Bccollections of Merrington. 61 



the day of the race, merely remarking that I like the looks 

 of Eecipatli, Azuline, Ringlet, Ivanhoe, Gerona, Savoyard, 

 and Sinbad. 



In hunting, as in other things, history repeats itself, and 

 it is refreshing to take a peep backwards, and see what 

 " Nimrod " had to tell us of Shropshire doings in 1850, and 

 find the scene of sport, as well as the chief actors therein, 

 have changed so little. Here are a couple of days in a 

 week then to compare with those of last week : — 



" On the following day the fixture was at Acton Burnell, 

 the seat of the well-known sportsman. Sir Edward Smythe, 

 where foxes, good cheer, ale, and hospitality invariably 

 abound. As a matter of course, they soon found in the 

 park, but the fox went to ground in a rabbit s])out, where 

 he was left to his meditations. Found again at Frodesley 

 Hill, had a pretty burst of twenty minutes' duration, and 

 again to ground at Acton Burnell. The grand event, 

 however, is now to be recorded. They met at the fifth 

 milestone on the Baschurch Koad. The hounds were 

 scarcely in the covert, at Merrington, which belongs to 

 Mr. Slaney, one of the members for Shrewsbury, a most 

 zealous sportsman, when the fox was viewed away by 

 Pearce, the head whip. After taking a ring round the 

 covert he pointed his head for Leaton Shelf, best pace. 

 Without a moment's hesitation he ran through the covert 

 as straight as possible to Pi-eston G-obalds, and away to 

 Pimhill, Harmer Hill, and Middle Park,' nearly to 

 Baschurch. Still bearing to the left, he regained the 

 covert in which he was found at Merrington. Through it 

 again to Leaton Shelf ; he then crossed the river Severn, 

 which, although bank full, Mr. Webster, of Preen, plunged 

 into, leaving the whole field behind him. This was, 

 however, an unprofitable daring, for, having tried a refuge 

 in Bickley Coppice, the fox re-crossed the Severn near 

 Montford Bridge, which afforded Mr. Webster another 

 opportunity for exercising his amphibious qualities. 



'' From this point to Forton, and nearly to Nessclifte ; 

 here he turned to the right by Fitz, with the pack close at 

 his brush ; through the gardens at Grafton, when he once 

 more tried the earths at Leaton Shelf, and after a terrific 

 run of nearly four hours, he was run into near Leaton 

 Knoll, the residence of J. A. Lloyd, Esq., a small portion 



