182 THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. 



Then fill your glass, and drain it, too, with all yonr heart and soi;l, 

 To the Ijest of sports — the foxhnnt, the fair ones, and the bowl. 

 To a stout heart in adversity through every ill t(j steer, 

 And when foi'tuue smiles a score of friends like those around us here. 



Lindsay Gordon. 



Here's a health to every sportsman, be he stableman or lord. 



If his heart be true, I care not what his pocket may afford. — Idem. 



Nunc est bibendum. — Horace. 



COMPLIMENTARY DINNER TO LORD WILLOUGBBY DE 



BROKE. 



Reprinted from the '• Warunch and Warwickshire Advertiser,'''' Saturday, 



April Uh, 1890. 



The complimentary dinner to Lord Willoughby de Broke, as a mark of 

 esteem on the part of the tenant farmers and foxhunters of the district, and 

 in recognition of the successful manner in Avliich he has carried on the 

 Mastership of the Warwickshire Hounds, took place at the County Hall, 

 Warwick, on Saturday evening last, under conditions which must have been 

 exceedingly gratifying to all concerned. It is now some fourteen years since 

 Lord Willoughby took over the management of these lioimds, aiul everyone 

 who knows anything about the circumstances knows that his administration 

 has been a conspicuous success. A keen sportsman, and possessing in a 

 marked degree that innate love of the chase which is so boasted a characteristic 

 of the English country gentleman, he has spared neither time, troiible, nor 

 expense to bring his pack to i^erfection, and his untiring energy, thorough 

 knowledge of the sport, and also, we believe, his somewhat stern enforcement 

 oi discipline, are acknowledged by all real sportsmen as having lieen of the 

 greatest possible value in furthering the interests of the Hunt. There was 

 every reason, therefore, why the lovers of the sport should have wished to see 

 him publicly entertained, and, considering how highly good fellowship is 

 prized by the foxhunting fraternity, the Master of what has been described 

 as the best pack in the kingdom should surely have been a proiid and happy 

 man on this occasion. For, as pointed out by one of the speakers, it was a 

 compliment from the whole Warwickshire country, and not oidy so, 1:)ut of 

 sportsmen from beyond the borders of that country, and certainly there was 

 no doubt al)out the sincerity of the compliment. The Shire Hall has been 

 the scene of a great many festive gatherings, but never a more enthusiastic 

 one. The attendance was large, there being upwards of 300 present, and the 

 company was thoroughly representative — landlords and tenants. Masters of 

 houiuls, and sporting farmers, being all united in their admiration of Lord 

 Willoughby and the Warwickshire Hunt. The idea originated, however, 

 among the teunnt-farmers, and it was felt to be oidy appropriate that those 

 who promoted the dinner shoidd share the honours of the evening. In Mr. 

 E. P. R. Knott, of Fenny Compton. an excellent representative l)oth of sport 

 and agriculture, was found an admiralile Chairman; wliile Mr. W. Fairbrother, 

 of Burton Dassett. and Mr. George Smith, of Ailstone, were with equal 

 propriety selected to fulfil the duties of Vice-chairmen, these gentlemen 



