290 THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



became seriously ill. The news from Ash- 

 down became worse and worse. However, at 

 the opening meet of the ensuing season, which 

 was at Tubney Tree, on November the 7th, 

 the field was cheered by better news from Ash- 

 down. The kennel huntsman, Robert Vincent, 

 hunted the hounds, with Joe Lawrence and 

 George Tofts as whips. The Hon. Osbert 

 Craven acted as Master in the field. The 

 rally was unfortunately of short duration, and 

 Lord Craven died on December the 7th, 1883. 

 His loss was sincerely and deeply mourned, 

 not only by his wide circle of personal friends 

 and the Hunt he had so long and admirably 

 conducted, but by the whole country side. 

 As his father-in-law. Lord Barrington, speak- 

 ing at a gathering at Ashdown, some little 

 time after his death, said : "He cared not for 

 the excitement of a political career, for a life 

 at Court, or for the amusements of a Capital. 

 He was a typical country gentleman. He 

 lived and he died in his own country among 

 his own people, known, honoured, and beloved 

 by all." 



The executors of Lord Craven undertook 

 to carry on the Hunt for the remainder of 

 the season. All pecuniary difficulties being 

 obviated by a very liberal supplementary sub- 

 scription from Mr. Van de Weyer, while the 



