in the Seventies and Eighties. 59 



Sir William's last season was by no means a vintage one, 

 indeed the season of 1880-81 was one of the worst on 

 record in very many countries ; and from the commencement 

 of cub-hunting on Sept. 16th, 1880, until the last day of 

 regular hunting on April 14th, 1881, there was hardly a day 

 worth remembering. 



Every day's sport recorded in my diary ends up with the 

 words " no scent," or, " moderate scent " ; and foxes were 

 not so plentiful as they might have been in some parts of 

 the country, especially about Camp whin and the Fishburn 

 district — though the " bag " was a very useful one in spite of 

 every drawback. Perhaps the most interesting day of the 

 whole season was March 9th, 1881, when advantage was 

 taken of a meet at Chilton Hall, the residence of C. J. C. 

 Fenwick, Esq., to present to Sir William Eden, Bart., who 

 had given notice to retire from the mastership of the hounds 

 at the end of the season (owing to a contemplated tour in 

 India), a large and handsome silver salver, which had been 

 subscribed for by the members of the Hunt in recognition 

 of Sir William's excellent services, both as master of the 

 South Durham Hunt and of his own hounds, during the 

 past three seasons. It need hardly be said that there was 

 a large and influential gathering of members and of ladies 

 present, including Mrs. Surtees of Redworth, Mrs. Fenwick 

 of Chilton Hall, Messrs. Appleby, Denton, Fenwick, McCul- 

 lagh, Bruce, Page-Page, Robson, etc. Mr. Ord, who was 

 deputed to make the presentation for the Hunt, did so in a 

 few carefully chosen words. Sir William briefly responded, 

 thanking all for their kind thought, assuring them that his 

 mastership had been a pleasant one, owing to the capital 

 support he had met with on all sides, and expressing a hope 

 that the future of the Hunt would be as prosperous as it 



