NOTITIA VRNATTCA. 153 



sceut in the snow : I recollect some years since, when Mr. Warde 

 hunted Berkshire, seeing a capital run from that well known cover, 

 Stypo, near llungerford. We met late, and after drawing some time, 

 foiuid on the hanging side toAvards the Kennet, which we crossed twice, 

 and after a severe run v/ere unfortunately defeated by changing our fox 

 in Marlborough forest. The snow, Avhieh was much drifted, was above 

 three feet deep in many places ; and I remember William Neverd,* who 

 was at that time Mr. Warde 's huntsman, making one or two excellent 

 hits himself by the fox's pads. The winter of 1813-14, which must be 

 still in the remembrance of most sportsmen as affording less open wea- 

 ther during the himting months than may have been known for half a 

 century, was perhaps one of the hardest recorded in the memory of man; 

 the whole country had the appearance of Salisbury Plain, only for the 

 trees ; gates, hedges, and even rivers, were in many places invisible, 

 and the snow being frozen extremely hard, it was an easy matter to ride 

 over fences and other hidden dangers, without the labour of jumping. 

 During a great part of that dreadful season, the Pytchiey hounds, then 

 the property of Lord Althorp, hunted the Northamptonshire woodlands 

 regularly, having excellent sport, and killing many foxes. 



Two years ago, the following anecdote was copied from the Forfar 

 paper. *' On Tuesday, the 3rd instant, the Fife hounds met at Loijio, 

 and found a brace of foxes in the Muir, but could not press them, the 

 morning being stormy and the ground stained by sheep. Afterwards 

 they drew blank all the neighbouring covers, and late in the afternoon 

 found a fox in the plantations of Bridge of Murthel. Sauev qui pent 

 being the order of the day, reynard retreatedinto the woods of Inchwan, 

 but was speedily dislodged ; thence fled northwards across a heavy coun- 

 try, followed by the hounds at their best pace, keeping Avcst of Dcuehar, 

 through Glenquiech, to the top of the hill of Ogil, nearly six miles from 

 where he was originally found. Further pursuit being impracticable, 

 from the depth of the snow, the field reluctantly came to a resolution of 

 ' 7ioIIg prosequi.^ It being a decided case of ' no go' among the prads, 

 ' Merry John,'t fertile in expedients, instantly dismounted: that lauda- 

 ble example was followed by the whippei'-in, Jack Jones. Leaving their 



selves : the litter should be shook over, well cleaned, and partially renewed as often 

 as required. 



* Died, on Saturday, January 21, 1843, William Neverd, aged about 70, forty 

 years of which he took the field as huntsman. He commenced his career with Sir — 

 Rowley, Bart. He was afterwards with Col. Cooke, in Suffolk, living subsequently 

 with John Warde, Esq., hunting that gentleman's hounds in the Craven Country 

 (Berkshire) during eighteen seasons. He then went to Mr. Mule, in Essex, for six 

 years ; afterwards to Mr. Hall, in Somersetshire, for three years. Being out of a 

 situation he hunted Mr. Vyner's hounds for about two rxionths, when that gentleman 

 broke his leg in 1836. He subsequently went into Mr. Horlock's service, his late 

 employer, until the time of his decease, which took place at Ashwick, near Bath, the 

 seat of that gentleman. His death was accelerated by an accident he liad a short 

 time since, while hunting, and from the effects of which he never rallied. He was 

 always considered a first-rate sportsman ; his manners were unassuming, and he was 

 remarkably quiet and good-tempered in the field, civil to every person, and with a 

 nerve far going to his hounds, when necessary, that few men could boast of. 

 fJack Walker, huntsman to the Fife Hounds. 



