THE OPPIDAN BEAGLES. 7 



But the run of the season comes as late as Thursday, 28th 

 of March. The entry is as follows : 



'' Half holiday. Met at Sanatorium. Had a brace of 

 bagged hares. The first did not give us much of a run, but 

 the second gave us a clipper ; the run of the season in fact. Ran 

 a ring to Chalvey, to the Sanatorium, away to Slough and Upton 

 Park, where we killed. Vide BelVs Life for Sat. 26th." 



In this run they joined forces with the College pack for the 

 first time. Two more days they repeated the experiment, and 

 then not again until the amalgamation in 1866. After such an 

 extraordinary run it is surprising that the arrangement was not 

 made permanent, but the fact remains that the packs continued 

 separate for another six years. 



Charrington's last run with the Beagles was the climax of 

 his Et^n career. Here is the entry in his diary. It will describe 

 better than any words of mine what must have been his feeling of 

 satisfaction at having accomplished a work that was destined to 

 piosper long after he himself had died. 



" Monday, April 11th. The last day of the season. Met at 

 Philippi. Had a capital run for the wind up and killed our 

 hare in the Field all amongst the fellows playing at cricket." 

 I wish I knew something about Johnstone, but no information 

 whatever has come into my hands concerning him, except that 

 he was Charrington's principal coadjutor. 



In 1860 R. E. Moore was Master, and of him I know very 

 little indeed, except what Col. R. F. Meysey-Thompson says in a 

 letter. 



" In 1860 R. E. Moore in Sixth Form was Master, and the 

 pack began to be looked upon as a recognised institution, though 

 it was not until the next year 1861 that a regular subscription 

 was made when J. G. Chambers was Master (afterwards so well 

 known as a 'Varsity oar and champion walker and for many 

 years the umpire at the 'Varsity Boat Race)." 



Moore actually secured the Head Master's leave to keep 

 Beagles, and henceforward it became an official sport at Eton. 

 Moore had for his only whip Baker mi., who performed the 

 (?) unparalleled feat of winning the School Steeplechase while 

 still in jackets. 



All through this period the Beagles were growing in 

 importance in the School. They did not force themselves 

 forward, but almost imperceptibly they began to assume the 

 position they have held ever since. And they continued to 

 prosper during the next three years under the Mastership of 

 J. G. Chambers, W. T. Trench and F. G. Pelham. 



