6o The Sedgefield Country 



had been in the past ; he also inthnated his intention of 

 subscribing handsomely to the pack during his absence 

 abroad ; his remarks eliciting cheers and expressions of 

 strong approval on every side. A very fair day's sport 

 ensued, remarkable in a way for a chapter of accidents, Dr. 

 Fenwick having to be pulled out from under his horse in a 

 ditch ; Claxon, the huntsman, jumped into a pond and 

 received a rare ducking, whilst the Hon. Sec. was knocked 

 off his horse by the bough of a tree, but all three escaped 

 without further injury. 



In consequence of Sir William's enforced retirement at 

 the end of the season, a meeting of subscribers to the 

 Hunt had been held at Stockton-on-Tees to consider further 

 arrangements as to hunting the country. The late Marquis 

 of Londonderry presided, and after various discussions as to 

 the retiring Master's generosity in offering to lend the 

 hounds and let the kennels, the following resolutions were 

 unanimously carried. 1. — That the country be hunted at 

 least two days a week by a subscription pack, at an esti- 

 mated cost of £1600 per annum (£1280 of which the Hon. 

 Secretary announced had been already promised). 2. — 

 That Sir William Eden's hounds be purchased by the South 

 Durham Hunt at a cost of £700, the exact amount paid 

 for them by Sir William. For this purpose a subscrip- 

 tion list was started, and upwards of £300 guaranteed, 

 the noble chairman amid great applause intimating his 

 intention of subscribing £100 towards each fund.* It was 



• The late Marquis of Londonderry, though he did not ride himself, was generous in assist- 

 ing the affairs of the Hunt. In a letter bearing date, November 24th, 1S84, Mr. 

 Harvey writes, '• And the Marquis — never was there a better friend to hunting than he 

 was ; he never but once declined me any request I made to him, and that was when 

 I asked him not to give a donation of ;fioo, which ought to have been paid by partakers 

 of the sport, but he would not listen to me !" 



