66 THE WAEWICKSHIRE HUNT. [I88I 



that is in the Warwickshire kennels up to the jjreseiit has passed, I believe, 

 through my hands, and that was what grieved me most in leaving them. I 

 do not expect ever to take so many prizes with winners at Peterborough again 

 — in nine years, fifty firsts, and nine seconds — but perhaps someone may 

 do the like again for his lordship. I look upon the presentation I received 

 from the kind friends in "Warwickshire as my one great prize, though they 

 came generously to my assistance when I lost nearly all my savings in 

 " Greenway's " bank. 



Charles Lowmau continued to be second whip. He 

 came from the South Oxfordshu'e (Lord Macclesfield), and 

 went to be first whip to the Groodwood hounds in 1883. 

 He afterwards hunted them till they were sold, and the 

 country given up in 1895. He was a very nice, quiet rider, 

 and had a wonderful good idea of the run of a fox, and 

 often gave Lord Willoughby assistance at a critical moment. 

 He is now huntsman to the Old Berkeley Hounds. 



From the time when Lord Willoughby de Broke 

 became master in 1876 until the end of the season of 

 1884, with the exception of two long frosts, there were 

 eight seasons of continuous fine sport. This was mostly to 

 be attributed to the excellence of the pack ; their condition, 

 and pace, and hunting powers were a match for the stoutest 

 fox. At the same time there were other causes which 

 materially assisted hunting. The Hares and Babbits Bill 

 was passed ; previous to that time the hounds had to hunt 

 amongst hundreds of hares, but within a short time they 

 became so diminished that comparatively few crossed the 

 scent when hunting. Lord Willoughby also took the 

 greatest pains to break his young hounds from riot when 

 at exercise and cubhunting. Besides which they got 

 plenty of blood, and that, as Bob Worrall showed, makes 

 hounds steady. In 1879 the cattle disease broke out, and 

 not only the greater part of every flock of sheep died, but 

 the horned cattle as well. Throughout the entire Vale, 

 from Wolford Wood to the river Leam, the fields were 

 for three seasons nearly emjjty, and there was hardly 

 anyone in them to head a fox. This is very sad to relate, 

 but it was much to the advantage of hunting. Soon 

 afterwards, to make matters worse, the agricultural 



