The Cheshire and South Cheshire. 377 



of tlie adventurous ones (numbering in all nearly a 

 score) were swept on to an island in mid stream, 

 thence to be rescued by boat. Lord Grosvenor bad 

 to leave liis horse and swim ashore as best he could — 

 a rope of whip lashes assisting his sinking efforts. 

 Of the rest, the late Mr. Cecil de Trafford, who was 

 first to take water_, was one of the first to reach the 

 farther bank, with Col. Starkie (at that time a well- 

 known steeplechase rider), Mr. Bolton-Littledale (still 

 one of the best preservers and the hardest worker for 

 the Hunt), and the doctor of the 13th L. D. The 

 death of the fox was a fitting and satisfactory sequel. 

 Only three men were up at the end ; and these had 

 great difficulty in inducing hounds to follow them 

 home. Col. Starkie still possesses either head or 

 brush — a memento of this memorable day. 



The Tarporley Hunt Club is an institution cherished 

 and maintained as stoutly as ever in Cheshire. It 

 was first formed in 1 762, and its yearly celebration 

 has been carried on ever since, with mirth and song 

 and good cheer, as each November c-omes round. 

 For the first week of that month the club assembles 

 at Tarporley to hunt and dine together. Its number 

 is limited to forty ; and year by year vacancies are 

 filled up by ballot among the landowners of the 

 county — the elected ones receiving' the green collar, 

 as the distinguishing badge of the honourable com- 

 pany into which they have been admitted. 



Beyond the little town of Tarporley the ground rises 

 towards Oulton Park, the seat of Sir Philip Egerton, 

 the leading veteran of the Hunt, and a grand type of 

 sportsman. Though now over seventy, he still rides, 



