350 THE QUORN HUNT 



It was said to be very good, and was eagerly bought 

 up. As already mentioned, Tom Firr was never a first 

 whip, having given up the second whip's place with 

 Colonel Anstruther Thomson to become huntsman to 

 the North Warwickshire. 



Some of the quarry people in Leicestershire had 

 many years before proved themselves somewhat inimical 

 to fox-hunting, and at odd times they do not appear to 

 have improved. In the spring of 1883 a number of men 

 were at work, and as a Mr. Leatham was trying to make 

 his way out of a spinney, he asked a group of the quarry- 

 men where he could find the best place. They pointed 

 out a spot, which they said would be all right ; so taking 

 their advice, he sent his horse at a somewhat formidable 

 fence, and landed in a stone-pit about twenty feet deep, 

 though fortunately neither his horse nor himself suffered 

 any injury ; but the accident might have been a very 

 serious one. The perpetrators of this little joke gathered 

 on the bank at the top, and laughed heartily at the result 

 of taking their advice. 1 



The spring of 1883 saw the completion of the picture 

 painted to the order of Messrs. Dickinson, of New Bond 

 Street, " A Meet of the Ouorn Hounds at Baggrave 

 Hall " (1881-82), the portraits in which were painted by 

 Mr. J. B. Gibson, who just before had been responsible 

 for the portraits in the picture of " A Meet of the Four- 

 in-Hand Driving Club." 



Not long afterwards, however, the Ouorn Hunt had 

 to lament the death of General Burnaby, whose residence 

 was in the best part of the country, and who was instru- 

 mental in getting the Prince of Wales to plant the gorse 



1 In strong contrast to this unsportsman-like conduct is that of the quarry- 

 men and miners in Lord Fitzwilliam's Hunt, who, in the summer of 1898, 

 subscribed to purchase for Frank Bartlett, Lord Fitzwilliam's huntsman, a 

 case of the best Sheffield cutlery, which they presented to him in token o 

 the esteem in which he was held, for both the master and his huntsman are 

 scrupulously careful in showing the quarrymen as much sport as possible. 



