1873-74] Frank Beers Diaries. 135 



Knightley's Wood, to the top corner of Mantel's Heath, 

 and back through Seawell Wood. I stopped hounds 

 when going for Foxley ; it was quite dark. A tre- 

 mendous day for hounds. I never saw hounds run 

 stouter than they did to-day. I rode Stepaway and 

 Newgentstown. 17 couples bitches. 



" Dec. 26th. — Whistley Wood. Ran a fox for forty 

 minutes, he would not leave the covert ; hounds killed 

 him. Found again in Halse Coppice ; away at a fast 

 pace to the parish of Thorpe Mandeville, to Sulgrave, 

 back through Allithorn to Astwell Mill, over the brook 

 to Wappenham on the right, over the railroad and 

 brook, over the hill, and hounds killed him before he 

 could reach Greens Park. An hour, the best thing of 

 the season. Hounds ran at a great pace all the time ; 

 a large field of the Bicester men out, who all said it 

 was the best run they had seen this season. Colonel 

 Hutchinson's Covert we then drew blank ; found in 

 Allithorn, but the scent had changed. We went nearly 

 to Plumpton Wood, on to Canons Ashby, and lost him. 

 I rode Brocklesby and Lansley's horse. 17^ couples 

 bitches. 



'' 1874. Jan. gth. — Radstone. Found in Brackley 

 Gorse. Went to ground. Found in the Ash-bed and 

 ran fast, leaving Radstone on the left, over the 

 Turweston brook (where several came to grief) to Whit- 

 field Coppice, where I think we changed foxes ; through 

 Westbury Wild, across Biddlesden Park, Syresham 

 Village just on the right, and Crown Lands, on to 

 Handley without checking; hounds were on the go all the 

 time until 4.30 ; a very hard day indeed. 



" Jan. 1 2th. — Met at Farthingstone. Found in Stowe- 

 Nine-Church Wood and ran to ground under Mr. 

 Johnstone's house. Found again in Mantel's Heath, 



