1872] PRESENTATION TO TOM LEEDHAM. 309 



wish and desire of the members of this Hunt, and of others 

 who have hunted with you, to present you with a testi- 

 monial in token of the appreciation and esteem with which 

 they regard you. This silver cup, which I now hand to 

 you, containing the sum of seven hundred and thirty 

 pounds (cheers), has been subscribed for by gentlemen of 

 this and neighbouring counties who have from time to 

 time come in contact with you, and who, one and all, wish 

 my presentation of this testimonial to signify to you their 

 thorough appreciation of your excellent qualities as a suc- 

 cessful professional huntsman, and their admiration of 

 your sterling worth as a man of honour and integrity. 

 (Loud cheers.) I can only express to you, in addition, 

 my hope that in the retirement which you have so well 

 earned, health and happiness in this world will continue 

 to be yours, and enable you to enjoy in comfort the re- 

 maining years of your life." 



The conclusion of Lord Vernon's address was received 

 with hearty cheers, which were renewed when the old 

 veteran took off his hunting-cap and bared his white head 

 to the wind. His emotion was visible, and was shared by 

 many who witnessed the interesting scene. 



Mr. Leedham said : " My lords, ladies and gentlemen, 

 I am greatly obliged to you for this very munificent 

 present, and to my Lord Vernon for the extremely kind 

 way in which he has alluded to my services in connection 

 with this Hunt. I have not got words to express to you 

 my feelings at this moment — words, I may say, fail me 

 altogether — and I can only say that I thank you all very 

 much for this most handsome testimonial to services which 

 I am quite sure I have at all times been only too glad to 

 perform. " (Applause. ) 



The company then filed through the gates, and pro- 

 ceeded to di'aw the grounds around the Hall, which is now 

 in the hands of workmen, who are busily engaged in re- 

 storing the edifice. The shrubberies proving blank, the 

 Hunt returned through the village and went off for 

 the Forest banks. A fox was found and chopped near 



