6 The Old Surrey Fox Hounds 



present of the hounds and horses to the country. Need- 

 less to say, that gift was immensely appreciated, and Sir 

 Edmund was regarded as quite a benefactor to the 

 Hunt. 



1871—77. — Mr. Mortimer sole Master, winning golden 

 opinions from all his supporters. 



1 877-1 90 2. — Mr. Edmund Byron, of Coulsdon Court, 

 was Master during the whole of that period. His reign 

 for a quarter of a century was one of great success, though 

 it was marked by considerable changes in the country. 



Several famous huntsmen have been connected with 

 these hounds. The first of them as to whom authentic 

 records are obtainable was Peckham Hills, a noted charac- 

 ter in his day and a fine horseman. After him came West 

 and then Jack Cole. In the year 18 16 the celebrated 

 Tom Hills — who was a nephew of Peckham, and began by 

 riding as second horseman to Mr. Maberly, also assisting 

 as whip — was promoted to the huntsman's place. He held 

 that position — with the exception of three years, from 

 1840 to 1843, when T. Webb took his place — till 1861, 

 being then succeeded by his son, Sam Hills, now happily 

 alive and enjoying the best of health. Sam began with 

 these hounds as second whip, and then first whip to his 

 father, afterwards hunting them from 1861 to 1892, so 

 that, save for the three years mentioned, the Old Surrey 

 were hunted by Tom and Sam Hills, father and son, 

 for a period of seventy-six years. That probably consti- 

 tutes a record in this branch of sport ; at any rate, we 

 announce the fact with no small degree of pride and 



