CRESSWELL HALL MEET. 173 



NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



November 22nd, at Cresswell Hall, was the fixture of the North Staffordslure 

 Hounds, kindly aiTanged by the M.F.H. the ]\Iarquis of Stafford, for the con- 

 venience of those attending the Staffordshire County Cricket Ball, held at Stafford 

 the previous evening. A mild morning, such as we have been lately enjoying, 

 greeted us as we rode to the meet. The birds were singing, and all nature 

 seemed in a state of quiet repose. A most liberal board was prepared by the 

 owner of Cresswell, who is a staunch preserver of the Hunt. There was a large 

 meet, taking into account veliicles, horsemen, and pedestrians ; this is usually so 

 when the fixture is near a town, but fortunately it did not interfere Avith the sport. 

 The Withy Bed at the back of the Hall was the first draw, which proved 

 tenantless. The osiers on the other side of the road were then tried, when 

 Dickins viewed Reynard stealing away across an adjoining field. The hounds 

 were got on the line, but, being badly pressed by over-impatient riders, were 

 prevented from getting on good terms with him, and were consequently not able 

 to push him. He seemed to take advantage of this by not going straight. 

 However, it was anything but an unpleasant gallop ; he took us through 

 Whitgreave to Pirehill. Time, twenty-five minutes. Shallowford Gorse was 

 the next draw. There are always a few anxious moments of suspense to those 

 concerned when this covert is being drawn, as there is very little lying. But, 

 hark ! Is that a find ? There again ! There is no mistake now, 



" For every moutli was open, from the owd 'uu to the pup. 

 An' aw the pack together took the swelling chorus up." 



He broke wth his head for Whitgreave, but a too hasty halloa sent him back 

 into covert. The fear was now that they might chop him ; but another " Gone 

 away " sounded from the other end, and, although he was halloaed away, the 

 hounds were on the line of number two inside, which they did not leave, and 

 soon dislodged him also at the same end. This proved one of the sort that never 

 lose their courage and do not die without a hard struggle for life. The knowing 

 ones could see f'ora the way the beauties settled down to their work there was 

 something good in prospect, and put themselves down to business. There was 

 little need to " Pray, hold hard; '' the hounds had the best of it now, and needed 

 no assistance ; if they checked at all, they hit off the line in a moment and were 

 full swing again. We ci'ossed the farms of Messrs. W. Ball, Norton ; Darlington, 

 Cold Norton ; Weaver, Walton Heath ; Birtles, Micklow ; Harvey, Darlaston. 

 These respectable tenant farmers, together with Mr. Toon, of Green Hill, on whose 

 farm this good fox w'as found, are, to their credit be it recorded, strong supporters 

 of fox-hunting. After crossing these farms he went straight through Darlaston 

 Wood; then, leaving the Hall to the left, down to the osier bed by the river 

 Trent, and not liking to face the cold water, he again turned to the left and over 

 the road into the Drumble, and then crossing the road from Meaford to Sandeford 

 into Berry Bank, which he ran through and over the Trentham and Stone road 

 into Meaford osiers. On leaving this, he crossed the Trent by the Hunting 

 Bridge. His point now seemed to be Downs Banks. Again turning to the left, he 

 recrossed the Trent into Tittensor Chase, where he was seen creeping about dead 

 beat ; the high fern and fresh foxes protected him, and he escaped. Time, 

 forty minutes ; distance, five miles as the crow flies. Most of the field had now 

 had enough, and many went home ; but at the request of a few who had second 

 horses, Yarnfield osier bed was drawn, with the result of another thirty minutes 

 through Tittensor Chase, Trentham, into Swynnerton Old Park. This must be 



