THl-: MASTERS. 53 



her luishaiul, painted by tlu- liaiul of a cuiiiiiii.L; liimuT. Mr. Hoadlc ; you have 

 f^iven pleasure to our dear child, for in years to eonu' this picture will recall to 

 her naenioiy the happy days and good sport she has so often enjoyed with the 

 beagles in company with her dear father ; and, lastly, you will i;ive great 

 pleasure to many dear friends, who will sec the picture when they assemble 

 round our board, where. I hope, we dispense that Christian ,i;racc of hospitality 

 in a true and proper Christian spirit. 



I have been Master of the beagles since 1849, and this is not the first time 

 I have received from the members a token of their regard for me. In 1851, 

 upon my departure for India, they gave me a very handsome silver mug and 

 salver. Some years later they gave me a silver horn. Fourteen years ago, 

 they ga\e me a beautiful and faithful picture of the hounds, which has been an 

 ornament to our dining room, and a pleasure to all who see it. And now you 

 have made to my wife this very charming gift. When I think upon these gifts, 

 I cannot help thinking also of those many deai" friends who, having a hand in 

 them, have passed from time to eternit}' ; and that thought gives rise to 

 chastened feelings in my breast. I ask myself what I have done to deserve all 

 this kindness, this affection, at your hands, and I answer — nothing. If I have 

 done my best to show you good sport ; if I have tried to have the pack in good 

 order, all this is nothing more than is my duty to do, and I do not even deserve 

 thanks for it ; but you have given me much more than thanks. 



I have much to thank God for. He has blessed me with such health and 

 strength that now, at the age of three score years and ten, I enjoy iield sports 

 as keenly as ever I did ; and few things give me greater pleasure than a good 

 day with the beagles. I always look on Saturday, when it does not freeze, as a 

 red-letter day. I meet you on the landing-stage, and see your happy faces ; 

 then there is the pleasant talk on the drive out to the meet ; then a charming 

 afternoon of real good sport ; last, but by no means least, is the tea and 

 " methody cream" in a sweet little village hostel ; and I hope those very worthy 

 gentlemen the teetotallers will never be able to shut up that good old English 

 institution, the village public-house. 



The pack was established in 1845, and during all the long period which has 

 elapsed since then, there has always been the best and kindest feeling among 

 the members. I have made many kind and dear friends among them. The 

 little pack, in the course of these thirty-five years, has given to many young 

 men a cheap and innocent pleasure ; but it has done more than this, it has 

 encouraged a spirit of true manliness, and I hold that true manliness is one 

 form of religion, for sure I am that any man who has the spirit of true manliness 

 in him will never be guilty of any low debasing sin or pleasure. I have always 

 felt that it is a great honour to any man to be placed at the head of such a force 

 of manliness as the members of the beagles. 



All I can say more are poor words, w'hich do not express my meaning — 

 which do not express my feelings — which do not express nn- gratitude — I thank 

 you. 



Cupy of a iUu.-spapcv cutting from Miss King's scrap-book. Source and date unhnoivn. 



ANTIQUITIES OF CHESHIRE. — XV. 



Dear Sir,— From the extract below, from the old MSS., it would appear 

 that the old hunters of the forest made a great to-do about very little. I wonder 

 what the daring sportsmen of the present day would think of all this fuss over 

 the killing of such a comparatively small animai. 



I am, yours trulv, 



1:. JAMES, M.A., T.H., E.W.S., &c. 



