CHAPTER X 



ATHERSTONE, 1817-182O 



Some extracts from a Diary of the Atherstone, 

 Pytchley, and Quorn, kept between the years 

 1817 and 1823, may even at this distance of time 

 be considered interesting, as they are taken 

 from the handwriting of Sir BelHngham Graham, 

 who hunted those celebrated countries. 



In the autumn of 1817, his first season with 

 the Atherstone, cub-hunting did not start till 

 30th September. Owing to absence of rain the 

 ground was very hard, but in spite of the heat 

 '' the hounds behaved exceeding well." 



Hounds hunted sixteen days up to ist Novem- 

 ber, and killed nine foxes, of which there appeared 

 to be a plentiful supply. The Diary mentions that 

 one day thirty-three couples of hounds were out. 



'' October 8th. Hopwas Hays. — Thirty 

 couples ; found instantly, and went away down 

 to Hints ; turned to the right for Swinfen, through 

 Swinfen Pool Tail, and killed in Mrs. Dyotf s 

 Plantation an old dog-fox — fifty-five minutes : 

 very quick. Found again in Hopwas, and ran two 

 foxes to ground in about an hour. Tried a small 



TfiS 



