The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-11-21 00:00:00

DORCHRSTSR.
LORD POLTIMORZ'S HUNT.
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comprised _the pinnies/I gentry, landowners and
occupiers el the soullty. The Lord Digby presided, and
amongst those present we observed the Lord Poltimore,
the Hon. a Dishy, CoL Digby, Mr. C. J. Radolyffe,
Major AsteU, id.jor Frampton, Major Sykes, Capt.
Derma, Mr. J. Gandry, Mr. B. P. Oandry, Mr. J. P. F.
Gutdry, Capt. Still, Mr. R. Bishop, Mr. B. Littlebales,
Capt. Thresher, Mr. Sparkes, Kr. if. Devenisb, Mr. J.
blogg, Mr. Featherstonhatigh, Mr. Smith Marriott, Mr.
Weston, Mr. Quince, Mr. I. Templer, Mr. A. Foster,
Mr. R. Foster, Mt. Marker, Dr. Randall, Mr. Hann,
Mr. Glover, Mr. E. Pope, Ur. Whittle, Mr. Cooper,
Mr. J. G. Homer, Mr. T. A. Homer, Mr. Groves, Dr.
Dowling, Dr. Parker, Mr. Tourney, Mr. J.-F. Hodges,
26. T. /forth, Mr. W. Cox, Me Furmedge, ko., &a.
The CHILIIIMAN, in opening the proceedings, said he
must first mention that he had received letters from
Lord Rivers, Lord Portman, and Mr. Farquharson,
expressing their great regret at having heard that Lord ,
Poltimore was about to resign the Cattistock country.
Be had also received a letter from General Shirley and
another from Mr. Sheridan, intimating their inability to
be present, In consequence of absence from the county;
and the Hon. W. H. B. Portman bad written to
say that owing to indisposition in his family he could
not be present. His lordship then moved the following
resolution :—"That this meeting wishes to express to
Lord Poltimore the universal regret which • report
that he was about to resign the Coatis-took county, at
the end of the present season has occasioned, and to
thank him for the courteous, satisfactory, and very
liberal manner in which he has hunted that country for
the last six years." (Loud Applause). They all knew
that whenever a country was given up, it was a
source of regret, but it was doubly so when it was
resigned by a gentleman who was so deservedly popular
as his noble friend, Lord Poltimore. (Great cheering).
If there were any doubts in his lordship's mind,
he only begged to refer hint to the memorial
he held in his hand, which was signed by ,
almost every proprieeer and occupier of land
in Dorset. (Applause.) There were an immense
number of signatures, and many of them by gentlemen
who did not hunt, but, still, who well knew Lord
Poltimore's popularity, and therefore most carefully pre-
served their foxes for him. (Applause.) Then as to his
lordship's courtesy. They all knew that nothing was so
trying to the temper of • man as being • master of
hounds - but he would defy any one to say that be bad
ever heard Lord Poltimore use an unkind or unooarteons
expression, or any word that one would not say toa friend.
(Cheers.) Be knew very well that several of them bad
often deserved a slight reprimand, but they had never
had it. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) Next, as to the
very satisfactory manner in which his noble friend had
kept the bounds—the sport they had had would
assuredly attest to that fact—(lousi eheers)—and the
very liberal manner in which be bed Managed the hunt
they could all prove. (Renewed cheering.)
Kr. C. J. Ranoralorx, who was received with im-
mense cheering, said be could safely say, as • master of
bounds, and as a gentleman of the county of Dorset,
that he bad never arisen in his life with greater satisfac-
tion to second a proposition than he did the one so ably
moved by Lord Digby. (Cheers.) It was not for him
to enter into what did or what did not belong to a
master of hounds, he merely addressed them from
that side of the county to which he belonged and
oier which he hunted; and he could safely say
that they were ail anxious on his side of the
county that Lord Poltimore should continue to
hunt the Cattistock country as those gentlemen
were who had resided under his noble friend's
management for the lout six years. It would be un-
necessarily occupying their time for him to recapitulate
what Lord Digby had said regarding Lord Poltimore as
• master of hounds. The noble lord was as well known
to the meeting as to himself. From what he had beard and
seen, be was satisfied that no man bad ever sustained
the character of a noblemen, a gentleman, and •
master of hounds more ably or better than Lord Polti.
more. (Cheers) Lord Digby had indicated .what a
difficelt thing it was efter a wenn,' wet ante glean tip
to get it tip again, and they knew that in the Cattistock
country they would labour under very great difficulty.
(Hear, hear.) There was an old saying that "there Is
as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it," but,
though the fish might be in the sea, they might not get
the right bait, or catch the right fish, and when they
bad caught him, he might require a great deal more
**eking than they had some for. (Loud laughter.) To
show what he thought of Lord Poltimore's hounds, he
might inform them that he had got more than ten
simples at this time which Were kindlY presented to hini
bY his noble friend, and he had also several hounds bred
from that pack, which he could safely say were as good
or better than any he had. (Applause.) He knew
that the world was selfish—they were all selfish. They
did not like to lose an excellent master of hounds and a
good pack. (Hear, hear, and "Certainly not.") He also
spoke 'elfishly, for he knew that no man could take
Lord Poltimore's posititin to suit him kalf so well as did
the noble lord himself. (Applause.) They bad been the
beet of friends, and his lordship knew, as he had fre-
quently told him, that whenever be wanted a fox in
any part of his (Mr. Radolyffe's) country, he was per-
fectly welcome to go and find him. (Loud applause.)
He would not longer take up their time. He was quite
sure that they would all unanimously and heartily Join
with Lord Digby and himself in the wish that Lord
Poltimore should continue to hunt the Cattietock
country. He trusted their desire would be acceded to,
and he felt almost sure it would be so. (Applause.)
Mr. J. Genvold rose to move the following resolu-
tion :—" That this meeting cannot separate without ex-
pressing the earnest wish of the county that Lord
Poltimore will still continue to hunt the Cattistock
country, and afford the sport that meet always be in-
separable from such a pack of bounds as his lordship
possesses." (Applause.) Lord Digby and Mr. Radclyffe
had so clearly and so well hid before them the object of
the meeting that his duties on that occasion would be
very limited. Nothing could be more clearly eepressed
by the noble lord—who had so kindly again presided in
that roods; and Whose *fah rejdreeinetisd that Of the
whole county of Dorset—that Lord Poltimore &mild be
entreated to hunt that country whioh he had hunted for
the last six seasons so admirably, and to the complete
satisfaction of every one. (Cheers ) He could not help
feeling, in addressing them on that occasion, that be
was not exactly "the right man In the right pleoe."
(Yes, yea.) It would have been more satisfactory to
them all, probably, if mine gentleman had addressed
them who, since Lord Poltimore had hunted the
country, bad had more opportunities of seeing personally
the way which his !ordain/3 had dont KS. Althclugh that
bad not beau the case with him, yet be felt :inch deep
interest from old associations, and from the enjoyment
by those nearly connected with him of the treat Lord
Poltimore afforded them in their part of the country,
that be trusted they would we over that little matter.
(Hear, hear.) He believed that no one felt more
strongly then he did the important* of that °echelon,
and he trusted they should persuade his lordship to
remain amongst them. (Cheers) With respect to the
subject matter of the resolutitips, to Lord Digby *as
allotted the seder task— that of a.rording anquelilled
and well-deserved praise to the lidUe lord. The part
allotted to himself was that of expressing the earnest
wish of the county, that Lord Poltimore would continue
to do what he bad hitherto done, and he only hoped
that that great. and important meeting might
add that weight to his. wards, which he could not
hope they would , receive Of therpeelvess, and that
his lordship Icluld feel he (Mr. Gundry) not
only meek° hia own convictions and the convictions
of every one around him, as well as of many who were
not present, when he said it would be a sorry and a sore
day indeed when they heard his lordship had ceased
to remain amongst them.—(Applause.) He well re-
membered the day—and the noble lord whci now lied
the chair pripided to thtt iteasion----and he well re-
collected the feelings of hope that animated them all as
it was shadows t forth as possible to come to pus
that Lord Poltimore might come amongst them as
master of the hounds in the Cattistock country.—
(Hear, hear.) That day did come to pass, and if their
feelings then were pleasureable how much more sorrow-
ful wottid the be how; after they had etneristioed his
lordship I courtessy, his knowledge of sport, and hisgeneral
aptitude for the poet he had so ably filled, if they knew
that Elia was nearly the last 116•8011 in which they would
have the opportunity of paying his lordship the compli-
ment and respect they wished to show him.—(A Waage.)
He would not detain them longer, bat merely lay the
resolution before them, and not express the hope but
the certainty that le would be received and carried by
the meeting heartily and enshisismiske.—(Cheers)
Mr. Ji. tifttitttLita said that although he had the
honour of Wearing Lord Poltimore's button, yet he
did not strictly speaking live in his lordship's country.
But, be heard so much of his hound'', and no much
elsewhere of the sentiments expfessed with regard to
them—sentiments very conch &Inn to those expressed ,
on that occasion, that he could not refrain from
seconding the resoltitien so ably proposed by Mr, Gull,
and from exprsinng a hope that his lordship would adce 6
to the proposition. (Cheers.) They had now had aix
years' expelience of Lord Poltimore in the capacity of
master of hounds—quite long enough to ten the ability
and fitness of any one, and he thought that they of the
Cattistock country had a pretty good right to know
what a master of hound, was or might to be, kr
they had for many years one of the best masters of
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ntyglietwhbetbsepowirtsmen in England at
their head (Mr. FarquhisionHabee feelings arad)—euittt dtthreTtingwashsdne
en
happiness now niagunder a most able and worthy sue-
lessor tof that master. (Cheers). They must all admit
that there were a great many inconvenienced connected
with a gentleman leaving his own home and coming
into a, ertrange country for the whole of the winter
moving his family and his establishment, but he did
hope and believe that when Lord Poltimore came inlo
the Canino* country, the hearty welcome he received,
the number of foxes he found—(hear, bean—and the
sport he showed with them, and, above all, his own
innate love of !Tort, would in some measure, compen-
sate for any little privation he might experienee during
the winter months. (Applause). With those remarks
he begged to second the resolution. (Cheers).
Lord Pommestx then rose, and he was greeted
with cheering long and hearty. He said: My lord and
gentlemen, I beg to express my most heartfelt thanks
to you for your kind and cordial reception of me this
day. My beat thanks also are due te my friend and
brother master—Mr. Radolyffe—for payi
compliment of attending here to-day.
I think, gentlemen, the good ladies
good understanding that have subsisted
during the time I have had the pleeurre
brother
Isiro
' to-day.

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