SUBMITTED TO COMMITTEE OF BOODLES' CLUB. I53 



The Dispute with the Quorn. 



Upon the resignation of Mr. Tailby, the question that 

 presented itself was, how and by whom the Billesdon 

 country should be hunted in the future. 



Opinion differed very considerably, and before the 

 matter was settled a good deal of heated argument took 

 place, both verbal and through the channels of the Press. 



Whilst on the one hand certain covert owners favoured 

 the doctrine of *' in statu quo," and thought the country 

 should revert to the Quorn, — of which they held strongly 

 it had never ceased to form a part, — others, supported by 

 the majority of occupiers, were equally anxious that it 

 should retain the integral position which, they held, it had 

 enjoyed for the last twenty-two years. 



Various proposals, emanating from different sources, 

 were put forward ; owners of coverts were canvassed, 

 meetings held, committees appointed, resolutions put, 

 amended, withdrawn, and carried ; and a voluminous cor- 

 respondence, — some of a personal character much to be 

 deprecated in the true interest of fox-hunting, — ensued, 

 not only in the provincial newspapers, but in the principal 

 London chronicles and sporting journals. 



The dispute was ultimately submitted to the Masters of 

 Fox Hounds' Committee of Boodles' Club, but although 

 thirty-five years have elapsed, and the matter has become 

 ancient history, there are some old residents who are 

 inclined to think that, as the Award did not give entire 

 satisfaction (what award ever did ?), the dispute mav crop 

 up again for solution at some future time. Should these 

 prophets predict correctly, readers may be glad to be in 

 possession of the full facts as put forward at the period of 

 which we write (to which they may not have ready access), 

 which the kindness of Sir Bache Cunard, in placing all the 

 records at my disposal, enables me to furnish. 



