186 RECORDS OF THE CHASE 



whole of the summer to dress them and bring them 

 round, which was to all appearance done satisfactorily. 

 At the same time I believe it to be utterly impossible, 

 when hounds have been reduced by neglect to such a 

 miserable state as they were, to re-establish their con- 

 dition under twelve months; and some never recover it 

 at all. The remainder of the pack (thirty-one couples 

 in all) was composed of drafts from the Ludlow, Mr. 

 Smyth Owen's Mr. Candler's, and other neighbouring 

 hunts. 



In 1848 the Earl of Stamford and Warrington relieved 

 the members of the Albrighton Hunt from all the ex- 

 penses attendant on the undertaking. His lordship 

 took the entire management, and drew William Staples 

 forth from the inactive duties of an innkeeper, to which 

 calling he had devoted himself during the last two or 

 three seasons. He had become very stout, but his lord- 

 ship supplied him with horses equal to his weight. After 

 the first season, greatly to the regret and disappoint- 

 ment of the resident sportsmen, Lord Stamford signified 

 his wish to withdraw, but most liberally engaged to 

 contribute a large sum to the maintenance of the hounds, 

 and kindly offered several valuable horses to the com- 

 mittee, which was again formed to conduct the arrange- 

 ments, and the Honourable Arthur Wrottesley under- 

 took the duties of mastership, retaining the services of 

 William Staples. 



Mr. Thomas Shaw Hellier, who succeeded Mr. Vyner 

 in North Warwickshire, which he hunted four or five 

 seasons, and subsequently the South Wold country, 

 came forward in 1852 and relieved Mr. Arthur Wrottes- 

 ley from his duties. A better selection certainly could 

 not have been made ; for, independent of his general 

 knowledge of everything appertaining to the ' noble 

 science,' as he was born in the country and passed his 

 noviciate in it, he is perfectly acquainted with every 

 detail necessary to afford sport. Edward Bullen, who 

 was with Mr. Hellier in the South Wold country, remains 

 as huntsman. 



