LORD LONSDALE 157 



the earth, where he eventually found sanctuary. 

 There was a great scent, and hounds flew all the 

 way. I remember the gallop distinctly, and thought 

 it was the fastest gallop of the season, with every 

 element in its favour to make things enjoyable. 

 One little incident, which only concerned myself, 

 took off a little of the gilt. I had been lucky enough 

 to secure a good position, and was first into the 

 road at Gaddesby ; but on landing a leather slipped 

 out, and, though I returned it quickly, for the next 

 mile I had to be content to jump fences behind 

 others. 



There was another good run later in the day, 

 which finished up in the^ Cottesmore wood- 

 lands. 



In my letter of 30th January I mention the 

 fact that the " Quorn Committee have decided to 

 introduce capping non-subscribers," and then go on 

 to speak in favour of what appeared to many old 

 supporters of the hunt as a " dreadful radical up- 

 heaval of ancient traditions." At that time I had 

 no idea my services would be requisitioned as the 

 official " capper," or, perhaps, I should not have 

 looked on the custom with such a favourable eye. 

 Let me say now that extracting those golden coins 

 from the pockets of visitors was one of the most 

 unpleasant tasks that has ever fallen to my lot. 

 With very few exceptions did they have the right 

 amount ready to hand out, and the job of searching 

 in a crowd of three hundred for strange faces lost 

 me many chances of getting a start. It was a new 

 departure, and, of course, many visitors had not 

 heard that "capping" had been introduced; but 

 although no one likes being suddenly asked to fork 



