Mr. Corbet upon this point ; and he said — ' D — n me,
Barke, never tell me that again ; Bill Barrow can stop
any hounds in England ; any hounds in England, by — ,
Never you tell me that again, Barke. I keep hounds for
my own diversion, and not Bill Barrow's ; he can stop
MR. J. CORBET— 179H. 11
any hounds in England, Barke.' After repeating his
expressions, Mr. Corbet invited Barke to a glass of wine,
and resumed his usual composure, of which he had been
deprived, more by the excuse that was made, than by the
occurrence that had first excited his displeasure.
BY AN OLD FOXHUNTER.
MEET — ALVESTON.
One day when we met at the Pastures, we found a fox
that went quick away over the Crofts Farm, round Cherry
Orchard, through Fir Grove, and across the top of Goldicote
Farm ; reynard then turned to the left and went straight to
Tiddington turnpike, where he ran to ground. This was a
very cjuick ring of an hour and five minutes j and the snow,
which was nearly a foot thick in some places, rendered the
riding very dangerous, and we did not, in consequence,
meet before mid-day.
Colonel Roberts rode very hard, and on taking a stiie,
with a wooden plank bridge on the other side, which his
horse did not see, was thrown ; and though perhaps not
mu.ch injured was intimidated, and did not ride in the same
determined way afterwards. Mr. Corbet, Mr. Fether-
STONE, Mr. Packwood, Mr. Barke, and a few others,
were up when the fox took the earths.
MEET SNITTERFIELD BUSHES.
We had aii excellent day's sport once, when we met at
this cover. The Bushes then produced the best foxes in
Warwickshire, and they always went away immediately
when the Master hunted it regularly. We had no sooner
thrown our pack into them, than one of the old hounds
spoke, and the cheering and heart- stirring halloo of ' Gone
away !' was given by that famous huntsman Bill Barrow.
12 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.
Reynard took straight through Bushwood, and made his
way, at a bokl slapping pace, down to within four miles of
Birmixigham, when he was headed and turned ; and after a
short time run into at the back of the Box Trees. This, I
remember, was a most capital thing ; the hounds stuck to
their game in a most delightful style, and reynard did not
give up until he was quite exhausted.
The wcn'thy Master Mr. Cokbkt, Sir E. Smythe, Mr.
Curtis, who once kept hounds at Solihull, Mr. Henry
Roberts, of Stratford, Mr. Barke, 1 and four or five
others, were in at the death. The distance could not be
less than 16 miles.
1 Mr. W. Barke was formerly landlord of the Wliite Lion Inn, at
Stratford-on-Avon, where tlie Warwicksliire Hunt Club was held, and
was very frequently in the field. He was among the ' welters,' and
was always considered a good fellow of his weight. An eye-M'itne.ss has
furnished us with the following anecdote of this sportsman : one day,
al)out tlie year 1795, when a party of yeomen, invited by Mr. Smith, of
Admington, to dine witli him at Clifford Forge, were cracking a bottle
as frequently as the joke, Mr. Zouch, of Milcote, inquired of Mr. Barke
what he wanted for Flying Gib. This animal was a shooting pony of
strong muscular power and uncommon activity. The owner said his
price was fifty guineas. ' Can he jump ?' was the next question put
by the purchaser. ' Jump I d me, Tom, fetch him out and I'll
shew you.' The pony was no sooner brought out than Mr. Barke
mounted— not in the general way, for to shew the leaping powers and
surprising docility of the pony, the owner sat with his face towards
tlie tail — and having put his head straight, with a quiet ' Come up,'
lie cleared a flight of rails into the turnpike road, to the great amuse-
ment of his companions. At their request, he repeated the leap in the
same extraordinary manner, and sold his pony for the sum he asked,
without furtlier recommendation.
MR. J. CORBET— 1800. 13
BY A VETERAN FOXHUNTER. 1
The hounds began hunting this season, 1800, at Sundorne
Castle, in Shropshire, the noble hereditary mansion of
Mr. Corbet, on the 2d of September.
In a run on the 5th, Jack Barrow, in leaping over a
hedge, fell into a stone-quarry, broke his collar-bone, and
hurt his horse very much.
On the 8th, while the hounds were drawing Hall Hole,
and Leigh ton Shelf, the rain came on so very violent, that
they returned home without finding. My boots (says the
writer,) had above a pint of water in them, and I never had
such a wetting in my life.
On the 9th, we hunted in the neighbourhood of Acton
Burnell; the hounds divided, and afterwards joined again ;
the day was very wet, and the foxes were lost. I had this
day the pleasure of the company of two of the female sex,
Mrs. Corbet and Miss Brown, and they drank foxhunting
in a bumper on their return home. They saw the fox
frequently, and enjoyed the sport of all things.
On the 29th, after killing one fox, and running another
to Weston House, which was lost nearly in view, a fox was
found at Boscobel Wood ; he was run for an hour, and
killed near the Lodge at the Cowhay cover. Many Sports-
men were in the field, and we got some most excellent ale,
and a true Sportsman's luncheon, at Mr. Lockley's.
1 A Gentleman, whose courtesy we are proud to acknowledge, has
favoured us with the MS privata of a Sportsman for many years well
known and highly esteemed in ' The Warwickshire Hunt.' The obser-
vations of a man of good sense and veracity, aided by long experience
and an extensive knowledge of his subject, are of no common value in
the estimation of a well informed and intelligent Sportsman. Fox-
hunting, probably, never pressed more closely on the heel of Science,
than in the practice of the Gentleman to whom we allude.
14 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.
The hounds came to Meriden, this season, on the 1 0th
of October,
Monday, Oct. 13. — Met at Chehnsley Wood, and found
a fox as soon as the hounds were put into cover ; he was
very soon killed on the earth. Some of the hounds casting
forward while the others were eating the fox, they got on
the scent of another fox. They ran rings for an hour in
part of the cover, there being at least three foxes up at the
same time. At last we got away after one over the country
that had been too long gone, and by the scent dying away
he was lost. We came back to Chelmsley Wood and found
another fox immediately ; but the cover had been so much
stained, we could do nothing with him. We then drew Mr.
York's wood ; as soon as the hounds had entered the cover
they found a brace of foxes, and one went away directly.
The hounds kept with the other fox down the cover. I saw
five foxes cross the ride, one after another, in the same
direction. We ran rings, in and out of cover, for some
time, constantly changing foxes. We were relieved, at
length, by one of them taking over the country pointing for
Coleshill ; he then took an extensive ring over that })art of
the country, and ran into Park Hall woods, in which cover
the hounds, after viewing him several times, killed him.
This was a run of an hour and three quarters, as good
hunting, and as good a day's sport as possible, for the
young pack.
Oct. 15. — Met at Daniel's Wood, and found a brace of
foxes at Bredbane Wood ; then run one to Daniel's Wood,
and very quick over the country to Birchley Hays, in which
cover the fox was killed, after a very severe burst of 35
minutes. The hounds carried a remarkably good head. —
As soon as we had killed the fox, another broke away from
MR. J. CORBET— 1800. 15
Birchley Hays, and ran very quick to Close Wood, where
he earthed. We dug for him, but there being so many
spouts we did not find him. We then drew Meriden Shafts
without finding. We soon afterwards found a fox in Lord
Aylesford's decoy. He then run over his Lordship's
park for Daniel's Wood, pointed for Shawsbury cover, and
came round by Close Wood. Skirted Meriden, when a cur
dog hunted the fox before the hounds, and he was lost.
Oct. 17. — We met at Hampton Coppice, and found a fox
immediately. He took two or three rings in the cover, and
then went off for the Solihull woods. Being headed near
the great turnpike road, he came back over the canal
pointing for Chelmsley Wood, and under Mr. Spooner's
house. After taking an extensive ring, he returned to the
cover he was found in ; we hunted him through the cover,
and the scent dying away he was lost. As good hunting
as possible with the young pack for two hovirs. We then
drew the Solihull woods, and found in the third ; but the
scent was so bad we lost this fox.
Oct. 1 8. — Met at Tilehill ; found immediately, and soon
killed. The hounds then drew the other part of the cover,
and hit upon another fox ; he took away, and ran a very
extensive ring for three hours within six minutes, when he
was killed very near the place he was found.
Many horses were done over, as the fox was supposed to
have run "20 miles without the hounds being once cast.
Chester distinguished himself, particularly in hunting as
well as at the death, being first when most of the hovmds
viewed him.
Oct. 20. — Met at Haywood, and immediately found a fox
which broke cover towards Wroxall House, where he was
16 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.
headed back. The hounds then dro\ e him round the wood
through Gilbert's coppice, to the dog-kenncl at Wroxall,
where he got into a drain. Drew on to the Honiley woods
and found a fox, which, after trying all the points towards
Haywood and Meriden, the hounds pressed him so close,
he was obliged to make away for the Fern Hill covers ;
then over the country to Woodcote House, to Kenilworth,
up the meadows by the Castle, and the hounds ran into him
in Thick Broom, making for Stoneleigh earths, after a run
of one hour and 27 minutes, as complete as any hounds
could do. This was the whelj) pack.
Oct. 22. — Met at Chelmsley and found a brace of foxes ;
one broke away through Ancot Hall farm to School Rough,
and over the meadows for Elmdon Hall ; headed short at
Hampton coppice, he ran through the village of Bickenhill,
over the fields towards Hampton, turned to Stone Bridge,
where the fox crossed to Lord Aylesford's decoy ; the scent
dying away he was given up. We then went to York's
wood and immediately found a fox ; and drove him, as well
as the day would permit, to Water Orton, and Park Hall
woods, when we were obliged to give in, the day was so
unfavourable.
Oct. 24. — Met at the Shawberry woods, where the covers
had been disturbed by shooters. Got upon a disturbed fox
at Lord's wood, hunted him for some time and then gave
him up. Drew on to Birchley Hays, and found ; our fox
went away to Close Wood, over the fields to Kinwasey ;
to Alderman Hewett's plantations, by Fillongley town end,
and again into Birchley Hays. Here a fresh fox crossed,
and the day being unfavourable, after persevering till near
five o'clock, and not being able to drive him out, we gave
in. The day being very windy, we did not hear the hounds
MR. J. CORBET— 1800. 17
kill their fox ; but the next time the hounds drew the cover.
Leveller drew out the hind quarters of the fox killed on that
day.
Oct. 26. — Met at Millisant's Wood, at ten o'clock, but
did not find. Drew on to Tilehill Wood, and found a fox ;
went away to AUesley village, where an indifferent scent,
and a prospect of sport forward, induced Mr. Corbet 1
to hold on to a favourite cover ; but, unfortunately, a fox
found at Long Meadow Wood went away for the Stoneleigh
covers. The scent bad, they hunted on to Burnt End,
down the common to Stivichall village, and into the rough,
where he stayed for some time. We next drove him away
by Colonel Gregory's house into Wainbody Wood, where
he was killed in good style, after persevering for two hours
and a half, and very good hunting.
Oct. 27. — Met at Water Orton, and drew Park Hall
woods without finding. Found a brace of foxes in Mr.
York's wood ; after running in and out of cover for an hour,
he was earthed under a tree in Mr. York's pit ; the hounds
would soon have killed him if he had not gone to ground.
We then hunted a fox that had been gone a long time,
through Smith's wood, pointing for Park Hall ; he was so
far ahead we could not hunt him. We then drew the decoy
1 The uniform politeness of Mr. Corbet formed a striking contrast
to the occasional' moroseness of his huntsman, Bill Barrow. Were
a man seen by Mr. C. in the midst of his hounds at a most trying
moment, he would say — ' Pray, Sir, hold hard, you will spoil your own
sport.' That was all. But Bill Barrow would say — ' Hold hard, Sir;
G — d d — n it, where the hell are you going ?' When his hounds were
well settled to their fox, and things looked well, Mr. Corbet would
cry out — ' Noiv, gentlemen, ride over them, now ride and catch them
if you can.' — nimeod.
18 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.
and Chelmsley Wood, without success. Found a brace of
foxes at the mill-pool, near Mr, York's. One immediately
went away through his wood, skirting Smith's wood, and
ran within a quarter of a mile of the town of Coleshill ;
then pointed for Curdworth Bridge, and went over the
water a little below it ; made a line for Dunton Wood, but
was headed to the village of Curdworth. Running through
the cottage gardens of that place, he made the canal side,
and then ran very near to the village of Minworth. From
thence he led over the meadows to Park Hall, where he
crossed the river. Leaving the cover, and keeping forward
pointing for Mr, York's covers, which he passed to the left.
The hounds were running for their fox as well as possible,
expecting soon to kill him, when a person who ought to
have known better, rode on the hounds, and brought them
to a check. After that we hunted the fox as long as the
scent would permit us, pointing on for Hampton coppice.
This run was two hours.
Oct. 29. — Met at Hampton Coppice, and drew that and
Barber's cover, without success. Went to School Rough,
and found in Chelmsley Wood ; the fox was away the
moment the hounds spoke, and never did hounds run
quickerTthan they did, by Banerby Pool and on to Little
Packington, where he was vmaccountably lost. We then
went to Mr. York's wood, where we immediately found a
fox that led us for one hour and a half, in rings, through
the Decoy, &c. and we killed him handsomely near Smith's
wood. The scent was good, and the day fine.
Oct. 31. — We threw off this morning at Weobly Wood,
where we found a fox that took a ring round the cover, and
then went away to Ryton Woods ; these he skirted, and
then dashed away towards Sir T. Biddulphs, at Birding-
i
MR. J. CORBET.— 1800. 19
bury. We ran him for one hour and a half, at least, with
an indifferent scent, when he was run bv cur dogs, and lost.
Cast back to Frankton Wood, where the hounds instantly
hit upon a fox. There were not less, certainly, than two
brace of foxes in the cover, and we ran, in rings, for an hour
and a half, a little way out of cover, constantly changing.
At length one took right away, and we hunted him, in as
good style as possible, and killed him 18 miles from the
kennel. Left Meriden at eight o'clock a. m. and got home
past six o'clock p. m.
Saturday, Nov. 1. — Met at the Priory, Maxtoke, and
drew all the woods without finding. We went on to Lord
Aylesford's 1 woods, and found a fox, which, going
off down-wind, left all the great Sportsmen from Lord
Vernon's, Mr. Adderley's, &c. in the lurch. We ran
him over the vale to the Maxtoke woods, and over the river
Bourne towards Arley wood ; here he was so much pressed
that he bore away by Mr. Sadler's house, at Whitacre,
pointing over the open fields for Hore parish ; when the
huntsman, not seeing his Master, made a back cast, and
lost the fox. We afterwards drew Birchley Hays, without
success.
1 The late Earl of Aylesford, unlike the present, was no sportsman ;
but as a well-wisher to foxhuntinpf, and out of respect to Mr. Corbet,
he would sometimes make his appearance in the field, when the hounds
were drawing tlie covert at Packington. One day his Lordship placed
himself behind Mv. Corbet in a very dirty ride in a cover. A hound
spoke. ' Hark !' said Lord A. ' A puppy, my Lord,' said Mr. C.
Another liound spoke. ' Hark again !', said tlie Earl. ' Puppy,' said
Mr. C. softly. At last old Trojan challenged on him. ' Trojan, by — ,'
said Mr. C. ' A fox for a luuidred ;' when clapping spurs to his horse,
with one of his cheering halloos, he suddenly disappeared, leaving tlie
noble Earl not only covered Avith mud, but enveloped in astonishment.
NIMROn.
B 2
20 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.
The hounds had now himted three weeks at Meridcn,
and killed five brace of foxes ; and out of that number six
were old ones.
The hounds left Meriden, for Stratford, on Monday the
3d of November.
Nov. 5. — Our first meet from Stratford, this season, was
at Frizhill. We soon fovmd a fox that took away to Walton
Terrace, and then returned to the cover in which we found
him. He then went over Lord Willoughby's grounds to
the bridge near the house, where, from the scent being so
bad, he was lost, after running an hour. We then drew
Chadshunt gorse, and Itchington Heath, without finding,
both covers having been disturbed by the shooters. We
then went back to Lighthorne, and found a fox in the small
cover J he soon made away for Frizhill, and from that place
on to Lord Willoughby's plantations ; he then took an
extensive ring for an hour and ten minutes, with a good
scent, and was killed just as he was going out of Lighthorne
cover.
Nov. 7. — Found a fox at Ufton Wood, that ran rings in
cover for some time, and was killed without breaking away.
The hoimds hunted other foxes in the cover for near an
hour, but the scent being so bad, and the cover stained, the
hounds were drawn away. On being next thrown into Mr.
Palmer's spinies, at Ladbroke, the hounds did not find
until they drew an ozier bed near the brook, when they
unkenneled a brace of foxes. After running one extensive
ring for near two hours, the hunted fox was lost, entirely
owing to the great want of scent, and the unfavourable
state of the weather. The hounds behaved particularly
well to day.
MR. J. CORBET— 1800. 51
Nov. 10. — By a previovis fixture, the hounds were to hunt
to-day at Walton Wood ; but this was prevented, by the
water being so much out, we were not able to cross the
Avon 3 we therefore sent a man over in a boat, to inform
the gentlemen who might meet at Walton, of the circum-
stance ; and a whipper-in was dispatched to stop the earths
at Austey Wood. The hounds found here plenty of foxes }
and after running and changing, in and out of coyer, for
near two hours, the wood became so much stained, that
the hounds were taken away. A fox was afterwards found
at Hogwell, and after running him rings, out of cover, for
about an hour and a half, we killed in Austey Wood.
Nov. 17. — We threw off at Black Marton ; as soon as the
hounds were thrown into cover, away went a fox over the
country for Idlicote spinies and Honington Grounds ; then
over the first part of the Vale to Sutton North ; over the
hill, and pointed for Lord Northampton's ; the hounds
had got upon very good terms with their fox, when he was
headed at the village of Brailes. After making a cast, they
hit him off again, and hunted him under Sutton North,
taking a dip in the Vale. He then took over the earths at
Sutton North, jiointing for Weston House, and ran over
all the open country for Wichford Wood ; and, when but
a little short of that cover, he was ran into, and turned up
on the top of the hill.
This day's sport gave great satisfaction to a numerous
Field, particularly to Mr. Mo rant ; the distance was ftdl
20 miles, and 14 from the place where the fox was found.
A memorable day !
Nov. 19. — Having met at Ufton Wood, we drew that
cover and Itchington Heath, blank. A fox, which we soon
afterwards found at Chesterton Wood, ran in cover for an
B 3
22 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.
hour 5 the scent was bad, and he was lost. Drew on to
Lighthorne, and found at three o'clock. The fox went
briskly away for Frizhill, and on to Walton ; then over the
country for Kineton, pointing for Edge Hill, and leaving
Itchington Heath on the right, and then pushed forward
for Chesterton. We ran reynard half an hour after dark,
and had him among the hounds ; we should certainly have
killed him, if it had been day light. The Field was a large
one, and the)' were inuch gratified by the sport the day had
afforded them.
Nov. 26. — Hunted at Eatington Grove. A fox went
away before the hounds reached the cover, and we ran
him with a cold scent over Mr. Shirley's Park, and then
returned to the Grove. Drew it again, and afterwards
the gorses without finding. Found a brace of foxes in
Wellesbourne Wood ; one of them led us to Charlecote
earths, and back to W^ellesbourne cover ; from thence to
Walton Terrace, and Walton Wood, in which place the
hounds changed their fox, and ran him on to Frizhill.
The pack here divided, ten couple and a half in one division,
and fourteen and a half in the other ; both divisions gave
general satisfaction to their attendants, bvit lost their game,
after running them well for three hours and a half each.
Nov. 28. — We threw off" at Lord Northampton's, and
found a brace of foxes. One of them the hounds killed
in cover J the other was run three quarters of an hour,
taking an extensive ring very quick round Brailes, and
then earthed near the White House. After drawing other
gorse covers we found a brace of foxes at Shutford Long
Hill ; we ran one, in two hours within ten minutes, at
least fourteen miles. The first part, and the ending of the
riui were very quick, and had not the fox gone to ground
MR. J. CORBET— 1800. 23
in an old stone quarry in Wroxton Field, near to Lord
Guildford's, he would soon have been killed.
The day's sport gave the greatest satisfaction to a most
numerous Field of good Sportsmen.
Monday, December 1. — The Field, to-day, met at that
celebrated cover for wild stout foxes, Wolford Wood, and
immediately the hounds were put in, a brace of them were
afoot. After taking a ring in the cover, one of them went
away, pointing for Bourton-on-the-Hill ; being headed near
to that place, he ran back to the cover, but not into it ; he
then faced the whole of the open country, by leaving Barton
Grove on the right, and going forward near to the town
of Chipping Norton, within about three miles of which
place, from the scent dying away, he was lost. Barton
Grove, and the gorses near Wolford, were then drawn,
without success. Having found in the wood, the fox went
off immediately for Barton Grove, and through part of that
cover without a stop ; he then went, at a good pace, across
the open country for Long Compton Hill, and Wichford
Wood ; then through a part of that cover, and very near to
Weston House. The fox here was so much beat, that he
went back to Wichford, and was killed in the cover, very
near to Mr. Corbet's house.
It was a remarkably quick run of about one hour and 20
minutes, over a very fine country.
Dec. 8. — Oakley Wood was the meet this morning, and
we drew that cover without finding. Found, very soon
after, in a cover a short distance from it, when the fox ran
very quick to Lord Warwick's park ; after running him
an hour, he went to ground in the bank under the dairy.
On leaving the park, the hounds were taken to Chesterton,
and on drawing it, a fox was soon found in the wood ; he
24 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.
went away over Chesterton Grounds for Itchington Heath :
over the finest part of the Vale, pointing for Farnborough ;
he then ran through the spinies under Edge Hill, for Mr.
Miller's, at Radway — and, after haiiging a short time in
those covers, the fox was so much beat that he was killed.
This was a run of an hour and three quarters, and ended
14 miles from the place where he was found.
Dec. 10. — The meet was at Hook Norton Lodge, but the
fog was so thick we could not hunt. I went 'iO miles to
cover in the morning.
Dec. 12. — Found reynard at home at Black Marton,
this morning ; he instantly went away for Itchington Grove,
and over the country for Walton, but we changed foxes
here, and after running three hours and twenty minutes,
we killed near to Lord Willoughbv's house.
Dec. 13. — We drew Hatton Rock, and Hampton Wood,
blank. Found immediately at Snitterfield ; the fox soon
went away for Austey Wood, which he brushed quickly
through, and then passed Henley to the left. He then
led us across the great road, a mile and a half on the