Ube tRew 3obn IRusscU s^s 



nothing in contravention of the law ; and that it protects 

 me. May I ask then, my lord, if you revoke Mr 

 Sleeman's license, who is to take the duty at Landkey 

 next Sunday ? ' 



' Mr Sleeman may do it' 



' And who the following Sunday ? ' inquired Russell. 



' Mr Sleeman again,' responded the bishop, ' if by that 

 time you have not secured another curate.' 



' I shall take no steps to do so, my lord; and, more- 

 over, shall be very cautious as to whom I admit into my 

 church,' replied Russell significantly. 



It may be added, that immediately on hearing the 

 result of the conference, the parishioners of Landkey 

 sent up their churchwarden with a ' Round Robin ' in 

 Sleeman's favour ; and from that day he remained the 

 curate of Landkey, till he married and removed to Whit- 

 church, a family living near Tavistock, to which he 

 succeeded on the death of his father. 



But it is only fair to the bishop to say that he, too, 

 sometimes scored. For example, one of his sporting 

 clergy, meeting him at a friend's house, said in an 

 aggrieved tone, ' I am told, my lord, that you object to 

 my hunting.' ' Dear me, who could have told you so ? ' 

 replied Dr Phillpotts. ' What I object to is that you 

 should ever do anything else.' 



It is pleasant to know that the bishop lived to under- 

 stand and appreciate the sterling qualities of Jack 

 Russell. He travelled a long way once to hear the 

 famous sporting parson preach for the North Devon 

 Hospital, and was so struck with Russell's sonorous 

 voice, ,fine enunciation and earnest manner, that after- 

 wards he expressed his admiration to his host and 

 hostess. Imagine the bishop's feelings when a lady 



