144 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1843 



BelVs Life, December 31st, 1843 : — 



Mb. Editor, — This pack of foxhounds have shown remarkable sport, and on 

 the nine hunting days of the last three weeks, have killed their thirteen foxes, 

 after some of the best and fastest runs ever witnessed. Where all have been so 

 good, it is almost invidious to particularize ; but the runs from Blythfield, on 

 Monday the 18th, and from Longford, on Thursday the 21st, have seldom been 

 excelled. The hounds are in splendid condition, and many of them, particularly 

 Bome of the ladies, are equal in beauty, symmetry, speed, and stoutness, to any 

 hounds in the world. On Saturdaj', the 16th, Old Draco and two couple of 

 others got away from Brakenhurst with a fresh fox, and killed him, unassisted, 

 after a splendid burst of thirty-five minutes, and on that day three foxes fell 

 victims to these determined vulpicides. It was the fashion last season to say, 

 that Joe Leedham could neither ride to hounds, nor kill his foxes, but he has 

 shown them this year what he can do when properly mounted. The proverbial 

 kind-heartedness of Mr, Meynell Ingram may, in some instances, have been 

 carried too far, where he has been unwilling to discard an old and faithful slave, 

 80 long as he could enjoy the sport ; but neither Timothy, Old Pigg, nor Aaron, 

 could last for ever, nor can Joe, an old clipper, be expected to keep his place 

 \vith hounds when the pace is too good for thoroughbred ones. When mounted 

 on horses that can carry him, he has proved himself not only a bold rider to his 

 hounds, but also a clever and scientific huntsman ; the way he has handled his 

 hounds in difficulties having won universal admiration, whilst the musical voices 

 of Tom and Jack have resounded through the woodlands, in tones which Hen* 

 Standigl or Foruasari might envy. We are sorry that Mr. Meynell Ingram is 

 unable to join in the sport, from a sprain he received some time since, but 

 Captain Meynell has hunted regularly, and young Squire Hugo has not only 

 inherited the family love of hunting, but has acquired a dashing style of riding, 

 that is seldom to be found in any family. He knows the place of a master 

 of hounds is with the pack, and there you may always see him. May the con- 

 clusion of the season continue as prosperous as the commencement. — December 

 26th, 1843. 



Unless tliey used the same names more than once for 

 horses, Timothy, Old Pigg, and Aaron, must have all been 

 well over twenty years old before they were discarded. 

 When Mr. Fort is mounted on one of his two marvellous 

 evergreens, Pugilist or Beaufort, who are about fifteen 

 years old, he sometimes says jokingly, that a horse is not 

 safe to ride over Derbyshire, till he has reached that age ! 

 But Mr. Meynell went one better, or rather some years 

 better ! 



A complimentary dinner was given this year in honour 

 of Mr. Meynell Ingram, and a beautiful silver gilt 

 representation of the old oak below Hoar Cross, the 

 huntsman, and earth-stopper, was presented to him. 



