252 THE MEYNPXL HOUNDS. [1898 



the death of young Tom, his brother, whom he succeeded 

 as whip to the Meynell Hounds for a period of thirteen 

 years, and twenty-six years ago he took over the duties of 

 liuntsman. How well he has performed those duties we all 

 know, and a better, a more capable, a more upright servant 

 no Master of hounds has ever possessed (hear, hear) ; and 

 while he has secured the confidence of his masters, he has 

 known how to retain the goodwill and kindly feeling of 

 every one, of every class, in any way connected with the 

 Hunt. (Applause.) It is not for me, who have so long been 

 absent from the hunting-field, to say much about sport, but 

 this I think I may assert, that during his long term of office, 

 no man has striven more earnestly and conscientiously to 

 show good sport than Charles Leedham ; and, taken season 

 by season, I doubt if there are many — I might say hardly 

 any — packs of hounds who can show a better general 

 record. (Applause.) We all hope — we feel sure — that 

 Charles Leedham's successor will receive that same support, 

 and show as good sport in the future, as he has done in the 

 past (hear, hear). But to many of us who have been born, 

 bred, and lived in this country, the Meynell hounds with- 

 out a Leedham as huntsman will never be quite the same 

 thing. It was a wrench to us when the Meynell pack ceased 

 to be owned and hunted by a Meynell, but the feeling of 

 the old connection seemed to live and continue in the 

 faithful servants who had so long been associated with the 

 old name. But that is all over, ' Other times, other ways,' 



" ' Ring out the old, ring in the new,' 



and before we w^elcome the new friend, let us speed the 

 parting of the old one, with all the kindness, all the best 

 wishes, in our power." (Applause. ) Then, addressing himself 

 directly to the popular huntsman, his lordship continued, 

 " My dear friend Charles, in presenting you with this hand- 

 some present of silver and this cheque for one thousand 

 pounds in the name of all connected with the Meynell Hunt 

 — landowners, farmers, and subscribers, and all who love 

 hunting — in their name I wish you long life and happiness to 



