168 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. 



kind aud liberal a master, to say the least of it, very provoking. At Cubley 

 Gorse we found a fox, and went at a good pace to Bentley ; had a short ring 

 from there, and he got to ground in Bentley Car, the maui earth having 

 been badly stopped. There is every reason to believe it was a vixen, and 

 us these hounds have had blood enough this season, in all conscience, it was 

 a fortunate circumstance she escaped. 



Saturday, the 20th, was a regular clipper; mdeed, few better runs were ever 

 witnessed. A fox was found directly in the wood at Chartley, aud after 

 dwelling for a less time than usual in those strong woods, went away at a 

 tremendous pace, and after a splendid run of three hours and a half, got to 

 ground dead beat, in a re-opened old earth at Warren Hill, Blythetield. This 

 run was the perfection of a fox-hunt, for there was in it racing for the steeple- 

 chasers, steady hunting for the true sportsman who loves to watch the sagacity 

 of the hounds, and some very comfortable nicks for the slows. Joe, though 

 more fit for bed, was out, for he is too game not to be at his post if able to mount 

 ills horse. 



Monday, January 22, at Rollestone, got away from the Falling Pit Gorse, on 

 rather a stale scent, ran fast to the turnpike road, and got a check which could 

 not be recovered. It afterwards appeared the hounds had been over-ridden, and 

 pug had got shelter in a drain under the road, from whence he was some time 

 after seen to make his escape. Found a fox at Castle Hays, but soon lost him. 

 Drew Forest Banks blank till we got to Woodford ChfF, where a brace of foxes 

 were found ; had a pretty run with one through the woodlands, in and out, till at 

 last he Avas forced into the open, and run into most splendidly in the middle of a 

 wheatfield. 



Thursday, the 25th, the meet was at Ingleby, but in consequence of the 

 death of Sir Francis Burdeit, who was the owner of the coverts, it was changed 

 to Swarkestone. In a few weeks death has deprived us of three good sportsmen 

 and staunch friends of fox-hunting — Sir George Crewe, the Marquis of Hastings, 

 and Sir Francis Burdett. Sir Francis was a capital sportsman, and a bold rider ; 

 indeed, we remember, when in his seventieth year, we believe, he was riding and 

 making a young horse by Battler, and popping him over all sorts offences, as if 

 for a lark. Found a mangy fox at Swarkestone Gorse, and after a quarter of an 

 hour's scurry, marked only by the largeness of the field and the vast quantity of 

 falls, killed him. Found again in Mr. Assheton Mosley's gorse — our never 

 failing fis aller, and after a very brilliant burst, and some verj^ pretty hunting, 

 HnaUy lost him at Badbourne. Charles Allsopp, Esq., on his grey, went most 

 splendidly, showing what a heavy weight, well mounted and with plenty of nerve, 

 can do. M. T. Bass,' Esq., also took some extraordinary leaps, and went in 

 a way to excite the envy of those not quite so well mounted. Altogether it was 

 a capital day's sport. 



This chapter began with Blithfield, and would hardly 

 «eem complete without some mention of a very curious old 

 custom, which still survives at Abbot's Bromley, called 

 "the Horn Dance." This is performed at the annual 

 wakes. There are six reindeer skulls, with antlers attached, 

 which are the property of the vicar for the time being, and 

 which used to hang in the belfry of the parish church. 



