THE FIELD 
February 4.] 
99 
THE ROAD TO THE MEET. 
[Suggested by the Sketch in lost week's “Field," p- 84.] 
Oh goily rides young Spoonington upon bis gallunt stood, 
For ho bos gone to hunt the fox o’er hill nnd dalo and mead; 
With buckskins white and buttons bright, and bran-new tops to 
meet, 
And with collar round his ears he rides still' as statue in his seat. 
But lie must fly some hedges high and duckweedy ditches deep, 
And woo betide young Spoonington if he can't keep his seat; 
For nothing is so great a sell, and that right well I know, 
As when your horse won't jump a ditch, and head first in you go. 
But though goodnatur'd folks will lough, it's anything but nice, 
To be three foot deep in duckweed and feel ns cold ns ice; 
And when you scruinble out again to stride the pig-skin clean, 
You feel you must to others look extraordinary green. 
Chelmsford. U- M. B. 
A sn.ENDiD Run with Captain West’s Stag 
Hounds.— On the day following the Westbury Steeple- 
chases, numely Thursday, a fine hind was uncarted on 
Westbury Downs, which immediately went away for Brat- 
ton Custle, followed by u goodly spriukllng of the right sort; 
from theuce a long rattling chase was giveu him on the 
downs towards Mr. Lush's farm; leaving this to the left, 
he made for the clump of firs adjoining the limekilns, 
whence he was speedily dislodged; he then crossed the 
Upton Scudamore road into some arable lands adjoining, 
then over the railroad into the Church fields, und there 
we are sorry to have to record an accident which hap- 
pened to a valuable mare belonging to Captain West, 
which was ridden on the occasion by one of the field. In 
leaping a fence the mare alighted on some broken ware, which 
had incautiously been placed on the other 6ide ; the con- 
sequence was a severe cut on the fetlock, which entirely 
disabled her. 
The Eddlethorpb Hunt. — Mr. Carter’s Testi- 
monial. — The presentation of a very handsome testimonial 
to Mr. Carter, of Eddlcthorpe.on his retirement from along 
connection with Sir Tatton Sykes’, now Mr. Willoughby’s 
hunt, took place at the Talbot Hotel, Malton, on Tuesday 
week. There was a dinner on the occasion, which was pre- 
sided over by Robert Bowert, Esq., of Welham. There were 
also, among the company present, E. C. Taylor, Esq., 
(Kirkham,) Captain Taylor, the Rev. E. Day, and Messrs. 
Carter, Hurtley, Taylor, Brand, Rose, &c. After the com- 
pany had partaken of the very excellent repast, the chair- 
man gave the usual loyal toasts. The chairman then pro- 
ceeded to present the testimonial. He observed that the 
performance of the office which had devolved upon him on 
the present occasion excited in his breast emotions of pleasure 
mingled with those of regret. On the one hand it afforded 
him the highest satisfaction to see that Mr. Carter’s 
friends had come forward to present him with so substantial 
u testimonial of the high estimation which they entertained 
of his character and worth. On the other hand, it was a 
matter of regret to him that the cause of their meeting to- 
gether that day was his retirement from the position he had 
so long and faithfully fulfilled, in connection with Sir Tatton 
Sykes’ fox-hounds. After some further remarks of a 
eulogistic character, Mr. Bower presented to Mr. Carter the 
testimonial, a very handsome silver tea-service, comprising 
coffee and tea-pot, sugar basin, and cream-ewer. All the 
articles were elegantly chased, and the sugar basin and 
cream-ewer lined with gilt. On each piece of the service was 
beautifully engraved a fox in full chase, there being inscribed 
over it the word “ Tally-Ho !” and underneath the letter C. 
The whole was contained in an oak box, which has a plate on 
the lid, bearing the following inscription : — “This tea service 
was presented to Thomas Curler, late huntsman to Sir Tatton 
Sykes' fox-hounds, on his retirement, after a faithful service 
of nearly half a century, by his friends and admirers. January, 
1854. ” Mr. Carter, in reply, expressed his sincere thanks to 
his numerous friends for this very elegant present, as a mark 
of their e>timation of his long and faithful services in the 
hunting field. He did not know that he had done more 
Jliun his duty, which was only what every one ought to do. 
Asrcgurded the period of time during which he had hunted 
the puck of hounds in question, it might not be known to 
all the subscribers to this handsome testimonial. He might 
state, therefore, on an occasion like the present, that he 
came into this county in 1804, to serve the late Sir Murk 
Musterman Sykes, and from that time he had continued 
to hunt with the same hounds, as whip und huntsman, to 
tho end of the hist season, being within one season of 50 
years. He should have liked very much to complete the 
fiftieth year, but his health would not permit. Mr. Carter 
expressed his sense of the honour now conferred upon him, 
by the uhsent subscribers to tho testimonial, as well as those 
present, und un earnest hope that this substantial memento 
of their appreciation of him would be handed down unsullied 
for ages to come. The health of Sir Tatton Sykes, the 
Chairman, ami H. Willoughby, Esq., the present master of 
the hunt, were afterwards proposed and drunk with much 
cordiulity, and the company shortly afterwards separated. 
Tho pinto was furnished from the establishment at York of 
Mr. Barber. — York Gazette. 
Monmouthshire Hounds. — On Saturday, tho Mon- 
mouthshire Hounds met lit Llansaintfrued. In u short time 
they found, in Quarter-Marsh Wood, near Clytha, when 
master reynard went away at a slashing pace. Tho scent 
lying good, the dogs being light on foot, and the scurlets 
well mounted, the cunning fox was closely followed for two 
hours without a check, was run into and killed near the 
Onion. This appears to be nearly as good a run as has 
taken place this* season, and it did not finish without several 
summersaults taking place, but, wo are happy to add, with 
no serious result. — Monmouthshire Beacon. 
Rom set. — The sudden death of Joseph White, Esq., of 
Amp field, neur this town, excited a deep feeling of regret 
here, where, as also we believe in bis own immediate neigh- 
bourhood, he was greatly respected for his many good 
qualities. It is well known how thoroughly he enjoyed the 
“ hunt,” and how stoutly he upheld that of Hursley. It was 
on his return from the field on Monday last, that, when near 
Stiindon gate, ho was seen to fall from his horse, and he hud 
expired before those who saw him could reach the spot. It 
is grateful to think that his last act as a guardian of the poor 
was a humane one ; Indeed, to act humanely was natural to 
this worthy man, whose loss will be great to the poor who 
lived around him. An inquest was hold on the body of 
the deceased gentleman the following evening, before Mr. 
Todd, one of tho county coroners, and a most respectable 
jury, consisting of friends and neighbours of the deceased, 
when a verdict was returned of “ natural death lrom 
apoplexy ; ” and tho remains were shortly afterwards re- 
moved to Ampfleld. The decoased was 63 years of age, 
and universally respected by rich and poor. — ■Salisbury 
Journal. 
The South Devon Fox Hounds. — (From Trewman’s 
Exeter Flying Post.) — Sir, — Next to following the hounds 
through a good run und being well up at tho finish, I know 
nothing which affords more pleasure to the real lovers of the 
chase than to read an account of u good run on paper. I 
am uow about, therefore, to attempt a description of a 
rather extraordinary day’s sport with the South Devon Fox 
Hounds on Monday last, when the meet was*at Powderham 
Arch. The extensive covers at Powderham were first drawn 
blank : a similar result attendod Warborough, Kenton Com- 
mons, — Mamhead covers however produced a find ; but, 
shocking to relate, it was only to run into a fox caught in 
a gin. The field, which before this were getting rutlier 
out of temper for want of sport, now gave vent to their 
feelings by grumbling with everybody und thing — fox destroy- 
ing luDded proprietors more especially. I would however 
observe, that I do not for one instant believe the worthy 
baronet of Mamhead ranks amongst that class ; and, although 
this fox was unfortunately found running about with agin on 
his fore leg in his covers, yet he may have come some dis- 
tance, or, at all events, from a neighbour’s covers. It was 
now nearly 2 p.m., — a grumbling field, and ruining hard and 
fast, when Churchward, the huntsman, began to draw what is 
termed the hang of Haldon (at the hack of Oxton) ; here 
the hounds quickly got on the line of a moved fox, — they 
picked along the scent slowly at first, pointing for the round 
0 plantation, not far from which the fox was tallied by F. 
Short, Esq., of Bickbam (a true friend to fox-hunting). From 
this point the run may be said to have commenced, for, after 
skirting the back part of Bickham covers, ho turned his nose 
towards the round O, through which the hounds rattled him 
at a quick pace ; but two foxes were now on foot. The 
hunted fox, with about nine couple of hounds, crossed the 
Plymouth turnpike road, some way below the race stand, 
thenceover the down, as if rauking for the Belvidereon Huldon; 
but, sinkiug the hill to the right into the enclosed lands, 
across Hannaford and Holloway farms, thence through Hill 
farm, to the pond at Haldon-house, in the covers around 
which he hung for soino little time. Now a word about the 
field and the remainder of the pack. Up to tho point the 
pack divided, the field, about twenty or thirty, were all well 
together : here, however, “ a change came o'er the scene.” 
The huntsman went away by himself after the fresh fox to 
whip off ; but with a “ southerly wind and a cloudy sky,” 
such as we had that day, ’twas easier said than done, for they 
raced their fox through Bickham and Treyhill covers, by 
Kenn, and through Powderham plantations into a drain, 
from which he was served with a notice to quit by “ Bolter,” 
the terrier ; and, after going a short distance, was pulled 
down, the huntsman alone being present to do the needful. 
1 must now “ hark back” to the point at which I digressed, 
to say something about the field. Eight good men and 
true went straight to the other part of the park (how the 
remainder disposed of themselves I must leavo the well- 
known limb of the low to account for ; but I have no 
doubt he can give satisfactory reasons for his absence, 
from the usual position he holds when a good thing does 
come off). Up to the pound all went “ merrily as mar- 
riage bells ;’’ however, in crossing the Kenn brook, by 
the laurels near the carriage-road to Haldon-house, some 
few got into “ grief;" but all was soon right again. The 
hounds were now going up some steep fields on Yeo’s farm, 
pointing for Clapham hill : there a small check occurred ; 
but Fretful hit it off across the old Plymouth road into Mr. 
Lear’s farm at Shillingford ; thence through Shillingford 
plantation into the Peumore covers. Here the fox was 
headed back, and going again through Shillingford covers, he 
turned out over “’Squire” Wippell’s farm, at Brenton; 
thence again making for the Peamore plantations, flattering 
himself, doubtlessly, that his troubles were nearly over, and 
that be had reached the long wished-for Poamore earths at 
last. Thanks, however, to the sporting 6on of the “ 'Squire 
of Peamoro,” who had anticipated Churlie’s visit by huving 
the earth well stopped over-night, and being in the foremost 
fight — his usual place oti such occasions — he had now the 
satisfaction of seeing Mr. Fox baulked, and the hounds rattle 
him through tho remainder of the covers at a great pace, 
passing close by Peamore bouse in the lawn, in the frout of 
which he was tallied by one of the field. “ Forward, on, 
on,” was now the cry ; and with Fretful, Rattler, Waggish, 
and Rosslyn leading, they crossed the Plymouth turnpike- 
road at that place, away to Little Silver covers, on to 
Pearce’s hill, running parallel with the Exminster lane down 
nearly to tho town, going at the back of the village by the 
furmyard of Mr. VV. Burrington, where, by the bye, there 
is strong suspicion that Mr. Charlie could have given 
Mr. B. some information touching certain turkeys, 
ducks, &c., which have disappeared of late ; but 
“ Forward, forward,” was aguiu the cry : no time to 
stop and gossip on the road. The pace from Peamore to this, 
which had been severe, now became tremendous, and the 
field of eight, who up to this time bad shared in each other’s 
pleasures and misfortunes, uow becamo sadly divided, not 
in opinion, but in distance. After crossing the smull valley 
at the bottom of Exminster town, he went up some lurge 
fullow-fields (Oh, bellows to mend!), then across Crablake 
Farm, as if pointing for Powderham covers (the death- place 
of his companion of the morn); but lie was forced too hard, 
and turned to the right through No Man’s Land plantation, 
(although Mr. Kekewich claims it ns his own), into Messrs. 
Soper’s and Rowe’s farms, crossing the lane into a plantation 
belonging to Sir L. V. Palk, Bart. Here the fox, hounds, 
and field (now reduced to one !) had a gland scramble ; but 
Reynard slipped over the hedge dead beut, across some Holds 
of Mr. Bndcock’s, in Kenn, and in a steop field close at the 
back of Ivennford village the hounds ran into him in the 
open, and turned over as fino a dog greyhound fox as ever 
wus 6een. Considering the small number of hounds (seven 
couple up at the finish), and having no huntsman, I think 
those who know thecouutry will admit this was a “ clipping 
.run;” and, added to the huntsman also killing bis fox, it 
well deserves to be called an extraordinary day’s sport. My 
only regret is that the worthy master, Mr. Wbidborne, was 
not out to enjoy it, and that my seven companions in the run 
who went so well up to within so short a period of the finish 
were not present to join in the wo’ whoop given by Mr. Editor, 
The Only Own who Saw the Find and Finish. 
Albrighton Fox Hounds. — We hear that these hounds 
had brilliant sport the three days last week, but feel 
sorry we are not able to give particulars. 
Mr. Trow’s Harriers. — Met on Tuesday at Harbrough 
fomul immediately one of the best sort, as the run 
will show. She went away in gallant style down the hill 
through Mr. Fowler’s spinnov, swam the pool, thence 
over Broom, doubled hack toThicknall, over Mr. Piatt’s 
farm and on to the Field house, over the Park, thence to 
Mr 1 ear-nans, Holly Cross, crossed his ,farni, ou over 
Holly Cross lane, straight for the Yew-tree; hero she 
crossed the Bromsgrovo turnpike road, and made for 
Wharton lull, running over the lands of Miss Durant, 
Mr. Hammond and Moor hall, doubled buck to the Yew- 
tree, where she was run into and saved after a good hour 
and twenty minutes. We then returned through the Clint 
to the Field house (but I should not forget to mention 
the hospitality of Thos. Amphlett, Esq., of Qdnall cottuge, 
who kiudly invited all the field to luncheon, aiul a hearty 
welcome he gave them). We soon found another hare 
who gave us twenty minutes, racing pace,— a check not 
before we wanted it, hit her off again, and run into her 
Thus ended as good a day’s sport any man could wish for* 
The Brighton Harriers.— The pack met on Saturday 
at the Dyke. The morning was very foggy and unpleasant ; 
and, consequently, there was a small field. Found the first 
hare at Portslade, making away for New England, New 
Burn, Hongleton, turned to the right for North House, 
Cock-a-Roost, White Lot, headed back to tho Roost, and 
was killed. The weather theu clearing up, they drew to- 
wards Wuter Hall, where they found a gallant hare, going 
away at a score for the Dencher Furse, to the Dowu Field, 
turned to tho left for the Limekiln Edge, Knight’s Ruils’, 
Water Hall. Greandean, headed back pust the Cottage to 
the top of Pateham Bosthill, running the road to the tunnel 
over the Cony Hill to the villaee, through the BrumlJlain^l, , 
to Withdean, when she crossed the London line, through 
the Plantation to the Half-way House, Tongdean Plantations, 
to Toad’s Hole, when she turned to tho right for tho Djke 
Road, dipping Water Hall, again for High Doole, where 
she run from scent to view, and killed in Greandean, after 
an exceedingly good run of one hour and ten minutes, with 
only one check of about two minutes at tho railroad at 
Withdean. Met ou Monday, at Batchum. The morning 
was tolerably fine ; but, unfortunately, the fog, which bus 
been so prevalent of late, came on about twelve, which 
proved a great damper to the sport. Found soon after 
throwing off in Deep Bottom, and, after running about 
twenty minutes, killed in Pangdean Holt. Drew then to a 
shepherd’s hare, in Ewe Bottom, making for Staudenn, 
Deep Bottom, headed short back, takiug the road for 
Keymer Hill, nearly to Clayton Windmill, where she mado 
another short head for Ditching Front Hill, going below to 
the Hurst Road, turned to the left fir the Slype, on to the 
Whiteland’s Barn, and was killed in Clayton Holt.— Brighton 
Gazette. 
%* Secretaries will oblige us by forwarding as early as 
possible the dates, tfC. of all coursiny meetings. 
Eri,e Stoke Coursing Meeting. — Lord Broughton, 
near whose residence and on whose preserves the above meet 
occurs, if a strict preserver of gume, is yet so from a down- 
right love of sport. His lordship keeps a smull pack of 
beagles, is a good shot, and has no objection to a canter with 
the long dogs ; in fact, strong bodily exercise, under all cir- 
cumstances of wind and weather, he delights in ; and to show 
his goodwill towards thoso who Imve tho same relish, there 
are occasional “ open days,” when all who keep greyhounds 
are ut liberty to bring them, and a keeper or other official 
slips them as opportunity occurs, und usually tho only bar 
to a good day's sport is a superabundance of hures. The 
meet on Friday week was unfortunate ; the wind, which wiis 
blowing in keen gusts below, proved a perfect liurricuno on 
the hills, and it was only here and there, near the shelter of 
the plantations, that a hure could be found; and even when, 
from one cause or another, puss was preveulcd from plunging 
immediately amongst the shrubs and took in 6heer despera- 
tion to the open, seeing the run wus out of the question ; for 
unless a man “ bonnetted” himself, and rode with the crown 
in a line with the horizon, his hat and he were speedily in 
opposite directions. This, however, proved the main fun of 
the day, and if there wus not much sporting, there was yet 
con siderable sport, especially when wide-awake Jim Crow 
and the geauino Olipheunt got well oft’ together, vied with 
each other in speed, and trundled away like hoops on a 
holiday, until some friendly gorse bush or stunted shrub 
interposed and brought them to a check, and once more to 
the custody of their rightful owner. Gradually, as tho (Jay 
wore on, tnen und horses disappeared, uud the plucky ones, 
who to tho last braved the cold and wind, were loft to rejoice 
in the appetites tlioy had earned, and the hearty welcome 
which awaited them in the vule below. 
Currant Jelly. 
SOUTH LANCASHIRE OPEN COU USING MEETING. 
SorrnronT, Jan. 25tb, 2Gtb, and 27th. 
By permission anil on the manors of tho Rev. Charles Hesketh, 
and Charles Searlsbrlck, Esq. 
Stewards Messrs Moore, Peacock, Lloyd Thomas, Carr, and Hunt. 
Flag Steward Mr. Sinter. Judge : -Mr. A. Bennett. 
Slipper Mr. John Tomlinson. 
Last week we wore able to give only the partial results of this 
important meeting, but wo now add the full details of the 
running. Tho return sent to us was marked wrong in the 
Crossens Stakes, Lndylibo being mude to beat Pioneer, whereas 
it should have been just the reverse. Inspitoof tho unsettled 
state of the weather, the attendance was numerous each day, 
and hares both plentiful and strong. Mr. Bennett’s decisions 
gave the greatest satisfaction. 
Tits Scaiusbrick Ccp. 
Mr. Twlsadoy's fd Navigator beat Mr. Bowman's f d West Country 
Lad 
Mr. Gibbon's names fd Edwin bent Mr. Elliott's bk and w bk b Squib 
Mr. Ellwood s bk und w d Emperor beat Mr. Chadwick's bk nnd >v b 
Mr. Coate's bk and w tk b Restless beat Mr. Polnton names bk d 
Crusader 
Mr. Hobson’s \v and r b Hebe beat Mr. Moore's r b Marigold 
Mr. Tyrcr's be and w b Crucifix bout Mr. Taylor's be b Blucllght 
Mr. Dunn's bk d Gipsy King beat Mr. Buke's r d Zurich 
Mr. Cunningham's w and r d Kingfisher beat Mr. Thomas's bk b 
Swallow VT *> 
Mr. Moore's bk and w b Mary of Argylo bent Mr. Spinks’s be and 
Saucy Nancy (Into Nancy) 
