268 England's oldest hunt. 



chaffed about it in the clubs." Mr. Elliott spoke re-assuring- 

 ly in the reply, " Put a bold front on, Sir John," he remarked, 

 " and tell them that you can draw 16 couple of as good 

 hounds out of Hill's as can be drawn from any pack, and that 

 they don't know what they are talking about." This proved 

 to be correct, and Sir John was able to smile happily. When 

 Beers began to catch his foxes well with the new hounds, 

 and from time to time success attended him to a marked 

 extent. That success has clung to the Grafton to the present 

 day. 



The remains of the deceased gentleman were lain to rest 

 in Brompton Churchyard, and the esteem that was felt 

 was shown by the large attendance. Naturally, at the 

 funeral of one who had been for so long connected with 

 hunting, there was a large number of gentlemen connected 

 with that sport present. 



I give this data as telling something not only of one of 

 the finest sporting families in Yorkshire, but at the same time, 

 the forbears of Mr. Robin Hill, whose name plays a prominent 

 part in the epoch of the Sinnington Hounds at present under 

 review. 



When " Baily's Magazine " had a ballot amongst their 

 readers as to the " Twelve Best Amateur Huntsmen of 

 to-day," Robin Hill was included at the head of one section 

 which contained the names of Mr. Fullerton, Earl of Lonsdale, 

 Messrs. H. Selby Lowndes, F. Lort Phillips, Fred Swindell, 

 and W. H. A. Wharton. In a review of the voting, the 

 editor said : — 



'* It goes without saying that a huntsman may be able to show 

 excellent sport in country of one character, but may fail to satisfy his 

 field amid different surroundings. Some of those who have sent us 

 lists thus discriminate between the merits of their nominees. Mr. 

 W. E. Rigden, Master of the Tiekham, is considered by those who know 

 him a particularly able huntsman in woodland country, in which, it 

 is hardly necessary to observe, the best huntsman is likely to be very 

 highly tried. Mr. Robin Hill, who enjoys the unique distinction of 

 being huntsman to two packs (Sir Everard Cayley's and the Sinnington) 

 is accredited with exceptional knowledge of moorland hunting. Now 

 if these two gentlemen were asked to change places for a time, Mr. 

 Rigden to hunt the moorland foxes in Yorkshire, and Mr. Hill to hunt 



