LADIES OF THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HUNT. 237 



meet, and after that event until her lamented death, in 

 1881, we often had the pleasure of seeing Lady Florence 

 out with our hounds on her frequent visits to Trentham. 

 The writer is sure that every member of the Hunt 

 whose memory carries him back to that period will agree 

 that no presence was more welcome in the hunting-field 

 than that of Lady Florence Chaplin, The news of her 

 sudden and early death came as a sad shock to the 

 members of the Hunt, and to every one who knew her. 

 Lady Florence was an excellent horsewoman, always well 

 mounted, and ahvays determined to be wdth hounds. 



With such parents, no one can be surprised to find that 

 the rising generation of the house of Chaplin have in- 

 herited decided sporting tastes. 



It would be something like presumption on the part of 

 the present writer to say much more than he has already 

 said of the present Duchess of Sutherland as a rider to 

 hounds ; but as we are now referring to lady members of 

 the Hunt, we feel bound to record our opinion, which we 

 believe will be shared generally by the members of the 

 Hunt, that no one goes better, or with more courage, than 

 her Grace, and that no one takes more interest in the 

 sport, or does more to promote the prosperity of the Hunt, 

 although 't is known to all the world how much the 

 Duchess's time and thoughts and sympathies are occupied 

 with far higher and graver objects. 



There are many ladies of the present day who go well 

 with our hounds, but some of them possibly might prefer 

 that their names should not be brought prominently for- 

 ward. We may be pardoned, however, for briefly referring 

 to such well-known names as those of Mrs. Eidgway and 

 Mrs. Dobson, two sisters, who are regular followers and 

 capital horsewomen ; also to Mrs. Guy Knight, Mrs. John 

 Knight, Mrs. Murphy, of Fradswell Hall, and Miss C. 

 Wedgwood, who are no novices at the sport, and whose 

 presence at the meet is ever welcome. Miss Thompson, of 

 Walton Grange, Stone (now Mrs. McYitie, of Edinburgh),, 

 used to be a regular and enthusiastic follower before her 



