EARLY HISTORY OF THE HUNT. 



63 



' common to Birk Crag, over the bottoms, leaving Haverah 

 ' Park on the left, straight away to Greystone Plain, Fellis- 

 ' cliif, past Kettlesing, Swarcliff, by Darley, and gave it up 

 ' at Cinder Hill, the fox having gone into Rayner Crag. 

 'Three hours; most extraordinary run.' 



The last entry in connection with this season is for 

 April Sth, when they met at Red House, and had a fair 

 day's sport for the time of year, their last tox leading them 

 from Stub Wood by Acaster Whin, Acaster, Bishopthorpe 

 and Dringhouses to Acomb, where they were run out of 

 scent. 



An event took place this season, which, though it had 

 practically nothing to do with the actual history of the York 

 and Ainsty Hunt, should not be passed by unnoticed. 

 Sportsmen whose memories take them back thirty years 

 remember the great sport which Sir Clifford Constable used 

 to show with his staghounds ; and in those days the chase 

 of the carted deer found oreat favour in Yorkshire. In 

 1840 .Sir Clifford Constable was the High Sheriff of the. 

 county, and a meeting was held at the Black Swan, Coney 

 street, the Sheriff of York in the chair, at which it vi^as 

 resolved to ask Sir Clifford to bring his hounds to York, so 

 that the citizens of York might have a day's hunt with them. 

 A deputation, headed by Mr. C. J. Hanson, waited upon 

 .Sir Clifford, who at once signified his consent. 



W^ednesday, March iith, was the appointed day, and the 

 fixture was Heslington Field. It may easily be imagined 

 that a large crowd assembled, and the gentleman who 

 reported the proceedings estimated the number of ' horse, 

 foot and artillery' at ten thousand, and in all probability his 

 estimate was a moderate one. It was, however, scarcely 

 complimentary of the same gentleman to say that the scene 

 reminded him of the Epping Hunt, and I rather fancy the 

 hard ridino- citizens of York would not like the allusion. 



