196 THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. [1850 



BaniJivd, Esq., and scvcu'al otlun' i^cutlemon of tlio Himt, all of tliem wearing 

 tlio accustomod nniform. entered the dining room, the former gentleman 

 taking the chair, John Hitohman. Escj., oecnpying the vice-chair. On the 

 removal of the cloth, the Chairman propos(Ml " Her Majesty the Qneen," 

 wliich was druidc with three times throe. The Chairman then rose to propose 

 the toast of the evening, the " Health of his friend, R. J. Barnard, Esq." He 

 would mention that he had received letters from Lord John Scott, Lord 

 Leigh, Lord Villiers, and several other gentlemen of the Hnnt, all expressing 

 their extreme regret that unavoidable causes prevented their attendance. The 

 letter of Lord Leigh was as follows : " Stcnieleigh Al)l)ey, March 9tli, 1850. 

 Dear Mr. Earle, — I am afraid I shall not he ahle to be present at the 

 dinner to be given to Mr. Barnard, to wiiicli jon have kindly invited 

 me, but I am most grateful for the invitation, and am glad to hear 

 (though my lumting has long ceased) that you are going to have 

 an additional day in the neighbourhood of Leamington. I am sure 

 Mr. Barnard's zeal, aetiAity, and perseverance as master of the Warwick- 

 shire hounds are deserving- of the highest praise and the gratitude of 

 all Warwickshire sportsmen. I hope in all my woods abundance of foxes will 

 be found, and I am sm-e that my keeper. Potts, will take care that foxes are 

 preserved. I cannot forget how highly in former days I enjoyed hunting in 

 Warwickshire under the dynasties that preceded Mr. Barnard, nor am I 

 unmindful of the fondness of the sport that is shown by my son. With every 

 wish for the happiness and prosperity of Mr. Barnard and the sportsmen who 

 support the Warwickshire, I remain, dear Mr. Earle, yours most faithfully, 

 Leigh." (Cheers.) His friend, Mr. Barnard, reminded him of a circum- 

 stance which occurred some years ago, and showed how extremely anxious 

 Lord Leigh was that there should be always a fox in his coverts. His lord- 

 ship on one occasion sent for his keeper, Potts, and a short conv(n*sation took 

 place between them to this eifect : " I understand you want me, my lord," 

 said Potts. " I only want to say one thing," said his lordship. "No Fox, 

 no Potts." (Laughter.) He (the Chairman) begged to echo every sentiment 

 contained in that letter with reference to Mr. Barnard. He had had the 

 pleasure of his acquaintance for years, and ever found him animated with one 

 sincere desire not only to promote the sport of the county, but in every 

 respect to meet the wishes of his supporters in all parts of the country. 

 Some persons imagine that to be a master of a i)ack of foxhoimds 

 was a complete sineciire, that he had only to get on his horse, enjoy his out, 

 and, on his return home, his dinner. There was an old saying, "After the 

 feast comes the reckoning." Such a run as they had from Debdale last 

 Thursday might be likened to the feast; the reckoning consisted of lame 

 hounds and horses, damage done, and claims for compensation, and many other 

 matters not particularly conducive to the comfort and hapjjiness of the master. 

 The first Lord of the Treasury might as well attempt to satisfy every one of 

 Her Majesty's siibjects as an M.F.H. to satisfy everyone. All he could say 

 of their master was that he did his best. (Cheers.) Proprietors in different 

 parts of the country were naturally anxious to have their coverts drawn- 

 Tliere was his old friend Mr. Musgrave, whom they all knew was very fond 

 of shooting, and many of them knew from experience that he was still fonder 

 of giving his shooting to his friends. He felt persuaded that that gentleman 

 would rather lose all his pheasants than sign the death warrant of one fox. 

 He knew that Mr. Musgrave had written to the Master of Hounds : " Pray 



