ii8 Frank Beers' Diaries. [1870-71 



Hartwell Road ; left him as it came on cold rain and 

 gave it up. I rode Rataplan and Ensign. 20 couples of 

 dogs out. The first time the Duke has been out this 

 season. 



''Feb. 4th. — After a frost met at Whistley Wood, 

 Found a good show of foxes, they ran with a capital 

 scent an hour, away to ground near Astwell Mill ; bolted 

 him, and the hounds ran into him in two fields. Another 

 fox bolted from same drain, they ran him to Wappenfeam, 

 over the brook to Helmdon, ran into him. Cheerful and 

 Ensign. 25 couples of dogs. 



'' Feb. 8th. — Hartwell. Found a fox in Ash Wood^ 

 away at a rattling pace, straight through the Forest^ 

 Horton Wood on the left, away through the Chase, but 

 headed short back on his foiled ground to Salcey Forest, 

 killed him. Found again at Ash Leys ; they ran at a 

 terrific pace across Courteenhall Park, over the cutting at 

 the bridge, along the line, recrossed the railroad, across 

 the Courteenhall Park, into Salcey, out again pointing for 

 Preston Park, and killed in Quinton Field ; at least the 

 hounds did not really kill him, for he ran into a barn, 

 some men caught him and put him into a sack, and 

 turned him up before the hounds, but he was quite dead. 

 22 couples dogs. I rode Rataplan and Oxford. 



" Feb. loth. — At Astwell Mill. Found at Allithorn, away 

 at a rattling pace along the meadows to Astwell Mill, on, 

 leaving Whistley on the right, Syresham on the left, 

 over the Biddlesden brook, when they caught view at 

 him, and raced along through Whistley, and ran into 

 him at Astwell Mill. Hounds running three hours. A 

 capital day, and I never saw people tumble about as 

 they did. I rode Cheerful and Ensign. 18 couples of 

 bitches out. 



Feb. 13th. — Met at Adstone. Found in Canon's Ashby 



