The Bedale Hounds, 1832-1908 135 



ten weeks they found * ' their occupation 

 gone/' Since the muscles of the body 

 could not be exercised on a horse, some wag 

 of wit exercised his brains with the pen; 

 and the following amusing brochure on the 

 sad want of employment for those accus- 

 tomed to hunt with the Bedale, was anony- 

 mously produced in the country. 



Without Prejudice. 



THE VERY SELECT COMMITTEE 

 ON LABOUR. 



THE COMMISSIONERS appointed to enquire 

 into the distress, sat under the presidency of 

 Sir John Lawson, Bart., at the Black Swan 

 Hotel, Bedale, on Tuesday, 26th February, 

 1895. Being Market day the proceedings 

 excited the liveliest interest. A melancholy 

 gaiety was given to the scene by the number 

 of red coats worn, but this feeling wore off 

 as the wan and dejected appearance of these 

 gallant sportsmen met our eye, they had 

 evidently suffered severely and felt their posi- 

 tion keenly ; the sit of their costumes hardly 

 gave evidence of the best sartorial efforts of 

 their respective snips. 



On the appearance of the Chairman, who by 

 the way is, we hear, no relation to Sir Wilfred 

 Lawson, an attempt at a cheer was made, 

 which was courteously and feelingly acknow- 

 ledged. Sir John is, we may add, president 

 of " The Anti-Humbug Society." 

 Captain Wilson-Todd said he was Master of the 

 Bedale Hounds, and in consequence kept a large stud 

 of horses, innumerable dogs, and a great many servants, 

 the whole of which, including himself, were now thrown 



