SPORT IN THE FIFTIES. 33 



fox took them from Harrow's Wood, by Madeley Mill, and 

 back to Barr Hill, thence to Hayes Sprink, through Whit- 

 more Wood and by Whitmore to Bentilee, and back through 

 Whitmore Wood and on to Hill Chorlton and Stableford, 

 and eventually lost near Maer, after a run of two hours and 

 forty minutes. On December 18th, 1854, a real, straight- 

 necked fox was found in the Harley Thorn, who took them 

 through Beech Cliff, Tittensor Common, Darlaston Wood, 

 Shallowford Gorse, over Yarlet Hill, and was eventually 

 lost, after a run of about three hours, near the Stafford 

 Asylum, owing to frost setting in. Doddington was the 

 fixture for February 16th, 1856, and on that day a fox was 

 found in Checkley Wood, who ran through Harrow's Wood, 

 Golling's Rough, Betton Moss, crossed the canal near 

 Tunstall, and, leaving Market Drayton on the left; was 

 lost near Hodnet, the distance gone over having been about 

 seventeen miles. On December 10th Mr. Davenport met 

 at Hinstock, which, together with Stoke Heath, appears to 

 have been among his regular meets. A fox which they 

 found in the plantations at Hinstock gave his pursuers a 

 two hours and thirty minutes' run to Acton Reynald, about 

 seven miles from Shrewsbury. 



The following account of a good day from Draycot is 

 from the Held of February 23rd, 1856 :— 



" Mr. Editor, — We often see an account in your paper of a run with the North 

 Warwickshire, but very rarely hear of the doings of the North Staffordshire. 

 This arises, I fancy, not from a dearth of sport with the latter, but for want of a 

 sporting chronicler who can and will be at the trouble of giving you and your 

 readers the benefit of their doings. ' With the wind at north-east and forbiddingly 

 keen,' we don't often witness a really good day's sport with foxhounds, though 

 harriers will sometimes run breast-high and frighten poor puss to death. It was 

 our good luck, however, on Wednesday last (20th) to have as good a day with 

 Mr. Davenport's pack as we usually get under the most favourable circumstances. 

 The meet was Draycot village. The wind was not only north-east, but the air 

 frosty in the extreme — so much so that many thought it useless going to the 

 meet, and others merely rode over for the exercise, scarcely expecting to find 

 the hounds there. 



''The worthy Master was first upon the ground, and in due course the 

 pack were trotted quietly up. ' Hardly fit for hunting this morning,' says 

 one. ' Play the devil with horses' legs and feet,' says another. ' Then what 

 becomes of the hounds' feet?' says a third. A shrug of the shoulders and a 

 significant shake of the head is the only response to these surmises. But all doubt 



D 



