188 THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. [1890 



liave done iu regard to the work of training tlie lionnds, in euljliunting or 

 in other respects, I deserve no thanks at all, for it has been to me entirely 

 a labour of love. I have done it because I have liked it. I have been, of 

 course, an enthusiast, and perhaps rather too much of an enthu.siast, iu the 

 matter of foxhuntiug, but I lielieve that in foxhunting, as in almost every 

 otlier pursuit in the world, if your whole heart and mind are not brought 

 to bear upon what you are trying to do, you will never succeed. (Applause.) 

 That has been the case with me. Had I not been very fond of the sport, 

 it is very possible that instead of at present so kindly entertaining me at 

 dinner, you would, some time ago, have given me notice to quit the 

 Mastership. (Laughter.) Not only so, but I have received ample reward 

 during all these years l)y making those friendships to which Mr. Knott lias 

 so appropriately referred. As he remarked, if it were not for foxhunting we 

 should never make acquaintance with each other iu the way we do. I 

 won't go quite so far as to say that we .should never know each other, liut 

 I am quite sure tliat by going foxhunting I liave made friends in distant 

 parts of Warwickshire, whose friendship I might otherwise never have 

 enjoyed, frieiulships that I hope will last myself and my family throughout 

 our lives. (Applause.) I feel that you would not desire a long speech this 

 evening. There are trains to catch, and time is drawing short. But there is 

 one thing we miist all remember — and as regards my own case I cannot 

 disguise the fact from myself — that we are all getting on, and with old 

 Time we are powerless to deal. He will beat us all. I feel that the day cannot 

 be very far distant when you will be voting me old and slow — ('" No."') — 

 and wishing for a younger and quicker Master. (•' No.") When that time 

 comes I hope you will tell me .so, and not grumble and say to one another 

 that Broke is getting old and .slow, and you can't put np with him any 

 longer. (Laugliter.) I hope you will tell me, and then, my lords and 

 gentlemen, I shall be most happy to make room for another Master, and I 

 will work as hard to help him iu the future organisation of tlie pack as 

 my good and A'alued friend Lord North has done for so many years, and witli 

 such great ability and kindness, for me. (Applause.) I feel that I have not 

 said half that I ought to have said. l)ut there are times when one's feelings 

 are too deep to be expressed in words, so j)ray do not think me ungrataful 

 to you for all the kindness you have shown me ever since I have l)eeu 

 Master, and especially for the great kindness you have shown this evening, 

 if I have failed to acknowledge it in a proper manner. Gentlemen, in the 

 words of an old Zingari song : 



May the friendships we form never sever, 

 May each link lengthen long and grow old. 



(Cheers.) May we always l)e the good friends we ai"e this evening, and 

 may I never do anything to forfeit the good opinion that you have so kindly 

 expressed to-night. (A])plause.) My lords and gentlemen, I drink this 

 glass to all yoiir good healths, to better times to farmers, and to long life and 

 happiness to you all, and more especially to foxlnmters and to the Warwick- 

 shire Hmits. May foxhunting flourish a thousand years. 



Perish the thought, may the day never come, 

 When the gorse is uprooted, the foxhound is dumb. 



(Cheers.) My lords and gentlemen, and Mr. Knott, I again thank you very 



