The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-02-16 00:00:00

Band: Soottische.

Mr. JAMES HARDING in rising to respond got upon a
chair, and said that being a short man he had elevated
himself that they might see one of the tenant farmers of
Dorsetshire, who had endeavoured to do his best to pro-
mote the sport of as good a man as ever lived under the I
sun. (Cheers.) He was proud to have the honour of
being coiled upon to address that meeting. He must,
however, express his regret that a brother farmer, upon
whom would have devolved this duty, was prevented
from being present by domestic bereavement. With
reference to the toast, he observed that if there was, or
had been, a man in the county for the last fifty years,
a tenant fanner, who was known to destroy foxes, the
men of Dorset would destroy his reputation. (Laughter
and cheers.) He looked back with pleasing recollec-
tions to the time when as a boy—some 40 Tears ago—on
his little pony (laughter), he first hunted waththe Squire.
He felt justly proud at having been brought up under
so good a master. He had enjoyed the sport to such an
extent as he believed he could not have done had he
been in any other county, and not under the truly
worthy Squire, whom they looked upon sitting on his
horse in the picture before them. He had been many
weeks and days, and many times with him' and so cor-
rect was Mr. Farquharson about time that he never
knew him keep a field half as long as the noble lord
had that day kept them waiting for dinner. (Cheers
and laughter.) He mentioned that point with no wish
' to be uncourteous; he was sure that the whole com-
pany, with himself, possessed forgiving hearts (hear and
laughter), and they freely forgave the noble lord. (Ap-
plause.) It was a great pleasure to meet together
I to present this testimonial of their esteem and regard to
I one who deserved ten times its value. However, the
worthy Squira appreciated their motives. (Cheers.)
He wished that Mr. Farquharson, after fifty years' hunt-
ing the county, had been permitted to close his career
in peace and joy. (Loud cheers.) He was proud to
know that few Dorsetahire men had ever ventured to
I express their dissent to the opinion, which had always
held good with respect to foxhunting or any other
similar sport, viz., that when a country was pro-
perly hunted, it was in the honour of gentlemen con-
sidered to be theirfreehold. (Hear and cheers.) Throughout
his life he had always understood that, whether in refer-
ence to a pack of foxhounds or a regularly-established
pack of any other sort, it was as much their freehold as
sportsmen as if it had been their property in land. (Cheers.)
lie heartily hoped and still asked the Squire to return to
I the sport, he had so well, so gloriously, as nobly, and
with such grace kept up to the present hour. Thank
God, he yet hoped Mr. Farquharson might alter his
decision; and, if it could be possible, he was sure on
bonded knees every one in that room would be willing
to ask it. (Applause.) He maintained that there was
no one in exigence who could do what the Squire by his
kindness had done. (Cheers.) He trusted that who-
ever made the attempt would succeed, but he must be
such a one that the speaker did not then know—to go
on for a half-a-century, at his own expense, asking no
man for a farthing, and closing his career with a stud of
horses and such a pack as defied England to parallel.
(Applause.) He never would believe but what there
was something more than foxhunting attached to the
matter. Mr. .Harding concluded by thanking the com-
pany on behalf of the tenant farmers.
Band: Galop.

The CHAIRMAN then gave "The Testimonial Com-
mittee." He must say, and he thought all would agree
with him, that those gentlemen had carried out the pro-
ject in a most efficient manner. On a former occasion
they had the management of the very pretty and accep-
table testimonial over his (the Chairman's) head, and
now the committee had disclosed a picture which every
one who saw must acknowledge did credit to the
artist and was a good portrait, both of their worthy Squire
and of James Treadwell. (Applause.) The names of
the committee were Lord Digby, Sir E. Baker Baker,
Mr. Bart. (Chairman), Hon. Mr. Portman, Mr. J. Smith,
Oglander, Major Frampton, Mr.G. Start, Mr. E. Pope,
Mr. Harding, Mr, Burgess, Mr. Ribbeck, Mr. Miller,
and Mr. James. (Loud cheers.)
Sir EDWARD BAKER, as chairman of the Committee,
responded. Nothing had given the committee greater
pleasure than the attainment of their object. He could
fairly say that the testimonial originated with the tenant
farmers; and, while there had not been any objection to
giving that trifling testimonial to their friend, be (Sir
Edward) was sure it had been truly appreciated. He
was sure, as Mr. Harding had said, they were ready to
do anything to induce the Squire to keep on the hounds
(applause); but, of course, Mr. Farquharson WM the best
judge in the matter. He (Sir Edward) was very sorry
for what had happened, and was sure it was a great
mistake, and he would rather have suffered a severe loss
than it should have occurred.

Mr. 11. FRAMPTON also acknowledged the compli-
ment, as one of the oldest white collars in the room. He
thanked Mr. Farquharson very much for his unvarying
courtesy, kindness, and good temper ever shown to him
(Mr. Frampton). All must agree that during Mr. Far-
quharson's time they had enjoyed unparalleled sport,
and the greatest considerateness at his hands, without
one single farthing expense.
Mr. HARDING, being anxious to hear the opinion of a
good sportsman of the county of Somerset on the point
in question, feeling assured Mr. Farquharson had never
given occasion for the unfortunate occurrence, and hay-
ing obtained the Chairman's permission, proposed the
health of Mr. George Harbyn, of Yeovil. (Loud
applause.)
Mr. HARBYN, in reply, said, however unexpectedly
the present honour had been conferred on him, he could
not omit to express the deep gratitude he felt for the
unrivalled sport they had enjoyed for so many years by
the great liberality of their good Squire. (Applause.)
As an old sportsman, he would be forgiven for quoting
a standard author who said emphatically—hunting is
the soul of a country life; it gives health to the body,
contentment to the mind, and is one of those few plea-
sures that can be enjoyed with society without prejudice
towards either friend or foe. (Applause.) After testi-
fying to the truth of this statement Mr. Harbyn asked
what was to become of this country if Mr. Farquharson,
which he hoped and trusted would not be the case, re-
tired? (Cheers.) His opinion had been asked as
to the position in which Dorset stood in regard to terri-
tory. Many years ago certain coverts that belonged to
the New Forest were offered to that most excellent
sportsman Mr. Assheton Smith; and what did he do on
the occasion? Mr. Smith wrote to Mr. Harbyn's rela-
tive and asked whether the coverts were any part of the
New Forest, and finding that they were, wrote a most
handsome letter to Mr. Wyndham saying—Wyndham, I
can never think of entering your country; it shall never
be said that I have gone into a covert belonging to the
New Forest country. (Loud cheers.) Considering that
Mr. Assheton Smith had behaved most honourably and
nobly in this matter, certain coverts the property of the
late lamented Lord Ilchester were given to him on the
part of the New Hampshire hunt, and he hunted them to
this day, contributing a subscription of 50 guineas to the
hunt. They held a hunting country to be a freehold,
as it were, and if infringed or an aggressive policy were to
besupported what would become of sporting? He thought
that the acting committee of management who had so
well carried out the wishes of the hunt generally—a
movement so ably begun by the tenant farmers, and so
well seconded by every gentleman who had had a day's
sport with the Squire—might feel it their duty rightly to
approach so good a man as Mr. Wingfield Digby and say
to him: you are mistaken, you cannot offer your coverts
to a neighbouring pack when they are a part of our
country. (Cheers.) That was how things were managed
in another county. Another incident might be viewed
an a precedent. In the Forest a gentleman of immense
wealth came and purchased a very large estate, and he
gave them notice that they were not to draw his coverts.
The hunt felt much hurt, but it only required explana-
tion. Well, a most excellent member of the hunt, the late
Sir George Rose, volunteered to go and represent the
matter to him, telling him that by law he might possess
his lands, but by the law of honour he could not possess
and interfere with the rights of sportsmen around.
(Applause.) Influenced by the argument the gentleman
restored the coverts,which formed a considerable portion
of Hick country, to the hunt; and the coverts were
again hunted. In the correspondence that had appeared
between Mr. Digby and Mr. Farquharson the former
complained that the Sherborne part of the country was
not hunted enough. This had been met by a desire on
the part of this most excellent master to afford Mr.
Digby every opportunity of meeting the bounds. But
there was a great scarcity of foxes. He (Mr. Harbyn)
recollected when the woods at Honeyoombe, Whitfield,
and the woods of Long Burton were as full of foxes as
could be. It was, therefore, no use going to coverts when
there was not a sufficient number of foxes. His friend,
Mr. Tatchell Sullen, could testify to the capital sport
they formerly had there; but, during the time of the late
Lord Digby the country had not been preserved as at
present, or the good sport might still have continued.
Mr. Harbyn suggested that something practical should
result from the meeting, and the committee of manage-
ment should be empowered to go to Mr. Digby and say
—We represent Mr. Farquharson's hunt. You place

Mr. Farquharaon in a most painful position. (Hear,
hear.) Such a committee should also say—Sir, you are
mistaken. You cannot offer your coverts to a neighbour-
ing pack of foxhounds, and you are infringing every rule
and law and acknowledged principle of foxhunting; and
you cannot do so, and we ask of you now to invite the
Squire to come awl draw his coverts. (Cheers.) He
hoped and trusted that by such a course Mr. Digby, of
whom he spoke highly, would be led to retract Ins re-
quest, that Mr. Farquharson would still hunt the coun-
try, and all difficulty resulting from the great mistake
be removed. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. 0. STUNT had great pleasure in proposing the
health of Mr. Radclyffe, who had last year occupied the
position now held by the noble lord. Mr. Radclyffe
kept a pack of what lie (the hon. member) called very
useful bounds, for, when told, they would hunt a roe-
buck, s hare, a fox, or almost anything. (The toast was
heartily received, with three times three.)
Mr. J. C. Ranct,vrrit in acknowledging the compli-
ment said he was glad whenever he could afford gentle-
men sport with his little pack. He hoped gentleumnwould
allow him this opportunity of correcting a mistake
into which Lord Portman had fallen, he would not say
at the conspiracy, but at Henstridge. Lord Portman
stated that Mr. Farquharson held the place called
Hyde in spite of Mr. bras. When negotiations for the
purchase of Mr. bran's hounds were going on by Lord
Portman, the latter told him (Mr. Radclyffe) he was
about to take Mr. Drax's hounds, and would he (the
speaker) in that case preserve foxes for him? Some-
thing took place which prevented the purchase. He
(Mr. Radolyffe) considered that the Charboro'
country rightly belonged to Mr. Farquharson, and re-
plied that he should preserve foxes for that gentleman
as heretofore. Mr. Drax then asked him why he pre-
served foxes for Mr. Farquharson, and he expliuned
that he (Mr. Radclyffe) deemed that when Mr. Drax
did not hunt the country it MU Mr. Farquharson's,
Well, said Mr. Farquharson, when he heard of the
matter—it may be inconvenient but do not trouble
about it, and let Mr. Drax hunt the coverts. Under
such circumstances was it a fair statement to make at a
public meeting that Mr. Farquharson made a breach in
keeping the country in spite of Mr. Drax? Mr. Far-
quharson never put a hound into the covert until re-
quested. . .

Sir EDWARD BARER said he WM about to propose a
toast he had proposed many times in his life, and he
had still great hopes to live to do so again. He begged
to propose the old toast of "Mr. Farquharson and the
Foxhounds." (Loud and continued cheering, with
"One cheer for Rarity.")
Mr. TATCHILL Boxxxx, after complimenting Mr.
Farquharson, remarked that he had read statements
which he could prove to be perfectly incorrect. He had
been given to understand that the Blackmoor Vale
country was not sufficient to hold a pack of hounds
three days a week; but he begged to say, when he
turned his harriers into fox-hounds, Lord Portman,
who then hunted the Blackmoor Vale, and had pur-
chased Mr. Yeatman's pack of hounds, and was able to
offer it, offered him three days a fortnight, and he found
abundant sport, and never had a blank day; but, hav-
ing many blank days in his three-day-a-week country,
on meeting Mr. Farquharson and saying, Sir, I
have had three blank days, his answer was, "My dear
Tatchell, you shall never have a blank day if I can pos-
sibly help it, and you shall have a day whenever you
feel disposed—only give me the time in order that my
bounds and yours may not clash ;" and Mr. Farquhar-
son by his great courtesy and kindness did enable him
to show sport to those gentlemen who were with him.
He understood by the correspondence that Mr. Digby
wanted a three-day-a-week country. Now the country
which he (Mr. Sullen) gave to Mr. Hall was hunted,
not three days • week, but five, and he believed that
sixty pairs of noses were nailed up against the kennel
door, through hunting the Blackmoor Vale country.
He wished to know, then, why the Blackmoor Vale
hunt wanted to take the cream of the country and leave
only • few cold, miserable downs, where some very
ardent sportsmen would come out and persevere and see
what no other hounds but theirs would do? (Applause.)

Mr. FARQUHARSON then rose, amid loud cheering, and
said, No doubt, gentlemen, it is painful to me to rise
on this occasion, because it will be, perhaps, almost the
last occasion on which I shall be called upon to respond
to a toast of this kind; but, gentlemen, I do not feel so
much regret on my own account as I do on yours, be-
cause I am now advanced in life, and, of course, do not
expect to be able to enjoy the sport myself for many
years to come. At the same time, gentlemen, I must
assure you that, although there has been an endeavour
to impress upon the mind of the county generally that
it was my intention to give up the hounds, that I took
advantage of what has occurred, and gladly embraced
the opportunity of declaring my intention of resigning
the country, yet, gentlemen, I say that so far from
that being the case, had I given up the hounds on
my own account after 50 years of hunting, and after
your kindness to me, I should not have acted with that
courtesy, with that kind feeling, which you deserve.
(Cheers.) Place yourselves in my position: could I, as
an honourable man, consent to be driven, as it were, from
the country I had occupied for 50 years? Could I, gen-
tlemen, have succumbed to Mr. Digby? Here have I
kept hounds for 50 years: did I ever hear an angry word
from any yeoman in the county? (Cheers, and cries
of "No.") No, gentlemen, I had but one course to
pursue, and one still—to resign the country and give up
the hounds. Gentlemen, Mr. Radolyffe has explained
to you what passed at Henstridge with regard to El de.
Really. I did not pay much attention to Hyde; but I ,
do expect that when a pack of hounds has ceased to I
hunt a country the gentlemen of the hunt have no right
to dispose of it. Mr. Drax has not a right to refuse
other gentlemen to hunt coverts because he will not
hunt them; it is a thing unheard of. Well, with regard
to another point. Though Mr. Digby has a right to
take my coverts, he has no right to give them to any-
body else. (Applause.) And who is to hunt them? for
they would have no more rightto hunt Mr. Digby's ooverts
than any other pack has. (Applause.) Now, my Lord
Portman chose to be very much offended, I believe, at
my having mentioned his name as being signed on that
requisition. Why, my Lord Portman's name stood at
the top; then came his son; and who came next—who
was the third person I mentioned? why, Mr. St. Lo.
Now, tell me any other man living in Dorset whose
name is there—putting the name of Mr. Digby out of
the question? Not a single man! Well then, I think
I had a right to notice those three men as belonging to
Dorsetshire, and wishing to turn me out of the Dorset-
shire country. (Cheers.) Then, my Lord Portman talked
a great deal about my having given Mr. Tatchell country
and hunting, and my having given up other country.
Why, Lord Portman should go a little further back and
inquire when Mr. Calcraft hunted the country. Mr.
Calcraft hunted every bit of the country from the west
to the Stour. I could show it to him in black and
white, for I have a book in which Mr. Calcraft kept the
particulars of his hunt. One day he is at Woolcombe,
then he met at Melbury, at Honeyoombe, and at How-
den; he hunted the whole of the country from the
Stour down to the Avon. Well, gentlemen, was I not
justified in saying that? (Loud cheers.) Should Ibe
justified in another course? No one who keeps a pack
of hounds has a right to cut op • country just as he
pleases; he cannot do it. :Now look at the position
which lam in. Mr. Digby takes away certain coverts
from me. Sir Henry Hoare writes and says: having
signed that requisition I must beg you will not hunt my
coverts. How can Igo on and hunt the country? If
Mr. Digby is to hunt the Caundle Molts and all the
Sherborne country and Holnest, how am I to go on?
Why, you know there would not be two days' a week
bunting in the whole country. And then, those earths.
Am I to get those earths still stopped for Mr. Digby to
go and rim my coverts all over? Am Ito go and meet
at Sydling coverts and have half a dozen out with me?
One does not like to see people enjoying them-
selves in a good covert in that way. (Hear, hear.)
Of course, gentlemen, I speak to you from ex-
perience, from knowing the situation of the country, and
knowing the possible and the impossible of it. (Cheers.)
I did not, I assure you, gentlemen, when I spoke about
my Lord Postman's name at Mr. Harding's, mention it
in any way of invidious censure of Lord Portman:
my object was simply to show that this requisition was
not signed by anybody living in the county of Dorset.
They say I have not hunted the country efficiently.
Whatought Ito do? I have kept 70coup1e of hounds. All
I hope is that the Blackuioor Vale hounds will show as
much sport as I have done. (Cheers and laughter.)
Mr. MILLER said he recollected when no one hunted
the country before Mr. Farquharson came.
Mr. FARQUHARSON : The first person I hunted with
was George IV., when he was Prince of Wales, when he
was at Critchell. I recollect perfectly his buying the
hounds, and there was a dispute between Caloraft and
Col. Lee; and !remember their going down to fight it out
on Chapeldowne. These explanations, gentlemen, will
show, I think, that I did not hastily coins to the con-
clusion I have, and I do think that no honourable man
could have done otherwise. lam sure the appeals that
have been made to me are so strong that if I could have
felt it consistent I should have been the last man not to
endeavour to take them into consideration; but I can
assure you that my mind is quite made up on this point.
And I can only regret that to a certainty of belief it
must sever our connection in this way—that the hunting
field affords one greater opportunity of meeting than
any other place, and of meeting there those friends who
come, and we live together on those terms of kindness
and good feeling which probably after this meeting we
may not be able to do. I only hope and trust that
somebody will endeavour to keep the country going
somehow or another; but I do feel myself that I cannot
—and I grieve to say, and lam sorry to say, that I cannot
go on. Gentlemen, I have to thank you for having so
patiently listened to me, and to assure you that during
the remainder of this season I shall endeavour to con-
tribute to your amusement, and I shall always feel most
grateful for all the kindness I have received, indeed, I
may say, invariably, at your hands. Whilst I live I
shall always recollect with deepest gratitude the kind-
ness I have received. (The worthy Squire sat down
amid loud and protracted acclamations, with shouts
often repeated of " One cheer more for the good old
Squire.")
The CHAIRMAN then briefly proposed the health of
the honorary secretary, Mr. Francis T. Johns. (The
toast was heartily honoured.).. . . . .

Mr. JOHNS in'responee aid, what he had done had
been a labour of love, and concluded by thanking gentle-
men for the kind way in which they had received hia
name.

Capt. DAWSON DAMEE, M.P., proposed three cheers for
Mr. oyer, which were duly rendered, as well as three
cheers for Treadwell, and the assembly then broke up—
at a quarter to one.

SHArritstirrmY.—Dunn V. Ba/isbury and Yeovil
Railway Company.—The above action for compen-
sation for land taken by the railway company, and
for damage to other land, was tried before C. B.
Henning, Esq., the Under Sheriff for the county of
Dorset, and a special jury, at the Grosvenor Arms
Inn, Shaftesbury. The claim was for £1,200. Mr.
Stock, instructed by Mr. R. Swyer, appeared.for
the claimant, Mr. Shadrach Dunn, of Gillingham,
and Mr. Johnson, instructed by Mr. Townsend, of
the firm of Hodelings, Townsend, and Co., for the
company. £650 had been paid into the Bank of
England. The trial commenced on the 4th instant,
sad was not concluded until the 6th, when the jury
gave a verdict for £6OO, being £5O leas than the com-
pany had offered.

BLANDPORD.—On Saturday week it was currently
rumoured through our town and the market that the
firm of Mews. -P. A. Barnes and Sons, who have
carried on in this county an extensive busineas for
the last half century as wool staplers, were in ember.
reseed circumstance., arising partly from trading
with some of those large wool dealers who of late
have become bankrupts, and also from the depression
in the wool market. We are not A/ yet in a position
to give particulars as to their liabilities, but we have
no doubt some of the creditors will suffer consider-
ably. Great sympathy WS/ expressed for the Messrs
Barnes in the market by the farmers, they being an
well known and respected in the county for the ho.
nowsble way in which they conducted their business
with them.