22 THE ETON COLLEGE HUNT. 



hold their own against the Oppidans in the amalgamated field, 

 and we think all must see that this step is a necessary one and 

 cannot be prevented now that the amalgamation has proceeded 

 so far and Collegers are admitted to all the races. College must 

 go with the age, for the age will not go with College." 



The College Beagles had only two more days hunting and 

 then Pound closed the Journal for the season in the following 

 way : 



*' May the E.C.H. never amalgamate, may the E.C.H. never 

 enjoy worse seasons than the two last, are the fervent prayers of 

 Mr. Pound, who with deep regret resigns his post of Master to 

 Mr. Armitstead." 



The obvious reluctance of Pound to amalgamate and his 

 bitter phrases regarding the whole proposal certainly seem 

 strange to us who live in days when tliere is little if any dilffierence 

 between Collegers and Oppidans (except brains). Perhaps he 

 was angry at being, so to speak, '' cornered " at the Salt Hill 

 refreshment table. Probably he was in a false position. In 

 1864 the Collegers had been admitted to all School races, and 

 so were scarcely in a position to refuse flatly what was simply 

 a request of the Oppidans. In his entry many of his remarks 

 seem somewhat lacking in common sense. If there was an 

 increase of country for the Oppidans surely the same applied to 

 the Collegers. Again it appears selfish to grudge the Oppidans 

 the use of the kennels, especially when the combined pack would 

 obviously be much improved by hounds from the Oppidan 

 pack. 



Indeed his only real grievance seems to be that many 

 Collegers would not be allowed to run with the beagles and 

 that others would not be willing to do so owing to the increased 

 subscription. There seems to have been at the time a desire to 

 keep the field very select, a membership of only seventy boys 

 being allowed. Perhaps the Head Master objected to many boys 

 being allowed to run. Or again perhaps the Masters considered 

 themselves unable to control a larger field. But it is at least 

 peculiar that as large a field as possible was not encouraged to 

 run with the beagles. It would have meant a larger subscription, 

 and consequently a better pack and better sport. As it was, 

 however, the subscription was one pound, and only twenty boys 

 from College were admitted by the terms of the treaty drawn up 

 later in the year. This treaty we shall append shortly. 



Even allowing this to be a grievance, it seems surprising 

 that Pound should oppose what seemed a most desirable object. 

 Obviously the amalgamated pack would be better run and would 



