158 Seventy Years a Master, 



you, one and all, to accept my most sincere, unfeigned, 

 and heartfelt thanks, for having placed me in this proud 

 and pleasing position. But how comes it, and what is it 

 that has been instrumental to my being enabled to see 

 this, my Jubilee Year with the hounds 1 Why, it is 

 entirely owing to the goodness, kindness, and courtesy, 

 of the owners and occupiers of the land ; for if it had 

 not been for their cordial co-operation, the pack would 

 long ago have been dispersed, and I never should have 

 been enabled to have seen this most triumphant day; 

 and I hope those gentlemen will believe me when I tell 

 them that all they have done for me will ever be 

 remembered by me with feelings of the greatest 

 gratitude. 



" I must also thank you for your kind gift, but 

 I hope you will, one and all, believe that I view the 

 intrinsic value of it as mere dust in the balance when 

 compared to the feeling it proclaims — when compared to 

 the knowledge of my humble deeds having met with the 

 approbation of such a body of gentlemen as I see here 

 assembled. 



" And now that I find my career with the hounds 

 is fast drawing to a close, and also now I am daily 

 finding that the time is not far distant when I shall 

 be compelled to completely relinquish the joys of the 

 Chase, how often, in the solitude of the hours with 

 which I shall then have to contend, will the remem- 

 brance of this day, the remembrance of your gift, the 



