THE HISTORY OF THE BELVOIR HUNT 



went away from Woodwell Head again, where, only one 

 having been with hounds for three miles. Lord Forester, 

 assisted by Mr. John Woods, stopped them at half-past five. 

 Horses were left out in all parts." ^ 



These hounds always had more than their share of sport, 

 and the foxes were stout. One old fox on November 28th, 

 1847, beat hounds from Boothby to Grimsthorpe, after an 

 hour and ten minutes, of which fifty minutes were at top 

 speed. 



In 1847 difficulties of finance increased, for we have a 

 letter, dated March i6th, 1847, from Lord Forester to General 

 Reeve, in which the former again threatens resignation, as 

 the " subscription had fallen below low-water mark." On the 

 following day there is a letter from General Reeve in answer 

 to Lord Forester, expressing his regret, and saying that, as 

 he, the General, is now getting old and infirm, Lord Forester 

 should make his intention known " to some younger members 

 of the hunt." 



In 1847 we have a letter from T. Manners to General 

 Reeve, enclosing subscription-list, which is as follows : — 



Once again, however, the danger was averted, and things 

 went on as before, good sport characterising the successive 

 seasons as they passed. In the season of 1849-50, on January 

 2 1st, hunting having been stopped by snow, the fifty-eight 

 couples were out exercising when they viewed three foxes, 

 one of which they ran and killed, a pleasant little inter- 

 lude to the winter of their discontent. On February the 27th, 

 the same year, when the frost had broken, they had a remark- 

 able run. 



" Found at Staunton ; by Long Bennington, Shelton, to 



* Memoirs of the Belvoir Hounds, p. 88. ^ Reeve Papers. 



174 



