THE RULE OF Mr. GEORGE LANE FOX. 123 



' and as the proceedings of this day show, are upon at 

 'present; and I trust as long as a Fox and Lascelles are 

 ' to be found in the country the same friendship will exist 

 ' between them. This is now the twenty-fifth year of my 

 ' reign, and I will say that I have always met with the 

 ' greatest kindness, forbearance and indulgence from all 

 ' classes. A master of hounds must expect many disappoint- 

 ' ments and petty troubles. I have, as my friend Lord 

 ' Harewood said, given much time and attention to the 

 ' breeding and management of foxhounds, and you have 

 ' made me feel I have been successful. In the field I 

 ' imagine I am often very impertinent, but I hope I have 

 ' never intentionally given offence to any man, or made 

 ' use of any remark that might not be freely forgiven. The 

 ' book that you have given me, containing an address and 

 ' the signatures of all my friends, is indeed a treasure. The 

 ' kind expressions towards me in that address will for ever 

 ' ring in my ears like the beautiful music of a pack of fox- 

 ' hounds. Those kind expressions will cheer me to the end 

 ' ot my run through life. Those kind expressions are more 

 ' valuable to nie than all the o-okl that elitters before us. 

 ' The beautiful service of plate, every separate piece of 

 ' which is a work of art, says a great deal for the Committee 

 ' who chose it ; and I think I may be here permitted to pay 

 ' a passing compliment to the Messrs. Garrard, of the Hay- 

 ' market, the designers and producers of this artistic and 

 ' tasteful Service ; and may we not be proud that such work 

 ' is done by the hands of British workmen ? who can still, 

 ' and I trust ever will, hold their own amongst all nations. 

 ' This splendid Testimonial, of which I am so proud, will be 

 ' handed down to my children's children, and will be the 

 ' means of reminding them that it is a part of their duty in 

 ' this life to be friendly towards their neighbours, to preserve 

 ' foxes, and to love Yorkshire. I will say no more, but wish 

 'you all good health, good luck, and good sport.' 



