20 REMINISCENCES OF 



the non-political character of the speeches which were 

 expected to be delivered on that occasion, he said 

 that meeting had not been convened, but had arisen 

 from the spontaneous individuality of every person 

 who wished to do honour to a gentleman whom they 

 all delighted to honour. Gentlemen had assembled 

 from all parts of the country, from the north of N orth 

 Britain, and from the southern counties of England, 

 while all Northamptonshire was present to offer a 

 testimonial to a gentleman whose portrait was so 

 much like himself, that whether he looked on this 

 picture or on that, he hardly knew the difference. 

 The House of Lords was not an inappropriate toast 

 for an occasion of that kind, for as he believed a hater 

 of fox-hunting had no virtues, he believed that a lover 

 of fox-hunting was a representative of all the virtues, 

 and was a man who entertained loyalty to his Queen, 

 and reverence for all the great institutions of his 

 country. There was such a thing as blood in the 

 human race as well as in the breed of horses, and 

 long might it flourish. In the past history of this 

 country, noblemen had not been wanting who joy- 

 fully laid their heads upon the block when they 

 believed that the interests of their country were at 

 stake, and should the institutions of this great country 

 ever be again at stake, whatever might be the cause, 

 whether social, political or religious, he hoped there 

 would never be wanting noblemen who would be 

 ready to follow the example of their ancestors, and 

 to say dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. With 

 that toast he would couple the name of Lord Rosslyn. 



