224 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1863 



BelVs Life, April 19tli, 1863 :— 



Mr, Editor,— These hounds met on Saturday, March 21st, at Bretby Park, 

 the seat of the Earl of Chesterfield, where a sumptuous lunch was provided for 

 all comers. After doing ample justice to the creatare comforts, the hounds 

 proceeded to draw the decoy and a few smaller coverts blank, in consequence of 

 tlie large number of woodmen at work. We then trotted on to the big wood, 

 where a fine old dog-fox was soon unkennelled, faced the open, the wind full in 

 his teeth, taking a straight line to Tatenhall, but, finding himself strongly pressed, 

 he turned to the left and pointed for Kepton. This he left on the right, making 

 his point then for the park, but being headed, went straight for the wood, 

 which he just entered at the top, taking a line of country for Hartshorn and 

 Pistern Hills. Headed back, he went to earth at the rocks in view of the hounds, 

 after one hour of the best run that had been witnessed for years. He was got 

 out and killed. It was the theme of admiration to see how beautifully the hounds 

 did their w^ork, with scarcely the symptoms of a check during the run. After 

 giving the nags a little breathing time, the orders were given to draw Hartshorn 

 Gorse, where the hounds were no sooner in than a brace of foxes were on foot, 

 the hounds going away with the dog fox, and close to his brush. It was certainly 

 a fine sight to witness the fox and hounds in view for upwards of a mile. 

 Reynard made for the Pistern Hills, pointing for Ashby-de-la-Zouch, but, finding 

 the wind in his teeth, and too hotly pressed, turned to the left, made for the big 

 wood, where he did not hang a moment, through the park, for Repton Shrubs, 

 where he went to earth after another pretty run of fifty minutes. Thus ended 

 one of the best day's sport enjoyed by a very numerous field for many years in 

 this part of the country. Too much praise cannot be given to the noble earl for 

 his preservation of foxes and his desire to give sport to the hunt. 



Yours, etc.. 



Black Cap. 



The season ended at Bagot's Park on March 27th. 



Foxes killed during regular hunting, thirteen brace ; 

 run to ground, nine ; blank days, one ; total number of 

 hunting days, sixty-two. 



