34 



ROYAL ROCK BEAGLE HUNT. 



they could not have been back with the hounds at Arrow till after three p.m., 

 when they would have gone in to lunch, turning out afterwards for a 

 half-hearted draw, with failing scent and waning liglit. Wliat would have 

 been the state of mind of enthusiastic beaglers, coming out with the 'bus 

 in the hope and expectation of a good afternoon's sport, and finding no 

 hounds awaiting them at the meet ? 



Among the duties of the Master is to send cards of tlie fixtures to 

 various farmers over whose land we expect to hunt ; so that they niay, 

 if necessary, prepare for the advent of the hounds, by bringing up ewes, 

 or young colts, &:c., which might be injured by running about in their 

 excitement ; and it is every beagler's business to report to the Master any 

 complaint from farmers which reaches his ears, as it is the Master's province 

 to judge whether the case demands immediate attention. 



The Royal Rock Beagles have ever been fortunate in the selection of 

 their Masters. The right man has always turned up whenever iliey Iiave 

 been in the predicament of having to choose anotlier Master, and each has 

 been a distinct success, well suited to liis period. From the inauguration of 

 the Royal Rock Beagles in 1845 to this year of jubilee, there have been six 

 Masters : — 



Tinley Barton ----- from 1S45 to 1S48, for 3 seasons. 

 Christopher Rawson - - - ., 1848 ,, 1853, .. 5 „ 

 A-'incent Ashfield King - - ,, 1853 ,, 1882, ,, 29 ,, 

 Louis Rudd Stevenson - - ,, 1882 ,, 1889, ., 7 ., 

 John William Macfie - - ,, 1889 ,. 1890, ,, i ,, 

 J. (lould-Smyth - - - - ,, 1890 ,, 1895, ,, 5 ,, 



50 seasons 



In the first days of the Royal Rock Beagles, the Master was not, as now 

 is the case, the head and forefront of the club, but was elected annually by 

 the committee, in accordance with Rule 5, as ]\Iaster o( the hounds in the 

 field, being, ex officio^ a member of the committee. According to the rules 

 and practice of the club, the committee were the real rulers, and the chair- 

 man, having a casting vote, was the supreme head, occupying the chair at all 

 meetings and dinners, and taking the lead on all occasions. 



AVith the exception of Colonel King, all the gentlemen who have been 

 Masters of the R. K.B. are still living, and the last three remain valued 

 members of the Hunt. 



The following accounts of the individual Masters will be of interest to 

 all past and present beaglers, and no apology need be offered for the extreme 

 length of the record of the late Colonel King, as any scrap of information 

 about him will be cherished by all members of the R. R. B. who enjoyed the 

 charm of his acquaintance. 



