1890] COLONEL PAULET'S TOAST. 197 



He felt it a gi-eat compliment to have been allowed to jireside over such a 

 gathei-ing. He could not j)ut aside the fact that he was growing old, and he 

 should not, he dared say, have many more seasons' hunting — (" Yes ") — so he 

 would take this opportunity of thanking the noblemen and gentlemen present 

 for the very great kindness and consideration that he had at all times received 

 at their hands during the many years in which he had been accustomed to 

 meet them in the hunting field. At the same time he would take the 

 opportunity of thanking his brother agriculturists for putting ixp with his 

 sins and ti'ansgressions for all these years. He had ridden over their fields, 

 he had ridden over their crops, he had In-oken their fences, he liad left their 

 gates open — (laughter) — he had done all sorts of things he ought not to have 

 done upon their property, but he could say that he did not think he ever had 

 an uncivil word said to him throughout the whole course of his hunting 

 career, and he sincerely hoped that he had not made an enemy. (Hear, hear 

 and applause.) Again he thanked them all for the great compliment they 

 had paid him in drinking his health, and for having allowed him to preside 

 over them on this occasion, and he would only add that he hoped foxhunting 

 would long contimte to flourish, and that not only they, but their chikb-en, 

 and their children's children, might enjoy the sport for many years to come. 

 (Applause.) 



Colonel Paulet, who was well received, said he had been most unexpectedly 

 called upon to propose a toast, and as time was going on, he should not detain 

 them longer than a few moments. The toast he had been asked to propose 

 was : " The Masters of the Neighbouring Hunts." Unfortunately, many of 

 those who they would have been glad to have seen among them were unable 

 to attend, but there was one gentleman present at all events who might 

 appropriately be asked to represent them, and therefore, in the absence of 

 those other gentlemen, he wotild content himself by coupling with the toast 

 the name of the Master of the North Warwickshire Hounds. (Hear, hear, and 

 applause.) They had heard a great deal about their own hounds, the 

 Warwickshire, and no doubt all that had been said had been richly merited. 

 But they must not forget that there was another x^ack in Warwickshire. 

 (Hear, hear.) He could say for himself, and he had no doubt that there were 

 many others who would say the same, that whenever he had the pleasure of 

 himting with the North Warwickshire they had always enjoyed good sport. 

 (Hear, hear.) Under the circumstances, he would not detain them witli a 

 long speech, but he begged to propose a toast wdiich he felt sure they would 

 all respond to with the greatest pleasure, viz., "The Masters of the Neigh- 

 bouring Hunts," coupled with the name of Mr. T. H. Ashton, and success to 

 the North Warwickshire Hounds. (Cheers.) 

 The toast was received with musical honours. 



Mr. Ashton thanked them on t^ehalf of the Masters of the neighbouring 

 hunts, and for having coupled his name with the toast. He expressed their 

 acknowledgment of the very great advantage they all felt in having such a 

 pack as the Warwickshire in the neighliourhood, remarking that anyone who 

 was so fond of hunting as he was, and as he hoped all his fellow-creatures 

 were, could not but be sensible of the value of having such an excellent pack 

 in their midst. He hoped they would take advantage of them more than they 

 had done. In conclusion, the speaker thanked them very much for the kind 

 manner in which they had received the toast, and the compliment they had 

 paid him in drinking his health. 



