154 THE HUNT COMMITTEE. 



I therefore propose, as far as space will allow, to make 

 an impartial selection from them, leaving readers to 

 judge as to the merits, or otherwise, of the various argu- 

 ments made use of by the respective parties, and to form 

 their own judgment of the opinions therein expressed. 



In March and April 1878, the following appeared in 

 London and local newspapers : — 



The resignation of that venerable Nimrod, Mr. Tailby, from 

 the Mastership of the hounds of the Billesdon Hunt, has led to 

 a serious complication in Leicestershire, which is the very 

 stronghold of Enghsh fox-hunting. It appears that the Billesdon 

 country once formed part of the Quorn country as it existed 

 previous to 1852, and now on Mr. Tailby's retirement the 

 Mastership has been offered to Sir Bache Cunard (well known 

 among us as the eldest son of the late Sir Edward Cunard), 

 backed by a requisition in his favour signed by the occupiers 

 and owners of more than 60,000 acres of land. But the Quorn 

 master now wishes to invade the Billesdon country, and the 

 landowners who did not sign the requisition are 'torn by 

 conflicting emotions.' 



Meanwhile, a proposition has been made to refer the whole 

 matter to a committee of Boodles' Club, which does not seem 

 to meet with universal favour. It is a little hard on Sir Bache, 

 who is a plucky rider and will make a first-rate M.F.H. 



March 2^rd, i8y8. 



Just now there is a very pretty hunting squabble going on in 

 Leicestershire anent the Quorn. If Mr. Coupland, Lord Castle- 

 reagh, and Sir Henry Halford continue their present opposition, 

 matters will end by there being no hunting at all, as the 

 farmers are determined not to let Mr. Tailby's district be 

 annexed to the Quorn. They threaten in such event to kill all 

 the foxes and wire all the fences. This would be a deathblow 

 to Market Harborough, and therefore all lovers of sport should 

 sink their grievances and support Sir Bache Cunard. 



TO THE EDITOR OF THE LEICESTER JOURNAL. 



Sir, — I am requested by the Hunt Committee emphatically 

 to deny the truth of a statement, which has appeared in several 

 papers, to the effect that the majority of the landowners and 



