CHAPTER IV. 



1867—1878. 

 John B. Booth. 



" Tell me a man is a Fox hunter, and I loves him 

 at once." — Surtees. 



When Lord Feversham gave up the hounds 

 at the end of the season 1866 — 7, great 

 difficulty was experienced in finding a new 

 Master. Three meetings were held at Bedale 

 to discuss the question, but no one came 

 forward to take the country. 



On the 14th April, Lord Feversham' s 

 hounds were put up for auction by Messrs. 

 Tattersall, at The Leases' Kennels, and 

 what then occurred is best told in Mr. Booth's 

 own words. 



*' We were at the sale of the hounds, no 

 one had come forward to hunt the country, 

 and there was every prospect of the Bedale 

 Hunt and Hounds ceasing to exist. I was 

 more than sad, and said to my dear friend, 

 Mr. H. Clare Vyner, that in a moment there 

 would be no ' Bedale.' His reply was * Go 

 on Booth — buy — we'll back you.' I did go 

 on, and bought the hounds, thirty-three 



