14 ROYAL ROCK BEAGLE HUNT. 



There is one other estate which is now forbidden to us. I\Ir. Haigh, of 

 Ledsham. will not allow the beagles to go on his land, and unfortunately any 

 hare found on the Ledsham side of Hadlow Road, is practically sure sooner 

 or later to run on Mr. Haigh's land, ^^'hen this occurs, the field remain 

 standing in the lane, while rlie lumtsman alone follows his hounds and makes 

 good the ring, which nearly always brings the hare back to our own ground. 

 Surely if Mr. Haigh could witness the pathetic sight of twenty or thirty 

 eager beaglers fuming in the lane, and dreading lest the hare should go 

 boldly forward over the railway line, so throwing them hopelessly out of the 

 run, he would relent and withdraw his interdict ! 



The farmers of Wirral have always been noted for their love of sport, 

 and they one and all gave a most cordial welcome to the beagles. 



Entry in the Minute Book, 24TH January, 1846. 



As we were returning from hunting we met a farmer in a cart, who told us 



his name was • -, and he should be very glad to see us \\ith the dogs at 



Oldfield, near Thurstaston, and would always find us a hare. 



The friendly feeling thus initiated between the farmers and beaglers has 

 coniiiuied without interruption to the present time, and there is little reason 

 to fear that our successors will ever have the favour of the farmers withdrawn 

 from the Hunt. 



Some of the letters from the principal landowners have been preserved 

 by Mr. Rawson, who was the prime mover in the formation of the R.R.B. ; 

 and it will, no doubt, be of interest to many that a selection of these 

 letters should be recorded. Mr. Rawson"s letter to Sir \\. I\I. Sranley is 

 a fair specimen of the manner in which the appeal was made to the 

 landlords, either personally or by letter. 



Rock Ferry, 14th April, 1845. 

 To Sir William Massey Stanley, Bart., Hooton. 



Sir, — I have had the honour of being deputed, as Chairman of the " Royal 

 Rock Beagles," to request from you the favour of being allowed to hunt over 

 your property in this Hundred. 



Our object in forming the pack has been for the sake of the excellent 

 exercise it will afford us, and the amusement it will cause to many. 



One of the standing rules of the Hunt is that horses are strictly forbidden. 

 We purpose hunting entirely on foot. 



We would at all times strictly avoid any of your covers, and on any closely 

 preserved country the hares would be far too plentiful for our sport. We should 

 therefore never willingly trespass on such. 



It was our intention that a deputation should have formally waited on you 

 for the purpose of asking your kind permission, but in your absence from Hooton 

 this is impracticable, and I have therefore been deputed to write you on the 

 subject. 



To all similar requests already made to the principal landowners in our 

 immediate neighbourhood, I am proud to say we have hitherto received their 



