SOME MASTEES OF HOUNDS 265 



What, again, can I say of Mr Fernie, the very last 

 Master I have met in the field with his hounds since 

 writing the above, and one who during a recent 

 season made hunting history by two great runs, one 

 covering a large extent of Quorn territory, and the 

 other a still larger one of that of the Pytchley ? 

 Well, I can say without personality that he, the 

 longest-established (if the expression may be allowed) 

 Master in the Shires, is certainly the best-beloved, 

 and that his conduct in continuing to carry on the 

 Hunt after being personally incapacitated from riding 

 to hounds as of yore, is appreciated not only in 

 Leicestershire, but wherever hunting men foregather. 

 In the sport his hounds have shown during the 

 past two seasons, I think I may say that he has 

 his reward. 



An unusual Master, whom I saw in the field at one 

 time but did not know, was the late Comte de Paris, 

 who brought his harriers to Easton Neston one day. 

 He did not look very much the Master, and rode 

 a barb with flowing mane and tail, with a cavalry 

 seat of the old school. I don't remember that we 

 had much sport. 



Among Masters of my acquaintance I reckon Mr 

 C. J. Radclyfle of Hyde, singular for the fact that he 

 was at once M.F.H. and Master of Roe-hounds — the 

 last pack in England. Mr Radclyfi'e is peculiar from 

 the circumstance that while hale and hearty (as I 

 hope he still is) he gave up hunting altogether after 

 its having been so much a part of his life, and devoted 

 himself mostly to the gun, though always having 

 foxes in the coverts for the hounds he had once ruled 

 over. Another Master whom I knew, the late Mr 

 Lovell, did much the same— in fact, he never would 



