AND STIRLINGSHIRE HUNT 



in the beginning of the year 1877, it was received 

 with the greatest regret. That his mastership 

 should close without some outward sign of the 

 approbation with which his labours were viewed 

 was not possible, and at East Barnes, whither 

 he removed some years later and now lives, 

 there is a much -valued piece of silver plate bear- 

 ing this inscription : " Presented by the Members 

 of the Lothians Hunt to James Hope, Esq., 

 Duddingston, in remembrance of the pleasant and 

 excellent sport they enjoyed during his Master- 

 ship of the Lothians Fox-Hounds for a period of 

 six years, 1871 - 1876." This and some other 

 mementos of his term of office were handed to 

 him at a luncheon which was given in his honour 

 in the Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh, on the 31st 

 of October 1877, when the presentation, which 

 was undertaken by Colonel Gillon, was witnessed 

 by many approving and familiar faces, includ- 

 ing those of the Earl of Haddington, Sir Arthur 

 Halkett, Mr W. W. Anderson, Norton Mains ; Mr 

 Barstow, Mr Blackwood, Mr Tait Burton, Captain 

 Carmichael, Mr Christie, Mr Craig, Dalkeith ; Mr 

 Drybrough, Mr Fletcher, Bangour ; Mr Ford, 

 Hardengreen ; Mr Gibson, Cliffconhall ; Mr Gray, 

 Braehead ; Colonel Hare of Calderhall, Mr Harper, 

 Bridge-end; Mr T. E. O. Home, Mr Hunter, 

 Haugh ; Mr George Mitchell-Innes, Mr Kerr, The 

 Bloom ; Mr Paterson of Bankton, Mr Riddell, Mr 

 Arthur Robertson, Mr Alexander Robertson, Hoe- 

 bridge, Melrose ; Mr John Swan, Mr Usher, Captain 



245 



