THE QUORN HUNT. 37 



the reins of government. So far the 

 fortunes of either spring from causes coin- 

 cident. There is, however, this difference : 

 kings very rarely abdicate ; masters of 

 hounds do so, sadly, too frequently. Since 

 the occupation of the Ouorn country by 

 My Meynell, whose brilliant career con- 

 tinued for forty-seven years, and terminated 

 with the commencement of the present 

 century, to the year 1871, no less than 

 eighteen masters of hounds have en- 

 joyed opportunities of displaying their 

 talents, dispensing their liberalities, and 

 convincing the hunting world of the charms 

 and delights that are so happily associated 

 with Leicestershire. Nineteen changes, it 

 must be observed, have taken place, Mr 

 Osbaldeston having on two separate oc- 

 casions presided as master, always delight- 

 ing his friends and followers with his 

 enthusiastic, never-tiring devotion to the 

 good cause. Thus the average term of 

 premiership has not amounted to four sea- 

 sons ; but Lord Stamford and Sir Richard 

 Sutton nearly doubled that period, and 



