AUGUSTUS F. ROSS 117 



found in Heathercombe Brake, and the points touched 

 were Hookner Tor, Challacombe, New House, Fern- 

 worthy and Broadamarsh, the fox getting into the 

 rocks some three miles above Post Bridge. Only the 

 master, a pink coat and a lady were there at the finish. 

 On the 17th January, 1877, Sir Lawrence Palk 

 presided over a " large and influential meeting " at 

 Newton Abbot to consider arrangements to con- 

 tinue the hunt after that season. Mr. Ross had 

 expressed his disinclination to continue unless the 

 guaranteed subscription of £500 per annum were 

 increased to £800. It was decided to appoint a 

 number of gentlemen to canvass their several districts. 

 Sir L. Palk, alluding to some observations made by 

 Mr. C. N. Luxmoore, of Torquay, said that town 

 ought to furnish at least a thousand a year towards 

 the hunt, a remark which produced much laughter. 

 The chairman intimated that if the residents of 

 Torquay would only show a more liberal spirit 

 towards the foxhounds, and provide the committee 

 with the means, more fixtures within an easy distance 

 might be arranged than had been the case up to that 

 time. A general feeling in favour of Mr. Ross 

 retaining the mastership was expressed, and testimony 

 was borne to his uniform courtesy in the field. It 

 was, however, suggested that if Mr. Ross would 

 provide a professional huntsman and only one good 

 whipper-in, more sport would be shown, and there 

 would be comparatively little difficulty in increasing 

 the annual subscriptions to £600 or £700 a year. 

 It was decided to adjourn the meeting to the 31st 

 of the month, and in the meantime Mr. Ross was to 

 be communicated with and given an opportunity of 

 conferring with Sir L. Palk, as chairman of the hunt.^ 



1 The Field, 20th January, 1877. 



