92 ROYAL ROCK BEAGLE HUNT. 



2). ©. JSateson. 



" Is not this your son, my lord?" — A7«»- Lear, act i, scene i. 



This gentleman is one of the few surviving original members of the 

 R.R.B., and in the early days was a well-known and prominent figure in the 

 Hunt. He was a good and persevering runner with the hounds, and no 

 doubt his fourteen years' sport with the beagles laid the foundation of the 

 remarkably good health he has enjoyed during his life. Bateson joined the 

 club in 1845, ^'"''-^ ^^'^'^s elected to the committee in 1849, which oiifice he 

 retained till 1855. He sent in his resignation in 1859, on account of his 

 marriage in that year, as Mrs. Bateson claimed that his Saturday afternoons 

 should be spent in lier company — "not in running after his horrid old dogs." 

 He was appointed in 1852, along with A. Walford and H. A. Gray, as a 

 sub-committee to fix on an alteration in the dress of the Hunt. The result of 

 their deliberations is not recorded, but our present uniform is probably the 

 outcome. 



April 9th, 1847. D. O. Bateson made one of a party of seven beaglers 

 who accompanied the hounds to Denbigh, on the invitation of Mr. Robyn. 

 They had a fine time of it for a couple of days, and Bateson has a vivid 

 recollection of their doings on the occasion. A description of the sport 

 they had with the hounds will be found in the chapter devoted to records of 

 notable runs. 



Bateson relates that the party consisted of the Master (C. Rawson), 

 V. A. King, R. Christie, W. Parkinson, A. Findlay, J. Hossack, and himself. 



We arrived after dark, and were much disgusted to find the hotel occupied 

 h\ a party of Welshmen, engaged in celebrating the coming of age of one of 

 the notabilities of the neighbourhood. They had got the town band, and we 

 thought it well to engage it also, after the festivities were over. In due time we 

 proceeded to our dinner, after which we announced that we would utilize our 

 band by having a dance. Accordingly the younger members descended to the 

 bar to engage the barmaids, others ascended the stairs and brought down the 

 chambermaids ; in fact, all the females in the house were requisitioned, and 

 right good dancers they proved themselves. In the midst of the fun, it was 

 noticed that V. A. King was standing disconsolate and partnerless, until a 

 sudden inspiration seemed to strike him ; he rushed off, but in a few moments 

 returned to the ball-room, leading in triumph the hotel cook, and with her 

 commenced the most erratic waltz ever witnessed. The lady had cooked two 

 big dinners that day, and not having had time to make herself presentable, her 

 appearance and movements were not such as would have passed current at 

 Almack's. 



The next day, after hunting, we entertained our host to dinner, and also 

 provided a supper for the keepers and shepherds of the neighbourhood. After 

 dinner we descended to the bar to join these sportsmen, none of whom spoke 

 English, which seemed no bar to their conviviality. Parkinson was especially 

 popular with them, making speeches in broad Lancashire, which so pleased the 



