270 MEMOIR OF 



That the extra impetus thus given to fox- 

 hunting in the north of Devon may be attributed 

 in no small degree to Russell's example, energy, 

 and never-failing advocacy in its favour, no one 

 conversant with its past and present history can 

 for a moment doubt. Among all classes now, 

 from the peer to the peasant in that country, 

 the one feeling is to respect a fox ; whereas 

 in the early days of Russell's career, as already 

 shown, the very church bells were used not 

 only to announce public worship, or the passing 

 away of a Christian soul, but the death-knell of 

 a fox. 



It is on record, that Mr. Mervyn Marshall, 

 while attending divine service at Welcome 

 Church, near Clovelly, a fall of snow having 

 occurred during the night, was not a little 

 startled by a man putting his head twice inside 

 the church door, and shouting aloud each time, 

 "I've a-got un ; " on which almost every man 

 of the congregation, knowing a fox had been 

 traced to ground, seized his hat and quitted 

 the church. 



No such barbarisms exist in the north of 

 Devon at present ; bells do no more than the 

 legitimate work for which their pious donors 

 intended them — no more than that most de- 

 voted campanologist, the Rev, H. T. Ellacombe, 

 could wish ; and as for foxes, they have 

 fair play shown them, and if they can only 



