ACCIDENT TO THE MASTER, 



29 



the left, by Drayton up to Holt Wood, where they ran into 

 him after a very fine hunting run of more than two hours. 



December 20th. Met at Leesthorpe. Found at the Punch Bowl ; 

 good day, though a very stormy and violent one. Killed fox 

 that had four white pads— the first instance we have killed such 

 an one ; killed a second fox which had one white pad. 



Accident to the Master. 



1863. 

 January 29th. Met at Slawston. I was unable to go out myself 

 in consequence of a bad contusion of the ribs which I got ten 

 days ago, and had neglected. The first time I have missed for 

 seven years ! 



The Due d'Aumale present. 



February 2nd. Met at Gumley ; large field. Found a brace of 

 foxes at Gumley Corse ; very good 30 minutes. Found again 

 at John Ball ; good 35 minutes. 



Summary. 



The result of the past season has been indifferent. Scent by 

 no means good, weather too open, we being stopped only three 

 days by frost the whole season, and to this want of frost to 

 clear the atmosphere I attribute very much the want of scent. 

 We have been obliged to be content with a gallop about once 

 a week. We are not singular, as other countries make the 

 same complaint. The last part of the season the ground has 

 been so dry and hard that we were obliged to shut up on the 

 28th March ; our hounds on that day being cut up by the hard 

 ground and dry follows as bad as if it had been a frost. The 

 pack, I regret to say, is at the present in a woeful state, owing 

 to the distemper and lung disease having broken out in the 

 kennel. We have already lost two of our best last year's entry, 

 and five or six more must die. The puppies also just born have 

 contracted the disease, the only two litters we have had are all 

 dead. Our best days number 15 during the season. And thus 

 passes away another season — hounds dilapidated, horses dilapi- 

 dated, and self dilapidated ; hope we may all recruit ourselves 

 by another year. Goddard leaves on May ist, and all the 

 harm I wish him is that he may get a better place. I must 

 now say farewell to the season 1862-63. 



