128 THE SOUTH DEVON HUNT 



was composed of purchases from the kennels of the 

 Hon. Mark Rolle and the Blackmore Vale. It was 

 kennelled at Sir Lawrence Palk's seat, Haldon House, 

 and called " The Haldon Hounds." The country 

 allotted to it is still spoken of as the " Haldon side." 

 Sir La^^Tence Palk was at that time Conservative 

 member for the East Devon Parliamentary Division 

 and had considerable territorial influence. He had 

 formerly kept harriers at Haldon, with which he 

 hunted a wide range of country. Though it does not 

 concern the South Devon Hunt, I am tempted to 

 reproduce the following interesting letter ^\Titten by 

 " Squire " Trelawny in December, 1864 : 



" Last Saturday week we met at Goodamoor. . . . Palk 

 (Sir Lawrie) met with his harriers (of com'se by invitation 

 from Sir "Walter Carew) at Kingsbridge Road on the same 

 day, and spoiled, perhaps, the best run of twenty years, 

 besides killing a fox ! I must say both Baronets, especially 

 Carew, were heartily vexed. They could not well help 

 meeting on the Saturday, as Scale was much nearer to Marley 

 on the Friday. But to my run. 



'• We found close to Lee Mill Bridge, on the Plymouth and 

 Ivybridge turnpike road, ran to Slade Viaduct, through 

 Storridge Wood, over the Yealm, up to and all over Hanger 

 Down, both Grange Wastes, all over the top of Stall Moor, 

 crossed the river ahocc Piles ; went two-thirds up the hill to 

 Three Barrows, and then, all of a sudden turned back, 

 recrossed the river and was finally earthed close to where he 

 was found. At the turning-point my terrier-lad and man on 

 second horse from Stall Moor saw some twenty horsemen 

 ahead of the hounds (of course Palk and his harriers). 



■' Now I argue thus : any fox who had dared to scorn 

 Piles and had only just crossed the Erme, a bumper, and 

 which he shewed his dislike to by running up the side of the 

 river before he crossed, surely would, if not headed, have 

 gone at least to Woollholes and far more probably to Skerra- 

 ton or "White Wood and Langham Marsh, if the hounds had 



