190 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1858 



have to add that Captain Storey, an old Peninsular officer, and a well-known 

 sportsman, in charging a fence out of the Calke road, met with an accident. His 

 horse fell and severely shook him, but we believe no more serious injury occurred 

 to him. Several ladies graced the field with their presence. 



Charnwood. 



The next account of anything with the Meynell 

 appeared in the Field of January 2nd, 1858 : — 



On Thursday last these hounds met at Bretby, the seat of the Earl of Chester- 

 field. There are several circumstances which combine to make the Christmas 

 Bretby " meet " one of the most popular of the season. Then it is that the noble 

 Earl himself is usually there, surrounded by illustrious guests, and showing those 

 courtesies and providing those hospitalities which so pre-eminently characterize 

 him. Like many of its predecessors, the gathering was large, and presented a 

 really beautiful spectacle. The morning was most delightful, indeed one of the 

 most charming that has marked the close even of the late, almost unwintered 

 year. Amongst the distinguished guests staying at Bretby were the following : 

 The Duchess of Richmond, Lady Cecilia Lennox, Lord and Lady Derby, Lady 

 Emma Stanley, Lord and Lady Wilton, Lady Catherine Egerton, Lady Glengall, 

 Lady Margaret Butler, Lord Henry Lenox, Lord and Lady Colvile, Mr. H. 

 Meynell, Mr. Leslie, Mr, Calthorp, Count Jacourt, Colonel Hardinge, Lord 

 Cowper, Captain Lowe, Honble. James Macdonald, and Colonel Forester. Most 

 of these were present at the meet, as also the Earl of Chesterfield (whom we are 

 happy to see apparently in blooming health). Lord Stanhope, Lady Evelyn 

 Stanhope, and many of the neighbouring gentry. Amongst the latter were 

 Mr. George Moore (Appelby Hall), Mr. Michael Bass, M.P., etc. About two 

 hundred sportsmen were present, and there was a considerable sprinkling of 

 ladies on horseback. About half-past eleven the visitors left the hall in several 

 carriages, and soon afterwards the hounds moved oft'. The scene at this juncture 

 was very animated, heightened as it was in picturesque eff"ect by the movements 

 of gay equipages, of dappled hounds, and scarlet-coated horsemen, threading 

 their way through the trees, by pools, or along the fern-covered slopes. The 

 party trotted away to Hartshorn Gorse. This is a pretty sure find. On this 

 occasion, too, Master Reynard was at home, and soon hove away like one of the 

 right sort for Several Woods, then crossed Pistern Hills to Southwood, through 

 which he threaded his way without a check, and forward for Calke Park, the 

 seat of Sir John Harpur Crewe, Bart. He did not enter the park, however, but 

 crossing Tickenhall and Ashby road, went away for the northwest side of 

 Hartshorn village, and ran into Spur's Bottoms. Here the hounds lost him. 

 Shortly, however, a view halloo was heard in the direction of Hartshorn Gorse, 

 the cover from which he broke, and it was found that some pedestrians had seen 

 him enter it. The hounds were again thrown in, and again the wily animal had 

 notice to quit. But this time he was not destined to show much sport, for the 

 scent grew cold after running over a few fields, and he was lost. The pack then 

 drew Repton Shrubs, but we do not know with what success, as we were 

 obliged to leave. Up to the time when reynard entered Hartshorn Gorse, he gave 

 a smart little burst of perhaps twenty minutes, but we fear that the second draw 

 would not be equal to the first. Among those ladies who honoured the field with 

 their presence was one (we believe, Ladj' Catherine Egerton) mounted on a grey 

 horse, who excited much admiration by the judgment with which she selected 



