12 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1816 



Meynell's employ at tliat time. The boy accompanied 

 Mr. Meynell to Quorn, probably about the year 1783, so, 

 from a hunting point of view, the Meynells and the 

 Leedhams began and ended together, for both races have 

 now come to an end. 



Mr. Meynell had not at that time succeeded to the 

 Yorkshire estates, and he took a subscription. In 1819 

 we find him hunting five days a fortnight, meeting at 

 Teddesley in the early part of the season. Sir Henry 

 Crewe having given up his hounds, the Hoar Cross Hunt 

 met for the first time at Kedleston, in February, 1819, 

 and two days later at Radburne, In the following season 

 they hunted three days a week, and regularly occupied 

 the Derbyshire district, and have done so to this day, 

 though certain outlying portions have been given up. 

 When Mr. Meynell succeeded to the Ingram estates at 

 Temple Newsam, in Yorkshire, he returned all the sub- 

 scriptions for that year and hunted the country at his own 

 expense. 



A synopsis of the events recorded in this chapter, 

 preserved by the Hon. George Allsopp, and differing* 

 slightly from the account given above, may prove of 

 interest. It begins with a letter from the Reverend the 

 Honourable George Talbot, dated February 10th, 1808. 

 He writes : — 



The liberality of my friends having enabled me to undertake the manage- 

 ment of Lord Vernon's hounds at the expiration of the present season,! take the 

 liberty of enclosing you a plan for the hunting of the country from 1st October 

 next to the end of March, 1809, which I trust will meet with your approbation. 

 It is to be understood that the hounds will be at the separate kennels on the 

 days appointed, and that the several countries must take their chance of weather. 

 I am also advised by my friends to suggest to you that, as the expenses of pro- 

 viding for the hounds will at the outset be heavy, one half of the subscription for 

 1808 should be paid on the 25th of March next, and the other half on the 29th 

 September. Your acceding to the proposal and paying your subscription in to 

 Messrs. Drummond, Bankers, London, on my account will much oblige. 



Yours very sincerely, 



(Rev.'i George T.\xbot. 

 Thos Hall, 



Holly bush. 



* The authority for a great deal of the above is a pamphlet, " Fox-hunting in 

 Staifordshire," by Captain Paul Webster. 



