SIR JOHN GERARD 113 



known, Sir John Gerard, with a long purse and a 

 liberal heart, offered to hunt the country at hia^own 

 expense, which proposal was accepted ; and at the 

 commencement of the season 1830 and 1831 Sir John 

 was in possession of the hounds, and occupying the 

 kennels and stables at Witherley, Thurlow and Jesse 

 still continuing to whip-in. Little if any alteration was 

 made in the establishment, wherein Sir John evinced 

 much discretion and judgment. The horses only were 

 changed, and those which were provided for the use of 

 the men were superlatively good. Sir John Gerard 

 essayed to hunt the hounds himself, but was not so 

 successful as his predecessor. It is an accomplishment 

 which all cannot attain; even men who have been 

 brought up in the kennels as whippers-in, and in that 

 calling have been eminently successful, have in some 

 instances failed when they attempted to undertake the 

 duties of huntsmen. 



At the conclusion of the first season Sir John Gerard 

 resigned the country to Mr. Applethwaite, together 

 with the hounds. Thurlow then assumed the post of 

 huntsman, and Jesse took the place of first whip. A 

 subscription was at the same time entered into for the 

 purpose of defraying the expenses. Well acquainted 

 with the country and well known in it, and, as well as 

 he was known, highly respected, no gentleman could 

 have been selected better calculated to have the 

 management of the Atherstone hounds than Mr. 

 Applethwaite. He interfered but little with the 

 active management in the field, but presided over all 

 with the kind and placid demeanour of a country 

 gentleman. One of the most substantial proofs of the 

 satisfaction which he gave exists in the fact that he 

 continued to be master of these hounds for a longer 

 period than any other. On Mr. Applethwaite 's resig- 

 nation he was succeeded by Captain T. A. Thomson, who 

 still retains possession of the country. 



In former days there wag a country of confined extent 

 in the neighbourhood of Shenstone, on the western 



H 



