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ENGLAND S OLDEST HUNT. 



inclined to think that after the period when the Cleveland 

 and Mr. Rickitson's hounds joined for a day's sport they 

 came back to Swainby. 



On the present Lord Feversham taking the mastership 

 of the Bedale Hounds, he sent a number of puppies up into 

 Bilsdale to walk. It was not to be wondered at that the 

 Bilsdale sportsmen soon had these hounds entered to work, 

 and saw some excellent sport with them. Indeed, when the 



STEPHEN AINSLEY, THE BILSDALE BARD. 



young hounds went back to be entered to the Bedale pack, 

 the huntsman informed the Hon. Mr. Duncombe, for such he 

 was then, that they were ready for work, and as useful as 

 the old hounds. The secret eventually came out that not 

 only had they unlimited exercise and freedom, but also in 

 their youth were taught their work. Some years ago, Mr. 

 F. Wilson Horsfall, Mr. Walter Pearson, and the present 

 writer, spent an evening at Chop Gate, and had in old Stephen 

 Ainsley, who told us something regarding this period of the 

 Hunt's history and its resuscitation. " Often," he said, " the 

 old hounds, led by the immortal Minister, showed wonderful 

 sport — the indirect result of which was the re-establishment 

 of the pack. They used to have impromptu little hunts, 



