248 THE MEYNELL HOUNDS. [1898 



forthcoming, Mr. Bass be asked to resign his position as 

 Master of the Hunt, owing to his Parliamentary and other 

 duties interfering with his time and attention in the 

 conduct of the afiairs of the Hunt.' They would observe 

 what kind consideration these gentlemen had for his con- 

 stituents. As a matter of fact he had sometimes skimped 

 his Parliamentary duties in order to attend to the affairs 

 of the Hunt. The resolutions were cut and dried before 

 the meeting commenced, and he wanted to point out the 

 tactics that had been employed by this section to carry out 

 their object. Although the meeting was called to appoint 

 a deputy-master, they had not the smallest intention of 

 doing anything of the kind. And why ? Because they 

 thought that by refusing to appoint a deputy -master they 

 would be putting him in a difficulty. He understood that 

 Mr. Fort was willing, and that he would be appointed his 

 successor. He could only wish that Mr. Fort would be 

 more successful than he had been in pleasing all parties, 

 and that he would not be subjected to what, after mature 

 consideration, he must call the underhand treatment which 

 he had received. He had had great difficulties to contend 

 with in the mastership, and ofttimes they had been a 

 great burden upon him. It might interest some of the 

 gentlemen present to know that with his resignation would 

 follow that of Charles Leedham, the huntsman, who was 

 also tired of the grumbling that was carried on by various 

 members of the Hunt. 



" At the close of Mr. Bass's speech the Chairman pro- 

 ceeded to put the resolutions to the meeting, viz. *that 

 Mr. Bass's resignation be accepted and that Mr. Fort be 

 appointed his successor.' There was no discussion on them 

 and each was carried unanimously. 



" Mr. Fort afterwards returned thanks, and pleaded 

 eloquently for the support of all sections of the Hunt to 

 enable him to uphold the good name of the pack. 



" A vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. G. L. White, a 

 tenant farmer, who spoke strongly of the way Mr. Bass 

 had been treated, and said, that, if the tenant farmers had 



