l''^ THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [i89l 



Hilton Gorse, the Spatli, Barton, Sapperton, Sudbury 

 Coppice and Bottoms, Maresfield Gorse, and Sudbury Lake 

 Banks blank ! On the 24th they were at Loxley, and there 

 was pretty much the same story to tell, as all the Loxley 

 coverts aud Philips' Gorse were drawn blank. On Thurs- 

 day, 26th, a fox, who refused to go, was found in Brailsford 

 Gorse, and then all the other Brailsford coverts, Culland, 

 Langley Gorse, Parson's Gorse, and Boden's Thorns were 

 blank. On Saturday, two or three foxes were at home 

 at Drakelowe, but Caldwell, Homestall Wood, Calton, and 

 Walton Wood were all tenantless. On the following 

 Monday, for a change, they went to Croxden Abbey, found 

 two foxes and chopped one, and then had a long jog 

 indeed to Chartley ! On Thursday, March 25th, they came 

 to Egginton, found in the gorse, and killed at once. Then 

 they drew Sutton Gorse and all the Eadburne coverts 

 blank. The hounds did not go out from Tuesday, March 

 10th, till Saturday, on account of the death of the Masters 

 little boy. 



There is nothing more to be said about the season, 

 but " Needwood," in the Field, wrote an account of 



THE LAST DAY OF THE MEYNELL. 



Field, April 11th, 1891 : — 



It will be readily admitted by every old Meynellite, that there is no more 

 staunch preserver of foxes throughout the whole of this country than the much- 

 respected Squire of Wychnor. Indeed, with the sole exception of Blithfield, 

 there are probably now more foxes there than in any part of the country. To 

 afford, therefore, a real good day's sport, must be a matter of gi-eat satisfaction 

 to him, and such was Saturday last. A strong contingent of yeomanry oflScers 

 were the guests of Colonel and Lady Jane Levett, and the only question with 

 them on the Friday, was not the point of finding a fox, but whether there would 

 be a scent or no. The rain during the night satisfactorily settled the question, 

 and a large field had assembled on the lawn when Charles Leedham trotted up 

 with the bitch pack at twelve to the minute. The Master (Mr. H. Bass, M.P.) 

 was unfortunately not with us, owing to a severe domestic calamity, in which he 

 has the sincere sympathy of all the field. Lord Bagot is, therefore. Master to- 

 day, and he gives the word to draw the coppice, where we find almost at once. 

 Getting away on Hollyhurst side, our fox turned short to the left, and pointed as 

 if for Yoxall ; but again turning left-handed, we ran by the Twichells, and sank 

 the hill into the meadows. Bearing now to the right, he ran the water meadows, 

 pointing for King's Bromley; but here hounds were too close to him, and 



