J. MAIDEN. 17 



every one, and the scene may well he imagined, the wrath 

 of the Master and the field, and the yelping of the un- 

 fortunate hounds. 



It is pleasant to record that, after ten years of faithful 

 service, Maiden was presented, in December, 1856, with a 

 testimonial in the shape of a handsome sum of money from 

 the members of the Hunt, handed over to him in a silver 

 cup, the gift of Mr. Davenport. 



For the season of 1858-59, we find it recorded in 

 Maiden's diary that the liounds were only stopped one 

 day by frost during the whole season. " si sic omnes ! " 

 the sportsman with a good stud of horses would say. 

 When the pack became a subscription pack. Colonel Coote 

 Buller became hon. secretary, and performed the duties 

 very efiiciently until his death, which happened shortly 

 before Mr. Davenport gave up the hounds. Just before 

 his retirement, Mr. Davenport was presented with a 

 testimonial by the members of the Hunt, which is thus 

 recorded in the Field : 



"We understand that a magnificent testimonial has been presented to Mr. 

 Davenport, the Master of the North Staffordshire Hounds, by his friends and 

 neighbours and members of the Hunt, as a mark of the high esteem and regard 

 in which he is held by them. Mr. Davenport has hunted the country, we believe, 

 for nearly f, quarter of a century, and almost entirely at his own expense. 

 Commencing with what might be called a scratch pack, by his own great 

 judgment and experience, and totally regardless of expense, and assisted perhaps 

 a little by his old servant Joe Maiden, he has got together, and has had for some 

 seasons back, a pack of foxhounds that will bear comparison with any pack in 

 the kingdom. Mr. Davenport is, perhaps, one of the best judges of a hound 

 extant. It was the wish of the subscribers to have invited the worthy Master 

 to a public dinner, at which the Duke of Sutherland would have been requested 

 to preside, had the state of Mr. Davenport's health permitted of it. The 

 testimonial is a beautiful vase, surmounted by a model of an old favourite 

 hunter, portrayed to the life, at the base, models of one or two favourite hounds. 

 The whole reflects the greatest credit on Messrs. Garrard." 



During the greater part of his mastership Mr. Daven- 

 port had resided at Maer Hall, near Whitmore, a property 

 of considerable extent and beauty, which he had acquired 

 by purchase from the Wedgwood family in the year 1847. 

 The residence was admirably placed for the Master's head- 

 quarters, being not far from the kennels, and well in the 



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