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called Handley Cross — for the whole of the circumstances 

 surrounding the history of the Hunt were not dissimilar to 

 Mr. Jorrocks' famous Handley Cross pack. The hitherto 

 trencher-fed hounds were kennelled at the rear of the house, 

 a whip was appointed, hounds subjected to kennel discipline, 

 regularly exercised, and systematically fed. Mr. Lowndes, 

 connected with whose family is so much of interest in the 

 world of venery, took an active interest and part in the 

 whole of the kennel work, and soon made evident he intended 

 to bring the Bilsdale pack to a much higher status than it 

 had ever known before. He saw local covert owners, and, 

 indeed, paved the way for a very successful season. The 

 opening meet was at Carlton, when a very large number 

 turned out to see the Bilsdale Hounds, which up to then 

 had merely been a name to them, under the control of the 

 young and energetic South-country M.F.H. I believe this 

 first day was blank — the only blank day of the season. 

 Afterwards, foxes were found plentiful everywhere, and 

 Mr. Lowndes met with a very hearty welcome, perhaps 

 peculiar from the Tyke towards a sportsman. He proved 

 himself really fond of the sport, and everything connected 

 with it, and what is more he showed the Cleveland, the 

 Hurworth, and the South Durham fellows that whatever 

 Ins cattle might be, his heart was in the right place, 

 and they must go hard and straight when hounds ran 

 with a good scent if they would catch the Master of the 

 Bilsdale. He could not bear to see anyone going on 

 ahead, and at the outset he was a better rider (I do not 

 say horseman) than he was a huntsman. It is not 

 inferred that he was a " jealous rider " in the usual sense 

 of the term, but simply that he must be in the first flight, 

 even though the foremost in the chase might be indiscreet 

 and careless as to the fact that they would want their horses 

 not only later in the day, but on some future occasion near 

 at hand. 



A story is told of a day with the Hurworth Hounds, 

 which illustrates my point. One day, hounds were some- 

 where near Picton, and amongst the followers were Mr.. 



