HUNTING 217 



However, my personal recollections begin with 

 the mastership of Mr. Meyrick, which began in 

 1878. No expense was spared to organise a good 

 pack of hounds. A commencement was made by 

 the purchase of his bitch pack from Sir Keginald 

 Graham, the retiring master. Then other hounds 

 were lavishly procured, and large drafts, notably 

 from the Grafton, were obtained. 



Mr. Meyrick had a very large pack in, and 

 passing through, his kennel, and when he resigned 

 he sent to Rugby a very fine pack of dog-hounds, 

 as well as a bitch pack, which by itself would 

 have gone far to satisfy the requirements of the 

 country. After his retirement considerable diffi- 

 culties arose, and finally it was decided to divide 

 the country into two sections. The western half 

 was taken over by Mr. John Mills, who sacrificed 

 his perfect little pack of harriers and got together 

 the best pack of foxhounds that he could, while 

 the eastern half was at first taken by a com- 

 mittee on which I had the honour to serve, and, 

 ere hunting began, Major Browne of Hall Court 

 came into the country with a small bitch pack 

 of his own, and relieved the committee of its 

 duties in the field. 



Meanwhile, the committee in question, having 

 good kennels and stable accommodation, with some 

 money in the bank, decided that a pack of hounds 



