236 CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 



row ; from this he sank the bottom to Morebath, broke 

 over Ashcombe, and crossed the turnpike road for 

 Flights, and then over Grantshill for Wonham Wood ; 

 the hounds here set him up, but he broke from them 

 and came down through the covert to Highleigh Weir ; 

 here he was killed after a chase of five hours and forty 

 minutes, going over at least fifty-five miles. 



October ist, 1805. — On this day Lord Graves saw his 

 first stag killed after a very long run. The deer was 

 found in Shamptown Wood, near Castlehill, and killed 

 in the parish of Merton, bordering on Cornwall. The 

 pack was laid on at Blackpool, and ran him through 

 the following parishes: — Southmolton, Chittlehampton, 

 Satterleigh, Warkleigh, Burrington, Ring's Ash, Dolton, 

 Winkleigh, Dowland, Huish, Padstow ; ^ here he was 

 fresh found in the moors, and they viewed him to 

 Specott in Merton. This run occupied six hours and 

 a half. 



August 2yth, 1807. — Found a young stag in Broad- 

 wood, and killed him in three hours at Holland Wood. 

 Lady Graves rode this chase, and Lord George Grenville 

 and Mr. Palk had the honour of having their faces 

 stained with the blood of the animal ; this being the first 

 death of a deer witnessed by them. 



September 24^//, — An unusual occurrence took place 

 this day ; a fine stag was roused in Dene Cleaves ; some 

 of the sportsmen saw him standing in the covert; the 

 pack was laid on in the brake ; they ran him to Chilfham 

 Bridge, Youlstone, Colley Bridge, and he beat down to 



' This must indeed have Ijeen a tremendous run, if it was P.adstow in 

 Cornwall ; more probably it was Petrockstow adjoining Merton, and some 

 distance from the Cornish boundary. 



