The Sottthdown Foxhounds, 149 



o'clock, just as tlie shades of evening were closing 

 over the tired huntsmen, after a run of five hours, 

 covering, it is estimated, not less than forty miles. 



The pace was necessarily slow, and it was the 

 opinion of some that, after running their fox for two 

 hours and a-half, the hounds got on to a fresh one at 

 Toddington Wood. The fact of the fox running 

 over the same ground in his backward journey is 

 rather against that theory ; anyhow, it was a grand 

 run over a stiff country, which after the heavy rains 

 rode very deep. Three brooks were crossed, in 

 which several ardent sportsmen took a bath. Mrs. 

 Sassoon went in first-rate form, until her groom 

 stopped in the brook, thereby disconcerting his 

 mistress considerably. 



There were innumerable falls, and at the finish 

 only some eight or ten were to be seen. Those who 

 lived through this tremendous run were Mr. and Miss 

 Kennedy, Mr. Streatfield, Messrs. Renton, Stamp, 

 Dupont, Molineux, Mocatta, and Sheridan. Tod- 

 dington Brook for the last time deterred some, who 

 thought it wiser to pull up than have a final shy at 

 this yawner. Mr. Rodmell on May Flower went 

 right well throughout, negotiating the brook at the 

 finish in first-rate style. 



At the moment of closing this communication, I 

 hear with the profoundest regret of the death of 

 Major Whyte-Melville, who broke his neck when 

 hunting on Thursday last with the Vale of White 

 Horse Hounds. Whilst galloping across a ploughed 

 field at full speed, his horse fell, throwing his rider 

 heavily to the ground, and causing instant death. 

 So perished one of the finest sportsmen and 



