CHAPTER XIII 



LORD HALDON: 1884-86 



Mr. Studd stands aside — A change for the worse — Gift of the pack by Mr. 

 Studd — Corditions attached to the gift — The pack strengthened by 

 drafts fror Belvoir, etc. — Kennels at Haldon House — " Lord Haldon's 

 Hounds " — Dan North deposed — Good prospects of sport not fulfilled — 

 Story of a pinafore — Field-masters : Mr. J. H. Ley ; Mr. O. Bradshaw 

 — The Babbacombe murderer — The High Sheriff fails to hang Ms man — 

 Financial troubles — Lord Haldon resigns — Mr. Studd to the rescue — Lord 

 Haldon and Mr. Studd : a correspondence and its results. 



" For the htuitsman to take them, too proud or too slack, 

 Sent his horse with his hounds, and rode there on his hack." 



{The Chumleigh Club. By Geo. Templer.) 



WHEN it became known, on the death of the 

 first Lord Haldon in 1883, that his successor 

 was disposed to take on the pack hunting the Haldon 

 country, Mr. Studd readily resigned in his favour. 

 The change was not to the advantage of sport in the 

 district ; for, although the new master was fond 

 enough of hounds and hunting, he, not unnaturally, 

 had the laudable ambition to hunt the pack himself, 

 to which course, as he took no subscription, no one 

 could object. Unfortunately it is not given to every- 

 one to have the necessary qualifications for a hunts- 

 man, a truth which all admit, while everyone makes 

 a mental reservation in his own favour. The result 

 in this case was disastrous as far as sport was con- 

 cerned. 



Mr. Studd presented his pack to Lord Haldon, only 

 attaching to the gift a condition that the latter would, 



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