232 THE QUORN HUNT 



however, was neither the first occasion nor the last on 

 which charges of purchasing foxes for Leicestershire 

 were preferred. 



St. Valentine's Day 1851 saw another good run after 

 meeting at Kirby Gate. A fox was soon found in Sir 

 Francis Burdett's Gorse, and while hounds were run- 

 ning him another fox jumped up and was snapped up at 

 once ; but he spoiled the run. Hounds were then taken 

 on to Ashby Pastures, where they came across what was 

 thought to be their first fox, and away he went ; but it 

 was not until the expiration of two hours and twenty 

 minutes, the pace having been fast all the way, that he 

 "was forced to yield to the superior prowess and force of 

 Sir Richard's pack in a field near Burley Wood." This 

 run was long enough and fast enough to knock up most 

 of the horses, if at least we may trust the writer of an 

 account of what took place afterwards. 



One noble lord from Leicester, rather celebrated for his red 

 face, actually rode his horse to death by the time they reached 

 Cold Overton Wood, a most cruel act in any circumstance. In a 

 few moments another, the property of a gallant captain from the 

 same town, dropped and died; while several others were so much 

 exhausted as to be obliged to be left at barns or farmhouses for 

 the night. The scene on the road home between Oakham and 

 Melton will not soon be forgotten, for here was a game squire 

 flogging his noble animal before him ; next was a noble lord riding 

 behind Mr. L. (i.e. on Mr. L.'s horse), because he had blown his 

 own horse, left him behind, and, worse than all, got his leather 

 breeches so wet that he could not move one leg before the other. 



in London during the season, and at one of these dinners Mr. Maberley, a 

 M.F.H. of the time, was "sat upon" by some of his brother masters for 

 having turned down bought foxes in his country. In no wise abashed, 

 Mr. Maberley, quietly rising to his feet, said, " If all the masters of hounds 

 will agree not to purchase a fox, I will gladly put my name at the top of the 

 list ; but so long as it is the universal practice to purchase foxes, I am neces- 

 sarily compelled to do the same, and I do not hesitate to declare that I will 

 purchase in the best market I possibly can, whatever may be the part of the 

 island.^ Neither then nor at any subsequent period does any attempt 

 appear to have been made to confute the speaker's statements. 



