PUPPY-WALKING AND THE HOUND-SHOW. 261 



' due to my huntsman, Smith (applause), who will show you 

 ' this afternoon the young hounds, full of muscle — none of 

 ' your Peterborough fat — full of muscle, and fit to go ; and 

 ' this is only to be attained by great painstaking and 

 ' attention.' 



Failing health prevented Mr. Fox from taking his accus- 

 tomed place at the head of the table and greeting his 

 guests in person the following year ; and the speech from 

 which the foregoing extracts are taken was the last of the 

 many he made to his staunch supporters during the forty- 

 eiofht seasons that the Bramham Moor flourished under his 

 Mastership. But if he did not feel equal to making a 

 speech he wrote a characteristic letter, which was read by 

 Captain Fox to the assembled guests. This letter I give 

 without curtailment : — 



' Age and influenza have nearly snuffed me out. I am 

 ' not able to join your party at luncheon, but will ask you to 

 ' tell them that I am as keen as ever to keep up the good 

 ' feeling which exists in this neighbourhood between all good 

 ' fellows who ride, walk, run or talk about fox-hunting. I 

 ' have lived to see many changes. The great men of years 

 ' back who determined to use the abilities that were given 

 ' them to crush the Agricultural interest, invented the game 

 ' of Free Trade, declaring that the whole world would derive 

 ' benefit, and that our example, if we started Free Trade, 

 ' would at once be followed. I have lived to see there is 

 ' no such thing as Free Trade. It is false trade. The 

 ' manufacturing interest has derived great benefit in conse- 

 ' quence of steam and science, but the owners of land have 

 ' been hit hard, and are reduced. For some years farmers 

 'have been asking their representatives in Parliament to 

 ' help them. But what can they do ? England has a very 

 ' eccentric House of Commons. What are they ? Have 

 ' they any firm opinions ? IMy advice is to stick to farming 

 H 2 



