So The Old Surrey Fox Hounds 



pleasure, to kill foxes in a thoroughly sporting manner, 

 and when I fail to do so I am prepared to shut up shop — 

 before the last 'customer' has beaten me." He was rarely 

 beaten in his prime by the toughest " customer," and he 

 gave his followers consistently good sport during his long 

 tenure of office. 



They did not forget to testify their appreciation in a 

 suitable and practical manner. As previously intimated, 

 a complimentary dinner was given to Mr. Mortimer on 

 his retirement from the Mastership, at the Bridge House 

 Hotel on 3 May, 1877, when Mr.Leveson-Gower occupied 

 the chair, and presentations of purses and tea-service were 

 made to Sam Hills. 



The proceedings were of a thoroughly enthusiastic and 

 successful character. Mr. Mortimer's triumphs as a 

 M.F.H. were the theme of panegyric ; his response was 

 a model of good taste and graceful expression. 



A gratifying and well-merited testimonial was also 

 presented to Mr. Mortimer on the occasion of his 

 beginning the thirtieth season of his either partial or sole 

 Mastership ; and the testimonial assumed a peculiarly 

 appropriate form. In the name of the subscribers to its 

 purchase, Mr. Waring presented Mr. Mortimer with Sir 

 Francis Grant's portrait of Tom Hills. When the fact 

 became known that this picture was to be sold, together 

 with other effects of the famous huntsman, it was felt by 

 many members of the Old Surrey that the right thing 

 to do was to buy it and present it to Mr. Mortimer, as 

 evidence of the goodwill and respect entertained for him 



