THE LAXDLURDS. 143 



Mr. Webster had well-stocked fox covers on his property. November i2lh, 

 1846, Mr. ^Vebster wrote to W. G. l^aldwin : — 



Dear William, — On Saturda\- atlernoon a man u ilh a brace of hares came 

 up to me at the gate, and said that he was desired by the members of the R.R. 

 Beagles to leave one of them at my house. Of course I not only declined 

 taking it, but also felt exceedingly sorry that tlie gentlemen should for a 

 moment have even thought of sending it to me. 



Were it not for being an anxious preserver of foxes, the members of the 

 R.K.B. would be heartily welcome to as many hares as they could kill on 

 Upton, and I beg further to add that I can 1ki\l- no objection whatever to thsir 

 meeting here, after Sir William Stanley lias been through my preserves. 



(Signed) William Wlbster. 



Now, whenever wc meet at UiHon, we find that all hares arc sure to run 

 througii Mr. Webster's park, and often llux)uyh the shrubberies near the 

 house. Under these circumstances the "field" are always careful not to follow 

 the hounds through the gardens, nor climb the neat white railings, but avail 

 themselves of the convenient stiles which are ])laced here and there to get 

 over the fences. Tiie R.R.Pj. have always been welcomed by Mr. Webster. 

 He has known them from the very commencement, and we may safely say 

 that he has never had any cause for complaint, often as they have been on his 

 property, utdess it be, as ho once mcntionetl to our Master, that tlie mem- 

 beis did not turn out in the uniform of the Hunt. 



" We'll come to you after luiniiiig. 

 * * * « 



I wish ye sport." 



Cyi'ibcliiw, act iv, scene 2. 



The proprietors of Caldy Manor have always taken a friendly interest in 

 the Royal Rock Beagles, and for nearly the whole of the history of the R.R.B. 

 Caldy has been held by a Jjarton, one of the original members of the Hunt. 

 Among the first sixty names of subscribers may be found six members of this 

 sporting family, viz. : — R. W. Barton, Esq., of Caldy, and his two sons, 

 Richard and Alfred (who resided in Manchester, occasionally coming over 

 to the sport) ; Captain Barton, of Rock Ferry, and his two sons, Tinley and 

 Henry. All of these except Tinley Barton, the first master of the hounds, 

 joined the R.R.B. in order to give their infiuence and support to the forma- 

 tion of the club, retiring in the second season. Mr. Richard \\'atson Barton, 

 a retired mannfacturer from Manchester, purchased Caldy Manor in 1832. 

 He took up his residence there, and some time after, appointed his nephew 

 Tinley to be agent for the property. On the death of Mr. R. W. Barton, 

 he was succeeded by his son Richard, who died in 1S90, his brother Alfred 



