156 Frank Beers Diaries. [1879-80 



going home, they struck a scent in Handley fields, the 

 Duke ordered us to let them go ; at racing pace they ran 

 past Silverstone fields, through Burcote Wood, past 

 Sholebrook, through Whittlebury Park, Tile House to 

 the left, and stopped them going into Stowe Gardens. 

 A very hard day indeed for hounds ; they ran very stout. 

 My second horse was dead beat, and both whipper-ins' 

 horses so done that I did not see either of them for the 

 last half-hour. Only Colonel Pennant, Mr. FitzRoy, and 

 Mr. Robarts were left when we stopped them. 19 couple 

 dogs. Brocklesby and Grey Friar." 



Stopped by frost from Jan. 19th until Feb. 2nd. 



1880. Feb. loth. — Hartwell. Found in the Clears; 

 they ran thirty-five minutes, as though they were 

 tied to him, and killed him. Found again and had an 

 hour in Salcey and killed him. Found again and ran to 

 ground, horses all beat. 



March 13th. — Stowe Ridings. A capital day, killed 

 a brace of foxes. '' No better scent this season, I rode 

 poor old Brocklesby, he makes a great noise. 



''March 22nd. — At Little Preston. Found in Mantel's 

 Heath, away through Mill Spinney, by Snorscombe, over 

 the Everdon Brook, leaving Badby to the left, Everdon 

 to the right, Newnham to the left, to ground in Pytchley 

 country, not far from the Daventry road, in an earth, dead 

 beat. Found in Preston Church Wood, away leaving 

 Hogstaff to the left, to the top corner of Fawsley Park, 

 ran alongside Badby W^ood, leaving it on the right, over 

 the Daventry and Banbury road, over Sharman's Hill, as 

 hard as hounds could race, to Hellidon. Here he was 

 headed by people working in the allotments ; so he left 

 the village to the right, away over a nice bit of country, 

 for Priors Hardwick, back to within three fields of 

 Griffin's Gorse, Byfield Reservoir, and Prior's Marston to 



