstone Downs were then crossed, 

 and after passing through Mr. Townsend's plantation, the 

 gallant party reached Ilmington Hills, where the scent got 

 bad, the snow on the ground lying two or three inches 

 thick. After passing tlie turnpike road from Ilmington to 

 Campden, reynard ran straight through Foxcote plantations 

 and the gorse, and instantly faced the fine grass coimtry 

 beyond to Ebrington village. At Paxford plantations the 

 hounds were whipped off, from fear of a fresh fox. 



But few horsemen came up, most of the nags l>eing so 

 much distressed. The run was about 15 miles, in an hour 

 and 20 minutes. 



