28 THE ETON COLLEGE HUNT. 



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In autumn of 1869, I remember, Jack Thompson 

 (Mr. Anstruther Thompson's eldest son), George Wickham 

 and I, all very keen, went to several of the farmers 

 and did our best to get them to keep hares, and we certainly 

 were better off the next year. There were hardly any hares on 

 the Dorney side; beyond Salt Hill and Langley were best, but 

 nowhere good. In those days we never got a day off for a hunt ; 

 I only remember one, to Oakley Court, where we were most 

 hospitably entertained but had a blank day. When at Eton 

 last June I had a look at hounds and kennels. Very different 

 from old days, kennels roomy, airy and clean, and hounds with 

 a nice bloom on them ready to go into work when wanted." 



Another well-known name is that of Lord Derwent, who as 

 Francis Johnstone was master in the same year that E. P. 

 Rawnsley was second whip. In a letter he gives a short record of 

 his beagling career at Eton from the time that he became a whip. 



*' In 1868 I was second whip to Walter Calvert, Armitstead, 

 K.S. being first whip. The amalgamation of the two packs had 

 taken place, and an arrangement made, I imagine, that a Colleger 

 should always be on the hunt staff. In the following year, 1869, 

 I was master, Browne, K.S. was first whip, and E. P. Rawnsley, 

 who has only just retired from the mastership of the Southwold 

 after a long and very successful career as huntsman of that pack, 

 was second whip. During the year I ran with the Eton beagles, 

 we had only '' after 12 " and half holidays to hunt on. So our 

 efforts were limited from the point of view of time, and I do not 

 recollect killing many hares, but latterly no bag-foxes were kept 

 to hunt. 



*' I paid a visit in the Lent Half of this year to the new 

 kennels, and only wished I was young enough to follow the 

 charming pack on foot as of yore." 



The name of E. P. Rawnsley is too well known and honoured 

 to be passed over thus lightly. For forty years he was Master 

 of the Southwold, and he is well known not only in Lincolnshire 

 but in every part of England as one of the most devoted 

 supporters of hunting. 



Johnstone's season was better than either of those of W. C. 

 Calvert. But although the latter killed only three and two 

 hares in his two seasons respectively, yet he showed some 

 good runs, and the amalgamation was universally acclaimed as 

 a success. 



Before proceeding further it will perhaps be as well to give 

 some account of the country hunted by the E.C.H. at that time. 

 It was bounded on the south by the River Thames and on the 



