Origin of the Vine Hunt, 43 



man pointed for the chance of getting y® scent, so we 

 were left at a loss where to find it, back to y® man 

 and then forward again, and at last casting beyond 

 the Warren, we got on again slowish, but pretty 

 hunting over North Oakley Down, thro' Nutley, 

 Kingsdown to Quidhampton, back of Lefroy's * 

 house, cross over y® Turnpike at y® hill beyond 

 Lefroy's to y^ cottage in y® lane, and up y® lane 

 thro' y^ copse, I believe this is Burydown, next to 

 Ash Park, left Bramdown, y® large wood to y® left 

 (I don't know which is which of Burydown, Bram- 

 down and Burleigh), and took y® open country at 

 back of Overton, turned to y® left (large fields) thro' 

 Ouidham, Southleys, and across to Laverstock Wood, 

 where y® sun down, all animals moving, we had 2 

 or 3 scents, and so called away, — had there been 

 light I think we must have killed, curs not tired, and 

 fox ran four hours and a half, and frost against us in 

 the hill. Curtis dished, Black Mare worth any money, 

 Vanity (Ld. Eg.) incomparable, y^ old hounds kept us 

 back very often. 



' Yours, in haste, 



' W. Chute.' 



This letter may be considered interesting, not only 

 as a specimen of Mr. Chute's style of writing, but as 

 indicating the state of the hunt in those early days, 

 through which I have been attempting to trace it. 



It implies the scantiness of the field. No one figured 

 in this long run but Curtis, the landlord of the Angel 

 Inn at Basingstoke. I have been told that he was, 

 about this time, by far the most constant attendant in 



* Lefroy's house was Ashe Parsonage. 



