38 Recollections of the Vine Hmit. 



such hounds as they could easily get together, leaving 

 the rest to find their own way back to the kennel. 

 It may be remembered that Beckford declares himself 

 unable to enumerate all the evils which ensue when 

 hounds are thus left behind. 



On Mr. Poyntz's death, which took place in May, 

 1809, Mr. Chute came into possession of the Freefolk 

 and Pole's wood country on the hills, and of Wolverton, 

 the Kingsclere woodlands, Wasing, and Aldermas- 

 ton in the Vale ; so that his immediate predecessors 

 in the Vine country were Mr. Sclater Mathew and 

 Mr. Poyntz. 



But probably few people know that Mr. Chute did, 

 for a few seasons, occupy a country eastward of the 

 Loddon, towards Hartley Row. I do not know how 

 far he went in that direction ; but there does not seem 

 to have been any other pack just then to prevent his 

 going as far as he pleased. This district must have 

 formed part of the country hunted by Lord Stawell, 

 and his successor, Mr. Russell*, who lived at Hod- 

 dington House, and kept his hounds at Greywell ; 

 then always pronounced ' Gruel.' In 1805, Mr. Russell 

 gave up his country to Mr. Villebois, and the bulk of 

 it became incorporated in the H.H. country. It is 

 probable that the H.H. might plead an old right to it, 

 on account of Mr. Ridge having hunted it before the 

 establishment of Lord Stawell's pack. However this 



* I remember Mr. Russell hunting regularly with the H. H. 

 and occasionally with Mr. Chute : he was a fine looking old man 

 with white hair, and was considered an authority on hunting 

 matters. I remember also his lady, who hunted as regularly, 

 attended by a well-mounted groom. She wore a dark skirted 

 habit with a scarlet body, adorned with the H.H. button. I 

 believe she was an honorary member of the club. 



