278 England's oldest hunt. 



the crew of the Dreadnought, a ' lower ' boat, and would 

 probably have made his mark as an oarsman had health 

 permitted ; but, under medical advice, he was obliged to 

 give up rowing. From Eton he went to Christ Church, 

 Oxford, where he found time to officiate as whipper-in to 

 the draghounds one season, and where he played a good 

 deal of polo, being a member of the University team for 

 two seasons, 1900 and 1901. Indulgence in sport did not 

 prevent him distinguishing himself in the schools, as witness 

 his honours degree in history before leaving. After leaving 

 Oxford, he made a tour round the world, visiting India, 

 Burmah, Ceylon, China, and Japan, and returning home 

 through Canada. While in India, he was fortunate to enjoy 

 some tiger shooting as the guest of the Maharajah of Kuch 

 Behar, the keenest amongst native princes where big game 

 is concerned." 



On his return home, Lord Helmsley made his entry into 

 public life as assistant private Secretary to Lord Selborne, 

 acting in that capacity from 1902 to 1904. He found time 

 to hunt a good deal during this period, running down for 

 week-ends from London to Melton, whence he hunted about 

 two days a week. He had been entered to hounds when only 

 six years old, and remembers being blooded by old Jack 

 Parker, who for many years carried the horn, and was a 

 famous character in Yorkshire. He was always devoted to 

 hunting, and had his full share of " spills," when, as a boy, 

 he went out with hounds in the holidays ; but tosses, notwith- 

 standing, he saw some good sport with the South Durham 

 from Wynyard and the Sinnington. On Mr. Penn Sher- 

 brooke's resignation from the mastership of the Sinnington 

 in 1904, Lord Helmsley was asked to succeed that gentleman. 

 There were obvious and excellent reasons for his appointment, 

 not only was the Viscount known as a keen sportsman, with 

 a sound knowledge of fox-hunting, but the Sinnington 

 country includes part of the large estates of the Earl of 

 Feversham, whose grandson and heir Lord Helmsley is. 

 Practically all the family property is hunted by the Sinning- 

 ton, with the exception of part of the woodland districts, 



