AND STIRLINGSHIRE HUNT 



vacant through the death of Sir James Miller. At 

 that time there were nearly sixty couples of hounds 

 in kennel at Golfhall and, as it was contemplated 

 that in future the country should not be hunted 

 more than two days a-week, a draft, which con- 

 sisted partly of entered and partly of unentered 

 hounds, was presented to him.^ This disposition on 

 the part of the Hunt committee was followed by 

 a gracious act on that of the joint - masters who 

 generously waived their right to repayment of the 

 value of their share in the pack,^ in consequence of 

 which the hounds became, and are now, the pro- 

 perty of the country. 



During the thirty years which terminated with 

 the retirement of Mr Cross in 1895, no fewer than 

 nine masters had come and gone, but none of these 

 had remained in office so long as Sir Robert Usher 

 and his brothers who, even now when their joint 

 rule was at an end, did not sever their connection 

 with the Hunt. After their resignation both Mr 

 Fred and Mr Frank Usher contributed to the Hunt 

 funds — the former up to the time of his death in 

 1909 and the latter up to the present time, — while 

 Sir Robert, again putting his shoulder to the wheel, 

 resumed the position he had relinquished, and is 

 master still. 



1 Minute-book, vol. ii. p. 248 et seq. In addition to the above-men- 

 tioned draft from the pack, Mr Usher received, as a memento of his 

 term of office, a gold cigarette box and lighter, presented to him by the 

 whole of the hunting subscribers at the close of his eleventh season. 

 — Minute-book, vol. ii. p. 260. 



2 Ibid., p. 250. 



315 



