228 THE SOUTH DEVON HUNT 



liberal and efficient way in which he had hunted the 

 country in the past, and for consenting to hunt it 

 next season." 



At the close of the season 1896-7, Mr. St. Maur 

 finally resigned. An attempt to procure a master by 

 advertisement was made but proved abortive, and it 

 appeared that the only thing to be done was for the 

 committee to carry on for the time being. Mr. 

 St. Maur offered to lend the committee his hounds, 

 huntsman's house, kennels and stables on condition 

 the hunt would guarantee a thousand pounds a year 

 for three years to meet the expenses of hunting the 

 country. A canvas was accordingly made, but, as the 

 required guarantee was not forthcoming, it was im- 

 possible to accept the retiring master's offer, which 

 fact was put on record at a general meeting held on 

 the 3rd March, 1897, at which the appreciation of Mr. 

 St. Maur's services to the hunt was expressed in a 

 vote of thanks " for his services as master of the 

 South Devon Hunt for the past four seasons, in which 

 the record of the hunt has in every way been more 

 than maintained, for never has the hunt been more 

 efficiently equipped ; never have the hounds been of 

 such a high standard of merit ; and never, taking the 

 average of four years, has better sport been obtained." 



A fund was there and then started for the purpose 

 of purchasing a pack of hounds, and a sum of £213 

 was raised in the room and arrangements were 

 made to invite further contributions. A sub-com- 

 mittee consisting of Messrs. Robert Vicary, W. M. G. 

 Singer, E. Lewis, W. Rendell and G. H. Hext was 

 formed and authorized to purchase hounds, horses 

 and equipment and to take all necessary steps to 

 carry on the hunt during the following season. 



In the middle of the month of March a proposal 



