SOME ENGLISH COURSING CLUBS 185 



conclusions again with the club, and the next proposal for a renewal 

 of the contest appears to have come from the club itself; for we 

 read in vol. xii. of ' Stonehenge's ' Calendar, p. 59, that at the 

 Wiltshire Champion Meeting in October, 1863, 'The Earl of 

 Scfton, Lord Grey de Wilton, Viscount Uffington, Mr. Jefferson, 

 Mr. Brocklebank, Mr. Jebb, and Mr. Randell represented the 

 Altcar Club (Mr. Hornby being absent from ill health), and 

 broached the subject of a match between that flourishing institu- 

 tion and the World at the next Amesbury Meeting, they taking 

 sixteen nominations in the Ladies' Plate and Challenge Cup.' 



What brought about this proposal on the part of the club was, 

 I understand, a suggestion made by Mr. Brocklebank to Mr. W. 

 Long, the Secretary of the Wiltshire Club, that the dogs of the 

 members of the Altcar Club, who had come so far should be 

 guarded, as they had plenty of opportunities of competing against 

 each other over their own ground. Finding his suggestion could 

 not be met, Mr. Brocklebank hinted that the best way out of the 

 difficulty would be to make a match, the club taking the one halt 

 of the nominations in the plate and cup. The subject having been 

 favourably discussed, the Earl of Sefton on behalf of the club at 

 once took sixteen nominations in each stake for the following 

 season, on condition of being guarded throughout. 



With a view to carrying the match to a successful issue I find that 

 the Hon. Secretary of the club promptly issued the following circular, 

 and the details it gives confirms the particulars above related. 



'DEAR SIR, It has been arranged that sixteen nominations in 

 the Challenge Cup for thirty-two greyhounds of all ages, and six- 

 teen in the Ladies' Plate for thirty-two bitch puppies at the Wilt- 

 shire Champion Meeting in October 1864, are to be taken by 

 members of the Altcar Club. Dogs belonging to members of the 

 club will be guarded throughout in the above-named stakes, and also 

 in two open Produce Stakes which will be run for at the same time. 



' I beg you will be so good as to let me know whether you wish 

 to take any, and if so, what part in this engagement, before the Club 

 Meeting in January at which the allotment of the nominations will 

 be settled. I am, Dear Sir, yours truly, 



'T. D. HORNBY, Hon. Sec. 



' Druids' Cross, Liverpool, December, 1863.' 



During the end of 1863 and early part of 1864 steps were taken 

 on the part of the club and the world to perfect their arrangements, 

 and it was agreed that, instead of two stakes in which the club and 



