218 THE NEW FOREST 



in the kennels in question would place the country 

 in a better position to treat with a prospective 

 master, either at the present juncture or in 

 future. Accordingly, I was empowered to go to 

 the sales at Rugby, and lay out a certain sum, as 

 far as it would go, in procuring the nucleus 

 of a pack. I took with me as my counsellor 

 George Carter, from the Fitzwilliam pack, and 

 I felt sure of getting sound, if perhaps plain- 

 spoken, advice from that fine old huntsman. In 

 the upshot I bought (if I recollect aright) some- 

 where about twenty-five couples of bitches, half 

 from Mr. Meyrick's own pack and half from the 

 Burton, then in the market. I also bought (be- 

 cause they were a bargain) some three or four 

 couples of Mr. Mark Rolle's dog-hounds, and these 

 (as they were unsuitable for our purpose), I 

 traded away for hounds that would serve us 

 better, and that to some advantage. This little 

 venture, in which I am glad to have borne a part, 

 started the pack belonging to the country at 

 present in the New Forest kennels, and long may 

 it remain there. 



Major Browne only remained in the Forest 

 for one season, and was succeeded by Mr. Brad- 

 burne of Lyburn, a local landowner, who engaged 

 John Dale as his huntsman. He again was 

 succeeded in 1889 by Mr. Stanley Pearce, as 



