MR. VICKERMAN's SECRETARIAL EXPERIENCES 463 



hounds. A large party, consisting of the leading men of the 

 county (including the Hon. H. Petre), and good and true 

 huntsmen, assembled to do justice to the breakfast, and more 

 especially to recognise the merits of a real and true sportsman, 

 Mr. Vickerman had held his office for twenty years, and during 

 that time has bred as many good horses and ridden them as 

 straight as most men. Upwards of a third of a century ago 

 Mr. Vickerman, as a junior partner in a well-known firm of 

 solicitors, commenced his career as — what would have been 

 called in those days — a cockney sportsman, i.e., he employed 

 his leisure in hunting, and applying a good business mind to 

 sport, he acquired a thorough knowledge of horses, hounds, 

 and of the noble art of hunting, and became a great proficient 

 in the sport, and, moreover, a substantial supporter of it. 

 Accordino- to the statement of Mr. Oso-ood Hanburv, who 

 proposed the host's health, it appears that Mr. Vickerman 

 never applied to the guarantors of the Hunt for any subsidy — 

 in other words, he balanced the accounts from his own purse, 

 paying for the "spongers '' sooner than increase the expenses of 

 the Hunt to liberal subscribers. Mr. Vickerman's experience 

 as honorary secretary and treasurer to the Hunt is very much 

 the same as the experience of very many others who promote 

 sports of all kind, and who are " lived upon," in instance whereof 

 we will quote a few words from his farewell speech : — " They 

 had been well supported by some, but he complained that some 

 hunting men with means had not the heart to subscribe, and 

 it was then the stern duty of the Hunt Secretary to be down 

 upon them, and try first what a little softness and persuasion 

 would do, and, if that did not answer, to o-ive them to under- 

 stand that they were not wanted. It was very unfair that 

 people should seek to enjoy their sport at other people's 

 expense, (Hear, hear.) ^lany farmers rode with them, to 

 whom he should not think of applying for subscriptions, for 

 they rode over their fields and crops, and they would not allow 

 them to meet at their places without providing breakfast, and 

 yet many were liberal enough to give subscriptions unsolicited." 

 (Applause).' 



" Although a huntsman of the hiohest order, he did not 

 follow this pursuit to the exclusion of the many other branches 

 of English sport. Yachting, golf, cricket, lawn tennis, and 

 boating, found in him an ardent patron, and he was ready to 

 give a helping hand in the furtherance of these national 

 pastimes. At the rear of Hean Castle he laid out a large 

 cricket ground, which was regarded as one of the finest pitches 



