198 THE WARWICKSHIRE HUNT. [1890 



Mr. Jenkins said it gave him very great pleasure to propose the next 

 toast, that of the Yice-Chairmen, not only because they were personal friends 

 of his, but because they were two of the l)est sportsmen that Warwickshire 

 could produce. They not only rode well to hounds, but did everything they 

 could to promote the sport in Warwickshire by preserving foxes, and in other 

 ways. They were also worthy representatives of the Warwickshire tenant 

 farmers — (hear, hear) — who, as everyone knew, were the best sporting farmers 

 in the world. (Hear, hear.) The Chairman had asked them what Warwick- 

 shire woidd do without the Warwickshire hounds. He (the speaker) 

 would like to know what the Warwickshire hoimds would do without the 

 tenant farmers. (Hear, hear.) Remarks had been made in one or two of the 

 speeches they had heard that day, as to there not being a very good feeling 

 between tlie Warwickshire farmers and the Hunt. He could only say that 

 he should like those who made the statements complained of to have been 

 there that evening, and to have seen that assembly. He dared say some of 

 them, even if they had been there, would say it was a packed meeting. Well, 

 he was very glad to say that it was a packed meeting, although not in the 

 sense which such persons intend to convey. He was sure of one thing, at 

 all events, and that was that foxhunting would never die out of Warwick- 

 shire if the descendants of the Warwickshire farmers were as good sportsmen 

 as those of the present day. He gave them the toast of the Vice-Chairmen, 

 coupled with the name of Mr. George Smith, one of the best sportsmen in the 

 country. 



The toast was received with cheers and musical honours. 

 Mr. George Smith, in returning thanks on behalf of Mr. Fairbrother 

 and himself, pointed out that so much had been said on the subject of 

 foxliunting in the course of the evening that there was little left for him to 

 add. He hoped they would all continue to support the Warwickshire Hunt. 

 He had known this pack for a considerable numljer of years. They had now 

 for fourteen years been under the Mastership of Lord Willoughby, and he 

 did not think they had ever enjoyed such good sjiort before as that which he 

 had shown them. (Hear, hear.) The speaker went on to refer to the trouble 

 they had in the past with hares, but said they had now great difficulty in 

 finding a hare, which was much the better for the hounds, and so much the 

 better for the sport. Bearing out what had been said as to the manner in 

 which Lord Willoughby controlled the pack, he remarked that he kept them 

 in order — a fact which they all very much api^reciated, for uidess they had 

 order it was impossible that they could have sport. He himself had seen 

 many a good run spoiled througli the want of someone in authority who 

 would keep the field from over-riding the hounds. (Hear, hear.) They had 

 another reason to be grateful to Lord Willoughby in the admirable way 

 in which he had looked after the condition of the pack, which, as already 

 pointed out, was shown by the success they had achieved at Northampton 

 and Peterborough, where they had not been beaten by any of the shires. 

 After all the eloquence they had heard, it was unnecessaiy for him to 

 say anything further on the subject, and he would therefore only thank 

 them once more for the kind manner in which they had received the toast. 

 (Applause.) 



There being cries of " Fairln'other," 



Mr. Fairbrother also responded. He said he was very much obliged to 

 them for the compliment they had paid him in drinking his health as one of 



