2o6 ROYAL ROCK BEAGLE HUNT. 



xrbe Miural ir^avriers. 



" r.efore the eyes of both our armies here, 

 Which should perceive notliing but love from us, 

 Let us not wrangle." 



yiiiius Ctcsar, net iv, scene ii. 



In i86S, this club was formed to hunt the same country as the R.R.B. 

 liad been hunting for twenty-three years previously. The arrangements could 

 not be carried out without seriously arousing the jealous instincts of the 

 jMaster of the R.R.B , and an interesting but bitter correspondence ensued 

 between the two blasters, wiiich wii! be found recorded in the chapter de- 

 voted to ''Crises in the History of the R.R. 15. Hunt." Among those 

 gentlemen of the district wlio were prominent in the foundation of the 

 ^^'irral Harriers, may be mentioned — J. R. Court, Hugh H. Nicliolson, ^lac- 

 gregor Laird. 'W H. Jackson, \V. R Wignall, C. E. Eaton, W. Downs, John 

 Senior, J. Okell, F. Thornely, G. E. Schultz, W. Battersby, and W. Hind. 

 Some of these were old beaglers, and all had intimate friends in the ranks of 

 tiie R.R.B. 



The first ]\Iaster was V^x. John Roylance. Court, of the Rookery, Wor- 

 leston, near Crewe. He had recently come to reside in Birkenhead for the 

 education of his childr:.-n. and being a first-rate sportsman, he was not long 

 in inducing the above-named , gentlemen to join him in the formation of a 

 pack. The hounds were drafts purchased from various harrier packs, and 

 were kept at the old kennels at Hooton Hail, thus taking the place of the old 

 pack of fox-hounds maintained by Sir \\'illiam jNIassey Stanley. Mr. 

 Court was a capital Master, and showed good sport to his field. Towards 

 the end of a season he used to have runs with carted stags ; but this was not 

 because of any scarcity of hares, it was rather to provide a little variety in 

 the hunting. Mr. Court retained the mastership for three seasons, and 

 latterly resided at Mount Allars, Bebington. His death took place at the 

 close of the season 1870-71 ; and, sportsman to the last, it was within two or 

 three days of his having gallantly run a hare to finish its course in Bebington 

 churchyard. 



Mr. Hugh H. Nicholson, of Spital Hall, was then elected Master, which 

 post he filled for six seasons, till October, 1S77. On his resignation he was 

 presented with a siU'cr horn, of which he is justly proud, and now keeps 

 among his treasures. Mr. Nicholson paid great attention to the kennel 

 work, frequently visiting the kennels. He took no trouble over breeding, 

 but kept u[j the pack by purchase. One very good lot of eleven couples 

 from the Bolton Harriers Mr. Nicholson presented to the club. During his 

 Mastership Mr. Nicholson had no friction with the R.R.B.. exchanging cards 

 of fixtures, as is done to this day, antl lie never had a word of misunder- 

 standing with "Old"" King. 



