70 The Bedale Hounds, 1832-1908 



my work." This seems to me to be a most 

 typical anecdote about this straightforward, 

 portsing, and well-behaved Yorkshire gentle- 

 man. 



Mr. Booth engaged as his huntsman, Tom 

 Carr (who came from the Herefordshire) and 

 Charles Orvis, as whipper-in. 



During his Mastership he had some ex- 

 cellent gallops, and some wonderfully good 

 fox-hunts. He had to contend with a badly 

 stopped country and a scarcity of foxes at 

 some periods ; so, had some very long draws 

 and some very disappointing days ; but, 

 generally speaking, his time in command 

 was a sporting and successful one. Mr. 

 George B. Peirson, of Baldersby, a very old 

 friend of his, thus writes of him. 



' ' As a horseman, Mr. Booth, when his 

 weight is considered, was a wonderful man 

 to hounds. Anything he rode soon became 

 a clever hunter, and it was a very formidable 

 place that would stop him when hounds 

 really ran. 



A thorough sportsman, a genial host, and 

 a deeply regretted, and to this day much 

 missed friend, are my memories of John 

 Booth.'' 



He kept a most accurate and interesting 

 hunting diary, and from it one finds that he 

 hunted the south-east and south-west portions 

 of the country very frequently. Newby Hall, 

 Bamlett's Whin, Carlton Rush, Baldersby, 

 Leckby, Milby Whins, the Thirsk Hall coverts 

 and those of Thornton-le-Street, never failed 

 to provide a good stout fox. 



