1861] GOOD RUN FROM DUNSTALL. 205 



which he only skii-tecl on his way to Knightley Park. Not finding shelter here, he 

 dashed through the wood, the pack close behind him, making for Tattenhill Lane, 

 which he crossed. Shortly aftenvards, he descended the hills which bound the 

 forest of Needwood, and gallantly took to the open meadows below them. The 

 line is a stiff one, especially when, as on the present occasion, the ground is deep, 

 and ere long a wide drain with peaty banks interposed an insurmountable 

 obstacle to all but a chosen few. On went reynard until he came to the banks of 

 the Grand Trunk Canal at Newbold, where, instead of crossing, he made a turn 

 for Barton, taking the large gi-ass fields below the Hall, and once again making 

 his point for Dunstall. Being, however, prevented from accomplishing his 

 purpose by some of the stragglers from the field, he once more took to the 

 meadows, shaping his course this time for the canal, which he crossed near the 

 village of Braunston, and the field were fortunate in finding a bridge at no great 

 distance. The country now changed from meadow to arable, but the scent was 

 good, and the drains wide. At length we came so near to the good town of 

 Burton, that, evidently, reynard was approaching to the end of his career. He 

 was viewed in some grass fields dead beat, when, soon doubling back, he jumped 

 upon the roof of an outhouse belonging to Mr. Gratton's farm. Being speedily 

 dislodged, he fell amongst his relentless pursuers, who for upwards of an hour and 

 a half had been working so gallantly for him. The pace was from first to last 

 such as to tell severely upon the horses of those who had followed the hounds 

 throughout. The line after leaving the forest was over a country rarely taken by 

 a fox, as (especially during the latter portion of the run) it appeared to lead to 

 no covert. Doubtless, however, after leaving Dunstall, he had intended trying 

 for the Henhurst. Among the leading sportsmen on the present occasion were 

 the Lords Henry, Alexander, and Berkeley Paget, Lord Bagot, Mr. Cavendish, 

 Mr. Blakiston, Col. and Major Newdegate, Mr. Willoughby Wood, Mr. Birch (on 

 the admirable black which he has ridden for seventeen seasons), Mr. Cunliffe 

 Shaw, Mr. Alleyne, and many others. Nor must two ladies be forgotten, who 

 went better than many of the harder sex. The admirable working of the pack 

 confers great credit on Tom Leedham, whose skill in the kennel is as undeniable 

 as his judgment in the field. It may safely be asserted that during the whole of 

 the long period which Mr. M. Ingram has been the owner of these hounds, their 

 prestige never was higher than at present, and that they rank among the 

 leading establishments in the kingdom. We could have wished that the master, 

 whose gentlemanly bearing in the field is no less conspicuous than his thorough 

 sportsmanship, had had the gratification of being with his own hounds on this 

 occasion, instead of on a visit in a neighbouring country. 



Vkterajt. 



It began to freeze on December 18th, and on Christ- 

 mas Eve the thermometer was at zero. Hounds did 

 not hunt again till January 26th, at Loxley, when they 

 found in Carry Coppice, ran across to the woods, in and 

 out of them alternately for two hours, and killed their fox 

 at Woodford, which speaks volumes for Tom Leedham's 

 skill as a kennelman, when it is remembered that there 

 had been over a month's frost. On February 7th, they 



