1883] GREAT BRAILSFORD RUN. 101 



front of the Hall ; one from Snelston, by Mayfield and 

 Calwich, across the river, and over the Weaver Hills to 

 Wootton Park. Then there was a good day in the Forest 

 on December 5th, when they had two good runs, and killed 

 both their foxes. On December 6th they ran fast from 

 Eaton Wood to the left of Marston-Montgomery, by 

 Norbury, across the Dove, by Doveleys, nearly up to the 

 River Churnet, and lost at Alton Towers. Forty minutes 

 from the find to the first check." 



From this it is evident what good sport they were 

 having, but there was better still to come with the new 

 year. Fortunately one account of the wonderfully good 

 run of two hours and a half on January 25th appeared 

 in the Field at the time. 



The writer mentions the fact of there being many 

 hard riders, but laments the want of a willing scribe. 

 But this run was so excellent that he takes upon 

 himself the duty of describing it. " Wednesday night 

 was a rough one — snow, rain, and wind competed for 

 the supremacy until about five a.m., when Jack Frost laid 

 a firm grip on the land. But the sun arose most 

 brilliantly as we jogged to the meet at Brailsford Hall ; 

 though the pools at the road side were coated with ice, 

 and the distant hills northward were white with snow, it 

 was evident there was nothing to stop hunting. Punctu- 

 ally, at eleven, Charles trotted up with his hounds. And 

 here I will venture to say that a finer pack does not 

 exist. What is more, they are as good as they look — 

 riot is unknown. When there is anything like a scent, 

 and one of the wild foxes, with which the country is 

 well stocked, is in front of them, only the hardest and 

 best-mounted riders can keep near them. In fact, I have 

 more than once heard other Masters, when visiting us, 

 say, ' They are the fastest hounds in England.' But they 

 are equally good and persevering on a cold scent, as was 

 amply demonstrated earlier in the season, when they ran 

 an afternoon fox two hours and twenty minutes from 

 Bentley Car, through Longford and Ednaston to Kedleston, 



