132 Frank Beers Diaries. [i873-74_ 



A tirst-rate run. I was riding Stepaway, he carried me 

 magnificently all the way. We had 18 couples of 

 bitches. 



" March 28th. — Brackley Town. Found in Whistley 

 Wood ; away at a tremendous pace, pointing for Halse ; 

 turned short away under Radstone, and killed going 

 back into Whistley. Found at Whitfield Coppice and 

 ran very fast to Turweston, over the brook into Whistley, 

 round the wood and out again, over the brook to Whit- 

 field, through Biddlesden Gardens to Shalstone, across 

 Boycott Farm to Dadford, on to the left through Whit- 

 field Wood, up to Biddlesden Cross-roads, where I 

 stopped them as our horses were all dead beat. Lord 

 Valentia was out and said it was the best run he had 

 seen this season. I rode Stepaway and Brocklesby. 

 18 couples mixed." 



Finished the season April 28th. — " The past has been 

 the wettest season I ever remember. Impossible for 

 horses to go straight with hounds, the country being so 

 deep. Tom Smith, first whip ; Wm. Smith, second whip. 



1873-74- 



1873. Sept. 5th. — Began cub-hunting. Went out 

 twenty-seven times and killed twenty-two foxes. 



Nov. loth. — Began regular hunting at Foster's Booth. 

 Found in Astcote Thorns and ran him to ground. Found 

 again in Tiffield Allotments ; away to Easton Park, and 

 back to Tiffield, and on to Nun Wood, where we stopped. 



" Nov. 26th. — At Wakefield Lawn. Found in Fire 

 Furze, went away directly as hard as they could go to 

 Ashton, and ran him to ground in Roade field. Drew 

 Ashton Ash-bed blank, and as we were going away our 

 hunted fox came out of the hole ; we ran him for three or 

 four fields, and bowled him over near the Ash-bed. Colonel 



