EARLY HISTORY OF THE HUNT. 31 



Bramham Moor, and it may be added that the cession of 

 country was practically one in perpetuity, for ever since its 

 formation the York and Ainsty Hunt has prospered. 



A Committee was then formed to superintend the 

 management of the hunt, kennels were built at Knaves- 

 mire, and the Committee commenced to get some hounds 

 together. The Committee consisting of Captain Butler, 

 Mr. William Clough, and Mr. Chaloner, commenced their 

 labours at a very favourable time for getting a pack of 

 hounds together. The Duke of Cleveland, who was a bit 

 of a poacher where hunting was concerned, had made 

 considerable encroachments on that country, reaching from 

 Hornby Castle to the high moors, which was hunted by 

 the sixth Duke of Leeds; and that gentleman, rather than 

 enter into any dispute with his neighbour, gave up his 

 hounds. Eighteen couples of these were purchased for the 

 newly-formed York and Ainsty pack, and Will Danby, 

 who was afterwards to become so closely associated with 

 the country, brought them by road from Hornby Castle to 

 the new kennels at Knavesmire. The carpenter who had 

 been employed to put up the benches in the new kennels 

 did not know much about such work, and made them far 

 too light, so when Danby arrived with his hounds they all 

 rushed on to the benches, and the result was that they 

 gave way. Mr. Clough, who was present, used such 

 powerful language that Danby was frightened, and thinking 

 that it was like being no place for him he went off in the 

 night, and took service with Mr. Tom Hodgson, for whom 

 he whipped-in for many a year. At first, the Committee 

 had only a limited subscription to work with, and I have 

 been told that in the earlier years of the hunt's history, 

 there was a good deal of 'rough and ready' about the 

 way in which things were done. An occasional burst 

 with a hare, if fo.xes were not readily found, was indulged 



