MR. J. COUPLAND 317 



Mr. Musters's horses were brought to the hammer, 

 being sold by Messrs. Tattersall in May 1870 ; and thirty- 

 one horses fetched 3300 guineas, and four hacks 187 

 guineas. The highest price realised was 300 guineas. 



Though in many ways the Ouorn led the fashion 

 in hunting, no puppy show was held in connection with 

 the pack until the summer of 1870, when, under the 

 auspices of Mr. Coupland, the then growing custom 

 was followed, and the master presented prizes to the 

 farmers who walked the best puppies, and it led to 

 very good results. The proposal, however, originally 

 came from Mr. Musters. Curiously enough (this is 

 stated on the authority of the Leicester Journal, Friday, 

 August 12, 1870), from the days of Osbaldeston to 

 the date just mentioned, the farmers of Leicestershire 

 had never expressed any strong desire to promote the 

 sport so many liked by walking puppies, but the hope 

 was expressed that they would then be induced to do 

 so. The judges on the occasion of the first puppy show 

 were John Walker, Frank Goodall, and Tom Firr (the 

 present huntsman). Fifteen couples of hounds were put 

 forward, and Mr. Peats, of Edwalton, took a cup with 

 Flurrier, and Mr. Farthing another with Transit, and 

 these puppy shows were held in succeeding years ; while 

 in 1873 Mr. Coupland gave the winners the option of 

 taking either a cup or a ,£10 note, and the master 

 notified that any one who wished to walk a puppy could 

 have one by making application to the huntsman at the 

 Quorn kennels, but it scarcely appears that he was over- 

 whelmed with offers. 



and hunted that pack for four seasons. He next returned to the Shrop- 

 shire country, the then master of which was Mr. Hulton Harrop, where he 

 remained till that gentleman gave up the country. He was then the reci- 

 pient of a testimonial, as well as of a gold watch and a chain, given by the 

 master and his wife. Thence he moved into Cheshire, and took service 

 with Mr. Corbet as first whip and kennel huntsman ; with him he remained 

 till the time of his death. He was a light weight, and a capital horseman. 



