100 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1827 



the same occasion, for the diary states that Sir Thomas 

 Salusbury rode Waxlight. 



On December 15th there was a capital ball, the suc- 

 cess of which was principally due " to the politeness of the 

 stewards, particularly H. S. Wilmot, Esq. Knowing every 

 one, no one escaped his courteous and affable attentions ; 

 and all acknowledged the more than civility of his 

 demeanour throughout the whole evening." 



On December 23rd they had a great day in the 

 woods, and all round Draycott and Hound Hill, Coton, and 

 Draycott, finally running to ground at Marchington Cliff, 

 at dark, after two and a half hours. They dug him out 

 by candle light and killed him. 



They began the new year with what is described as a 

 magnificent day ; but all we are told about it is that it 

 started at Ravensdale Park and ended at Kadburne, with 

 nobody with them but Tom on his brown horse, and little 

 Tom on his old favourite, the black mare. Joe got to the 

 end of Spotless, and had to stop. 



After a week's frost they " found a fox at Wichnor, and 

 went away by Shivel Lodge * and Yoxall Lodge, crossed 

 over Crop Plane through Nettlebed to Stone's Gorse, 

 through the Hare Holes up to the Hanbury Road, where he 

 was headed, and came back through the corner of Hunts- 

 wood by Fauld to the meadows, crossed the Sudbury road 

 by Draycott, went under Hound Hill to Woodford Rough, 

 where we ran several rings and viewed him close before 

 the hounds to the river, crossed opposite the Doveridge 

 Hare Park, where he was headed, and we lost him at the 

 river, where I have no doubt he was drowned, as the 

 stream was very rapid. This was a capital run, with 

 very few checks, and at a good pace all the way." The 

 master rode Aaron, and Joe had a bad fall with Sailor. 



January 20th was the Duke of York's funeral, but 

 they hunted all the same at Blithbury, and there was a 

 very good scent, in spite of the ground being frozen so 

 hard that they had to stop the hounds on that account. 



* Probably Sherbolt Lodge. 



