24 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. 



as numerous in Beckford's time as they have been in this 

 country for the last three seasons. " However, it is not 

 without a remedy," he continues ; " hunt the same covers 

 constantly, and you will soon disperse them. If your 

 pack be strong enough, divide it ; hunt every day, and 

 you will catch many tired foxes." 



To return, however, to the geography of the Meynell 

 Hunt, it may be interesting to mention that the hill 

 country near Duffield, which is described as having been 

 lent to Mr. Chandos-Pole, and as having not been hunted 

 for many years, was what was once known as the Doning- 

 ton country, and which included all the Derbyshire 

 part of the South Notts country. It is most difficult 

 to find out when it was hunted by Mr. Meynell, or when 

 abandoned. In the Annals of Sporting, 1826, occur these 

 words : — 



On Thursday, January 5th, these hounds (Mr. Meynell's) met at Coxbench, 

 and, after a very excellent run of one hour and a few minutes, killed their fox 

 handsomely. 



Mr. Sitwell, of Stainsby, writes on April 31st, 

 1901 :— 



I know that our country was originally hunted by Mr. Meynell, of Hoar 

 Cross, but it is not within my recollection, and I am seventy-five. My earliest 

 recollection is when the Marquis of Hastings hunted the country about sixty 

 years ago, or thereabouts ; but I believe previous to that the country was hunted 

 for a time by the celebrated Jack Musters. On the death of the Marquis of 

 Hastings, the Donington Hunt was formed — Sir Seymour Blain and Mr. Story 

 of Lockington being joint masters. After this there was an interregnum, when 

 the country was taken up by the late Mr. Musters, who hunted it up to the cattle 

 plague year (1865-66), when, in consequence of the objections raised by the 

 farmers to the hunting, he gave it up. I never heard of a run from Hayes Wood 

 into Leicestershire, but believe there were several from Horsley Car to Atlow, 

 which must have been in Mr. Meynell's days. 



In looking over the old meeting-places of Mr. Meynell's 

 Hunt from the years 1823-1831, Little Eaton Toll Bar, 

 Duffield Bridge, Morley Turnpike, Shipley, Chaddesden, 

 Stainsby, Horsley Park, and Coxbench frequently 

 occur. 



When Mr. Musters gave up in the above-mentioned 

 year, most of the foxes were destroyed, and this part of 



