MR. CLOWES 291 



their progress barred. A body of labourers armed with 

 sticks were drawn up in front of the field, while the 

 farmer briefly explained that he did not mean to have 

 his crops destroyed. The impromptu army under Mr. 

 Brett's command brandished their sticks, and effectu- 

 ally kept both the hounds and field from crossing his 

 property. So Mr. Clowes accepted the situation, and 

 went home. 



At the beginning of the season 1865-66 the master 

 expressed his intention of resigning, and in January 

 1866 the sale of the hounds in April was announced. 

 Then people began to wonder how they could keep Mr. 

 Clowes in office, and on being approached, he was half 

 inclined to say that he would continue to hunt, provided 

 the subscriptions were paid, and a reasonable sum was 

 given to him to carry on the hounds. Early in March a 

 meeting, however, was held at the Bell Hotel, Leicester- 

 shire, to make some arrangements for the future hunting 

 of the country, in consequence of Mr. Clowes's announced 

 intention of giving up the hounds. Mr. Herrick was in 

 the chair, while Lord Wilton, Sir Frederick Fowke, 

 Mr Little Gilmour, Mr. Heygate, Mr. Clowes, Mr. 

 Charlton, and Mr. Ernest Chaplin were among those 

 present. Not for the first time was the proposal made 

 (on this occasion by Lord Wilton) that a committee 

 should be appointed for managing the rented coverts ; 

 but perhaps the best history of Mr. Clowes's resignation 

 comes from his own lips. Early in July the ex-master 

 was entertained at dinner, and was presented with a 

 testimonial, and in returning thanks for the toast of his 

 health, he gave a succinct account of what had led up to 

 the crisis : — 



Before Lord Stamford gave up the country, the then committee 

 had ceased to pay any attention to business ; they were in debt, 

 and not being able to obtain subscriptions to pay for the coverts, 

 they were obliged to represent the actual condition of things to 



