SEASONS 1841-1869 77 



by one who knew him well, that if he were turned round 

 three times in a field he would not be able to find the "ate 

 by which he had entered it. He was very keen about 

 hounds, and was careful to preserve a record of what took 

 place with them. His hunting diary, which was most carefully 

 kept, was practically a history of the hunt for upwards of 

 fifty years, but it has unfortunately been destroyed or lost, — 

 a loss to the hunting world which it is difficult to appreciate. 

 Mr. Bateman was very popular, and during the eight years 

 of his mastership he showed excellent sport, whilst after he 

 retired he was one of the most consistent supporters of the 

 hunt. He died at an advanced age in 1891, and until the 

 last he was always to be seen in his carriage at the more 

 handy fixtures. 



One of the first great public incidents which took place 

 during his mastership was the dinner which the hunting men 

 of Yorkshire gave to Sir Tatton Sykes. This dinner took 

 place in the De Grey Rooms, on Tuesday, January 19th, 1847, 

 and the invitations were strictly confined to hunting men. 

 The chair was taken by Mr. R. Gilbert, and Mr. Bateman 

 and Mr. Rudstone Read were vice-chairmen. It is curious 

 to read over the names of those who were present to do 

 honour to Yorkshire's typical sportsman, for amongst the 

 sixty-four who sat down to dinner were some of the foremost 

 sportsmen of their time: — Lord Hawke, who was master of 

 the Badsworth ; Sir Charles Slingsby, Mr. Creyke, and 

 Mr. Hill of Thornton, either had been, were, or were to be 

 masters of hounds ; and amongst others may be named 

 Lord W. Thynne, Baron Osten. the Hon. A. Bosville, the 

 Hon. Captain Buncombe, the Hon. B. R. Lawley, Sir Charles 

 Strickland, Mr. Bower of Welham, the Rev. J. Bower, 

 Mr. Digby Cayley, Mr. Darley of Aldby Park, Mr. J. Dent, 

 Mr. Garforth, Capt. Healey, Mr. E. H. Reynard, Mr. C. 

 Reynard, Mr. Scrope, Mr. Strickland, Mr. H. S. Thompson, 



