DINNER TO LORD SHREWSBURY. 47 



Colonel Buller, wlio was very warmly received, acknowledged the toast. IIo 

 said he had just received a telegram from their gallant friend General Phillips, 

 and he would read it, as he believed the company would appreciate its kindness 

 and cordiality. It was as follows : " ]\Iagisterial duties prevent me from being 

 present at your festive scene. The South Stallbrdshire Hunt are greatly indebted 

 to Lord Shrewsbury for his support. Our thanks are due to him for keeping the 

 country together, and for that very friendly meeting at Ingestre. In the name 

 of the South Staftbrdshire Hunt, I hope you will convey to the Earl of Shrews- 

 bury and to your party our best wishes. Success to fox-hunting." (Loud 

 applause.) 



The Chan-man, in appropriate terms, proposed " The Bishop of the Diocese 

 and the Clergy of all Denominations." 



The Rev. C. H. Mainwaring, whose name had been coupled with the toast, 

 responded. He said he should make no apology for being seen in the hunting- 

 field or round that festive board. (Hear, hear ! and loud applause.) T^ie clergy, 

 like every other class of men, must have their exercise and amusements, and 

 whether they took it in the saddle or with the gim, on the croquet lawn, the 

 archery ground, or in the cricket field, it signified nothing so long as they 

 recruited their bodily energies for their important duties. (Loud applause). 



The Chairman proposed " The Lord-Lieutenant and the County Magistrates." 

 He spoke in high terms of the manner in which the Lord-Lieutenant discharged 

 his duties, and observed that to them as fox-hunters the noble earl ought to be 

 especially endeared for the years he had given them the use of Shallowford 

 Gorse. (Hear, hear !) They had had many splendid runs from there, and he 

 only hoped that they would see many more. With the toast he coupled the 

 name of Mr. E. Wood. (Applause.) 



Mr. Wood, in acknowledging the toast, observed that he had learnt many 

 lessons in the hunting field from farmers, especially in leaping difficult fences, 

 which would appal many an accomplished horseman. 



The Chairman then rose, amid loud and enthusiastic applause, to propose the 

 health of the guest of tlie evening, the Earl of Shrewsbur}'. He thought it was 

 a very good omen for this country that so many of her leading men lived for the 

 public, ana did all they could to promote the public good. (Hear, hear !) How 

 great his lordship's services had been was known to them all, and those services 

 sprang from a hearty and generous desire to give pleasure to those in his own 

 neighbourhood and in every district with which he was connected. (Hear, hear !) 

 They were met there that evening to thank him for keeping the old country 

 together, and becoming the second founder of the North Staffordshire Hunt. 

 (Loud applause.) The noble earl entered upon the work with his usual enter- 

 prise, and he need not tell them with what heartiness he had carried it on. He 

 had not only contributed most generously to the funds of the Hunt, but had 

 given his personal exertions, having taken an immense amount of trouble — the 

 extent of which was, perhaps, only known to himself (the Earl of Shrewsbury), to 

 secure what they had now — a first-rate hunting establishment in the old countrj'. 

 (Loud applause.) The members of the North Staflbrdshire Hunt owed a deep 

 debt of gratitude to his lordship, and he was sure that in future days the names 

 of Mr. Davenport and Lord Shrewsbury would be looked back to by their descend- 

 ants for many generations of fox-hunters with feelings of the deepest gratitude 

 and regard. (Loud applause.) 



The toast was drunk by the company standing, with three times three 

 enthusiastic cheers. 



The Earl of Shrewsbury, on rising to respond, said he was oppressed with 



