THE RULE OF Mr. GEORGE LANE FOX. 



57 



huiitino run, of which Mr. Fox speaks with the (,freatest 

 enthusiasm, as well he mio-ht : — 



'February 12th. Bishop Woods. Found in the middle of the 

 ' wood ; went away near Jackson's, through Lawn and 

 ' Paradise Woods to within a field or two of the river ; 

 ' turned to the left across Ulleskelf Common, leaving the 

 ' railroad and windmill on the right, by Church Fenton 

 ' village, back to Bishop Woods ; through the wood, out 

 ' at Scalmer, over the dam opposite Hamilton's, through 

 ' Brayton Barff, across the canal. Through Byrne Whin 

 ' to Staines Wood, gave him a turn in the wood, forced 

 ' him out, and killed in a field between the wood and the 

 ' river. Two hours and ten minutes, a first-rate performance.' 



The season ended at the Cross Roads, Bramham Moor, 

 on March 29th ; but there was no sport worth recording, 

 scent being very bad. There was, however, a capital show 

 of foxes, as they found at Becca, Parlington, Hook Moor, 

 and Patefield ; a capital show for the last day, which is 

 worth referring to as showing how they preserved foxes in 

 the early fifties. 



Though Mr. Fox was busily engaged at home with his 

 own hounds, he found time to visit the packs of his 

 neighbours ; and during the season in question he had a 

 day or two with the Badsworth, as well as with the York 

 and Ainsty. He also paid a visit to Sir Tatton Sykes, who 

 then hunted the country over which Lord Middleton now 

 presides. It was on March 5th that Mr. Fox paid his visit 

 to Sir Tatton's hounds, and at this time old Tom Carter, 

 who, it is said, could n(jt or would not blow a horn, was his 

 huntsman. Carter was getting into years, and Sir Tatton 

 Sykes was then fast approaching his eightieth year. Where 

 hounds met, Mr. Fox does not say ; but I have heard the 

 tale told that Sir Tatton rode up to the fixture, gave his 

 h(jrsc for some one to hold, and went into the farmhouse. 



