MR. J. COUPLAND 337 



was heard to make some remark as to the direction the 

 fox might probably have taken, whereupon the visitor 

 promptly charged a tremendous great place, and came 

 an "imperial crowner " into the next field. Then the 

 huntsman, much relieved in his mind, gently blew his 

 horn, and followed up his fox, free from what advertise- 

 ments call "encumbrances." 



Lord Stamford still kept up his interest in the Hunt, 

 and was occasionally out with them, and in the February 

 of 1875 sustained a somewhat bad fall, lacerating the 

 muscles of his back, a mishap which necessitated keeping 

 his bed for some days, while at the same time the 

 attention of the landed proprietors and members of the 

 Ouorn Hunt was drawn to the annual report, just then 

 circulated by the Hunt Covert Fund Committee, which 

 showed a deficit of ^400. Thereupon some resolutions 

 were come to, among them being one to the effect that, 

 havinor regard to the excellent manner in which Mr. 

 Coupland hunted the Ouorn country, and with a view 

 to relieve him of additional burden, all strangers should 

 be called upon to subscribe to the current expenses 

 of the pack, and a local committee was thereupon ap- 

 pointed to aid in carrying this resolution into effect. 

 The document embodying the proposal was signed by 

 Lord Wilton, Sir Frederick Fowke, Mr. Little Gilmour, 

 Mr. P. Herrick, and other influential members of the 

 Hunt. 



Mr. Coupland had all along been very deservedly 

 popular, not only with the followers of the Ouorn, for 

 whom he catered so well, but also with the farmers for 

 having such a keen regard to their interests ; while he 

 subsequently put another laurel leaf in his crown by plac- 

 ing at the disposal of the farmers, free of all charge, a 

 thoroughbred stallion, for the convenience of those who 

 might be desirous of breeding hunters. Though for 

 family reasons he was unable to be present at the 



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