WEDDING PRESENT. 131 



was made by Messrs. R. and S. Garrard & Co., of the 

 Haymarket, and it is scarcely necessary to say they 

 succeeded in producing a really beautiful work of art. 

 It is used as a centrepiece for the dinner-table, and is 

 constantly seen by the members of the Hunt on the many 

 hospitable occasions of Hunt dinners and luncheons at 

 Trentham. The weight of it is 192 ounces 30 drachms, and 

 the extreme length twenty-three inches. The writer trusts 

 that the photograph to be reproduced for this work will give 

 a fair idea of this appropriate wedding present. On the base 

 is an inscription in these words : " Presented to the Marquis 

 of Stafford by the North Stafford Hunt on his marriage, 

 October 20th, 1884." 



The writer feels that it would be as presumptuous on 

 his part as it would be superfluous to do more than briefly 

 mention here the distinction which the present Duchess 

 of Sutherland has won, since her marriage in 1884, in the 

 world of literature and philanthropy, as well as in the 

 social world. These records are " writ large," so that 

 every one has access to them, and in a book of this 

 description we may well assume that our readers are at 

 least as fully informed in such matters of general know- 

 ledge as the writer can claim to be. 



The following are extracts from Dickins's diary for the 

 season of 1884-85 : — 



" November 12i7i, 1884. Sandon. — Drew Orange Hayes blank, but found 

 three or four foxes in Hardiwick Heath. Hounds dmded, and we did little good. 

 Found again in Cotwalton Drumble, top end, but did no good. Found a fox in 

 the Osiers at Aston, and ran a fast ring by Whitgreave and Shallowford, and killed 

 him at Pirehill. Time, thirty-five minutes." 



The writer was out, and has the following brief entry 

 in his diary : — 



" Hunting at Sandon. Rode little mare. Good run in afternoon from Aston, 

 and killed at Pirehill. Ring by Shallowford Gorse, etc. Home late after six." 



" November llth, 1884. Woore. — Found in Canridden, and ran a ring round 

 Bellaport and back, round "Woore to Mill Hay, then away by Finson's Hay and 

 Checkley Wood to "Wrinehill, and on over Bar Hill to the Bitterns, on up to 

 Radwood over the railway, and up to Maer Hill to ground. Got him out and 

 killed him. 



" January 28«A, 1885. Bird-in-Hand.—Yowndi on Fradswell Heath. Ran fast 



