SEASON 1897-98. 219 



the open, but not much in covert. Hounds ran fast at tunes. This was the best 

 (lay we ever had from Whitmore. 



" November 26(h. Eccleshall. —Found in Wincotc Wood. Had a nice hunt 

 nearly to Eanton ; then bore round to the right, and beat us near Loynton Hall. 

 Found two brace at Sugnall Osiers. Hounds rattled one about the covert and 

 killed him. After we broke him up, put the hounds on the line of one that had 

 gone away, and hunted him by the Brickyard Covert and to Brocton, where he 

 beat us. It is a pity the wire is used so much in this part, for it is a nice huntini,^ 

 coimtry, and plenty of foxes in it. 



" December GtJi. Woore.—Voxmd in the Canriddon. Beat us at Hankin Hayes. 

 When going to draw Dorringtou Woods, a fox jumped up. Hunted him by 

 Woore Hall to the Canridden and Harrow's W^ood. Killed him in the New Gorse ; 

 he got over the wire and could not get out. Drew Three Brooks blank. Found 

 in the Mill Hay. Had a nice hunt round by Mill Green, Admiral's Gorse, and 

 Three Brooks to Buerton Gorse, and beat us. Were going to draw Bellaport, but 

 a storm came on, so gave it up. After a very wet night the ground was very 

 slippery. There were several falls. Mr. Vaughan Williams's horse broke its 

 back. A very bad scent. 



" December 8th. Stoke-by -Stone. — Found three foxes in Hardiwick Heath. 

 Had a turn round the covert, then went out on the Sandon side ; came >)ack by 

 the Woodman's house, tlien over to Orange Hayes, Lodge Plantation, the 

 Drumble, by Peatshill AVood to Moddershall Oaks. Had a wide ring about there ; 

 then went over the hill by Knenhall to Kibblestone, and ran him to ground in 

 Oulton Rocks. Found again on Downs Banks. Had another good run by Bartwell 

 and Knenhall to Moddershall Oaks, through it nearly to Spot Gorse, turned short, 

 back through the Nurseries, Stallington Heath, by Stallington Hall, and ran him to 

 ground in the Warren. A very good day ; a good scenting day. Two good runs. 

 '•^December 15th, 1897. Stallington Hall. — Drew the Sprinks blank. Found 

 in Hose Wood. Ran fast by Cresswell Station ; beat us near Blythe Bridge. 

 Drew Stallington Gorse blank. Found in Black Lake. Had three wide rings 

 round the Stallington country, and stopped the hounds in Moddershall Oaks. Our 

 horses were all done up ; very hard day. Rather a stormy morning, but cleared 

 up later. We had one of the best days that has been for a long time on that side. 

 Hounds were hard at work all day. Horees had enough when I stopped the 

 hounds at Moddershall. 



'^December 20th, 1897. Macklestone. — Found a brace of foxes at Bellaport. 

 Had a nice himt with one by Norton and Woore to Betton Moss, and stopped the 

 hounds at Brownhills. Found in GoUing's Rough. Ran very fast up wind to 

 Bellaport, where he got to ground. Another fox went away at the same time. 

 Hunted him by Dorrington Old Hall, the Canridden, Hankin Hayes, and stopped 

 the hounds near the Glades Wood. Drew Adderley Gorse blank. Found in the 

 Belt. Ran fast to Buerton Gorse, where there were three foxes on foot. Onr 

 Imnted fox went on. The hounds killed a fresh one. ;" A good day. A very cold, 

 raw day. Hounds could race up wind and hunt down wind. 



" December 27th, 1897. Nor ton-in- Hales. — Found in the osier-bed at Oakley, 

 Had a good gallop by Bellaport and the Canridden, and killed him in the Harrow's 

 Wood. Drew the Glades blank. Found in the next little covert. Had a good 

 gallop by Golling's Rough, Buerton Gorse, and Bellaport, and killed him on the 

 roadside between Bearaton and Norton-in-Hales. Drew the Betton coverts blank. 

 Found in the laurels at Oakley Hall. Ran him to ground two fields away. A 

 very sudden thaw set in on Sunday (2Gth), which was very welcome. There was 

 a good scent. Hounds ran fast from find to finish. His Grace hunted the hounds. 



