190 THE WARWICKSHIEE HUNT. [1890 



limitniof." (Appbiusc.) Now I coiiic to tlie second part of my toast. "The 

 occupiers of tlie land." Well, we all owe these s'entlemen a very deep deht 

 of gratitude — (hear, liear) — for the way iu Avhich they assist the covert owners 

 in preservino- their foxes, we owe thein a delit of gratitude for the magnificent 

 way in which tliey walk our puppies, and we owe them a debt of gratitude 

 for their kindness in allowing us to ride over their laud, and for the hearty 

 and unbounded hospitality with which they always receive ns. (Applause.) 

 But if we owe this debt of gratitude to gentlemen wlio are themselves fox- 

 hunters, how much more is our gratitude due to those who, although not 

 foxhunters themselves — (hear, hear) — receive us with the same hearty 

 hospitality, help us as cheerfully to preserve our foxes, and as readily walk 

 our puppies, as the men who enjoy the pleasures of the sport themselves. 

 (Applause.) Personally speaking, I may say that I have hiuited iu this 

 country foi- — I am almost afraid to tell you how long — something like forty 

 years, and I will say this, that I have never yet experienced an unkind 

 reception or met with an uncivil word or gesture in the whole course of mv 

 Inuiting career. (Applause.) In saying this, I can speak not only of this 

 ]>ut of other coimtrit's, in which I have not only enjoyed the pleasure of the 

 wport, but have had the honour of hunting the hounds myself. (Applause.) 

 I have the greatest pleasure, therefore, in asking you to drink to this toast, 

 wishing the occiipiers of land every blessing and every success — Long may 

 they live, happy may they be ! (Cheers.) 



Mr. G-EORGE Hall. CO., of Swalcliffe, responded on behalf of the 

 occupiers of land in tlie district. He remarked that he. like the rest of the 

 tenant farmers present, had come there to show his regard and kind feeling 

 towards Lord Willoughby de Broke, whom they knew to be one of the best 

 sportsmen in England, and a good lancUord. (Hear, hear.) Farming and 

 foxhunting, the speaker went on to say. must go hand and glove if they were 

 to be carried on together successfully. (Hear, hear.) This Avas the result of 

 all the discussions on the subject, whether in the House of Commons, in the 

 Press, or among the farmers themselves. However they argued the question, 

 they came to the same conclusion, viz., that they must hold together. As an 

 ■occupier of land, he wished success to the national sport of foxhunting, and 

 to the noble lord who was the master of these hounds. Might he continue to 

 occupy that position for many years to come. (Hear, hear.) He hoped that 

 their noble master would have equally successful sport in the future as in the 

 past, that they might always have good runs, and not jump into a fox's lair. 

 He was afraid Lord Willoughby had " chopped '' more foxes in his osier bed 

 than had ever been "chopped" at any other spot in the coimtry — (laughter) — 

 but he hojied that next time they came they would have better hick, go 

 straight away, and have a jolly good run. (Hear, hear, and applause.) He 

 might add that he would sooner come and have a glass of wine with some of 

 them than have to keep up with theiii in the hunting field. (Laughter.) He 

 had great pleasure on behalf of the occupiers of land in the district, in 

 returning thanks for the kind manner in Avliich they had received the toast. 



Mr. W. Fairbrother. who was received with applause, said the toast 

 that he Avas about to propose was one which he felt sure would lie received 

 with the very greatest pleasure by every member of the company. It was the 

 health of the Hon. Greville Yeniey, who, he believed, had that day attained 

 his twenty-first year. (Cheers.) It gave them the greatest possible pleasure 

 to come there and personally tender to him their hearty congratulations — (hear. 



