other side of that town, running straight for Mockley and
Holdbro', but skirting those covers, he made for Studley,
and then forward for Spernal Park, near which place we
lost him, after a run of two hours and twenty minutes,
without a hound ever being cast.
"JTiis run was supposed to be above five and twenty miles ;
the hounds changed their fox, or they would have killed
him.
Dec. 20. — The hounds threw off this morning at Welles-
bourne Wood, but they did not find till we got to Walton ;
MR. J. CORBET— 1801. 25
the fox ran through Frizhill to Lighthorne Rough, with a
good scent, ill which cover he earthed, after running him
30 minutes. On drawing the wood at Moreton, afterwards,
we found a brace of foxes ; the hounds divided, one part of
them went for Walton, and the other for Lighthorne. The
whipper-in stopped the hounds going for Walton, and
joined the others at Frizhill. The fox, after running some
extensive rings, went first to Walton Wood, and then over
the country nearly to Kineton, pointing for Itchington
Heath ; he ran back over Lord Willoughby's grounds,
and through Frizhill to Walton Wood, and was killed in
the cover next to that wood.
Many horses were quite done over, and several others
were nearly brought to a stand-still. A good day's sport.
Saturday, Januarys, ISOl. — Snitterfield Bushes was
the place of meeting this morning, but we drew without
finding, as the whole of the cover had been disturbed by
the shooters in the late snow. Afterwards we drew several
covers near Sir Edward Smythe's without success, but
at two o'clock we found a fox in a pit near Austey Wood,
which the hounds drove round the cover with a good scent,
and pressed upon him so much that he went to ground in
a rabbit hole. From this retreat he was soon bolted, and
after allowing him a little time, the hounds were laid on,
and ran into their game near to Wooseley Wood, about
three miles from Alcester, after a very severe burst of
thirty-five minutes, in which time they went about seven
miles over the country. A good afternoon's sport for the
young pack.
Jan. 5. — We threw off at Weston Park, and immediately
hit upon a fox j he first took two rings round the cover,
and went away towards Broadway ; then turned to the left
26 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.
as if he was going to Bourton Wood, and after hunting him
for an hour and tliree quarters, with an indifferent scent,
the hounds killed him at Lord Nortiiwick's park, near
Cambden. The hounds never gave greater satisfaction.
Jan. 10. — Met at Spernal Park, and immediately found
a remarkably fine fox, that hastily left the cover, and took
for Studley Common ; then turned to the right for Ipsley,
pointing for Lord Plymouth's woods, 1 at Hewell, and
we killed him near the town of Redditch, after a run of an
hour and a half, cold hunting. We then drew some large
woods near Redditch, and the Rough Hill, blank.
Jan. 14. — The meet, this morning, was at Oakley Wood,
and we drew that cover, and the wood at Chesterton, blank.
In trying Lighthorne Rough, we found a fox that first led
us to Frizhill, and on to Lord Willoughby's plantations.
Here the hounds pressed him so hard, that he ran back
through Frizhill, and over the country to Kineton, and he
was lost near to that town. Drew the wood at Walton
without success. At length we found a fox in the Terrace
above Walton, which ran as quick as hounds could follow
him, through Frizhill, Lighthorne, and on for Chesterton
Wood. After a most severe burst of 35 minutes, and
running several rings in the cover, the fox earthed in a
rabbit spout.
1 The late Earl of Plymouth was a firm and ardent supporter of
the chase. His Lordship's stud usually exceeded twenty horses ; the
hunters were of the first class, and the best that could be purchased.
The Earl and Countess were owners of Melton Lodge, within a mile
of the town. This Nobleman patronised the Melton Hounds for many
years, and it was usual for him to have two hunters in the field, at
least, on the same day. His Lordship had a very superior liorse called
Zigzag.
MR. J. CORBET— 1801.
Jan. '22. — We met at Farnborough, and found a fox in
the gorse, and after running him half a mile he went to
ground in a drain, in the middle of a large field. Having
bolted him in view of the hounds, he ran us for two hours
and a half, with a good hunting scent, over the finest
country in England, we lost him in the village of Bodington.
The hounds in every respect hunted well.
Jan. 30. — We met at Weston Park, and were greatly
disappointed at drawing that cover, Broadway Wood, and
the covers near it, without a find ; some gorse covers, and
Mickleton Wood, were afterwards drawn with no better
success — reynard was not at home. At length, we found
in a gorse, and the fox going away in view, we ran him a
severe burst for an hour and 20 minutes, when the hounds
turned him up in capital style.
A fine day's sport, and most of the horses were completely
done over.
Jan. 31. — Drew Alveston Pastures, this morning, blank.
Found soon afterwards in Wellesbourne Wood, and quickly
followed our fox to Walton Terrace, pointing for Kineton ;
in this cover there were two foxes, and the hoiinds dividing
they ran one sharply back to Wellesbourne Wood, over
Mr. Lucy's park, where the fox earthed near the river,
after a severe run of two hours. On returning to Walton,
we found again, and the hounds had rvm him for an hour,
at a slapping rate, when he was lost in consequence of Mr.
Gould's servant very improperly pressing the hounds.
Monday, Feb. 2. — Itchington Heath was our meet, to
day ; and we drew that cover, and then Ladbroke Spinies,
without success. We shortly afterwards, however, found
three foxes at Ufton Wood ; two of them were soon
28 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.
away, and the hounds immediately hung to the other, and
after running rings for near two hours, in and out of cover,
we drove him away over the country pointing for Lord
Warwick's park, 1 when he was lost, from the scent dying
away, after a run of two hours and a half.
Feb. 4. — This morning we immediately foinid a very good
fox at the meet, Wolford Wood ; we ran him, as quick as
possible, over the country pointing for Chapel House, when
he earthed in a stone quarry between Chapel House and
Chipping Norton, after as severe a biarst, for 30 minutes,
as hounds ever ran. We then drew all the gorses near
Wolford, blank ; wc found a fox at Barton Wood, which,^
after taking some rings in the cover, made away to Lord
Northwick's park wall 3 being headed back, he pointed
over the country for Wolford Wood, bxit in consequence of
the scent being bad, and the storms that came on, he
was lost.
Feb. 5. — The meet was at Walton Wood, and we took
the hounds forward to Kineton Gorse, but could not find ;
we then drew Lord Willoughby's new gorse cover, and
Lighthorne Rough, without success. At length we found
at Frizhill, and pursued our game to Lighthorne earths,
over the country near to Kineton ; we then came back over
the bridge at Compton, and through the plantations at
Frizhill. The hounds got up to their fox in a cover near
Walton, and we expected every minute to kill him, but he
1 In 1789, the late Earl of Warwick obtained the King's Plate of
lOOgs. to be run for at Warwick September Races. That handsome
addition to tlie other stakes contributed, in no small degree, to bring
these Races into repute, and to raise them to that eminence they have
since attained.
MR. J. CORBET— 1801. 29
broke away for the covers near Frizhill, where we had
him among the hounds for several minutes. He then ran
for Sir John Mordaunt's Terrace, where he was most
unaccountably lost, the hounds close at his brush.
Feb. 7. — Met at Haywood. Before a hound spoke, a fox
went away, first pointing for Green's Grove, and on for
Honiley ; then through Hell Kitchen, by the farther end of
Bedington's Wood, through Long Meadow Wood, and the
other covers pointing for Stoneleigh ; over Weston Heath,
through the covers on the other side of it, when leaving
Tile Hill to the left, he stood on to Horsley, within a mile of
Coventry. Being headed back to Tile Hill, he passed on
through the cover, and very near to Berkcswell ; here he
was very much distressed, and so dead beat that he was
obliged to stop for breath in the middle of a field, and
was killed in a small cover near Tile Hill, after a most
severe run of an hour and three quarters, the hounds not
being once cast.
This run was supposed to have been very near twenty
miles.
Feb. 19. — The hounds met at Uftou, and found as soon
as they entered the cover. The fox, after taking a turn in
the wood, ran at a very fast rate to Chesterton Wood, to
Lighthorne, Chadshunt, Itchington Heath, and over the
vale to Farnborough ; after a very good run of seventeen
miles over the country, the fox was lost from a snow storm
coming on.
This ended the last day in the Vale for the Season, after
some capital sport.
Feb. 21. — This day the hounds left Stratford for Meriden.
They threw off at Stoneleigh Abbey, and drew the covers
30 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.
near the house, without finding. A fox was then found at
Weston Wood, near Cubhington, and he went away with as
good a cry of hounds, and good a scent, as any Sportsman
could possibly desire ; we ran him for one hovir and 20
minutes, when he went to ground nearly in view of the
hounds. On drawing Waveley Wood, afterwards, we soon
f(jund another fox, and after hanging some time in cover,
he ran over Stoneleigh Park to Baginton, and saved his life
by taking to main earth. This run lasted three quarters of
of an hour. 1
Feb. 21. — We met at Chelmsley Wood, and found a
brace of foxes ; after taking a turn or two in the cover, one
went away for the Solihidl woods, but was headed, and
came back by Mr. Spooner's house. He then passed
through Hampton Coppice, pointing for Barker's Coppice,
and after a run of one hour and three quarters, he was lost
the scent dying away. In drawing Mr. York's woods we
found three foxes ; we ran one over his earths, near to the
decoy in Coleshill Park, then over the brook near the
bridge into Chelmsley Wood, over the earths, through the
cover, and over Coleshill Heath, near to Mr. Wedge's.
Here he was headed back to School Rough, where we had
him among the hounds ; he broke away, and pointed for
Mr. Spooner's, but he was so much beaten that he was
obliged to return, and we killed him near School Rough,
after a run of an hour and a quarter.
Feb. 25. — This morning we met at Combe Abbey, and
found a brace of foxes in High Wood. After running one
1 Jack Barrow and Jack Jones dhunk — both put in the black
book!
MR. J. CORBET— 1801. 31
for half an hour in that cover, we killed him. Drew the
covers over the road, and found several foxes ; we got one
away in a short time, and after running him for three
quarters of an hour, he was turned up near the London
road leading to Coventry.
Feb. 28. — Our apjjointment, this morning, was Hall Park
Wood. A fox which we found in that cover led us through
the plantations by Combe Abbey, to High Wood ; from
thence to Bretford, Brinklow, and All Oaks ; and to King's
Newnham. Across the Cathorn-lane to Easenhall, Little
Harborough, and to Newbold Field. On to Church Over,
Cesters Over, Street Field, and Walton ; then through
Willey plantations to Lutterworth Cross Hands, and to
Bitteswell Gorse. Crossed Lutterworth Fields, Ashby-par-
Claybrook, to Willesthorpe ; and we killed our fox, in most
famous style, in Frolesworth Field, one mile and a half from
Whetstone Gorse, and one of Mr. Meynell's covers.
The fox ran full ten miles in the county of Leicester, and
the whole length of the run was more than IQ miles. Tifter
in every respect behaved the best to-day.
Monday, March "2. — Met at Wainbody Wood, and drew
it without finding. In trying Ryton Wood, a fox, after
a few rings in the covers near, ran at a pretty fast pace, to
Frankton Wood ; on running through a small portion of
that cover we had reynard among the hounds, expecting
every moment to kill him j but he broke away for Princeps
Wood, and on to Shuckburgh Caps, where he was turned
up, after a remarkably quick run of an hour and three
quarters.
March 5. — The appointment, to-day, was at Frankton
Wood, where wc found. The fox ran off, at his best pace.
32 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.
pointing for Combe, but came back over the great London
road, and ran to Ryton Wood ; through that cover, on to
Shuckburgh Caps, and to Princeps Wood, and then he
returned, very quick, to the cover he was found in. After
running an hour and a half, the whole time very fast, he
was killed in Frankton Wood. The hounds in every respect
performed well.
March 7- — I rode t(j cover this morning from Welcombe.
Drew Chelmsley, Yorks, and Smith's woods, and did not
find. In a short time afterwards, we started a fox out of
a hedge-row near to the latter wood ; we hunted him on to
Park Hall woods, and near to Castle Bromwich ; running
then near to Mr. York's, he pointed for School Rough ; and
leaving that cover to the right, he ran on until he got near to
Mr. Spooner's, and then came quick back again to School
Rough. In this cover we changed foxes, and the hounds
divided ; six couple and a half going after the hunted
fox to Coleshill Wood, and over the brook near to the bridge
at Chelmsley Wood, and on to Smith's Wood, and Park
Hall, where, having so very few hounds, we lost him. The
main body of the hounds went away with the other fox to
Hampton Coppice, through that cover and Barber's Coppice,
on to Bickenhill. Being headed there, reynard went back
through Hampton Coppice, very quick, for School Rough
and Chelmsley Wood, and to the town of Coleshill. He
then made for Banerby Pool, and over the open country to
Little Packington, where he went to ground under a tree
in the Church-yard. The hounds ran five hours and a half
without interruption.
March 10. — We met at Newnham, and drew that cover
and Bickerley Twelve-acres, without finding. Went on to
the covers near Combe, and drew them and High Wood,
MR. J. CORBET— 1801. 33
blank. In the covers on the other side we found two foxes
in part of a cover, and nearly viewed one of them to
ground in a hedge-row ; we could have unearthed him
without much trouble, but as Lord Sefton's hounds were
coming to hunt the country the next week, we left our fox.
March 12. — Met at Millesant's Wood, and drew that
cover. Tile Hill, and Long Meadow Wood, without finding.
In a short time we found a fox in a cover not far from the
Coventry road, and ran him through Wainbody Wood, over
the earths at Baginton, and across Stoneleigh Park ; the
scent now dying away he was given up. Went to Berricot
Wood, near Stoneleigh, and hit upon the hunted fox ; we
had him, at one time, among the hounds, and viewed him
several times. He then broke away over the country, and
ran very quick near to Mr. Knightley's, at OfTchurch, and
on to Cubbington Woods, in which cover, from the badness
of the day he was lost, after running two hours.
March 16. — Our appointment, this morning, was at
Lord Aylksford's Park. As we were going on to draw the
first cover, Daniel's Wood, a fox came in full view of the
hounds ; we ran him very quick for 20 minutes, and hunted
him afterwards for an hour and three quarters, all the time
keeping forward, supposed to be full 15 miles, and lost him
on the other side of Sir Roger Newdigate's, pointing for
Nuneaton. The day was particularly bad, and the scent
dying away the fox was lost. The hounds during the whole
day hunted well.
March 20. — The place of meet for to-day, was fixed at
Water Orton. Sir Robert Lawley and myself came
from Canwell in the morning. The day was so bad it was
impossible to hunt.
c
34 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.
Not one blank day with the Warwickshire hounds,
since Christmas. 1
The hounds left Meriden on Monday, March 23d, and
got to Beckbury on the same day.
The season finally ended in Shropshire, on the 7th of
April, after some capital runs, more particularly in that part
of the hunt called the Staffordshire country.
1 We were in error, by stating, in page 8, that Mr. Corbet when
in Warwickshire, divided liis hounds into two packs, dogs and bitclies.
His packs were classed according to their age. — venator.
Mr. Corbet had a peculiar way of crossing a country. Although
he would not leap, he would gallop as fast as any one, and shewed no
small share of nerve as well as hand, in going the splitting pace he did
along the stony and sloughy lanes ; and he got several awkward falls.
He knew every gate, gap, and lane, and it was astonishing to see how
well he got to hounds, without going over a fence. On coming to a
fence he did not like the looks of, and seeing one he knew, going at it
he would say, — ' Thank ye. Sir, I am very much obliged to you ;
you'll just catch my horse.' This just catching his horse, just lost his
friend the run, if it were a good one. — nimrod.
MR. J. CORBET— 1801.
35
The names and ages of Mr. J. Corbet's hounds, in
September, 1801, were —
DOG PACK.
1797.
Goodman
1798.
Chanter
Craftsman
Druid
Tantrum
Traitor
Trial
Turpin
Tyrant
1799.
Castor
Gallant
Gaudy
Lanyer
Liberty
Limner
Lofty
Jiowtlier
Pedlar
Proctor
Rally
Tackier
Tifter
1800.
Carver
Conqueror
Crjer
Dabster
Dinger
Forester
Gameboy
Gamester
Granby '
Grasper
Guider
Hopeful
Layman
Leveller
liiberal
Pirate
Portland
Tartar
C 2
SMALL PACK.
1796.
Tuneful
Skilful
Stranger
Susan
1797.
1798.
Comfort
Gaylass
Rosabel
Trophy
1799.
Graceful
Liberty
Prettylass
1800.
Careful
Galby
Gamestress
Glancer
Lively
Pastime
Peeress
Perfect
Phoenix
Playful
Prattle
Primrose
Princess
Tricksy
1801.
Careless
Charmer
Comedy
Conquest
Crafty
Crony
Danger
Harper
Hero
Music
Peggy
Tempest
36 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.
The houuds commenced hmiting, this season, on the
7th day of September, in Shropshire, where they had some
famous sport. On the 25th, the meet was at Boreatton.
In crossing the Piny after the hounds. Bill Barrow and his
horse were immersed overhead in the river.
The hounds left Sundorne, on Friday October 26th, for
Meriden.
BY A VETERAN FOXHUNTER.
Monday, October 19- — Chelmsley Wood was drawn
without finding. We then went to York's Wood, and there
found plenty of foxes, three brace at least ; ran rings rouiid
the covers for two hours, and killed. We afterwards drew
the Decoy, found a fox, and forced him through York's
Wood, Smith's Wood, and then over the river Blythe to
Chelmsley ; through the wood again, and over Aucot brook
to Tile Cross ; he did not venture to take the river here to
York's Wood, but turned to Bacon's End, through the
Decoy, and through Smith's Wood, and the hounds ran
into him before he could gain the next cover. A run of
one hour and a half, mostly very smart good hunting.
Oct. 20. — Met at Daniel's Wood, and drew the Priory
covers without success. Hearing of some foxes at Maxtoke
Castle, we drew all round that place but did not find. At
the Shawburys we were more fortunate, by finding an old
fox in Parson's Wood, which went away very quick through
Birchmore Stumps Wood, Flint's Rough, and to ground in
Packington Park ; this was a run of three quarters of an
hour. Found another fox immediately in the Decoy ; he
went off across the park for Quarry Wood, through Flint's
Rough to Close Wood, and onward to Chantry Wood ;
skirted the Shafts, through Millesant's Wood, and towards
MR. J. CORBET— 1801. 37
Tile Hill, where being headed by some acorn gatherers, he
turned short back, and was given up. Very hard running
for one hour.
Oct. 22. — We found a brace of foxes at Tile Hill ; one
of them went gallantly away by AUesley, and across the
turnpike road towards Corley Wood ; then turned to the
left over Corley Moor, through Birchley Hays, Waterfields
Wood, and Close Wood, and on for Lord Aylesford's
Park. Being headed back through Chantry Wood, and
Meriden Shafts, he took up to Birchley Hays again, back
through the Shafts to Millesant's Wood, and on to Tile Hill.
Here the fox was turned short back, and rain coming on he
was lost. This run lasted three hours and a half. Long
Meadow Wood was afterwards drawn, blank. The day was
very stormy and bad.
Oct. 23. — Hampton Coppice was the place of meet,
and, after a short interval, the hounds hit upon a fox that
led us away over the country to Hurdle Hall, over the bog
at Thornborough to TrufFmore ; and then up to Chelmsley
Wood. Having gone right through that cover, he took
across the river to Kingshurst, where, with the hounds close
to him in the same field, he went to ground. Very hard
running for three quarters of an hour.— Drew York's Wood
and found at the millpool tail ; the fox went off to Radley
Moor, to Yardley village, and then bore away to the little
town of Sheldon, where the hounds ran into him near to
that place. A run of an hour and a half, very quick to
Yardley, and afterwards good hunting. Most of the pack
viewed the fox into the pit in the open ground.
Oct. 26. — Hunted at Stoneleigh Abbey, and found a
brace of foxes immediately on the hounds being thrown into
c 3
38 WARWICKSHIRE HUNT.
Berricot Wood. After driving the fox for a quarter of an
hour, he went towards Warwick, and made a ring to the
left hand, as if he was going to Cubbington Wood ; but he
skirted the large woods, and Stoneleigh Grove, and ran into
Thickthorn cover. Here two brace of foxes, at least, were
ixp at once. The hounds kept together, and after an hour
and 40 minutes, hard running, killed one. While the
hounds were eating him, another fox was halloo' d away ;
the hounds set to with him as soon as possible, hunting
him over the fields at the back of Stoneleigh village, to
Berricot Wood, where the hounds got up to him ; they
were now halloo'd away towards Waveley Wood, which the
fox skirted, and he passed through Cubbington Wood with
a famous cry of hounds after him. They then ran him
over a fine country to Mr. Knihgtley's, in a line for Uftori
Wood ; then turned to the right hand, and went to ground
in a drain at Mr. Wise's, at Lillington, within two miles of
Warwick, after a chase of two hours.
Oct. 28. — Found an old fox at the meet this morning.
Long Meadow Wood, that went off at a good pace, pointing
towards the Chase Woods ; came back over the rabbit
warren at Weston Heath, and through the small covers to
the place where he was found ; passed straight through it,
and over the country to the Chase Woods. From thence
over the common to the covers near to Honiley Boot, then
over the country to Haywood, through it to Baddesley,
and almost to Bushwood. The fox then turned back to the
earth near Haywood, which was open ; and we ended after
a hunting chase of three hours and a quarter, greatly to the
credit of the hounds.
Oct. 30. — Hunted at Frankton Wood, found, and ran
the fox about the cover for half an hour ; he then brok-e
MR. J. CORBET— 1801. 39
away towards Rugby, but the day was so bad that we gave
him up when going on for Mr. Grimes's, at Coton. Came
back to Frankton Wood, found, and after a short run
killed our fox.
The hounds left Meriden on Monday the ^nd day of
November.
Thursday, November 5. — Met and found immediately
at Frizhill. After changing, and running rings for three
hours, we killed our fox. In drawing Lighthorne Wood we
found another fox, and ran him over the country for Lord
Willoughby's ; the day was now become so bad that we
drew off the hounds and took them home.
Nov. 7. — This morning, by notice previously issued by
the Master, we hunted at Ufton Wood, where we found
three foxes. After running some time in cover, one broke
away over the country for Oakley Wood ; through that
cover, and forward pointing for Charlecote. We were not
certain that we did not change at Oakley. He then ran for
Lord Warwick's Park, and after running for four hours,
very good hunting, we lost him.
Nov. 9. — Met at Oakley Wood, and found. After
running some time in cover, the fox went straight to Lord
Warwick's Park, where it was supposed he earthed, but
the hounds- did not mark him. We soon afterwards found
another fox in Chesterton Wood, but the day was so very
unfavourable for hunting, that we could not follow him with
any chance of success, and we gave him up.
Nov. 11. — Met this day at Preston Bushes, and found
a fox near Stoke Wood, that led us away over the hill for