2 22 The Pytchley Hunt, Past and Present. 



them more harm than good/' was the hopeful answer of 

 the great Apostle of Free Trade ; whilst a smile at the 

 audacity of the suggestion played across his face. 



*' But can nothing be done by which landlord and 

 tenant may each be saved ? '"' was the next inquiry of the 

 evidently interested interrogator. " Reduce the size of 

 your holdings, and alter your system of farming/' was 

 the response of one, who without having closely studied 

 the subject, saw where the weak points lay. Since then 

 this advice has been acted npon to an immense extent, 

 especially in the increased use of ^^ silos '^ and ^^ binders." 

 But the black cloud still hovers over farming in all its 

 branches ; nor does even a glint of the sun peep out from 

 the darkness to impart a ray of hope to the despairing 

 agriculturist. 



" Jam," for a time, was held out by the Prime Minister 

 as a panacea for all rustic evils, but the remedy scarcely 

 seemed suited to the complaint ; and ^^ Thou shalt be 

 saved by jam," was never adopted as an article of belief 

 into the creed of the British farmer. 



At the close of his fourth season. Lord Spencer again 

 becoming aware that his health was not equal to the wear 

 and tear of the duties required of him, and also that he 

 was neglectiug the higher functions of political life, once 

 more placed his name on the list of retired M.F.H's, 

 and determined to pass the winter in the genial climate 

 of Algiers. 



Writing from "Mustapha Superieur," in the autumn 

 of 1879, he says, '^ Thanks for your account of the run 

 fi'om " Gib." How delighted Will Goodall must have 

 been with it ! It reminds me of one I had on the last 

 day of the season of 1878. 'Valentia' was out. I rode 



