1877] FAST GALLOP FROM REPTON SHRUBS. 395 



Field, March 31st, 1877 :— 



THE LAST WEEK OF THE SEASON 1876-7 WITH THE MEYNELL 



HOUNDS. 



These well-known'hounds so seldom get into print, that I venture to give you 

 a short and imperfect account of their doings at the end of this wonderfully- 

 open season. Few packs of hounds have had a more brilliant season, and up 

 to the end of February it was exceptionally so, and the last week has shown us 

 excellent sport for the close of the season. On Saturday, March 24th, they met 

 at Mr. Tumor's, Bagot's Park, and, after enjoying his well-known hospitality, we 

 drew a small covert near his house, and almost immediately a fine old dog fox 

 was away across the park, and the bitches fairly raced without a check to the top of 

 Blithfield Park. Here there was a short check ; but Charles Leedham hit him off 

 again, and for more than two hours he patiently hunted him, finally marking him 

 to ground in the Ehododendron Covert near Blithfield, with the ladies close at 

 his brush. On Monday, March 26th, the meet was at Brook House, the hunting 

 bos of a new-comer (Mr. Piatt) into the country, and the hounds had a good 

 forest day, marking their fox to ground after a five-mile, from point to point, 

 gallop. On Tuesday the meet was at Bretby Hall, and to a minute Charles 

 Leedham trotted up with his lady pack. The noble master (Lord Waterpark), 

 true, as usual, to his time, gave the word to draw after about ten minutes' law (for 

 the benefit of the late ones), and he first drew the covert on the right of the 

 th-ive, but this proved blank. We then drew Repton Shnibs, and at one p.m. 

 to the moment a fine old dog fox was halloaed away. He first pointed to the 

 right as if for Piepton ; but, bearing to the left, raced through the park to the 

 lodge near the collieries ; here he again turned his head for the big wood, and 

 the bitches carried the line fast through the park, over the racecourse ; here he 

 appeared as if his pomt was Hartthorne Gorse, but he again made for the woods, 

 .straight through them nearly to Repton Park, over the brook at the bottom, on 

 by Broken Flats to Newton village, and to ground on Mr. Higgott's farm. This 

 run was rather over an hour, best pace all the time, and for the last five or ten 

 minutes it is a question if any one was with the hounds. Mr. Meynell (of Langley) , 

 Messrs. Walter and H. Boden, Lord Ferrers, Mr. Bird, Mr. R. Sale, Mr. Smith 

 (of Clifton), and the huntsman (who is always with his hounds), perhaps had the 

 best of it ; but there were many others there or thereabouts, and it was difficult 

 at times to see the pack at all owing to the hills. It must be understood that 

 these runs are only those selected from my note-book at the end of this season, 

 and not at all representing the best of this long and extraordinary season. It is 

 to be hoped that Lord Waterpark and Mr. Clowes will long continue the joint 

 mastership, as by this time they know the hounds and country ; and, as they are 

 excellent judges of hounds, both in and out of kennel, it would be most un- 

 fortunate for them now to leave us and our good sport. 



The Man on the Bay. 



At the end of the run on the Saturday, which is 

 mentioned below, the brush was given to Miss Alexander, 

 from Wichnor, who, with her sister, always went very 

 well. 



