238 MEMOIR OF 



for the mess and the numerous hunting 

 men who, it was expected, would flock to the 

 httle town from all parts of Devon and Corn- 

 wall, 



Nor was this expectation a delusive one. 

 Throughout the county, north and south, the 

 new club was looked upon as a kind of 

 phoenix, rising, with renewed vigour in its 

 wings, from the smouldering ashes of the 

 Chulmleigh Club ; the triumvirate alone, to 

 whom its revival was due, namely, Mr. Russell, 

 Sir Walter Carew, and Mr. Trelawny, of 

 Coldrenick, being an ample guarantee that 

 success would certainly follow upon such a 

 combination. 



Accordingly, on the occasion of the meet- 

 ings, not only were the country-houses in the 

 neighbourhood thrown open to friends from a 

 distance, but every available bed and stall in 

 South Molton was secured for weeks before- 

 hand by gentlemen who, preferring the freedom 

 of a hostelry to private hospitality, deemed it a 

 matter of loyalty to the club to live at head- 

 quarters and support the mess. 



Foxes, as Russell well knew, were just 

 sufficiently plentiful, though not one too many 

 to warrant the strain on his country necessi- 

 tated by two exotic packs, which, besides his 

 own, were about to hunt it for twelve days, 

 twice in the year. But that it was so stocked 



