MODEEN BEAGLING 213 



money enough to buy the land, so my father bought it, and the 

 understanding was that he would resell it, if required, at a reasonable 

 price to the Committee, it being hoped that later on we could raise 

 money to buy it. We were, however, unable to do this, and the 

 consequence is that the Kennels have been built and a lot of money 

 spent on land not the property of the Committee, and though during 

 my lifetime nothing is likely to be done to disturb the Committee, it 

 is clear that legally the Trustees of my father's estate could claim 

 land, buildings and all. My view is that the simplest and most 

 satisfactory course to adopt would be for the Beagle Committee or 

 Master to take from the Trustees a grant of the land in perpetuity on 

 ground rent ; they would then be quite safe. The cost of this would 

 not be more than £5 or £6. The ground rent would be the present 

 rent plus such additional rent as would be required if the wall and 

 railings were put up ; and the cost of the transaction might also be 

 added to that of the railings, unless you have money in hand to meet 

 it. The only other course would be for the Committee to raise 

 money enough to purchase the land out and out. 



Ask your wall contractor to send me a full estimate and measure- 

 ments of the proposed alterations ; the railings, to make a good job, 

 shovild be set in strong stone coping. — Yours faithfully, 



(Signed) P. Burges. 



Nigel Walker, Esq., 

 Pitt Chil), Cambridge. 



Mr. Walker observes that the proposal to grant the land in 

 perpetuity was open to many objections. What these were he does 

 not say, but it must be obvious that a committee of undergraduates 

 whose personnel is constantly changing, and any or all of whom might 

 be " infants," could not conveniently become holders of real property. 

 It has been found convenient for all permanent clubs and societies in 

 the University to liave senior graduates as treasurers and trustees so 

 that financial continuity may be secured, and though the Beagles are 

 not run on the lines of an ordinary club, yet it is obvious that their 

 permanent property should be duly vested in Trustees : and the action 

 taken by Mr. Walker in this matter is clear evidence of his wisdom 



