21 8 THE MASTER OF HOUNDS 



strong contradiction ; and, if another contradiction 

 were needed, we find it in the openly expressed 

 opinions of our present King ; while a third contra- 

 diction will be found in the life of the Rev. John 

 Russell. 



" Quantum Imta solent inter viburna cupressi." 



The Rev. John Russell, dating his entry from 1814 

 with constant attendance, season after season, for a 

 period of sixty-four years, can claim a longer experi- 

 ence of Exmoor stag-hunting than any other gentleman 

 who had made his name famous in hunting history. 

 Certainly, either with staghounds or with foxhounds, 

 no man hunting in the same country could have seen 

 more dynasties of Mastership. In 1812 Lord Fortescue 

 became Master of the Staghounds for the second time, 

 but resigned the Mastership in 18 18, having killed 

 during his six years of office forty-two stags and forty- 

 eight hinds. Mr. Stuckley Lucas, of Barons Down, 

 then took office for another six years, namely, till 1825, 

 during which year the pack was sold at Tattersall's to a 

 German baron. But in 1827 Sir Arthur Chichester, of 

 Youlstone, brought a pack into the field and revived 

 the sport according to the rules of hunting etiquette. 

 Sir Arthur resigned in 1833. From 1837 to 1842 a 

 committee was supposed to hunt the country, but the 

 moving spirit of the committee was Mr. Charles Palk 

 Collyns, of Dulverton, the Nestor of Exmoor, who 

 chronicled the runs from 1816 till i860. From 1842 

 till 1847 the country was hunted by the Hon. Newton 

 Fellowes. Then Sir Arthur Chichester was Master for 



