74 ROYAL ROCK BEAGLE HUNT. 



1l3umpbuev? 3onc5. 



" But I will tell you at some meeter season. 

 The business of this man looks out of him." 



Antony and Cleopatia, act v, scene \. 



All that can be ascertained about the antecedents of this almost perfect 

 huntsman is, that before he came to the R.R.B., he was for some years 

 huntsman with Mr. Green, of Newtown, INIontgomeryshire, by whom he was 

 highly recommended. 



When poor Kay had sent in his resignation, shortly before his unfor- 

 tunate death, the Committee of the R.R.B. had taken steps to supply his 

 place. Six applicants from various districts were forthcoming, one of whom, 

 Robert Clegg, was selected, being highly recommended by Captain Hopwood, 

 who had also previously nominated Kay. At an interview with the Com- 

 mittee, it was found that Clegg had never had entire charge of any kennels 

 or pack of hounds, and -was therefore not sufficiently experienced for the 

 situation. 



The sudden death of Kay somewhat '"forcing the hands" of the 

 Committee, they decided to ask Jones to come for a month on trial. He 

 came 21st June, 1846, and on the 2cth July was appointed huntsman, at a 

 wage of sixteen shillings per week, with house, coals, and clothes. At the 

 end of his first season, he had given so much satisfaction that his wages were 

 raised to one pound per week, and at every subsequent annual meeting of 

 the members, he was called into the room to receive the expression of their 

 satisfaction with his management of the hounds and his conduct generally. 



The qualifications of Jones as a huntsman appear in very many notices 

 recorded in the sport books of the Hunt. He was a speedy and tireless 

 runner, and a most agile leaper, usually carrying, in addition to his whip, a 

 pole with which he was able to clear hedges and gates, flying them in his 

 stride. In many of the records of notable runs, he is mentioned in some 

 such manner as follows: — "Only Jones up with the hounds." "Only 

 " Walford and Jones saw anything of this run." 



On days when scent was poor and hunting slow, Jones was very 

 painstaking in his casts, and was noted for his success in keeping on the 

 line of the hare up to a kill. In his days the total of kills was very large. 

 His management of the hounds in kennel was also highly commended, 

 and his command of " dog language " was so unusually excellent, that the 

 members, at their annual dinners to the farmers, used to have him in to 

 give an exhibition performance of "view halloos," "tally-hos," " gone-aways," 

 " who-hoops," and various forms of rating and encouraging hounds in the 

 field. 



