PREFACE 



There seems to be no real reason for writing a Preface to this 

 book except for the purpose of thanking the many Old Etonians 

 who have given me their assistance in its production. At the 

 same time I should like to take this opportunity of explaining 

 that, when I began compiling this record of the Eton College 

 Hunt, it was mainly for the purpose of amusing myself during 

 the intervals of school work, football and beagling in the 

 Michaelmas Half of 1921, and it was not until the book was 

 nearly finished that I became bold enough to imagine that it 

 might be of interest to others who, like myself, have hunted the 

 hare on the ploughs of Dorney and Datchet. 



I am only too conscious of the inadequacy of my own work, 

 but, in spite of its defects, I hope that this short history of a 

 pack of Beagles which has been in existence for 64 years, 

 and which has given their first experience of hound lore to to 

 many eminent amateur huntsmen, may be of some interest to 

 Etonians past, present and future. 



I then decided to enlarge the original scope of the book by 

 obtaining contributions from recognized authorities on the 

 various aspects of Hare Hunting. I have added these in the 

 shape in which I received them as Part II., and I must thank 

 Col. Robertson- Aikman, Maj. Fisher, Mr. G. H. Longman 

 and Mr. Howard-Vyse for their great kindness in giving me 

 their help. 



I would also like to thank Messrs. Longman for their kind 

 permission to include Ch. ni. of Part II. which has already 

 appeared in the ' Hare ' volume of the Fur and Feather series 

 pubhshed by them: Messrs. Arnold for their kindness in 

 alloAving me to give a story of Rowland Hunt ; Mrs. Grazebrook 

 for lending me the diaries and photographs of her father, 

 Edward Charrington ; and Col. Meysey-Thompson for the 

 loan of his diary and for his many letters which have helped 

 to throw light on an otherwise dark period. 



A. C. CROSSLEY. 



Eton, December 1921. 



