148 ROYAL ROCK BEAGLE HUNT. 



flock of ewes, these have a most exasperating trick of briskly rushing about, 

 and probably forcing their way through barbed wire, leaving a goodly portion 

 of their wool thereon, and getting away a field or two. It is the duty of the 

 authorities of the Hunt to advise the farmers of the coming of the hounds ; 

 then the farmer is willing to pen up his ewes or other stock to which he fears 

 damage. If this notice is omitted during the above critical period, the 

 farmer has a distinct grievance, and he is not slow to let us know his mind 

 on the subject. 



After all, if a proper amount of care and forethought be taken by 

 beaglers, the above list of grievances is not very serious, and the farmers of 

 Wirral are a jolly, good-natured lot of sportsmen, who wink at a few annoy- 

 ances if we show that we appreciate their kindness in allowing us to run over 

 their land. The only return we can make for this kindness is by doing as 

 little damage as possible, by subscribing to the local agricultural funds, and 

 by inviting the farmers and their families to partake of the hospitalities of 

 the Hunt. In the first years of the R.R.B. it was the custom to have an 

 annual dinner to the farmers, followed by a hastily-got- up dance for the 

 young people. 



Extracts from the Sport Book. 



" Sir, I would advise you to shift a shin ; the violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice.'' 



Cyiabeiine, act i, scene 3. 



Saturday, December 12th, 1846. Moreton, 11 a.m. After hunting till too 

 dark to do any more. We then had our annual Hunt dinner to the farmers of 

 this part of Wirral. About forty or fifty honoured us with their company, and 

 seemed thoroughly to enjoy themselves. Mr. C. Rawson in the chair. Dancing 

 w^as kept up till a late hour. Mr. and Mrs. Parkinson lent us their barn for the 

 dinner. 



From this it is apparent that the beaglers sat down to dinner, and even 

 engaged in the dance, just as they had come in from hunting, without the 

 tub and change which is considered so essential and comforting by the 

 modern beagler. D. O. Bateson relates that on this occasion, when the 'bus 

 was loaded to return home, the trombone player of the band was found to 

 be missing. On search being made, it was discovered that he had fallen, 

 from the stone steps leading to the barn, into a pigsty, where he was calmly 

 reposing, oblivious to everything. He was hauled out and sent outside the 

 'bus, as he was too malodorous for the inside. 



Saturday, 25th March, 1848. Moreton. At half past four we sat down to 

 our usual annual dinner to our kind and \alued friends, the farmers. We sat 

 down about one hundred and thirty in all. Mr. C. Rawson was in the chair. 

 The greatest unanimity and good feeling prevailed, and few will forget the 

 convivialities of this evening. Dancing commenced at nine o'clock, and the 

 " Beauty of Moreton " and her friends were eagerly in request. 



