WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. 365 



before taken by Warwickshire foxes, was killed near the 

 town of Cheltenham, a distance of full twenty-five miles. 

 Of a very large field of well-mounted sportsmen^ only seven 

 were at the death. 1 



The prime part of Warwickshire lies eastward of the 

 Avon, bordering on the county of Northampton. 



Foxes found in Long Itchington, Kineton, Chesterton, 

 Ufton, Lighthorne, Ladbroke, or Watergall parishes, have 

 as fine a country before them, as any man would wish to 

 ride over, being for the most part grass, and the enclosures 

 sufficiently extensive. Wolford Wood, Preston Bushes, 

 Idlicote, Alveston Pastures, Farnborough, and indeed all 

 gorse covers in their neighbourhood, are capable of shewing 

 splendid runs, — foxes sometimes taking up the hills into 

 Oxfordshire ; often to Edge-hill or Epwell, and now and 

 then into the Duke of Beaufort's country. 



In Lord Middleton's time a remarkable instance of 

 this occurred. A fox in the Warwickshire vale ascended 

 the Oxfordshire hills at an almost unprecedented rate, and 

 was run to earth at Ditchley Park, not more than twelve 

 miles from Oxford. Of a field of more than a hundred and 

 fifty horsemen, only two, Mr. John Lucy and Lord 

 MoLiNEAUX, were able to get to the end of the run, and 

 several good horses fell a sacrifice to the distance and the 

 pace. ( See p. 120. ) 



To praise a man for conduct really deserving of praise, 

 is but a tribute due to him. I must not, however, dwell on 

 the merits of this renowned Sportsman, or, as Cicero 

 expressed himself when alluding to the virtues of Pompey^ 



1 So brilliant was the perfoi'niance of the pack considered in tliose 

 days, that the head of tlie victim was preserved in a glass case, and 

 ornamented the room at Stratford-on-Avon, which the Wanvickshire 

 Club occupied, accompanied by a description of the run. — (See p. 3.) 



