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CHAPTER XVIII. 



NEIGHBOURING PACKS. 



" Then you love us, we you, and we'll clap hands ; 

 Wheu peers thus knit, a kingdom ever stands." 



J'ericlfs, act it, scene 



'I'here are three packs of beagles wliich may be said to be neighbours 

 to the R.R.B. The Clieshire Beagles, the Malpas Beagles, and the Llangollen 

 Beagles or Harriers. None of these can boast of so long a career as the 

 R.R.B., the first-named having the longest record. With all of them the 

 R.R.B. have always been on good terms, and the) fraternize together at 

 every opportunity. The Cheshire country is the only one that borders ours, 

 but there is no chance of any incursion into one another's country, except 

 about Backford. and l)et\veen Capenhurst and Mollington. No friction has 

 ever arisen between the two packs, and none is ever likely to arise while the 

 admirable feeling of friendship exists as at present. It is a rule in the 

 etiquette of sport that a pack of hounds may follow their game into another 

 country, but they must not draw there. In the case of a fox, if it enters a 

 cover in a neighbouring country, the hounds must be whipped off as scon as 

 possible. 



Ube Cbesbire Bcaoles. 



" .'\nd lo our sport. Madam, now shall ye see 

 Our Roman hunting." 



'ft /us ^Indtoiiiciis, act it, scene 3. 



This Hunt is ten years junior to the R.R.B., Mr. F. L. Bagnall starting 

 a private pack in 1854. In January, 1855, a meeting of a few friends of 

 Mr. Bagnall was iield in Chester, at which Mr. J. T. Pownall pioposed the 

 following resolution, which was duly seconded and carried : — " That a club 

 " be formed, to be called the Scratch Beagle Club, the number of members 

 " not to exceed twelve." F. L. Bagnall was appointed Master and Huntsman ; 

 J. T. Pownall, Secretary and Treasurer; while (t. J. Walmsley and \. O. 

 Walker were elected members. In June, 1856, the name was changed to 

 the Chester Beagles. 



BB 2 



