90 REMINISCENCES OF A HUNTSMAN. 



of Bedford, at that time Lord Tavistock, had ceased 

 to keep the "Oakley hounds," and that at present 

 there was a vacancy. At my request. Lord Clan- 

 wilham spoke to Lord Tavistock, and at last I arrived 

 at the following facts. There had been a difference 

 in Bedfordshire between Lord Tavistock and what 

 Avas called the " Oakley Club," and when his Lordship 

 declared that he would hunt the country no longer, 

 and that he would sell his hounds, the Oakley Club 

 denied his right to sell them, and seemed inclined to 

 dictate in the matter. Lord Tavistock soon vindi- 

 cated his absolute possession of the pack by selhng 

 them ; and when I heard of the vacancy, the Oakley 

 Club were sulking at the assertion of his Lordship's 

 just prerogative, and the landed interest of the county, 

 from the Duke of Bedford down to the smallest landed 

 proprietor, over whose covers I subsequently presided, 

 viewed with dislike a great deal that they had seen, 

 and still saw, in the conduct of the Oakley Club. 



This was an unsatisfactory state of things to a man 

 seeking peace and pleasure, and needing good fellow- 

 ship among all to raise him a subscription ; but, 

 nevertheless, my heart was set on a fox-hunting coun- 

 try. I liked what 1 heard of the lands of Bedford- 

 shire, and, as spring was approaching, I applied to 

 take it, and, in the first place, conununicated with 

 Lord Tavistock. The reply I received from him 

 then was, that all he could give me, under exist- 

 ing circumstances, was full permission to hunt the 

 Duke of Bedford's woods. I accepted that as a 

 beginning, and then applied to Lord Ludlow, the 

 Duke of Manchester, Lord St. John, Mr. Orlebar, and 

 all the rest of the proprietors. The generality of the 

 replies were satisfactory, and I then was put into 



