MR. WASHINGTON M. G. SINGER 247 



and in the well-being of the South Devon country, 

 and was a regular follower of the pack. 



Steartfield, Mr. Singer's house at Paignton, was 

 inconveniently situated as regards a great deal of 

 the country. About this time the Leighon Estate, 

 in the parish of Ilsington, came into the market. It 

 was situated on the edge of the moor and comprised 

 some fifteen hundred acres, including the Heytor 

 valley, beloved of foxes, and a pleasant residence at 

 its northern extremity. With the twofold object of 

 the interests of the hunt and his convenience as 

 master, Mr. Singer bought the estate ; and, though 

 his own convenience was better served by the develop- 

 ment of motor-cars that soon followed, the advan- 

 tages to the hunt from his ownership of this property 

 has ever since been very great. He was also the 

 owner of Blagdon Barton, near Paignton, a favourite 

 fixture for the pack in his time and one where a quick 

 find was usually a certainty, as it still is, thanks in no 

 small measure to the present excellent tenant, Mr. 

 Coaker. The shooting, too, of the great woodlands 

 of Berry was at this time in the hands of the M.F.H., 

 a fact which contributed in no small measure to the 

 sport in that part of the country. 



Mr. Rendell had two excellent assistants in William 

 Cole, from the Dartmoor, as kennel-huntsman and 

 first whip, and Harry Thompson, from the Black- 

 more Vale, as second whip, and the three worked 

 together with a harmony not always found where 

 professionals have to minister to an amateur. Hunts- 

 man and whips were well mounted, and the turn-out 

 was workmanlike and smart without any ostentation 

 or useless extravagance. 



Among the best of the hunt horses, or those owned 

 by Mr. Rendell, were Peter, an Irish horse bought 



