8 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1808 



Sutton Park, in what is now the South Staffordshire 

 country. In 1808, owing to Lord Vernon's failing health, 

 the Hon. and Rev. George Talbot assumed the management. 

 He, the Druid states, split on the same rock as Sir Thomas 

 Mostyn, viz. his dread of tongue. The hounds were a fine 

 powerful pack, though inclined to be rather upright in the 

 shoulders. With a good scent, they could split him up 

 in the best form, but, when they got into difficulties, the 

 weak points came out. When they were stopped by sheep, 

 or from any other cause, and the chase hounds held them- 

 selves on and got on the line, they would not cry the 

 scent, but whimpered like hedge-sparrows, so that the line 

 hunters could not hear them, and they were always slipping 

 one another. This is confirmed by a writer in the Sporting 

 Magazine, 1820, who says : — 



About sixteen years ago I witnessed a very sharp run by Lord Vernon's 

 hounds. The dogs were uncommonly fleet, but they were almost silent, and, even 

 when they did open, the cry appeared to me little more than a mere yelp. 



Mr. Talbot took a subscription, and, for the first time, 

 the places of meeting were advertised. The following 

 letter to Mr. W. Worthington, grandfather of Mr. Albert 

 Worthington, as showing the date of Mr. Talbot's master- 

 ship, is interesting : — 



February 20th, 1808. 

 Sir, 



Lord Vernon having intrusted me with his hounds, and the gentlemen 

 of the County having enabled me to undertake the management of them, I hope 

 to be allowed the liberty of hunting your coverts as heretofore. 



T am, Sir, 



Your obedient humble servant, 



Geo. Talbot. 

 W. Worthington, Esq. 



The coverts alluded to were Gresley Wood, Caldwell, 

 etc. 



Samuel Lawley still carried the horn, but a change 

 was made in the situation of the kennels. The former 

 ones at the back of Sudbury Hall were abandoned, new 

 ones being built at Aston, about a mile distant on the 



