The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-12 00:00:00

THE MELTON HUNT.

We have got through the first month in the new
year, and father Time still keeps ringing his
changes in the weather in a most extraordinary
manner, and amongst all the changes we have bad
those of the past week are certainly not the least
remarkable.

Friday opened fine with a stiff breeze on, but
mild and to all appearance a nice hunting morning,
consequently there was a good muster at Baggrave
to meet the Quorn, the first time they have met
there since it has been in the occupation of W. S.
Crawford, Esq., who is dispensing the hospitalities
of the season on the usually liberal scale. A more
thorough sportsman does not exist, and Leicester-
shire has for many years held first claim in his
time during the hunting season. Baggrave is well
situated for covers, and it was hardly expected that
Barleby Ilolt would be the first venture, but so it
proved, and gave them a fox which ran well at
starting, but not very straight, and by a series of
rings spoilt what might have b_en a good thing
After going for about twenty minutes they lost
their fox, and the game was up for the day, for
after waiting at Cream Gorse for more than an
hour trying to get a fox away they failed, and a
similar ditileu!ty met them at the other coverts near
there, the last order being given iu the afternoon
for Gartree Hill, which proved blank, and sent the
hounds home. The breeze of the morning proved
the precursor of the gale which set in with shades
of evening, and made dwellers in towns keep the
middle of the street in passing about, for the winds
held high revel amongst the chimney pots, and slates
flew about like paper in all directions. Worst of
all with daylight no lull came, but the storm of
wind sooner increased in violence, so that it seemed
perfectly useless to attempt hunting. Neverthe-
less, a goodly party left Melton to meet Mr. Tailby
at Burrough, which is, perhaps, the bleakest spot on
this side the county. Luckily, the rain fell but
lightly, and only at intervals ; but such a breezer
has seldom been felt, it was almost enough to
blow one clean out of one's saddle. But hounds
were there, and so along the top to the Punch
Bowl, where a fox was soon on the move, but went
away with evident reluctance. After working back
and finding another with which they could do no
good, it became evident that sport was out of the
huestion, and although Mr. T. gave the word for
Owston Wood, nearly all the Melton contingent
turned for home at the time the gale had reached
its culminating point, and when it was extremely
difficult to solve the problem of gravitation, the
heavy weights having decidedly the best of it. With
the sinking of the sun came a lull, which was most
acceptable after one of the longest and roughest
gales ever remembered in the Shires. Monday was
a Quorn meet at Widmerpool, and the Curate's
gorse gave them a fox, which went to ground
almost directly-, and leaving some men to dig him
out, the hounds were taken on to the Parson's
Gorse, but drew it blank, so back to the Curate's
to ascertain the effect of the excavation, when it
was found that Reynard was all right in a bag, so
they took him on to Broughton and turned him
out, when he made for the vale, and hounds getting
on it looked like being a run, but before the Smite
was reached they were at fault. They were, how-
ever, cast forward, and several thinking he had
crossed the river charged it, a few, as usual,
eoming to grief, amongst whom was a gentleman
in black, well known with the Quorn, who always
goes well. His horse failed to clear the water, and
came back upon him, but although it was an awk-
ward fall, the loss of a few ivories was the extent
of the damage, beyond a severe shaking ; and if he
did not clear the Smite, he will have the pleasing
recollection that he rode at it, as only those with
plenty of pluck ever attempt it. In the meantime
it was found that they had overrun their fox, and
on trying back discovered that he had again gone
to ground, so another hour was spent in digging
out, and as may be expected no more good was done
with this determined grounder. Late in the .day
they came on up to Grimstone Gorse, but did not
find, and thus ended a middlicg day.
Wednesday, a Stonesby meet of the Duke's again
drew together a large field. There was a stiff wes-
terly wind, one which did not augur well for sport
—the going was, however, all that could be desired,
the ground having got nicely settled since the rain,
and the turf was never more elastic and springy.
The road to the meet was quite lively, and looked
more like old times than it has on any day this
season. Sson after eleven o'clock we moved off to
Newman's Gorse for the first draw, and hounds
soon warned us to prepare for a burst. The breeze
had stiffened during the last hour, and looked almost
a dead certainty that a fox must run down wind ;
and so it proved, for in a very few minutes a brace
came away beautifully, one about fifty yards behind
the other, but following in exactly the same line. A
ringing view holla brought down Cooper, and we
soon had the satisfaction of hearing the pack strike
up that glorious music which thrills alike through
man and horse, and at it we went tugging away up
for the lane, crossing it and going straight over for
Stonesby Gorse. Before reaching it, however, the
hounds felt the effect of the breeze as far as scent is
concerned, for they began to feather about evi-
dently at fault. Cooper, however, lifted them on to
the gorse, and here we had a check of a few minutes
when a fox went away well for the village, bearing
down to the right of it partly towards SproxtonThorns,
but he turned short under the Brickyard, crossed
the town street, and ran round the back of the vil-
lage straight across to Bescaby Oaks, a likely place
to change foxes, but 1 hardly think they did, for
whilst the majority of the field were waiting outside
the Oaks, unable to hear anything for the wind,
Cooper got away on the bottom side with a select
few, and when it came to our knowledge he was
out of sight, having crossed over to the top end of
the park, by the time we reached which he was
working down for the valley, near to the coach road
leading to the Castle, which stood out nobly in
front of us. It was a splendid sight to see hounds
and those few lucky ones scudding across the large
grass fields in front of us, with the princely resi-
dence of the noble owner of the pack as a back
ground to the picture, but a glimpse was all that
could be spared ; it was evident only a slice of luck
could let us up again, and thanks to the fox this
occurred, for after getting as far as Croxton
Banks he took a turn to the right, ran up the hill
over by Croxton village, at back of the Church,
across the turnpike, and straight along the Heath
to Hering's Gorse, where he found refuge, and this
time let up the outsiders. It was a nice hunting
run, the best part of which was after leaving the
Oaks.

A ringing run from the gorse followed, after
which they went down to the Swallow holes, found
directly, and had a splendid burst of 18 minutes up
to Sproxton Thorns, going, to use the words of a
sporting friend, " as hard as they could lick," which
they did and no mistake, as the distance from point
to point is quite enough to do in 18 minutes at
any time. The fox, however, was staunch, and
reached the covert first, and at the end
of this good thing many cried " enough,"
and turned homewards, after a very fair day's
sport. We are now pretty fall, and no doubt, wea-
ther permitting, shall continue so to the end of the
season. Amongst our latest arrivals are Captain
Machell, Mr. and Lady de VO3IIIC, Sir Francis and
Lady Grant, and Sir Henry Hoare. Craven Lodge,
which was purchased last year by Mr. Padwick, has
again changed hands, and become the property of
Sir Robert Hay, who will reside here. By some
means or other the Quorn fixtures were not adver-
tised last week, either in local or sporting papers,
and considerable inconvenience was caused to coun-
try residents by the omission ; but no dobut it was
one of those accidents which will happen. It is,
however, only fair to allow farmers and those whose
lands we ride over to know the whereabouts of the
hounds, so that, if hunting men, they caa partici-
pate in the enjoyment, and, if not, they may, at
each special district likely to be visited, have an eye
to the sheep, and look after the gates.—" Nimrod "
in Leicester Journal.

GUN ACCIDENT.—As a labourer, named William
Carter, 66 years of ago, was on Friday engaged at Chuhn-
leigh, Devon, attaching a horse to a cart, the reins caught
the barrel of a gun which was placed against a wall, and
an explosion occurrod. The unfortuuato old man was
fstolly injured.

SPORTING INTEL LIC=ENCE—This Day.

BIRMINGHAM RACES—THIs DAY.
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
LICENSED VICTUALLERS' PLATE.
The Licensed Victuallers' Plato of 50 sovs ; winners after
Feb. 5 at noon, 71b extra. About two miles and a
half.

Itighflyer
Miss Dodson
Coverdalo

Nine ran.
The Doctor was scratched at 11.15.
FARMERS' STEEPLECHASE.
Tho Farmers' Steeplechase Stakes of 3 soya each, with 25
added; four year clds lOst 71b, five llst 71b, six 12st 11b,
aged 12st 51b. About three miles.
Colonel
Black Swan
Cotswold..

3

Eight rtn.
HUNTERS' PLATE.
The Hunters' Plato of 23 sovs, for horses that have never
won a steeplechase handicap. About three miles.

Plum Cak©
Militiaman
Lady Port

Six ran.
GRAND ANNUAL STEEPLECHASE.
The Birmingham Grand Annual Steeplechase of 15 sovs
each, 5 ft, with 100 added ; the winner of any steeple-
chase after Jan. 27, at noon, 51b; or any steeplechase
value 100 sovs, 91b ; twice, or 200 sovs, 141 b extra ; the
second in any steeplechase value 200 soya, 51b extra ;
gentlemen riders who are qualified under the new rules,
and who have never ridden the winner of any handicap
steeplechase, allowed 51b (provided it does not reduce
the weight under the limit of the National Steeplechase
Rules); the second to save his stake. About three miles
and a half. 66 subs., 32 of whom pay 5 soya each.

The Nun 1
Benazet
Greenland