CHAPTER XIX. 



VISCOUNT HELMSLEY'S MASTERSHIP. 



On July 29th, 1903, the annual puppy walk took place at 

 Sinnington, followed by a luncheon, over which Mr. Sher- 

 brooke presided, accompanied by Mrs, Sherbrooke, Miss 

 Sherbrooke, and supported by the Earl of Feversham, Lord 

 Helmsley, the Hon. H. W. Fitzwilliam, Hon. Capt. Johnstone, 

 Mr. Geo. Lane Fox, Mr. Alfred Pearson, Mr. Robin Hill 

 and others. The Earl of Feversham proposed the health of 

 " their very excellent and valued friend, the Master of the 

 Sinnington," He continued : — 



" I feel the greatest difficulty in finding words to express our 

 gratitude to Mr. Sherbrooke for the very handsome manner in which 

 he has carried on the hounds for the last nine years. Mr. Sherbrooke 

 has proved himself a thoroughly good sportsmen and one of the right 

 sort. He is a wonderful judge of hounds— as has been proved by what 

 we have seen on the flags to-day. In addition to this he is a kind man 

 and courteous to all. I only wish I could say I had reason to hope 

 he will long continue as Master — (loud cheers) — but intimations have 

 been made and rumours have got about that Mr. Sherbrooke does not 

 intend to carry on the hounds after next season — (oh ! oh !) — if that 

 is so 1 for one — and I am suro you will agree with me — am vory sorry, 

 and I only hope the rumours are not true. We cannot but feel indebted 

 to a gentleman who has come into the country like ours and hunted 

 it as he has done, and I do not know that I can exaggerate the benefit 

 it does to the country. There are many who derive the greatest pleasure 

 and benefit from going out with hounds, and I have heard that horses 

 which hunt with the Sinnington Hounds make considerable prices. 

 In conclusion, I can only add that whether Mr. Sherbrooke's period 

 of mastership be long or short, I must say that he has proved one of 

 the best sportsmen who ever crossed Ryedale or the Vale of Pickering." 

 (Loud applause). 



Mr. Penn C. Sherbrooke said : — 



" I thank Lord Feversham, I thank you all, but the time comes 

 when everything and every person wants a rest. The horse needs a 

 rest, the fox, too, occasionally needs a rest, and the hounds also. The 

 master and master's pocket are no exception to the rule. However, 



