28 " CONJUROR " SWIMS THE WELLAND. 



this year as last, which I cannot but think is owing in a great 

 measure to the huntsman's custom of going to holloa, in his 

 anxiety to kill his fox, rather than let the hounds hunt the scent 

 out. This, I am sure, was the cause of our not killing a fox in 

 a good run from Launde Wood to Ashby Folville, and also in 

 other cases. I trust, however, that my remarks to him on so 

 objectionable a system have produced the desired result. The 

 dogs have killed the most foxes this year, and altogether shown 

 the most sport ; last year the bitches had it. The weather has 

 been very wet the latter part of the season. Our best run of 

 the season was on January 2nd ; our next best day was 

 March 27th. 



It is rather singular that on both these occasions we met at 

 Ilston-on-the-Hill. Of all the coverts I think Slawston Gorse 

 has found us the best foxes, and given us the most runs ; very 

 satisfactory to me it is. Of my horses *' Despair " has done the 

 most work and seen the best days, and next to him " Conjuror." 

 "Kitty" and " Ballinkeele " both failed me by falling lame 

 early in the season. 



Number of days cub hunting - 20 

 „ „ regular hunting - 70 



Days hunted - 90 

 Foxes killed cub hunting - 18 run to ground - 6 

 »» » regular hunting 29 „ „ - 38 



47 44 



Had to Swim the Welland. 



1862. 

 December i8th. Met at Stonton Wyville. Found at Langton 

 Caudle ; fox got into a rabbit hole immediately. Found 

 another, which was headed by the people and carriages, and 

 killed in five minutes. Went off to Stonton Wood ; blank ; 

 but holloaed to a fox which got out of a hedgerow, ran up to 

 the Caudle, Avhere the earthstopper had got our first run-to- 

 ground fox in his arms ; he put it down ; we gave him plenty 

 of law, ran for Stonton, left the wood on the left, by Vowe's 

 House up to Slawston Gorse, pointed for Medbourne, ran do^vn 

 to the Welland (into which "Conjuror" plunged and swam 

 out safe), over it, up to within a field of Carlton Park, bore to 



