300 1887. 



the Rifle Pits again, and back to Holway and 

 to ground. Leaving Charley Fox there to dig 

 his namesake out, we went off to Crackmore, 

 and had the good fortune to kill one of a 

 happy family there without running into danger 

 ourselves ; after which most of us went home. 



February 15th. — 



At Mudford Bridge, before moving off, the 

 Master drew the field near him, and (quoting as 

 I am from memory) he spoke nearly as follows : 

 — "Gentlemen, and Ladies, — I wish to say a few 

 words to you. There is a subject which has 

 been causing me some annoyance, and has been 

 a matter of considerable thought and anxiety to 

 me, respecting the hunting, especially in the 

 North- West part of my country. And when I 

 tell you that last Tuesday I sent home, in the 

 middle of the day, six hounds more or less 

 damaged from having been ridden over, and that 

 one of them has since died, you will understand 

 what my feelings must be. I have observed 

 that whenever hounds run a fox in this, ' the 

 flying,' part of the country, the field ride like a 



