106 RECORDS OF THE CHASE 



interests of his country required his assistance, and 

 highly must his services be appreciated by his friends 

 and neighbours. If any proofs were wanting of the 

 esteem in which many gentlemen are held who have 

 zealously devoted their time and talents to fox-hunting, 

 they would be found in those gratifying testimonials 

 which are frequently presented to them. However 

 complimentary and flattering such offerings may have 

 been on other occasions, none could have exceeded that 

 which was proffered to Mr. George Payne on the last 

 day of March, 1846. Between three and four hundred 

 of the nobility, landlords, farmers, and others, all 

 good men and true to the noble cause, connected with 

 the Pytchley Hunt, assembled at the festive board to 

 request Mr. Payne's acceptance of a piece of plate, 

 designed for the purpose of a candelabra and epergne, 

 standing three feet six inches in height, and weighing 

 six hundred ounces, upon which was the following 

 inscription : " Presented to George Payne, Esq., Sulby 

 Hall, by upwards of six hundred farmers, tradesmen, 

 and others, of Northamptonshire, as a testimonial of 

 their gratitude for his unceasing efforts to promote the 

 manly and healthful sports of the county. March, 

 1846." 



The late Lord Alford hunted the country with great 

 spirit, liberality, and success, and kept the hounds on 

 a whole season after declining health prevented his 

 lordship participating in the sport. The Hon. F. Villiers 

 succeeded his lordship in 1851, and the following year 

 resigned to Lord Hopetoun, under whose management 

 they cannot fail to maintain the distinction for which 

 they have been so justly celebrated. 



The Pytchley country is surrounded by the Quorn ; 

 the Cottesmore, Earl Fitzwilliam's ; the Oakley, Lord 

 Southampton's ; the Warwickshire, and the Atherstone 

 Hunts. 



Comprising a portion of Leicestershire, about an 

 equal extent in Warwickshire, and an angle of Stafford- 

 shire, is the Atherstone country, very little inferior to 



