CHAPTER V. 



1878—84. 

 Major Henry F. Dent. 



" Some people call a man a Master of 'ounds what 

 sticks an 'orn in his saddle and blows when he likes, 

 but leaves everything else to the 'untsman. That's 

 not the sort of Master of 'ounds I mean to be." — 



Surtees. 



On the resignation of Mr. Booth, several 

 gentlemen were mentioned as likely to take 

 his place, among them being Lord Castle- 

 reagh. The Honourable George Lascelles, 

 Mr. R. Bell, and Mr. George ElHot; but a 

 successor was finally found in Major H. F. 

 Dent, who had recently retired from the 

 7th Dragoon Guards. He took up his resi- 

 dence at Bedale Grange. 



It is sometimes instructive to see our- 

 selves as others see us, and the following 

 description tells how the special corres- 

 pondent of the * * Field ' ' in the summer 

 of 1878, viewed us. 



' ' The Bedale country is one of the best 

 adapted for Fox-hunting in the North of 

 England, a few more good coverts, a few 

 more good foxes, with the right sort to pre- 



