144 Frank Beers' Diaries. [1875-76- 



224 couple bitches, all there at the finish, and ran. 

 remarkably stout. 



" Dec. 15th. — The Ex-Queen of Naples out. Found 

 in Pike's Gorse, ran to ground in Hanslope field. 

 Found again in Linford Wood, ran at a good pace round 

 by Haversham Village, back through Linford Wood to 

 Gayhurst House, to ground in a drain leading under the 

 house. Found again in a spinney near Gayhurst, ran 

 about a mile ; they killed him. The Queen had the 

 brush." 



Jan., 1876. — Unsettled weather, with frost, not much 

 sport. 



'* Feb. 1 8th. — Foxley. Found in Seawell Wood, ran 

 away through Maidford, Burnfold to the left, Lich- 

 borough on the right, to Stowe ; it came on to rain 

 fearfully ; lost him. Found again in Grimscote Heath. 

 Hounds raced away past Bushey End up to Caldecote,. 

 and ran into him at Mr. Ridgway's, as hard as they could 

 race all the way. Found again in Bushey End ; they 

 raced at an extraordinary pace past Grimscote Heath,, 

 just to the left to Foster's Booth, as hard as they could 

 go to Astcote Thorns, ran into him. The best scenting 

 day I have seen for a long time. I rode a new horse 

 from Lincolnshire first, Newgentstown second, and 

 Gordon's horse third. Seventeen and a half couples of 

 bitches. A large field of people out. 



'' Feb. 28th. — Adstone. Found in Hinton Gorse, ran 

 fast to Warden Hill to ground. Found again at Gander- 

 ton's ; away pointing for Snorscombe, turned to the 

 right just under little Preston Wood to Canons Ashby, 

 back by Ganderton, and ran into him in the long" 

 hedgerow. Forty-five minutes best pace. 



The first time the ex-King of Naples was out hunting, 

 I presented His Majesty with the brush. 



