Origin of the Vine Hunt. 41 



3rd. Mr. Chute's immediate predecesssor in each 

 portion of his country. 



I shall close this letter with an account of a long 

 run from Pamber Forest to Laverstock wood, written 

 by Mr. Chute to his brother Thomas, then a captain 

 in the Hants Light Dragoons, stationed at Lewes. 

 The run took place on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 1798, within 

 a few days of my birth. The original letter is in my 

 possession. 



' The Vyne, Wednesday. 

 ^Dear Bro : 



' Such a touch yesterday as never seen before in my 



time. At \ past twelve (a hard frosty morning), 



found his honor of immense size in the long copse 



in Spring Lane in Pamber forest, with a pretty little 



drag. Will talio'd him across y® lane, but hounds 



would not come to halloo, however, with very bad 



scent, only 2 or 3 dogs owning it, hunted him by 



Timber gate and to y® Turnpike road, for Lee Copse, 



and back through y® forest, by Gander brook, along 



y® hollow copse on left of Spring Lane. This took 



j of an hour, recovered him in y^ copse next y® 



mill, on right of Lord's Lane, came off at his brush, 



y® same track back, but came to picking thro' y® 



Forest, till we crossed y® Turnpike, and then came 



prettily for Lee Copse, Tadly Place, and down to 



Witch Lane, where I believe he stopped again, for 



he was only 2 or 3 minutes before them over West 



Heath, where the water flew beautifully whilst they 



caught it carrying a head, and took a burst to Han- 



ington Scrubs, where we overtook them. I think 



you will say, pretty well, but it is nothing to what I 



have to say. Going thro' Macreth's copse on this side 



