85 



THE HILL'S WOOD UVN WITH THE BERKELEY 

 HOUNDS, 



25th of January, 1864. 



Have you heard of tlie run with the fam'd Berkeley pack ? 

 Of all our good things you'll admit 'twas the crack. 

 Our meet was at Kineton, and Thornbury Park 

 Held a fox who meant going, if need be, till dark ; 

 And crossing the grounds, in his enemies' view, 

 Eor twenty-five minutes straight onward he flew. 

 The Colonel (i) rides first down a bank wide and steep 

 On " Charcoal" (who doesn't mean going to sleep) ; 

 Next the Huntsman, (2) whose cap is knock'd off and 



nigh stamp'd on — 

 Never mind, we are sailing away for Bockhampton. 

 Very few get a start, but, whoever they be. 

 Their number soon after increases by three: — 

 Three Nimrods, who late at their breakfast did tarry, 

 (xot a "Nick" that conducted them straight to " Old 



Harry !" 

 For this fox we however now failed in our search — 

 P'r'aps a sanctum he found in the woods of the church.(3) 

 Now return'd from the Severn all ready we stood. 

 While the pack is preparing to rattle Hill's Wood. 

 Hark, a crash ! they're away ! thro' the park is his line — 

 A fair start, and no favour for your horse or mine ; 

 Thro' Stone's verdant meadows right onwards we sail, 

 Those meadows describ'd as the Cream of the Yale. 

 On to Tortworth we press'd him without hesitation, 

 And foUow'd our fox thro' the belt of plantation ; 



1. Colonel Berkeley, now Lord Fitzhardinge. 



2. The huntsman, Harry Ayris. 



3. Church Wood, a covert near Rockhampton. 



