216 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [18G3 



Hatton, turned to the right through the Foston coverts, 

 down to the Dove at Draycott Mill, where the fox was 

 drowned. Two and a half hours without a check. Dis- 

 tance on ordnance map, twenty- three miles." 



1863. 



The year 1863 is remarkable not only for the above- 

 mentioned run, but also for the appearance here of Mr. 

 Cornelius Tonge (Cecil), the great authority of the day 

 on hunting matters. He had the good luck to be out on 

 the day of the great run alluded to, and has left an 

 account of it. It is also interesting to note what he 

 thought of the Meynell country, and to compare it with 

 our experience of to-day. He begins by telling us that 

 north of Ashbourne the hills preclude the possibility of 

 following hounds. " The Sudbury country is a fine grass 

 vale, very favourable to scent, abounding in brooks, with 

 many strong fences ; in wet weather, such as we have 

 recently experienced, the land is awfully deep, therefore 

 distressing to horses, which require necessarily the 

 highest attainments of blood, power, and condition, 

 assisted, too, by all the auxiliaries of discretion and strong 

 nerves. Here the science of the draining engineer does 

 not appear to be highly appreciated, and treacherous bogs 

 not unfrequently bring horses and riders to grief. The 

 passes through gateways are frightfully deep, but there is 

 one compensating and consoling consequence, the ex- 

 treme wetness of the land in many situations precludes 

 the possibility of cattle being depastured in the fields 

 throughout the winter season ; thus, though not alto- 

 gether exonerated, hounds do not often experience the 

 checks and difficulties from that cause that they are exposed 

 to in many other parts of Her Majesty's dominions." It 

 will be readily conceded that nous avons change tout 

 cela. " Cecil " then goes on to say, *' The foxes hereabouts 

 are of a fine gallant race ; rejoicing in tendencies of the 

 wildest nature, and not having any very extensive wood- 

 lands to hold them, they have but one alternative when 



