36 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



back by Stone Park, tbrougb Cotwcalton Drurables to Spot Gate ; tlien through 

 the top end of Moddershall Oaks and Stallington, leaving Fulford on the left, ran 

 to Draycot, through the Hose Wood, New Close Sprink, and the Gorse, pointing 

 for Birchwood Park up to Leigh Station, near which they ran into him after cross- 

 ing nearly forty miles of country within five and a half hours. Every horse and 

 man being completely beat, the hounds had him to themselves for some short 

 time, during which some countryman coolly cut off his brush and bolted. None 

 but the few who were best mounted could possibly show up at the last, and 

 although a large field at the start, the numbers were reduced to about half a 

 dozen, amongst whom we noticed the gallant Master, Mr. Davenport, and his son. 

 The latter, though young in years, showed that he was of the right material, 

 and bids well to sustain the celebrity of his sire. Colonel Coote Buller, Mr. 

 Walter Coyney, and the second whip were amongst the few. Miss Davenport 

 rode to the tail of the hounds, and long after many a veteran sportsman was 

 laid low was she to be seen in the front rank. Such was the inherent pluck 

 of Mr. Davenport and his son, that for the last few fields they left tlieir wearied 

 horses and ran in to the finish." 



From the Derbyshire Advertiser, January, 1858 : 



" The North Staffordshire Foxhoimds, which a correspondent informs us have 

 had some excellent sport up to the present time, paid an unexpected visit to 

 Derbyshire on Friday last. 



" The meet was Croxden Abbey, and the frost had broken up so abruptly 

 that few were prepared for the occasion, or, rather, hardly expected there would 

 1)6 ' a meet,' and the consequence was that only half a score gentlemen of the 

 immediate neighbourhood turned up to enjoy one of the prettiest things of the 

 season. 



" The generous hospitality so proverbial about Croxden having been freely 

 discussed and fully appreciated, a move was made for the covers lying south of 

 the old Abbey, and in ' Chipperlee ' the ' varmint ' was found at home, but soon 

 broke away towards Pointhorn and ran close up to the village of Alton, where he 

 probably heard a whisper about the unsettled state of things at the present time, 

 for, making a turn, he set his head for the Dove Valley, and, crossing the Churnet 

 and Dove below Woodseat, crossed the meadows for Eaton Woods, which he 

 passed right through, and went for Somersal, the pace at times being quite fast 

 enough to be agreeable, and at others slow but sure. At one time it seemed 

 that Cubley Gorse or Sudbury Coppice was his point ; but, his ideas getting rather 

 confused, he ran round towards Doveridge, and once more took us into the Dove 

 meadows, and, crossing the Dove again, set his head right for the Forest Banks, 

 and thence to Bagot's Park, where the gallant pack were whipped off with a fair 

 prospect before them of picking up their game. Although the company was 

 more select than numerous, they were all of the right sort, and rode at times with 

 more pluck than judgment, for one of the party, in his determination to be with 

 the hounds, swam the river Dove in preference to going out of his line to a more 

 fordable part. Mr. Davenport seemed vastly pleased with the manner in which 

 the hounds did their work, and was heard to say that he should visit this side of 

 the country more frequently." 



From the Staffordshire Advertiser, February 28th, 

 1859 : 



