226 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



farmers, and Kupporters of the North Staffordshire Hunt. He need not say to 

 tliose who had hunted under his Grace's Mastership for more than a quarter of 

 a century, that he had done his best to keep the whole country together and to 

 maintain its high reputation for sport. (Hear, hear !) Even in these days, not- 

 withstanding the support that Masters of Hounds received from the vast majority 

 of farmers, there were very many details and very many anxieties, all of which 

 took up the Master's time, besides the management of the kennels and stables. 

 The Duke had not been sparing of his time, trouble, and attention to these 

 details, the want of attention to which was very detrimental to the success of a 

 Hunt, He (Mr. Philips) was expressing the wish of all present when he said 

 that they hoped they might have many more years of his Grace's Mastership of 

 the North Staffordshire Hunt. (Applause.) It was with a very earnest feeling 

 of gratitude and the heartfelt wish for the happiness and prosperity of the Duke 

 and Duchess of Sutherland and their family that they asked his Grace's acceptance 

 of that likeness as the contribution of the North Staffordshire Hunt to the family 

 pictures which adorned his home. (Applause.) 



" The Duke of Sutherland said he had to thank them very sincerely for pre- 

 senting him with that picture. He thought it was a gi-eat compliment to receive 

 such a testimonial of good-will from his friends who hunted with those hounds 

 and who lived around them, and he could assure them that this gift was a very 

 gratifying one to his Avife and himself. He might also take that opportunity of 

 thanking the landowners, the members of the Hunt, the farmers, and the supporters 

 of the Hunt for the kindness and friendship always shown to him for many years 

 — a friendship he should always remember and which would always be very 

 highly valued by him. (Hear, hear !) They always claimed that hunting, more 

 than any other sport, knitted those of different occupations in a common bond of 

 good fellowship. (Applause.) They saw many fresh faces around them since 

 he first undertook the management of those hounds, but he was glad to say that 

 they still had some of the old friends with them, and those who would succeed 

 them would no doubt carry on the good old sport of fox-hunting. (Hear, hear !) 

 He would especially like to thank those farmers who for years had supported the 

 Hunt, some of whom he was glad to see and welcome there that day. (Hear, 

 liear !) There was no doubt that if, like themselves, their sons were brought up 

 to fox-hunting, the sport would not fail in that country. (Hear, hear!) He 

 would only once more thank them very sincerely for the picture they had presented 

 to him. (Applause.) 



" Mr. Philips said he should like to add a word of recognition of the hon. 

 secretaries for the trouble they had taken in bringing the testimonial to such a 

 happy conclusion. He was sure that the members of the Hunt and the sub- 

 scribers were exceedingly indebted to them for their services. (Applause.) 



" On the invitation of the Duke, the company then partook of a Hunt break- 

 fast, the repast, which was a bountiful one, being served with much elegance in 

 the dining-room. The usual meet of the hounds followed, the field being an 

 unusually numerous one. The New Park coverts were visited, but in consequence 

 of the frost the turf was not in condition for hunting." 



A copy of this excellent likeness is given as a frontis- 

 piece to this volume, having been photographed specially 

 for this work by Mr. Harrison, the well-known photo- 

 grapher of Newcastle-under-Lyme. 



