196 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1860 



park, where most of us thought the fox was gone to ground ; but the tree 

 (possibly coeval with the Conquest) was hollow, and after a short pause our 

 friend was espied almost at the top of the trunk, peering from an aperture in the 

 bark. Thanks to the agility of Captain Boucherett, he was speedily dislodged 

 from his post, and, running with catlike activity along one of the branches, he 

 sprang from a height of fifteen or twenty feet into some sedgy rushes immediately 

 below the tree, and, although the hounds were close upon him, he managed to 

 elude them for the moment, and was coursed in view across the park, being 

 turned over just as he was reaching the covert. In this short scurry (which was 

 not a little exciting) several casualties occurred — a drain getting the Master 

 down, and a stalwart yeoman and his stout chestnut coming to grief from being 

 crossed in the confusion. The most curious part of the story is, that in the same 

 tree, perched still higher in the trunk, was a second fox; but as this was 

 probably a vixen with cubs, she was very wisely left unmolested. Leicestershire, 

 Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire doubtless possess their advantages in the 

 shape of large enclosures, strong fences, and a great proportion of turf, but it 

 must be admitted that, generally speaking, there is not a better scenting country 

 than Mr. Meynell's, and assuredly in no district is there a better pack of hounds, 

 neither is more beautiful woodland scenery to be found than that in Bagot's 

 Park, nor wilder or more extensive views than from Chartley or Cannock Chase, 

 where, during the last fortnight, the hounds have found plenty of foxes. 

 Although in this part of the country no run worthy of note has occurred this 

 season (which, on the whole, has perhaps been the most unsatisfactory for 

 years), yet to find, as was the case the other day, on the open heather, when no 

 less than three or four were put up in the course of the morning, is one of the 

 most exciting things possible, and altogether a scene well worthy the pencil of 

 Grant or Herring. — A. G. (Lichfield.) P.S. — It may not be uninteresting to 

 some of your readers to hear that some three weeks ago Mr. Meynell gave Lord 

 Curzon a day in his country, when hoimds, horses, huntsmen, and whips, with 

 several regular attendants in the Atherstone Hunt, came down by special train 

 from Atherstone to Rugeley station, and thence trotted to Bagot's Park, where a 

 good fox was found, and had there been anything of a scent, Dickens, who, in 

 the estimation of the Meynellites, acquitted himself admirably, would certainly 

 have killed him, had he not unfortunately got on a fresh fox in the Brakenhurst 

 after running the first some forty minutes. 



In 1861 a very prominent personage, the Rev. German 

 Buckston, passed away in his sixty-fifth year, having been 

 born in 1797. He was a typical "Squarson" of the old 

 school, very much loved and respected. The famous 

 actor was a cadet of this family. In this year, too, Mr. 

 and Mrs. Frank bought Ashbourne Hall, where they 

 resided for many years. When Mrs. Frank died, about 

 three years ago, the Hall was sold and turned into a hotel. 

 She was quite a character, and was as much at home in 

 the stable, the kennel, and the farmyard, as at her easel 

 or the piano. There was hardly anything of which she 

 did not know something. She was a fine horsewoman. 



