76 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1821 



before Christmas was on December 12th, when they found 

 at Sudbury Coppice, and went away at a tremendous pace 

 by Marston Park, and, leaving Rocester on the left, 

 crossed the Dove, ran through Wootton Park, and killed 

 on the side of Weever Hill. "An hour. The fastest 

 thing I ever saw. Twelve miles from point to point, and 

 nobody could live with the hounds. Tom, the black 

 horse ; Joe, Needwood ; self, Moses. Twenty couples ; 

 every hound up at the death." * 



It froze hard that night, and went on doing so till 

 January 11th. After the frost they hunted a turned- 

 down fox from Hollybush, and likewise from Vernon's 

 Oak ; so it seems as if wild ones were getting scarcer. 

 On the last occasion the master and servants were 

 deserted by the whole field, as it rained so hard that they 

 had all gone home ! 



Thursday, January 25th, was a wonderful day. They 

 found at once at Gresley, went away at the best pace to 

 Bretby, across the Park, leaving Repton Shrubs just on the 

 left, to Gorstey Leys, through it and on to Calke, where 

 they turned to the left almost to Swarkstone Bridge and 

 back to Gorstey Leys, where they went away with a fresh 

 fox, by Foremark, through Repton Shrubs, by the farm at 

 Bretby to Newton Solney, through the Folly, crossed the 

 river, and killed him on Burton racecourse. " The whole, 

 three hours and a half. An hour and twenty-five minutes 

 the first time to Gorstey Leys. Almost all horses tired. 

 One died. I rode Aaron ; Tom, brown mare ; Joe, Sailor. 

 Eighteen and a half couples. The best day I ever saw in 

 this country." 



On February 10th, again just before a frost, they ran 

 very hard from Draycott Clifl^ by Chartley and Birchwood 

 Park, to Draycott-in-the-Moors, and there was no one 

 with them but Tom on Feeble, and Mr. Boucherett, who 

 stopped them. Tom did not get back to Hoar Cross till 

 nearly ten o'clock. 



* This was probably the run in which the present Lord Waterpark's father rode 

 I'avilion, alluded to later ou. 



