The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-04-25 00:00:00

of
Miss Pritchett,

alter
death
proprietor

MR. RADOLYFFR'S BUNT.

On Saturday afternoon last, •meeting of the members,
subscribers, owners, and oecttpiers of coverts in this
hunt was convened at the Ring's Arms Hotel, Dor-
chester, by invitation of Mr. Radelyffe. There w,ere
oout fifty preeent, amengst Whom we noticed :—The
Right Hon. Lord Dishy, Captain Astell, Mr. G. Bishop,
Mr. G. Troyte—Bullook, Mr, John Bargees, Mr. J.
Celoraft, Major Frampton, Mr. R. P. Fetherstonhaugh,
Captain Foster, Mr. A. Foster, Mr. R. B. Foster, Mr.
W. Fyler, Mr. IL Fookes, Mr. R. Fookes, Mr. Hill,
Mr. W. Martin, Mr. R. Miller, Mr. M. Miller, Major
Parke, Mr. C. J. Parke, Mr. E. Pope, Mr. Quicke, Mr. O.
J. Radclyffe, Mr C. Rsdolyffe junr. Major Sykes, Mr.
Sparkes, Mr. H. G. Start., M. '
P., Mr. R. Weld, Mr.
W. IL B. Weston dm
Mr. R•lloLrifelt said that he had invited Lord Digby
and Mr. H. G. Start to take the chair, but they both
were of opinion that as he Called the meeting in his own
name, be had better state himself the cause of it. His
primary reason in assembling them together was to direct
their attention ta the me/entre—he could call it nothing
else—of foxes that had taken place last season in his
county. But he had not come there to make statements
against individuals ' • he did not consider it becoming in
him as a master of foxhounds to come there and make
enemies of any one. Yet he thought he 1•11.9 justified
in stating that foxes had been killed in an un-
precedented manner. He would make one statement
to bear out this. He had killed 215 i or 26i brace
of foxes this year; compared with the number
killed by his neighbours, that was very few.
He defied any gentleman to say that he had ever seen him
attempt to kill a fox for the sake of killing it. (Ap-
plause.) Out of those 26i brace they would be some-
what staggered to know that only three hr [Our were
foxes of this season. The killing of the foxiia was not
confined to One particular locality • others could speak
Volumes about foxes having been killed. He could not
give a breakfast to his friends as usual, because he dare
not hunt his covers, knowing that he could not find a
fox, That point he left in their hands. If they did
not like to preserve the country it was no use to talk
about a man keeping a pack of foxhounds. This country
ought to supply a meet three or four days a week.
Ffequently he had gone out and not found a fox at all.
Be agreed to hunt the oountry twice a week, and he had
done so. Towards the expenses he had received £2O or
£3O short of £BOO. He had paid £1,200 out of his own
pocket for the bounds, and never kept doe that was
inferior or defective. But of that he said nothing; he
bad done it to support the country, and had pleasure in
doing it. Still, if the country wu to be bunted more,
there must be a guarantee to him of • certain amount
of money. If he was expected to find a field he was
entitled to have the hounds kept, but not at so great an
expense to himself. Lord Dishy wrote him a letter to
say that be considered he (Mr. Radclyffe) had not
hunted the country around him sufficiently, and that
for three years he had not done so; and therefore he
wished to say that he could not continue to subsoribe to
a pack of hounds that did not visit his country.
Lord DIGBIr said that was the tenortr of his letter.
He said he hoped that Mr. Radolyffe would make
arrangements for the constant hunting of his (Lord
Digby 's) coverts, as, in consequence of Mr. Radelyffe's
not doing 80, the gentlemen in that neiglibonrbbod were
killing the foxes at such a rate as to injure Lord
Poltiniore's hunt and Mr. Digby's. The last day Lord
Poltimore hunted some of Ina (Lord Dishy's) coverts,
they had a blank day, a thing never heard of before.
Mr. RtDemtrrs remarked that with regard to giving
Lord Poltimore more days, he certainly should have
done it, but at the commencement of the season, he
wrote to his lordship to say that he (Mr. Radolyffe) had
an alternate meet at Glanville' Wootton with Mr. Digby,
and if he (Lord Poltimore) would take his (Mr.
Radolyffe's) meet there instead of himself, he would
make arrangements for his lordship to draw some of his
covers. Mr. Dishy wrote • very sharp letter to him,
saying that be thought it very unhandsome of him to
give his meet at Gliinvilles Wootton to Lord
Poltimore, and not to himself (Mr. Digby). He then
wrote back to Lord Poltimore, and got a letter in
answer, in which his lordship said he would not take
the GlLivilles Wootton coverts as it would bring him
(Mr. Radclyffe) into collision with Mr. Dishy, and he
should be sorry to do anything that would create any un-
friendly feeling. He then sent a letter through Mr.
Stunt to the Duke of Routh:let to inquire of him
whether, under the circumstances, be should be
justified in making such, an exchange with Lord
Poltimore. The reply he received was, that he
was perfectly at liberty to give up his meet
alternately to any other hounds, provided he
did not go out of his turn. He then wrote to Mr.
Digby in reply to his letter, observing that he did not
wish to injure any hunt, and thought he was doing
right in ofrering the alternate meet to Lord Poltimore,
but as be objected to his lordship'. going there he himself
would take his alternate meet with him. At this com-
munication Mr. Digby was exceedingly hurt, and
wrote back saying that during the eleven years he (Mr.
Radclyffe) had kept hennas he had endeavoured to
avoid disagreement with him as to the bunting, but, he
considered the tenous of his (Mr. Radolyffe's) letter to
be that Lord Poltimore might hunt the Glans-tiles
Wootton coverts, but Mr. Digby should not. His
reply was, that he would not go near the coverts again;
and having a meet there that day, he made his son get
up and ride to Glanvilles Wootton to bring back his
hounds tall another piece. With regard to not bunting
•••• Lord Poltimere's hounds had
as they would have been, in
which had a good deal inter-
and, he would tell them the
had appointed meets within
I coverts. [Mr. Radolyffe
he oonelnaion • gentleman
were 98 meets.] Besides
Lord Poltimore. It was
_ ways i
dno t isooYmheebewfooreuldt hheamTeina
but kliat he oonaideeed to ben fair
- rt!wikeg. of times he had basted in
-NOWA neighboompft,
' 4 -.4.. • . • •..

Lord ninny remarked that he etthild have been more
satisfied if Mr. Radclyffe had met at Holton, for if Lerd
Polthnore had run through those coverts he could have
told him of other coverts in the neighbourhood. The
fact of the matter was that Woodfalls—as other gentle-
men who hunted during Mr. Farquhareon's time would
tell him—was a sure find, and it had not been bunted
for three years.
Mr. Renettivg said the first time that lie went into
the country there were a brace of foxes stuck on a pole
as scarecrows. (Laughter.)
Lord DIOBY said there had been plenty of foxes
there; on his own property he had never seen so many
as he did last year. But at the end of this season he
found fewer foxes than he did last year. They had
been killed. Several persons had come to him—he
' would not mention names—and said, " I have been
' told that lan the person that hat caused the death
of foxes in this country, now I tell you fairly that
unless the country is regularly hunted I will kill them
openly.". Under those circumstances, he wrote a letter
to Mr. Radclyffe, as, by not hunting the country, he
(Mr. Radclyffe) was destroying that part of Lord
Poltimore's and Mr. Digby's bunts.
Mr. RAIN:DUFFS remarked that there were two men at
Piddletrenthile who had openly declared that they
would kill every fox they could lay hands on. Their
name was Loveless; he was not afraid to mention
named. Mr. Kent had sent him w..rd of the times they
met in his village, and said that if he did not hunt the
foxes, he would kill them openly, though he had not
done so yet. They had been openly killed in this
neighbourhood, and no doubt would continue to be.
He said he had hunted that country oftener than he
ought to have dons. Why? Because he considered
that pour Mr. Davis, of Meloonabe, who was gone,
cherished foxes *0 he would sheep ; and he had gone to
that district so often betause he did not find foxes in
other places. He thought it was unfair to say he did
not bunt Lord Digby's country as often as he Cohld.
Twenty-six times he had been there, with a subscription
for twice a week. He had hunted the country as a
subscription hunt, and had an uphill game to contend
with. lie had three noblemen and a gentleman rich as
Crafts around him who kept hounds. He had always
felt that nil man might to hunt a oountry who could
not do so at his own expense. It was necessary for such
a man to be independent, so that when people came to him
and aaid—)as they had done many times to him,) they
had seen a fox in their covert, and if it were net hunted,
they should kill it, (though he had gone under such
circumstances to find the fox, and had not done so ;
God knew, perhaps the fox was killed before he got
there)—(lattghter)—he could tell them to mind their
own business. (Hear, hear.) He was perfectly willing
to go on as at present, with the same subscriptior. of
i.:BM a-year. The country was ospable of providing
hunting four days a week if decently preserved. Wben
he found that he had not given satisfaction, notwith.
standing the money he had paid out of his own pocket,
he considered that he was bound to come before them
and say, "Gentlemen, there is the country, and the
hounds you may take at a valuation." If they would
not accede to that, he was willing to go on with two
days a week If he pit on a third, that was his own. ,
He had One all in hie power to provide good sport.
The humblest fanner in e county, Who had a withey
bed of his own, if he aped hint td give him a meet,
m
whether convenient or ot, he had gone. It was no
use eternally harms' the foxes at the same place.
Major FaeurroN • 'cl that no one wished Mr.
Radclyffe to give up the hounds. It so happened that
this year the subscriptions to the hunt were increased
by more than £lOO. He thought it was fair to say that.
Still there was no guarantee; it was just as people
chose to give. From £.760 last year, the subscriptions
would amount to £B5O this year. ,
Mrs IteDmarra said he did not ask for any guarantee
for two days' hunting a week. He did not mean to say
that the lettet he reeeived from Lord Digby was sent
in a hostile spirits
Lord Mast : YOU read it.

•
Mr. RADLITIFE : I have left it at home.
Lord patty : I have got • copy of it.
Mr. RADOLTIFE said, that *ith regard to Lord
Poltimore he could do anything with him, and would do
anything for him. But, if the country was taken away
from him on that aide of the road he should give up
altogether. On the other hand, he would give Lord
Poltimore as many days next year as he could, and be
should have done so last season but for Mr. agby's
ohiedtiOn.
Lord DICEY said it was a matter of moonshine to him
who hunted the country, but he should like it Minted so
that the foxes might not be killed in the way they were.
His lordship then read the letter referred to above,
which was to thin effect :—You are well aware of the
great complaints that have been made for the last three
years about the Holton and Buckland Newton ravers
not being regularly hunted by your bounds. If this
had been the first complaint, I should not have written
to you, because I should have considered the frosts
fait excuse. But the foxes are being killed, and will
soon be Otterminated. My , property. adjoins your
country, and, as • subscriber, I should be glad to know
what arrangements you will make for hunting this
country next season. If you will say what is to be
regularly done in this country, I should not think of
withdrawing my subscription, which I should be sorry
to do. But ipis useless to subscribe to a pack of hounds
that do not hunt the country regularly, and which is
the cause of the foxes being killed, and is therefore, •
serious detriment to the two other packs.
Mr. RADCLTIFE said he did not think Lord Digby
was justified in saying that the country had not been
regidaily hinted, seeing that he had been there 26
timlai, besides cub hunting, and giving days to Lord
Poltimare. He then spoke of the poor days both Lord
Pottimore and himself had had in that country. Were not
the foxes killed there, he asked, in Mr. Farctuharson's
time? They had been killed since he had hunted the
country, and he should be very much mistaken if they
were not always killed. If people killed them for one
excuse they would for another. He did not see how
they (mold demand hounds in that country unless they
showed foxes. He did not wish to monopolise the
country. He could not hunt oftener than he had done.
He should have been glad if some one had stood up in
, meeting and said, "Make no more words about it, I
will take the country,and you can go home and go to bed.
(Laughter).
Lord DIOBT observed that if it was inconvenient to
Mr. ftadclyffe,through having • large extent of country,
to go to that district—[Mr. RADCLIFFE : It is
not inconvenient, but I can't find foxes when
I get there]—he suggested that he make some
arrangement whereby it should still be his (Mr.
Itsciclyffe's) county, but that Lord Poltimore's hounds,
With his (Mr. Badclyffe's) kind permisaion, should hunt it.
Then no due could hare an excuse to kill the foxes.

Mr. RADCGITEII : I am willing to give Lord roltimore
as many days as I ciao.

Lord-Dinar : load year I understood your arrange.
ment was that Lord Poltimore should hunt once a
month in the Buckland Newton country.
Mn Reptiarra He would have done so, but Mr.
Digby stopped him. He we still of opinion there had
not been foxes enough in Lord Digles duct/int:
Major Faamrrow said he thought that Mr. Radclyffe
would have found more if he had gone to his (the
Major's) covert& He had only been to them twice this
year.
Mr. RADCLT7YI : I only found a brace of old foxes.
Major Ens.urron : Last year, when you were in my
coverts, you always found.
A "Vona@ : You have altered since Mr. Radclyffe
visited you, or you would not have had that vixen
killed the other day,
Major FRAmpToN: I have not altered. I did not
order the vixen to be killed. Mr. Radclyffe'S hounds
were called for, and I asked him why he did not stay,
and he said "Thert's a --- fine dog fox gone away,
and they won't let the hOunds go after ft."
Mr. RADOLYPFC said the first day of the Reason there
we found a brace of old foxes; we have not found a
young fox there this year, and have drawn twioe
Major Frampton was the very man who spoke to him
saying, "I wish you would give the Weymouth people
SA many meets as you can, for they are your best
subscribers." But, when he was at Ilsington, the
moment he said, 'We'll draw Moreton covers, every
man went off home. Another thing—Major Frampton
did not like the covers drawn late in the afternoon.
Major Famirsron said that when Mr. Radelyffe was
his way, and had drawn a great deal of Oottntry blank,
he came to his coverts late to save his day. He was
very happy to save Mr. Radolyffe a blank day, but he
thought it but fair that he should have them drawn
earlier in the day. . .

_
Mr. RADOLYFFE : You see Major Frampton com-
plains on one side, and Lord Digby on the dther. I
think the beat thing that can be done is to End niq
successor. . .

A Voioe : All we want is gentlemen to preserve the
foxes.. _

Major FRAMPTON then read a letter from Mr. Weld,
of Lulworth, enclosing a cheque towards the hunt, end
expressing a hope that Mr. Radolyffe would receive the
support he deserved.
Mr. H. Q: arum, said that be had listened with
great attention to the diecusalon which had taken place,
and he confessed that he felt More thin ever convinced
of the truth of a statement made to him when he *as A
little boy at Eton, about 14 years old. A gentleman
came to him and said, "Now, whatever you do, never
do you keep a peek of hounds, because you will always
find somebody else to do it for you. If you keep • pack,
lay out a lot of money, and devote all your time to it,
you are sure to meet with a great number of people ,
who will find fault with you and blow on up."
(Laughter.) Now, with all due deference to his friends I
there, he thought they bad borne out that statement.
He thought that hie noble friend (Lord I)igby) and his
honourable friend Major Frampton had been a little te
hard on his little friend Mr. Radclyffe. (Laughter, and
hear hear.) After all it was merely a matter of opinion
between Lord Digby and Mr. Roddy& whether or not
the country had been hunted often enough. Mr.
Eadclyffs brought forward a paper, showing the
number of times he had hunted in the district where
Lord Digby said he had not hunted.
Lord DIOBT : You are wrong. I did not say a word
about the Holton country. It is the Armswell and
But:bland Newton °ovate I spoke of.
Mr. &mar : The question is are there any foxes in
those places
Lord DIOBT : I can assure you of this,that there were
nine foxes killed by Rockland—
Mr. STOMP: If so, that he apprehended accounted for
there being no foxes to hunt. (Laughter.) He thought
it every easy matter in that meeting to throw oil on
the troubled waters. He was quite certain that Mr.
Radclyffe would come forward and say that if Lord
Digby was of opinion the country was not hunted
enoegh, be would make arrangements that it should be
done next year. If that were done he believed Lord
Digby would be satisfied, and he thought Mr. Reddy&
would agree to it.
Lord Dior: Perfectly so. That was the under-
standing I had with Mr. Eadclyffe in February or March
last year.
Mr. RAl:al:far' Mr. Digby defeated all ' that. I
planned with Lord Poltimore to hunt that country.
Than I got an angry letter from Mr. Digby, which re-
sulted in Lord Poltimore declining to go there.
Lord Dicker obeerved that Mr. Hann had made
coverts ou his land, and thought it a hard case that
they were not bunted.
Mr. &roar said it appeared to him that the oily
thing to be done was for Mr. Radcliffe to say thet he
west& andleavour to meet Lord Digby'a wishes next 7w,
whist's...beam sure, Mr. Radclyffe was always ready to'
do; slabs theught that from this meeting it would go
forth to the faxlmaisra how important it was to pro-
ne,. te7.4 Ma bolt hepondble to hunt any country
anion it- be Illooto He eould not conclude without
oheeteillobe IRMiciliat of all muter' of holm& in
this eatottryi finotami lam. deserving at the support of
theovallitaaddaddari Radolyffe. (Applause.) He

did not say that out of any disrespect to other gentlemen
who kept hounds, but they must not forget old
Weeds; and must recollect that at one time there
was just a &lance of there being no hounds in the
county of Dorset. When Mr. Farqnharson gave up,
' everybody was inquiring who Wag going to hunt the
country, and when the hounds wets offered for rale
nobody came forward to buy them but Mr. Bacleyffe.
He came up in a plucky manner, and said if nobody
I else would buy the hounds he would do so. Now there
were three packs in the county kept by great men. He
thought they ought to rally round their little friend,
and see that he was not overwLehned by what he might
call the big-wigs. (Laughter, and hear hear.) He
conaidered that,tir. Radelyffe specially deserved the sup-
port of foxhunters in the county, and be felt certain
that he was expressing the wishes and will of all when
he said he desired that Mr. Radelyffe should keep on
his hounds. (Applause.) Mr. Radelyffe was invariably
courteous and civil to his field, and from all he had
heard he believed that be (Mr. Radclyffe) always
desired to meet the wishes of the proprietors of coverts.
He believed Mr. Radclyffe did not hunt any coverts
belonging to his father, but he was a subscriber' and
came there to try if they could not settle that little
difficulty, and be trusted that Mr. Radolyffe Would
continue to hunt this country for many years to come.
(Loud applause.)
Mr .RADOLTPPE said that he was perfectly willing to
dmoeeaet tPeewli:llesdoonfeldsifferiewnads exceedingly
aWeiowuosiit'd
much rather that anybody who had any fault
1 to find with him would do no in a straighforward
, manner' than hating It brought to his ears by a aide
wind. He agreed to hunt two days a week. With
regard to the other packs, and Lord roltimore'is
e-pecially, he would give as many days se the country
would afford. If be were to tell them the number of
foxes killed in his country, not one amongst them would
believe it, unless he were to put the heads of them on a
table before them. Many, he admitted, had been killed
through eatelessnesa, but still many wilfully. With
regard to Major Frampton, he was one of his (Mr.
Radolyffe'e) hest friends, though they Bometimes
differed. If Major Frampton considered that he
had not hunted his country last season as often
as he ought, he was willing to say that lie was
very sorry for it, and that next season he would hunt
more; or, if be could not do it, would get somebody else
to hunt there. /t would not be long, perhaps, that he
should keep hounds. Ho lawmen around him who ought
to keep hounds, and who should lint him but of the room
and say you ought not to keep holinds. (Laughter.)
But be really was exceedingly hurt at the killing of the
foxes, and by Lord Digby's considering he had injured
his country—acting the part of the dog in the manger.
It was a very onerous duty to say where the hounds
should go day after day. However, he hoped that be had
not met them in an unfriendly spirit He did not come
in any cantankerous spirit before them. He would go
on as longer' he could, ass cripple, and hunt the country.
Bob if they found any young gentleman who would
hunt as be ought, he would let him have the hounds at
a valuation, or, rather than the country should not be
hunted, would give him them. (Applause.)
Lord DIOBT : If you would make arrangements for
one pack of hounds—either your own or Lord Poltimore's
—to hunt that country once a month it would be quite
sufficient.

hfr. Ilanevrrn.: What places do you take In?
Lord DIOBY : All that vale from Gaanvilles Wootton
to Armswell, Holton and the neighbourhood.
Mr. RADCLIFFE then read • letter from Mr. Dale to
Mr. Farquharson, the purport of which was, that Mr.
Dishy having resigned the mastership of the Black-
more Vale Hunt, he (Mr. Dale) considered his
covers as belonging solely to Mr. Radcliffe's
country as BECCOBSOI to Mr. Farquharson. After
some further remarks Mr. Radclyffe said when he made
the arrangement he purposed doing with Lord
Poltimore, he should ask Mr. Dale as a personal favour
if he would give up his (Mr. Badclyffe's) hunting the
Olanvilles Wootton coverts entirely to Lord Poltimore,
and whenever his lordship met there he should draw
right or left, as it might suit his hounds on the way
home. With regard to his other coverts, he should
like to be able so to arrange with him that he (Mr.
Radclyffe) could run in there, without feeling that he
was drawing coverts where Lird Poltimore would meet
inc day or two.
Lord DIGBY remarked that what Mr. Radclyffe had
said was perfectly satisfactory to him and he felt slue
it would be to all in the neighbourhood.
Mr. RADCLIFFE said he would bind himself to htipt
tWo days • week, and he would give a third day if be
oould find foxes enough; but, if they demanded three
days a week, they must find the wherewithal.
Mr. R. FOOICEB said he was sure all foxhunters wonli
be delighted to find that Mr. Radclyffe wets going to
continue the hunt. But there was one thing, which he
thought some other person would have alluded to that
the public ought to be made acquainted with—the great
enemy Mr. Radclyffe had in the centre of his country.
Mention had been made of one or two gentlemen on the
outskirts, but it was well known that there was a
gentleman living in the immediate neighbourhood who
had boasted of having destroyed from 50 to 70 foxes
since he bad been in possession of that property. He
thought that ought to be made known to the public.
A voice: Three groans for him.
Major FeemproN : It is right that I should tell you
that that gentleman subscribes £25 • year to Mr.
Radclyffe's hounds.
The meeting then dispersed.

to pies°.
Lord Digby's country, I
not been there no often
Bonsequenoe of the frost
fered with the hunting; sea,
number of times that he had
four miles of Lord Digb3r's a
then read the list, and at the
In the room observed there
those, he had given meek to
quite oertain he Gould not always
meet here or there. Re did r-
an offensive spirit,
I answer as to the
lord Di,•`-