82 Recollections of the Vine Hunt. 



A very fit one was found in Mr. Abraham Pole, 

 brother to Sir Peter Pole of Wolverton Park. The 

 following extract from a letter addressed to me by Mr. 

 T. Chute, dated March 13th, 1825, will show the con- 

 ditions which he annexed to the gift. * The hounds 

 are gone to the care of Mr. Abraham Pole, for whom 

 was raised a sum of 800/. by twelve of the gentlemen 

 present at the meeting at Overton, some giving 100/., 

 some 50/., some 25/. ; and, as they complimented me 

 as considering me present, I gave them 100/. also, and 

 I believe the required sum was immediately obtained. 

 I have parted with the pack on certain conditions. 

 That if the country is not hunted to the satisfaction 

 of the gentlemen of the country, or when the gentle- 

 man who takes the hounds wishes to decline the 

 management, they are to be returned to me again, 

 consisting of the same number of efifective hounds as 

 when received, and also of the same number of un- 

 entered ones ; the same breed and sort to be continued ; 

 as it was the wish and desire of my poor brother, the 

 last time we talked about them, being well convinced, 

 from long experience, that none could be better cal- 

 culated for the country which they hunted ; so that 

 we still have ensured a continuance and preservation 

 of the old sort, I hope, for many years.' 



Mr. Abraham Pole purchased West Ham, added 

 largely to the house, and built stables, which still 

 remain, together with kennels and a huntsman's resi- 

 dence, which stood only a short time. He was a good 

 sportsman, and the establishment with which he com- 

 menced was a very effective one, with horses of a class 

 superior to those which Mr. Chute had possessed. 

 Circumstances induced him to give up the hounds at 



