602 Ifcin0s of tbe 1Rofc, IRifle, ant) (Bun 



Lord Stamford, " not even," says Lord Walsingham, 

 " another master of the system, General John Hall. On 

 the heavy clay soils at Enville, in Staffordshire, the 

 results he achieved were really marvellous. Lord 

 Stamford was well aware of the use to which fresh- 

 ploughed land could be put for the purpose of breaking 

 birds. Coveys running on such land are sure to become 

 scattered. The soil clogs the feet of the birds, so that 

 instead of rising all together they crouch singly in the 

 furrows and allow the drivers to approach before flying 

 forward. ... As an example of what was done upon 

 the heavy clay soil of Staffordshire by driving and by 

 exceptionally good management, it may be mentioned 

 that in the middle of January, 1869, eleven guns killed 

 on Lord Stamford's estates at Enville 557 partridges in 

 one day and 615 in another, and the Game Books of that 

 estate, if referred to, would probably show that these 

 numbers have been exceeded on other occasions." 



Lord Stamford's greatest personal exploit as a game- 

 shot was achieved at Enville, when he brought down to 

 his own gun in a single day 176^ brace of partridges 

 (353 head). The morning was wet and thick, and most 

 of the birds were killed in the afternoon. Had the day 

 been better Lord Stamford could easily have bagged 

 200 brace. It is noteworthy that every one of these 

 birds was full-grown there was not a "cheeper" 

 among them. On another occasion he killed 156^ 

 brace in one day ; and as early as 1855, when big bags 

 were rare, Lord Stamford killed to his own gun at 

 Whittington, near Enville, 219 partridges, 7 hares, 

 4 landrails, and 3 rabbits, a total of 233 head of game, 



