112 THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



Mr. Moreton succeeded to the title on his 

 father's death in 1835. He continued to hunt 

 his new country as Lord Ducie until 1843. 

 The Sporting Magazine of that year says : 

 "We hear Lord Ducie has given up the Ciren- 

 cester country in consequence, as asserted, of 

 the lukewarmness of the resident gentlemen 

 and the scarcity of foxes," Lord Ducie then 

 devoted himself to agriculture. His kennels 

 were visited by " Rodney" in 1841, who says: 

 " I never saw a more even pack. They are 

 like one family in size, but I do not consider, 

 with the exception of 'Wildair,' that there is 

 a hound in the kennel that could fairly be 

 described as first-rate ; pig heads and crooked 

 shanks are very numerous, and it is self-evident 

 that just as great a mistake has been made in 

 drafting only for size as is often made when 

 no regard is paid to size. 



The following description of a run with Mr. 

 Moreton was written at the time by Mr. 

 Duffield :— 



" Found at Steventon Copse ; after a double or two 

 in cover went for Milton Hill ; ran some time about 

 Mr. Hopkins's plantations, through Mr. Barrett's 

 grounds back to Steventon Coppice ; along the Hill- 

 side to beyond Black Bird Farm, crossed the brook 

 pointing for Hendred Cowleys ; turned again up the 

 hill and kept along the side of it almost to Ardington ; 

 turned short down into the vale to the Cowleys and 



