1857]! A BRETBY DAY. 187 



Somewhere about twelve o'clock — I cannot say to a trifle, for I took no note 

 of time — the " tield " turned out, comprising nearly two hundred horsemen, most 

 of them in scarlet, besides several ladies on horseback, and foiu- carriages filled 

 chiefly with ladies. Amongst others the following were guests at Bretby, and 

 some of whom partook of the chase : — The Earl and Countess of Derby and 

 Lady Emma Stanley, the Earl and Countess of Wilton and Lady Egerton, the 

 Countess of Glengall and Lady Margaret Butler, Viscount and Viscountess 

 Newport, Lord Burghersh, Lord Ashley, Lord Henry Lennox, Sir Robert and 

 Lady Emily Peel, Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton, Bart., Count de Jancourt, Miss 

 Anson, Mr. and Lady Sophia Des V^us, Mr. Norman Macdonald, Colonel 

 Macdonald, Mr. H. Meynell Ingram, Mr. Sturt, etc. Amongst the neighbouring 

 nobility and gentry at the meet were the Earl FeiTcrs, Mr. J. B. Storej' (Lock- 

 ington Hall), Mr. George Moore (Appleby), Mr. Clement (Snareston), Mr. Sutton, 

 Mr. Briscoe, etc. 



The "field" proceeded to draw Hartshorn Gorse, and the result was a 

 beautiful find ; Master Reynard went away nearly in view of the whole field. A 

 brilliant twenty minutes over a stifl" countr}', with a rattling scent, ensued, 

 Reynard taking the direction of Smisby and Pistern Hills ; he was run into in tlie 

 middle of South Wood in capital style — at one time huntsman, dogs, and fox being 

 within, perhaps, two hundred yards of each other. The pack found again at 

 Repton Shrubs, and were led a smart chase to Repton Hays, the residence of 

 Mr. Crewe, where they again killed their fox. 



During the first run the pack skirted the village of Hartshorn, and some 

 young ladies, evidently excited by the sport, were seen footing their way over 

 some ploughed fields almost knee-deep. Their perseverance was remarkable. 



Nf.edwoop. 



Field, January 24th, 1857 : — 



On Saturday, January 18th, Jack Frost, who had so long put his veto 

 on our engagement, relaxed his iron grasp ; and every one who had a day to 

 spare or a horse to ride, '' tired " in hunting order to Elvaston Castle. The 

 description of this extraordinary place, with its miles of clipped yew and holly 

 hedges, its unique collection of pines, and statues with gold hair and beards, 

 belongs rather to a gardening than a sporting chronicle. The noble owner of 

 Elvaston having dispensed his hospitality in that way which barons and earls in 

 olden time were wont to do, we went through the form of drawing the pleasure 

 grounds, but Deodara cedars and monkey puzzles, as a certain quaint pine is 

 called, proved no fit place for the wily Tod. W"e therefore proceeded to Mr. 

 Holden's coverts at Aston, where we found two foxes and ate them ; and then 

 some six miles off to Sir John Crewe's covert at Apleston (? Arleston), which we 

 drew blank. From there we journeyed to Mr. Spilsbury's small but well-tented 

 covert, where we at once discovered that essential ingi-edient of sport, a wild fox. 

 After one false start, away he flew in a direct line for Burnaston Hall, crossing 

 the Derby and Burton road at the Spread Eagle ; from thence he bore to the 

 right, over a fearfully heavy country, nearly up to Burnaston village. Being 

 here headed, he made a short turn to the left, and at a good holding pace to 

 Etwall village, where, after passing through a gentleman's garden, much to the 

 consternation of his gardener, he went over a fine country in the direction of 

 Radbume ; but, inclining to the left, he left it, as he did Dalbury, to the right, and 

 set his head straight for Mr. Buckston's covert at Sutton. What an unpleasant 

 scene now opened to our view — the Sutton and Dalbury brooks near the point of 



