40 Fox poaching. 



taken till on the evening of the day he was killed. I hope you 

 cannot think I would take any foxes out of your, or any other, 

 country that is hunted by foxhounds. You will find it on 

 enquiry a vile falsehood, fabricated by Mr. Hubback, or some 

 of his colleagues — indeed their excuse to Sir H. V. Tempest 

 confirms my opinion for running the fox with their harriers to 

 keep him out of our hands cannot at all clear their conduct to 

 you. 



As I am now addressing your lordship, I take the further 

 liberty of informing you it has been the practice for some years 

 past of your people to buy foxes from the East Moors, which 

 we hunt oftener than you do, either the Catterick or Sedgefield 

 countries will therefore esteem it a particular favour if you will 

 give orders to your servants in future not to take foxes from 

 that neighbourhood. (I know from Mr. Scrope you are not 

 privy to any being taken out of our hunt.) The man that 

 does us the most mischief lives near Swainby, and his name is 

 Joseph Raby. He stopped the earths for us in Arncliffe Wood 

 and Snotterdale till last season, when he was turned off for 

 taking our foxes. Mr. Meynell or Mr. Scrope can give you 

 further information when you meet if required. — I am 3'our 

 lordship's most obedient humble servant, 



Thomas Wilkinson." 



1808: Found a fox in Spring Wood, and earthed in 

 Kildale after running nearly twenty miles. 



[Note. — It would have been interesting if Mr. Wilkinson 

 had given us the times of these runs, and some further details. 

 He simply records them as though they were more or less 

 everyday occurrences, whereas there would be columns in the 

 Sporting Press nowadays regarding such hunts. In those days 

 they were not so particular regarding getting home with 



