THE ETON COLLEGE HUNT 



PART I. 



CHAPTER I. 



THE OPPIDAN BEAGLES. 



It was a manly country-loving boy who first undertook the task 

 of introducing Beagles to Eton ; a boy, versed in the etiquette 

 of hunting and devoted to a healthy open air life, who loved a 

 horse and who loved a hound, fond of music and fond of dancing, 

 who spent every moment of daylight in cultivating the instincts 

 of a clean country-bred Englishman. 



Edward Charrington is unfortunately dead. He died in 1894, 

 but he left behind him a diary of his last two years at Eton, 

 and in this he gives a lucid account of how he initiated the 

 Beagles. He acted on a sudden inspiration. Within a week 

 he had actually got together subscriptions and purchased two 

 couples of beagles. But it is better to give the story in his own 

 words, in extracts from his diary : 



** Monday, Jan. 18th, 1858. Thought of getting up some 

 Beagles. 



" Tuesday, Jan. I9th. Got up £7 10s. for the Beagles. 



" Thursday, Jan. 21st. Ran with Lawless and Hussey. 

 Beagles. Bad run. 



''Saturday, Jan. 2Srd. Went with Vyner after 12 and 

 bought two couples of Beagles. There were eight to choose 

 from. We tried them all in a field. Gave £S a couple for 

 them. Ran a drag after 4, of four miles. I am huntsman, 

 Johnstone mi. whip." 



All this is clear enough except th«^ mention of Lawless and 

 Hussey. Charrington's pack was undoubtedly the nucleus of 

 the Oppidan Hunt which existed till its amalgamation with the 

 College Pack in 1866. But Lawless and Hussey kept 

 a few Beagles at the same time. The present Lord Cloncurry, 



