328 THE QUORN HUNT 



John Goddard — that was in the first season of Mr. Clowes's 

 mastership — and after one year there he left to join Lord Eglin- 

 ton in Scotland, under George Cox. His next step was to go 

 to Colonel Anstruther Thomson as second whipper-in to the 

 Pytchley, but at that time he could have had first whip's place 

 in Norfolk ; in fact he was apparently engaged, but having once 

 tasted the sweets of the grass, he scarcely cared to continue to 

 carry on in a plough country. While with Colonel Anstruther 

 Thomson he gave so much satisfaction that when Mr. Lant, the 

 master of the North Warwickshire, wanted a huntsman Colonel 

 Thomson recommended Firr for the berth, which he obtained, and 

 so stepped from the post of second whipper-in to that of huntsman, 

 without ever having been first whip. In Warwickshire Tom Firr 

 stayed three years, and gave great satisfaction to everybody, and 

 showed capital sport. Then, when Macbride left the Quorn, Mr. 

 Lant very kindly said he would not stand in Firr's way, so in 1872 

 he went to Mr. Coupland, and is now entering upon his twenty- 

 seventh season as huntsman in the Quorn country, his period 

 of office exceeding that of any other huntsman with the pack, unless 

 perhaps it be that of old Jack Raven; and how many years he 

 served under Mr. Meynell and Lord Sefton, nobody knows. 



The Prince of Wales again paid a visit to Leicester- 

 shire, attending the Melton Steeplechases. His Royal 

 Highness made a very short stay in the Midlands, how- 

 ever, and the only time on which he hunted was when 

 the Quorn had a by-day at Gaddesby. They had a very 

 good run by Billesdon Coplow, and the next run was 

 also good, the second fox being really killed as soon as 

 the pack reached Thurnby Spinney ; but as a fresh one 

 went away at the same moment, with the body of the 

 pack at his brush, the huntsman, who did not know of 

 the second fox being killed, brought his hounds quickly 

 on the line of the fresh one, and this third fox was even- 

 tually run to ground. On this day the Prince of Wales 

 met with a fall at a boggy place near Foxholes, but for- 

 tunately was not hurt. With him were Lord Wilton, Lord 

 Gardner, Sir Frederick Johnstone, Sir Watkin Wynn, 

 Lord Royston, and Colonel (now Sir) Dighton Probyn. 



