Another Pitchford run. 63 



have been. Better luck will I trust, favour me if I chance 

 upon another day with them ere the season closes. Some 

 nice young horses I saw in the field to-day in the hands of 

 farmers should not be lost sight of. It is sad indeed to- 

 think that this is to be the Master's last season, after 

 twenty years unexampled success. What the Ludlow country 

 will be without Wicksted I dare not think, for he has 

 indeed shown himself to be a first-rate sportsman. There- 

 are rumours of a successor, but nothing authentic is known 

 as yet. You shall hear more anon. 



The Cheshire Tuesday, I hear, was a good one, but not 

 having been present I cannot give particulars. 



On Wednesday the Shropshire met at Acton Burnell,. 

 the grand old seat of Sir Frederick Smythe, Bart., so full 

 of historic interest. The morning was frosty but the low 

 ground rode well, so that a fair muster turned up, including 

 a few Nortb Shropshire worthies. The Park Wood was 

 left in peace, and the Holly Wood and the Obelisk were- 

 foxless. Pitchford has had very frequent calls made upon 

 it this year, but never in vain, I am delighted to say. 

 Colonel Cotes has indeed shown a splendid example of 

 fox preservation this year. A brace were going to-day in. 

 no time, the hounds settling on the vixen, and she ran at 

 once into the home drain. Her companion, however, had 

 in the meantime been viewed away at the top of the 

 covert, and Thatcher at once galloped to the scene of his 

 departure, where, despite his ten minutes' start they 

 dashed away grandly across the Frodesley Road, and over 

 a ])leasant line to Kyton, where a left-handed turn soon 

 brought his pursuers to Longnor. He did not, however,, 

 enter the wood here, but went on to the foot of the Lawley,. 

 where hounds threw up. This had been the cream of the 

 thing — nice jumping fences, j^lenty of them, and the pace 

 just sociable enough for the majority to enjoy the fun. I 

 grieve to say that the Master, Mr. Lonsdale, came down 

 with a nasty thud on landing into a road, horse and all, 

 and it was a great relief to see him able to get into the 

 saddle again and continue the chase. Thatcher hit oif his- 

 fox cleverley to Frodesley Hill, and slowly down to 

 Pitchford again, where he ran them out of scent — a very 

 pretty hunting run. The first fox had wisely quitted the 

 drain, and so after an al fresco luncheon at the hall,. 



