1870-71] Frank Beers' Diaries. 115 



Coppices, across Luffield Abbey grounds, to Hatch 

 Woods, but did not enter them ; he ran through 

 Crown Lands to Silverstone Village, and hounds ran 

 him in view in at the front door of Mr. Whitlock's 

 house (he being married only about two months), down 

 the passage into the back kitchen, and killed him 

 under the table. About an hour and ten minutes at best 

 pace. Found another in Bucknells ; ran him once round 

 the wood, at a rattling pace ; and killed him at Lord 

 Southampton's farmyard, Whittlebury. Found another 

 in Cattle Hill ; hounds went at racing pace over the 

 open, leaving Lillingstone on the right, through Leck- 

 hampstead Wood to the Village ; short back through 

 Wicken Spinneys, and on pointing for Thornton, along 

 the meadows, over the river near Bourton Mill, through 

 Bourton Brake, over the Winslow road, to Lenborough ; 

 stopped the hounds at Sudborough late in the afternoon. 

 Not a whipper-in there and the horses tired, so gave it 

 up. A most capital day's sport indeed. I rode Ensign 

 and a cub-hunter. 26| couples out. 



'' Nov. 14th. — First day of regular hunting. Preston 

 Capes. Found in Church Wood, away to Hogstaff, back 

 to Ganderton, on to Fawsley, and killed the fox in the 

 Churchyard. Found again in Little Preston Wood, ran 

 him to Seawell Wood and lost him. Drew Grub's 

 Coppice, Ayers's Gorse, and Astcote Thorns blank. 

 Found in Kingthorn Wood, had a very nice ring by 

 Bradden Ponds to Slapton, back to Greens Norton, on 

 nearly to Grub's Coppice ; stopped the hounds when it 

 was nearly dark ; a pouring wet day. I rode Rataplan 

 and Brocklesby. 20 couples bitches. 



'' Nov. 23rd. — Tile House. Tile House Wood blank. 

 Found in Stratford Hill Wood, away pointing for 

 Shalstone Spinneys; to the right across Mr. Charles 



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