136 England's oldest hunt. 



replied in similar terms, the latter saying, " I always con- 

 sidered Arncliffe and Thimbleby Woods were in the Hur- 

 worth Hunt, but they used to be drawn by the Bilsdale 

 Hounds — whether by right or consent, I can't say. My per- 

 mission was never asked." Lord Londonderry said during 

 his Mastership (1873-75) there was no question about the 

 coverts being in the Hurworth country, and in the same 

 strain wrote Sir Reginald Graham, Master of the Hurworth 

 from 1886-1888. Mr. T. L. Wilkinson, sent extracts from 

 the Diary of Thomas Wilkinson, Master of the Hurworth 

 from 1799, for many years, substantiating the Hurworth 

 claim : — * 



• 1799. — Earthed one fox at Sir Wm. Fowles' Wood from Arncliffe 



after a good run. 

 1800. — March 25th. Lost one fox at Arncliffe ; found at ditto. 

 1801. — Feb. 10th. Earthed one fox at Snotterdale from Arncliffe, 



after chasing remarkably hard for seven miles. 

 1801. — March 31st. Earthed one fox at Snotterdale, and five 



hounds went away with another to Hambleton. Both 



found at Thimbleby. 

 1801. — Oct. 15th. Killed one fox at Arden, near Helmsley. Found 



in Thimbleby. 

 1801. — Dec. 16th. Earthed two foxes at Sigstone ; found ditto. 



Ditto at Thimbleby ; found ditto. 

 1802. — Nov. 2nd. Earthed one fox in Black Hambleton, and 



killed or earthed another from Arncliffe. 

 1804. — Nov. 30th. Killed a brace of foxes from Spring Wood. 



one after a capital run of 14 miles over the moors, joining 



Kildale ; the other at Roseberry by Tunner Bath. 

 1805. — Feb. 21st. Blank day from Spring Wood. 

 1808. — Oct. 29th. Found a fox in Spring Wood and earthed in 



Kildale after running near 20 miles. 

 1810. — Oct. 23rd. Earthed an old bitch fox in Silton Knipes 



from Silton Wood, got her out, and earthed her again 



in Landmoth Wood. 



It remains only to be said the Hurworth won their case, 

 and that the run which really created the dispute was one 

 of the greatest in the history of the Bilsdale Hunt. 



Mr. Lowndes, as I have said before, showed some excellent 

 sporb in all parts of the Bilsdale country. He loved his 

 hounds and he loved hunting. Nor was his wife less enthu- 



