MR. PENN C. SHERBROOKE. 247 



as I write are not sparing of the writer. One occasionally 

 comes across entries to the effect, " my action lost hounds 

 their fox," rather than " hounds lost their fox." The best 

 huntsman in the world is liable to make mistakes occasionally, 

 but all men who carry the horn are not willing to admit this. 

 The ex-Master of the Sinnington provided excuses for his 

 hounds rather than himself, and when he becomes most 

 exultant it is rather over hound-work than his own success. 

 So one begins to' \ee what I urged at the outset, that, reading 

 between the lines, the diarist unconsciously gives us glimpses 

 into his own inner character. I have read through the two 

 big volumes, pregnant with erudition to those who know the 

 country, with not a little interest, and have made from 

 them more copious extracts than was my intention, inasmuch 

 as there are contained therein incidents of general as well as 

 local interest which I have been unwilling to pass. It is 

 pleasing to note that as the seasons rolled on, Mr. Sherbrooke 

 encountered the birth of a new and more encouraging state of 

 affairs. Foxes became more plentiful by degrees, and this 

 speaks volumes for the popularity of the Master and his pack. 

 Each season seems to have been better than its predecessor ; 

 " blank " days became fewer, and the number of foxes killed 

 greater. We find Mr. Sherbrooke setting off with his pack 

 in all kinds of weather, so bad on at least one occasion that 

 he and his officials were alone at the fixture. Many were 

 the occasions they hunted on till dark, for Mr. Sherbrooke 

 spared no energy to show sport. Occasionally he gives us a 

 glimpse at another pack of hounds and his opinions thereon. 

 Except when illness prevented them, he and Mrs. Sherbrooke 

 seem to have been unfailing in their attendance at every 

 fixture, counting no tryst too far, no day too long. 



season 1894-5. 



Mr. Sherbrooke had his first day in the Sinnington 

 country as Master on Saturday, September 1, 1894, when he 

 took twenty-five couples of hounds to Dawson Wood at 

 4-30 a.m. He thus records his debut in his diary : — 



Put hounds into Dawson Wood, at 4-30 a.m. Found at once in 

 top corner nearest Appleton Common. No scent at all. Very few 



