176 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



"My Lord Marquis, 



" Refemng to a resolution passed at the general meeting of members of 

 the North Staffordshire Hunt, held at the North Stafford Hotel, Stoke-upon-Trent, 

 on February 27th last, requesting the secretaries to issue a circular to each 

 subscriber soliciting an additional subscription for season 1890-91, we now be"- 

 to inform you that we are enabled to assure your Lordship an additional sub- 

 scription of £700. This amount, together with the ordinary guaranteed 

 subscription of £1750, makes a total of £2450 guaranteed to you for next 

 season. We trust this will be satisfactory to your Lordship. 

 " We are 



" Your Lordship's obedient servants, 



'' Richard Boote, ■» t r. 



"Alexander SdipsoxJ Hon. Secretaries. 

 " The Marquis of Stafford." 



On June 2nd Lord Stafford replied from Lillesliall as 

 follows : — 



" Gentlemen, 



" 1 have received your letter informing me that you were able to offer 

 me, on behalf of the members of the Hunt, an additional subscription of £700 

 for next season. I must request you to convey to the gentlemen of the Hunt my 

 warm appreciation of their generous offer, and that I shall endeavour to the 

 best of my ability to show them good sport next season. I shall also be glad to 

 cub-hunt four days a week next autumn. 



" Believe me, 



" Yours faithfully, 

 " Messrs. Boote and Simpson, " Stafford. 



Hon. Secretaries." 



The ordinary subscriptions for 1889-90 amounted to 

 £2268, of which £350 was devoted to the Covert and 

 Poultry Fund. 



The wire question during the season 1889-90, as 

 heretofore, exercised the minds of the Hunt Committee 

 and the hon. secretaries, and it may possibly be of some 

 interest to print here a communication from the secretaries 

 and the Wire Committee which appeared in the Field of 

 December 7th, 1889. 



WIRE, AND THE MODE OF DEALING WITH IT. 



Sir, 



Judging from the letters in the Field, the minds of hunting men are a 

 good deal exercised regarding the wire difficulty. This matter having been taken 

 in hand in North Staffordshire, perhaps other Hunts may wish to know how it is 

 proposed to deal with it; and if you think the matter worth publishing, we 

 lierewith beg to enclose a copy of the AVire Committee's report, which is now 

 being carried out. 



Richard Boote, "» „ „ 

 . at Hon. Secretaries. 



Alex.\.nder Simpson,/ 



Shallowford House, Noi"ton Bridge, Stone, December 4. 



