THE END OF A LONG REIGN. 209 



with increasing years, he found the duties more 

 than he could manage. He had taken office in 

 1853, during the time of Mr George Wingfield 

 Digby's mastership, so that his work for the hunt 

 extended over a period of thirty - eight years. 

 During this time Mr Dendy's tact and courtesy 

 and his genial manners had endeared him to all 

 classes, and his retirement was very generally 

 regretted. His successful management of the 

 poultry fund, and the time and labour he devoted 

 to it, will not soon be forgotten in the country. 

 He was a thorough sportsman, and was seldom 

 absent from a meet on his side of the country. 

 He could always tell where a fox was to be found, 

 and he was sadly missed when ill -health obliged 

 him to give up his favourite sport. 



Mr Dendy received several testimonials during 

 his long term of office, the last of these, which 

 was presented on his retirement, being a portrait 

 of himself, painted by Mr Cotman, in the style of 

 an old Master. At Mr Dendy's own request the 

 picture was sent to him privately. In the follow- 

 ing autumn, when the hounds met at his house 

 on November 20, 1896, he gave a hunt breakfast, 

 and had the picture on view, and this was much 

 admired by the large party of subscribers and 

 friends who had assembled to greet him. 



Among the fox - preservers and riders with 

 hounds during Mr Guest's mastership, Mr J. K. 

 Wingfield Digby, M.P., of Sherborne Castle, stands 

 out prominently, for he was, and is, perhaps, the 



o 



