SEASONS 1S41 - iS6g. 95 



they crossed some badly-drained land, ' narrowly escaping 

 some infernal wire fencing', and ran by the hall and across 

 Thirkleby Park, pointing for Hood Hill. Thence they turned 

 left handed by Bagby, and crossed the Felix church road, 

 pointing for Upsall Whin, and ran into their fox at Butter- 

 combe plantation. 



This was a good run, and ' Eboracum' seems certainly to 

 have been lucky with the sport he saw from Pilmoor and 

 Sessay. No time is given, but it is a far cry from Sessay 

 Wood to Upsall. It will be about a nine-mile point, and 

 the line is a very stiff one, so that it is easy to imagine that 

 there would be a squandered field. 



This same season of 1861-62 was a remarkably good 

 one, perhaps one of the best that Sir Charles had. It seems 

 to have been a good scenting season all over, and the 

 following account of the last day but one of the season 

 shows that the York and Ainsty had their share of its good 

 things : — 



' The York and Ainsty. 

 ' These hounds have had what may be termed a brilliant season. 

 ' Sir Charles Slingsby, the master, hunts them himself, to 

 'the admiration and satisfaction of all who follow him. 

 ' His urbanity in the field to both high and low has become 

 ' a household word through the part of the county he hunts. 

 ' His men are civil to all, and persevering beyond all praise, 

 ' and do their utmost to show sport. Of the hounds I need 

 ' only say they have killed about forty brace of foxes, 

 ' besides running many to ground. On the Thursday (the 

 'last day but one of the season), they met at Burnt Gates, 

 ' a few miles west of Ripley. The weather was thick and 

 ' hazy, and the surrounding hills were covered with snow. 

 ' Drew all the coverts in that district blank. Trotted down 

 ' to Farnham Mires, two miles east of Ripley. On the 

 ' shortest notice found reynard at home. Went away with 

 ' a burning scent in a northerly direction for that far-famed 

 ' covert, Walkingham Warren. (En passant, allow us to 

 ' say a word or two of it, as well as of its worthy proprietor, 



