124 Frank Beers' Diaries. [1871-72 



Holt, through it to Norton Park, leaving the village on 

 the right. Here hounds caught sight of their fox, and 

 raced him ; but he just saved his life by going to ground 

 in the earths at Welton Place. I rode Rub-a-Dub and 

 Brocklesby. 



Dec. 20th. — Tile House. Found and ran about 

 Stowe Ridings, Stratford Hill, and had a very wild, bad 

 hunting day. 



Dec. 22nd. — Bradden. Found at Kingthorn, and 

 ran fast by Bradden Ponds, Green's Park, leaving 

 Wappenham on the left, and then straight through 

 Whistley, pointing for Radstone, where hounds turned 

 to the left, and raced their fox to death close to Whit- 

 field Church. Time, i hour and 37 minutes; a capital 

 run. Found again in a spinney close to Whitfield 

 Coppice, ran to Westbury and back to Whitfield. I rode 

 Cheerful and Ensign. 18 couples of bitches out, 



"Dec. 26th, 1 87 1. — Preston Capes. I could not hunt 

 on account of a very severe attack of bronchitis. On 

 Sunday last I thought I should have been suffocated. 

 The Duke, with his usual kindness to me, won't hear of 

 my hunting again this week. I hope that by the blessing 

 of Providence I shall start on Monday next. ' Charles ' 

 Wheatley hunted the hounds, he is my first whip. 

 He informs me that hounds found a fox at Hinton Gorse, 

 but only half of them got away, so he lost his fox, and 

 went back to the other hounds ; then they ran to 

 Fawsley, through Badby, and lost him. Found again at 

 Charwelton, and ran to ground. Another fox was 

 coming up the field ; they killed him directly. 



Dec. 29th. — Whistley. Hounds found, and ran to 

 Whitfield, and killed him. Found another fox at 

 Brackley, and ran to Weston and lost him. Charles 

 rode Cheerful and Ensis^n. 



