JOINT MASTERSHIP. 43 



hounds, and that Mr. Henry Davenport should act as blaster, with a Committee 

 of Management to conduct the business of the Hunt.' 



" A subscription h'st was tlien sent round the room, ami donations amounting 

 to £580 were promised. In addition to this, it was stated that the Duke of 

 Sutherland would subscribe £500 a year towards the expenses, and let the Hunt 

 have the kennels at Trentham, and two cottages rent free. Mr. H. Davenport 

 observed that he would not undertake any part of the responsibihty of manage- 

 ment, but he would be happy to act as Master, and subscribe £50 a year, and 

 find his own horses. 



" The following gentlemen were nominated on the Committee of ]Manage- 

 ment : the Duke of Sutherland and Mr. H. Davenport, ex officio ; the Earl of 

 Shrewsbury, Mr. Basil Fitzherbert, Mr. J. AV. Philips, ;Mr. 'SI. E. Duller, and Mr. 

 Cartlich. Mr. Egerton Harding kindly undertook to continue his services as 

 hon. secretary, and the hope was very generally expressed that the interests of 

 the Hunt would be considered by the careful preser\-ation of foxes. A subscrip- 

 tion was also announced for the presentation of a testimonial to Atkibson, the 

 huntsman, and a Committee was formed to sohcit subscriptions. The meeting 

 was then closed by a vote of thanks to Lord Shrewsbury, who, in acknowledging 

 the compliment, said he was very fond of the countrj-, and desired to do his duty 

 by it. He knew of nothing which better fostered a friendly feeling, and softened 

 down the differences of political life, than the hunting of a good pack of hounds, 

 and he was happy to see so good a chance of the North Statfordshu-e pack being 

 re-established." 



When the sale of Mr. Davenport's hounds took place, 

 on June 30th, most of the best hounds were secured by 

 the Committee on behalf of the Hunt ; and, after some 

 correspondence and negotiations, the late Earl of Shrews- 

 bury came forward and undertook to hunt the country 

 with tho aid of Captain (afterwards Colonel) Nugent as 

 joint Master. Clarke, who had been huntsman with the 

 Duke of Beaufort, was engaged as huntsman, but he only 

 remained one season, and then transferred his services 

 to the Koman Foxhounds. Tom Jennino-s, who had been 

 first whip to Clarke, was entrusted with the horn when 

 the latter left ; but he, too, only remained one season, and 

 was succeeded, in 1871, by Stephen Dickins. The latter 

 was a son of the well-known Atherstone huntsman of 

 that name, and had whipped-in to his father for many 

 years, and had acted as huntsman himself for two or three 

 seasons, leaving the Atherstone only in 1871, the then 

 Master, Mr. Anstruther Thomson, himself taking the horn. 

 Of Dickins we shall often have occasion to speak during 

 the progress of this history ; suffice it to say here that he 



