56 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



absent from a clay's cub-hunting. On the occasion of his retirement, in 1874, 

 from the Mastership of the North Staffordshire Hounds, a handsome testimonial 

 ■was subscribed for, the presentation taking place on the first meet of the season 

 1874-75, at the New Inn, Trentham, the testimonial consisting of a massive 

 diamond ring, a silver breakfast service, beautifully engraved with rustic scenes, 

 and a silver salver, bearing a suitable inscription. Colonel E. Buller made the 

 presentation, and in laudatory terms spoke of Captain Nugent's Mastership 

 for the past five years, remarking that the office required much firmness, 

 patience, perseverance, tact, and good temper, in all of which qualities Captain 

 Nugent excelled. In 1869 he was placed on the Commission of the Peace 

 for Staffordshire, and was a regular attendant at Quarter Sessions and Stafford 

 Petty Sessions." 



Colonel Nugent was an excellent raconteur, and had 

 quite a stock of old hunting anecdotes, one of which we 

 will venture to quote. So far as we recollect, this was 

 how Colonel Nugent used to tell the story : — 



Somewhere in the West Country, a noble Master of 

 Foxhounds was left high and dry, after a long run, some 

 twenty miles from home, and was hospitably entertained 

 with good beer and bread and cheese by a sporting- 

 farmer of the district, before starting for his long trot 

 home. In the exuberance of his heart, the M.F.H. gave 

 the farmer a general invitation to return the visit when- 

 ever he should find himself near his lordship's house. 

 Some weeks afterwards the farmer returned the call about 

 nine o'clock at night, and was shown into the dining-room, 

 where the master was sitting at the table with his friends 

 over their wine, after the ladies had left. After greetings, 

 the guest was offered a seat near the fire. " Well, what's 

 the news your way ? " said the noble lord. " Nothing par- 

 ticular," was the reply, "only my old sow has just had a 

 litter of thirteen, and she has only twelve teats." " That's 

 very awkward," said the M.F.H. ; " what becomes of the 

 odd one ? " " He sits on his beam ends, and watches the 

 others sucking, just like I'm doing now," was Giles's ready 

 reply. Needless to add that the port at once travelled in 

 Farmer Giles's direction ! 



