4 PREFACE. 



guished company, but by his success in the matter 

 of sport incurred the jealousy and rivalry of a neighbour- 

 ing magnate, the Duke of Somerset, wiho endeavoured 

 in vain to supplant him. Mr. Roper died in the hunt- 

 ing field in 1722, aged 84, and the Duke of Bolton 

 succeeded him in the Mastership. 



Some articles of agreement as to sport in the 

 locality were entered into in 1729, and are given "in 

 extenso" by Lord March, together with the Duke of 

 Richmond's hunting diary, names of his horses, lists 

 of ihis hounds, etc. ; and in 1737 the gentlemen be- 

 longing to the Hunt formed themselves into a Hunt 

 Club, with rules as to admission by ballot and other 

 provisions. They held meetings from time to time, 

 generally in London. To give some idea as to the 

 distinguished membership of this Club, it may be 

 mentioned that it contained 8 Dukes, 7 Eiairls and 18 

 other members of the peerage besides many celebrated 

 Commoners, and the little village of Charlton musi 

 have been hard put to accommodate so large ana 

 brilliant a gathering. A large baoiqueting hall, called 

 Foxhall, had been erected, and here all assembled in 

 the evenings, whilst some built themselves small hunt- 

 ing boxes, all of which seem to have disappeared, 

 except that of the Duke ot Richmond . 



When .the Melton and Tarporlcy Hunt Clubs 

 were established I do not recollect, but it is probable 

 that the Clhiarlton Club preceded both of them. 



After the Duke of Bolton, who held office for 

 several years, resigned lured away by the attrac- 

 tions of an actress, whom he subsequently married, it 



