-^ Its Makers, Past and Present 



meet the malcontents, and a petition, signed by fifteen 

 thousand landowners, farmers, and hunting men presented 

 to the Queen, praying for the maintenance of the sport, 

 and refuting, in spirited terms, the allegations of cruelty 

 brought against it, effectually quashed the opposition. Lord 

 Ribblesdale is an accomplished writer, and among his many 

 contributions to letters, not the least interesting are his 

 memoirs of former Masters of the Staghounds. He married 

 on April 7th, 1877, Charlotte, daughter of Sir Charles 

 Tennant, Bart., of the Glen, Peeblesshire. 



1887-1892 and 1895-1900. — George William Coventry, 

 9th Earl of Coventry, was born in 1838, and succeeded 

 his grandfather in 1843. His lordship, whose father died 

 when he was an infant, inherited large estates in Worcester- 

 shire and Gloucestershire. He was educated at Eton and 

 Christ Church, Oxford. The present Earl, who became 

 interested in sporting affairs at an early period of his life, 

 displayed such excellent judgment and business aptitude 

 that he was appointed a Steward of the Jockey Club at an 

 unusually youthful age. His occupation of this important 

 office has been noteworthy for decisions which will be long 

 remembered for their impartiality and justice. Steeple- 

 chasing is indebted in a high degree to Lord Coventry for 

 many valuable reforms and for the introduction and effectual 

 establishment of the National Rules ; and his victories in 

 the Grand National at Liverpool with the sisters Emblem 

 and Emblematic show that fortune was not unmindful of 

 his merits. On the Turf his lordship had a full share of 

 good fortune, and he has successfully interested himself in 

 the breeding of racehorses. Lord Coventry became Master 

 of the Buckhounds in 1886, and those who were so fortunate 



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