in the Seventies and Eighties. 33 



one of the hunt, also terminating with a kill in the open ; 

 and on the 14th, when the fixture was Brancepeth Castle, 

 they found in that never-failing preserve the Middles and 

 killed near Crook, after skirting Willington, Tanner's Hall, 

 Black Hamilton, Bowden, and Job's Hill — time, an hour and 

 twenty minutes without a check. The Field newspaper con- 

 tains an account of these days' sport also, and the conclud- 

 ing lines may be of interest to some into whose hands this 

 little narrative may fall. 



" It would be invidious to mention some of those who 

 went gallantly in any or all of these runs; but it gives the 

 writer pleasure to name Lord Henry Vane Tempest,* who 

 rode straight and well ; and also three young ladies, whose 

 hearts and souls seemed in the sport — Miss Teresa Salvin 

 and the Misses Baker Baker of Elemore, grand-children of 

 Colonel Tower." 



The season of 1873-4 was not so good a one with the 

 South Durham as might have been anticipated, Dowdeswell 

 unfortunately feeling the effects of the many severe falls 

 which his hard-riding on moderate cattle had brought about, 

 and accordingly he deemed it his duty to retire from the 

 position of huntsman, and gave Mr. Harvey due notice to 

 that effect. Philip Tocock, the whipper-in, also retiring, the 

 Master then cast his eye around for new servants, aud was 

 fortunate in securing the services of William Claxon as 

 huntsman, from the Bicester,J where he had acted in the 

 same capacity for two seasons, and previously as first 



• From the rest of the field, he came out like a bolt. 

 And he tackled to work like a schoolboy to play — 

 As he crammed down his hat and got home in his seat, 

 This rum one to follow ; this bad one to beat ! 



* Claxon left the Bicester in consequence of Lord Valentia undertaking to hunt the hounds 

 himself at least two days a week in future. 



