2IO The Farmers — Fox Preservers, &c. 



Allithorn, Hutchinson's Covert, Plumpton, Seawell, 

 and Grimscote Heath were also blank. Seeing 

 Mr. William Wait of Lichborough, in the distance, 

 I rode up and asked him if there were a fox about. 

 ^* Yes," he said, '' You will find in Lichborough 

 Coppice." Lord Southampton was informed of 

 it, and also that it was a lamb-killer. He was 

 viewed away at 5.5 and killed at 5.55 o'clock, 

 after a ring up to Stowe, when hounds were so 

 near him that he turned right-handed up to Cold 

 Higham, and they caught him in the hedge 

 before he could get into Grub's Coppice. A very 

 good finish after the long draw. This was the 

 last day in the open country in 1848. 



The Gamekeepers. 



One cannot over-estimate the value of a keeper 

 who is loyal to fox-hunting and interests himself 

 in the preservation of foxes. No history of the 

 Grafton Hunt would be complete which should 

 omit to mention men of this class who have done 

 good service in the cause. 



Rayson, the park keeper at Fawsley, is a well- 

 known figure trotting about the estate on hunting 

 days. After many years' service he has attained 

 a great age, and it is pleasant to hear that he 

 still exerts himself, and applies his knowledge in 



