BOBBIE DAWSON. 105 



Horsfall), the following resolution was entered upon the 

 minutes : — 



That the Committee of the Bilsdale Hunt desire to place on record 

 its indebtedness to the late Bobbie Dawson, whose death is a great loss 

 to this, the oldest English Hunt. 



It remains only to be said, Bobbie gave away his few 

 belongings to those connected with the Hunt ; to Mr. 

 Horsfall, who did much for him in his last illness, he gave 

 his much-prized horn (said to have been handed down from 

 his forbear Forster, who was whip to the Duke of Bucking- 

 ham). By this horn he set great store, and one can imagine 

 him saying : — 



Though toil hath somewhat worn thy frame, 



And time hath marred thy beauty ; 

 Come forth, lone relic of my fame, 



Thou well hast done thy duty. 

 Time was when other tongues would praise 



Thy wavering notes of pleasure ; 

 Nov/, miser-like, alone I gaze 



On thee — a useless treasure. 

 Grace still in every vale abounds, 



But one dear charm is wanting ; 

 No more I hear my gallant hounds 



In chorus blithely chanting. 

 And there my steed has found a rest 



Beneath the mountain heather, 

 That oft, like comrades sworn, we've prest 



In pleasure's trail together. 



He also gave his diary to Mr. Horsfall, who, as already 

 stated, handed it over to the Hunt Committee. A 

 year or two previous to his death, a collection had 

 been made for him amongst hunting men around Helm- 

 sley and in Cleveland, some £60 being subscribed, the con- 

 ditions being that on his death the residue was to go to the 

 Hunt. On the morning when the presentation was made, 

 at a fixture of the Hunt at Chop Gate, Bobbie said he 

 " thowt he wad hev to git married noo." Mr. ' Nimrod ' 

 Pearson acted as Treasurer for the old man. There was a 

 little money left, and this was employed in having a grave- 

 stone carved in his memory. Unfortunately the emblems of 



