1884-85] Frank Beers Diaries. 169 



over the railroad, Halse Coppice to the right, to Radstone 

 to ground. Forty-five minutes, fast all the way, and over 

 a very stiff country. Found in Brackley Gorse ; away 

 past Crowfield, over Astw^ell Park, straight through 

 Bucknells to Handley, Kingthorn Wood to the left, 

 all along the line some distance beyond Bradden Ponds, 

 Blakesley to the left, through Maidford Wood to 

 Farthingstone. With difficulty the hounds were stopped 

 by the second whipper-in, who had just come up with 

 his horse which had a gallop left in him, all the others 

 were ridden to a standstill. Mr. T. Whitton lent me his 

 young mare (he having joined us at Blakesley), and took 

 my horse Tenbury to his house from Maidford Wood ; 

 he carried me magnificently. A good day's sport. We 

 had a very big Field of strangers. I rode Thistle and 

 Tenbury. 



"1884. April 15th. — Finished the season; the best 

 sport we have had for years. I have been wonderfully 

 well mounted, and had but few falls. The whippers-in 

 also had some genuine hunters to ride ; no men mounted 

 better." 



1884-1885. 



1884. Aug. 1 8th. — Began cubhunting and killed an 

 old badger. Hunted forty-one days, killed forty-seven 

 foxes. 



"Dec. 19th. — Astwell Mill. Found in Weedon 

 Coppice, and ran into Plumpton Wood, leaving 

 Gomeral's Holt to the right, back via Oakley Bank to 

 Plumpton Wood, out again, leaving Weston to the left, 

 and to ground near the Brickyard ; bolted, and killed 

 him. Found in Allithorn, ran past Helmdon and Stuch- 

 bury, over Halse road, across Falcote Farm, past Astwell 

 Mill, and stopped the hounds at Greens Park. 



