180 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1802 



After this there was a fair day or two, then frost from 

 the 15th to the 22nd, when they met at Osmaston village. 

 There was still a good deal of snow, and there were deep 

 drifts all over the country, especially on the north side of the 

 fences, so perhaps it was as well that they drew everything 

 blank. The coverts drawn were the Holt, the Holly Wood, 

 and all the other Snelston coverts, Eaton Wood, every- 

 thing at Doveridge, Wardley Coppice, and the Wilderness 

 at Somersal. It was rather a blow, all the same. 



The next thing that any one is at all likely to remember 

 was a burst from Brailsford Gorse, at first towards 

 Mercaston, and then right-handed to Langley Gorse. It 

 was not very far, but many people thought this was the 

 fastest eighteen minutes they had ever seen. Amongst 

 these was Mr. Fort, who must have found it difficult to go 

 that pace with his arm still strapped up. It was a bad 

 day for Mr. Maynard, for his good old horse. Musketeer, 

 broke down. Captain Dugdale, who at this time was one 

 of the best men with the Meynell, went below Wild Park, 

 followed by several others, and got pounded by wire. He 

 was then adjutant to the Derbyshire Yeomanry, and was 

 living at Park House, Radburne. He was a very good all- 

 round man, and a better neighbour no one need wish to 

 have. No brother sportsman ever had to stay at home for 

 want of a horse if Captain Dugdale had a spare one. His 

 wife was sister to that first-rate sportsman, Mr. Lort 

 Phillips, of Warwickshire and Pembrokeshire repute, and 

 she did credit to her parentage, for there could not be a 

 finer horse-woman or a better rider to hounds than she 

 was. Their two daughters bid fair to tread in their 

 father's and mother's footsteps. 



The season ended at Coton, where Mr. Gerald Hardy 

 was then living, on April 2nd. The weather was dry and 

 hot, and it was no use hunting any later. It had been 

 stopped twenty-seven days by frost and snow. Sport had 

 been very moderate, and there was a good deal of 

 grumbling as a natural consequence. Some found fault 

 with the Master, and some with the men. It is a necessity 



