The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1859-11-08 00:00:00

PUBLIC MEETING TO CONSIDER LORD
POLTIMORE'S PROPOSITION TO
HUNT THE CATTISTOCK COUNTRY.

On Saturday last a meeting was convened at the
Antelope Hotel, Dorchester, by R. B. Sheridan,
Esq., M. P to consider a proposition to be made
through that gentleman on the part of Lord Polti-
more, to hunt the Cattistock country now vacant,
and also to define the boundaries f the country.
The attendance was very numerous and influential,
comprising many landowners, many excellent
sportsmen, and several hearty friends of foxhunting
in Dorset, and the business of the meeting evidently
excited considerable interest. Amongst those re-
sent we observed Lord Digby, R. B. Sheridan,
M. P., J. C. Radclyffe, Esq., E. B. Portman, Esq.,
J. T. Sullen, Esq., Wm. Miuifield, Esq., George
Harbin, Esq.' W. L Henning, Esq., W. C. Lacy,
Eq., Colonel Cox, M. Yeatuian, r.q., J. Gundry,
Esq. B. P. ()unary, Esq.. M. hliLler, Esq., James
Harding, Eq.' E. Pope, Each. Rev. a Dendey, G.
Bullock, Esq., kc., ac.
The CHAIRMAN said :—Gentlemen, we are all aware
that we have all meet here on this occasion at the
request and invitation of Mr. Sheridan, who has a pro-
position to make to the meeting in reference to hunting
the C.attistock country on the part of Lord Poltiruore.
It is a subject of great congratulation that that noble-
man should come forward with so liberal • disposition
to hunts country, which we believe to be still vacant.
(Hear, hear.)
.Without any further preface I will call
upon Mr. Sheridan to make his statement to you.
(11!..ar.)_ _ . .

Mr. SHERIDAN then came forward amidst the cheers
of the meeting, and spoke as follows :—Before I
venture to make known to you the proposition, of which
I am the bearer, I trust I may be perusitted, with your
indulgence, to explain the reasons why I take upon my-
self the responsibility of doing that which may be con-
sidered by some • sort of presumption on my part. The
fact is, I wish to show that I was forced under circum-
stances to take this step. I was aware that in order to
make a request of this nature it was absolutely necessary
that it should be done by • gentleman of more consider-
ation than myself—the business in hand being to call •
county meeting of this description. I therefore thought
that the person most desirable to undertake this
position, would be one most acceptable to the gentlemen
of the county, and that one would have been my noble
friend Lord Digby. But the feet is that circumstances,
which I an, now going to state, prevented him from
taking that step; and I am quite sure that we all know
so well the feeling and interest taken by his Lordship in
all matters connected with the hunting of the Csittistock
country, as to be assured that he has not taken that step
without great reluctance. Now, before I state what has
taken place with respect to myself, let me say that before
I could ascertain whether Lord Poltimore, who empowered
me to say this, would hunt this country or not, it was
necessary to ascertain exactly the boundaries of the
country and also the wishes of the gentlemen residing
within those boundaries. I therefore wrote, in the and
instance, to Lord Digby and Lord Ilcheater, for I felt
assured that unless the coverts of Melbury and of Min-
terse were included in the Cattistock country, it would
be impossible to hunt that country so satisfactorily as
Lord Poltinsore is desirous of doing. I aeoonlingly did
apply to Lord Digby to know what were the boundaries
—whether the Ilinterne coverts were included in the
boundary. The answer he has given me will show you
the tenor of my address to him. His Lordship says :
Mlntense, Thursday, Oct. 20th, 1850.
Mr DiAll Seinuess,

I reeelved this morning your letter of the 17th,
wt. :Att for Lord Poltimore to hunt my coverts, to
The following rs watooViate at the meeting of the gen-
tlemen of the county, of which I was chairman, to define the
boundaries of the reepective packs of hounds w hich core to
bunt the country lately given up by Mr Farquharson.
Mr. Portman and Mr. Radelyffe were the only two gentlemen
who mine forward with that view, and their respective boum
darks were then defined.
As chairman. I asked whether any one would come forward
to hunt Use Cittistock district, and as no one ogered to do en I
then said that being the case I should offer the Minter., and,
on the part of Lord Ilchester, the Melbury coverts to Mr. W.
Digby who we. to resign them in the event of hounds being
kept In the Cattletock country—my reason for Ude being that
hunting the CatUstock country would be practically useless
without theme ewer-tn. An nerooonnot to thin effect is in my
ponnendoa, and aim In Lord I

The Ivoundaries of the Cattistock country as then IT were
from U. Turnpike gate at HoMost hy Revels Ire, the Giant's
Head to Dorchester on the right-hand mde ,d the :owl. end so
to Weymouth, and from Totnell Corner to Melhury YURI in on
Coker to the ffoincractshire Milts; and in there arc no fox
hounds kept In thow part+ Lord Poltimore might hunt nu
much further westward SA he thought proper. I must again
rePe.l that as no one came forward to hunt the Cattislosh
country Its limit. were not defined at the meeting. but I
believe what I have stated utile boundaries will be %Welter,
Bally correct. I have no hedtation Ii,.11) Ing the country xiii
afford three dap, and, Ii the hate have not ken killed, four
days a week
Yours sincerely,
DIG BY
Now, continued Mr. Sheridan, I will read Lord
Ilchester's reply to my letter .

Norniemby Park, 22nd Oct., 1809.
Dun Ma. &influx,
Your letter from Poltimorc followed we to thin place.
I shall he happy to help In forwarding the !sport of Inrel
Poltimore's hounds If he eutabliubes them at Cattidock, In any
way In my power, ute vest, acqulultlon to our neighbourhood.
Au to the limite of the country and other details I must he
&mailed by Lord Digby's advice, au I am no sportsman, and he
at Minterne in similarly situated to mvvelf at Illelbury. I am
very giqd )ou have written to him. 'He, too, underutands the
matter, having been ;Teeny interested in the uettlement made
utter Mr. Farquharson leave up the hounds at (7suivioeq.
Very sincerely yours,

LCII ESTER.
Having ascertained, said Mr. Sheridan, that the Min-
terne coverts as well Katlic Melbury coverts upon which I
thought depended the hunting of the Cattistock country
were included in its boundaries, I then wrote to Lord
Digby asking him to call a public meeting f the gentle-
men of the county. This is my letter to Lord Digby
2.hid Oct., taw

MY Dr %It Dinar,
When I Wrote to you yesterihty. I hail not received your
reply to mine of the 17th. Maus thank. for the infonnatini
It contanod, and for your liennission for Polti re to hunt
your 00 of.. knew your abbe., and those of others,
nwiding to the Cattlitock country, and ascertained the exact
houndarica, I could not ask you to eall a meeting for the pur.
I.ise of deciditic on a propodtion front bird l'oltimore 1.
hunt the .li.trlet. As he hat now livery rennin to lie intlifted
11th the tosoldarit, which you inforut Inc were &Anal at
the meeting of the eentletiwn of tiw count, of which 3,11 were
chainnatt. as well a+ nit!, the encouragement he ha. received
from younwlf and otlers, IIC Iwo IK-.r.re.l mc tO. write to you to
.11Y• that in the of hi. mind...v4li Mr. Faripthanion's
house, kennel, and premises. advertised for saie, on the 11th
140.., he will allijugl. undertake hi hunt, In Uwe:townie:lller
no Mr. Fanptharsioi did, three or four days. the ismtitri from
the Turnpike at !roiliest. by Itoil. hit., the ttiant's 1102)111)
ihirch,ter. nod nip 111 4 %Te mouth. and front Totsiell (.inter,
to Millbury,. and o on hy Coker to the Somenwtabire
. .

A. ilie f thine resident within (hi. ilkttiet, ma) I imer he
allowed to ask )cos to cell a meeting of the gentlemen of the
county, to emokler Polliuiinroa nedtiois, and if egrewelik to
tlsis toTeter a formal re...lotion granting pennixdon
re to hunt the ...man iii one.ti ~, and defining it. exact
}....hdarON-011.i I ion.i.ler slue to him as well as to thee gen-
tlemen Intere.V.l in the hunting of the now vacant country.—
shell he ((lot willing to attend, as will Poltlinore. if you con-
sider It desirable, but under the vimtsti.taiiix. .1 the case I
ant di..1...ed to think it ftliould be left to the impartial emulate.
ration of thee who are not in any way emneected with rolti-
more. I have alrewly written to Lord Ilehester and others
with whom I am acquainted, to ask for permiedon for
more to he allowed to hunt their coverts and will write to the
remainder of the owner, of coverts, as coon as I can ascertain
their names and addrewws.

With united kind repria, ke.. Re.
'intim faithfully,
It. B. SHERIDAN.
I therefore show my object and my wish were especially
to guard myself against any risk of trenching upon the
rights of other parties hunting the country, also my
desire that Lord Itighy should take the chair on an occa-
sion of so much importance as the present. His Lord-
ship states this, ii: reply to my letter—stating, as you
will lee, why he does not do us the honour of taking the
chair:—

Minterne, Monday.
MT Data SIMaIDAX.—
As chairman at the last county meeting on the occasion
of dividing Mr. Farquharson'. country, I must decline calling
another, as I look upon my duties in that Mace as having
ceased when Portman'. and Radclyffe's countries were ar-
ranged. Of course I Mall attend the meeting you propene to
bave, to answer any questions as to what took place when I
was in the chair, and I think the sooner you have the meeting
the better. You will not be surprised at my declining to take
wv prominent a position as calling • meeting, when you consider
the very invidious situation it places me in in regard to sic
relative, George Dighy ; nor do I think It would he right in
Lord Poltlmore to draw either the Minterne or Mellon". coverts
this season alth..ut G. Digby's consent, Ls the latter has
maintsinssl • large esdahlishment of hounds ant hoNes,
himself certain of having the country to the same extent as be
had last year. Lord Polti 1111 l re only oiferlng to limit thecountry
after the hunting yest.soti had already 1111 l tenets!.
Yours sincerely,
DIORY.
PS. Ido not think there can he any objection to rnir
calling • meeting for co plass:tut an object.

Therefore, gentlemen, I trust you will consider me justi-
fied in asking the gentlemen of the county to meet me
here tretlar. Well, gentlemen, in reply to that letter I
wrote to his Lordship as follows :

26th Oct. 1&511.

MT DTAIt
I quite admit the potloe of your reason% for declining to
rail a meeting, hut I reamed help regretting your detenui-
not ion. ILAynur name w,llllll have had infinitely more 11 richt than
mine. I have done as you .uggmt,e.l, anil encl.. the notice
to the Editor of each county paper. for sour pertead. If the
day or hour %Mudd prove inconvenient to you, or you ehould
wi.h to make alterationc pray do eo, without referring to no.
I !Mall he very thankful If you .111 attend and induce other.
to to the same.

I return to Frampton on Monday next, when I will call on
yen. I with much to we you.
Lord Poltimore and myself agree with you in thinking it
would not he right or consideisate to draw either the Minterne,
Meibury, or Sidling coverts this season : we xi,.!. and ought
to aet as ronellintory as it is possible. I have received a vet"
kind letter from Lonl Itc.str. promising his support in any
wan in his power. hut as to the limits of the country and other
details, hemp he MIST be guided M your advice.
Your., very faithfully,
R. 11. SHERIDAN.
Therefore, gentlemen, under these circumstances awl
with these letters before you, I hope I may feel myself
justified in taking the liberty of asking your presence
here to-day. Now, there is one other point to which I
wish to draw your attention,—that is the reasons which
induced me to think that a public meeting was ate,-
lately necessary to decide this question. In the first
place it could not he expected that Lord Poltimore could
come itito this country r.Tel hunt it vrithont having
ohtaineil. not only the permission of the landowners, but
of the tenant occupiers threugliont thedistrict. You meat
recollect that as Lord Pol • re Said tO me. I feel cer-
tain that it is essetitial to secure the good feeling, the
gonnt wishen, and the hearty co-operation of the tenant
farmers as much as the support .4 the landowners
throughout the country. (Loud cheers.) There was
another object—l could not write to each individual
occupier nor to every landowner. There would have
been ninny omissions, many mistakes probably, and
much neglect. There was, moreover, a difficulty In this
respect could not expect to get from individuals what
the Imunilaries were ; that was clearly a matter which
mud be decided in a public meeting. Therefore. I
thought the most considerate mode, end certainly the
most courteous mode wee, to call e public meeting of the
county gentlemen, and ask them at such meeting to
pass a rerolution, in the first instance. granting Lord
Pon re permiesion to hunt the country, end then to
pare another resolution defining exactly the boundary of
the country. (Hear, hear.) I feel that you most re-
member that it WIWI by a similar meeting, and by
similar decisions that Mr. Radclyffe and Mr. Portman
held the county they now hunt. (Hear, hear.)
Until the Cattietock country Was hunted the Black-
moor Vale Hounds were permitted to draw Min-
tome, Melbury, and Sydling coverts. And, then,
another object was to clear up a number of re-
ports, •hile a public meeting wax the ((Meet
mete of proceeding to do what I required and
what Lord Poltimore most sincerely desired.
We were informed that there wax no Cattistock
country—that it was dismembered—that it was given
to Itadelyffe and Digby, but what remained of it,
indeed, might be made over to Lord Poltiniore as the
Frampton country, or the Dorchester country. There-
fore with these facto it was clearly iny business to have
them matter', decided by a public meeting. (Hear,
hear. A Voice—That's quite right.) Now I have
simply performed my duty in reference to two point.;
firth, to taking the liberty to ask you to appear here
to-day, and, secondly, in explaining the reasons why a
public meeting was neoemary. Now Ido assure von,
gentlemen, and all connected with the Blackmoor Vale
Hunt, that nothing would be further from the inten-
tion of Lord Poltimore or myself than the raising of
any ill-feeling or any kind of dispute between us and
Mr. Radelyffe, who bee, as we all know, so liberally
hunted this part of the country. (Hear, hear.) Mr.
Radclyffe's popularity is such—it rest, upon such high
and well-known qualities—es will acquit toe and Lord
Poltimore of doing anything underhand, or attempting
to take away unfairly any portion of his country.
But, until this morning, I never heard • question as to
the claims of Mr. Radelyffe, which I always under-
stood were comprehended in the boundary described by
Lord Digby. I never knew there was a claim made by
Mr. IRadclyffe. It Ins been hinted to me, however,
that a little Rareness has been felt on the part of liis
friends as to a kind of interference with what he has
so liberally and aatisfactorily effected. Therefore, Ido
beg to aasure Mr. Itadclyffe, as I also do immure other
gentlemen connected with the Blackmoor Vale Hounds,
that nothing was, further from our thought or inten-
tion than raising the steeliest dispute in any way what-
ever. My correspondence with Lord Digby shows that
our great object Was that there should be no dispute and
no difference of opinion ; and if any one will point out
that I am infringing upon his rights, the meeting will
pronounce an opinion upon the point and will decide, as
it is no competent to decide, whether I am right or
wrong. (Hear, hear.) I will now, gentlemen, state
the memoir with which I an, charged, which is that
Lord Poltimore, in the event of his purchasing Mr. Far-
quharson's premises at Cattistock, will undertake to
hunt the country for six weeks before Christmas and
six weeks from the Ist of February, in the same way
as Mr. Faninhiu-son did, and he will do his utmost to
give satisfaction and promote sport. (Cheers.) At the
same time do let it be understood—for I should not
like to lead you away f
Lord Poltimore is quite Prepared to hunt that portion
from what is really the fact—
o( the Cattistock country as has been described. But,
if it should turn out that the price of that property
was an tarp, unreasonably large, it will then be a ques-
tion whether he should not buy land in order to build
kennels for himself. (Hear, hear.) I mention thin to
show that he ix in real earnest in his proposition to
hunt this country. (Cheers.) I hope that some gentle-
man will propoae a resolution to the effect that Lord
Poltimore should be permitted to hunt the Cattistock
country, as defined at the meeting over which the
noble Lord Dighy presided, and that another gentleman
would move a resolution setting out the limits.
Mr. RaDeterre said he thought it would be right to
have the minutes of the last meeting before them.
Lord Dieev said that that was impossible unless
some gentleman in the room happened to have one of
the county papers in which the meeting was reported.
His Lordship then read the following letter which he
had received from Mr. Wingfield Digby
Shorbonie Castle, etierbunne, Nov. 3rd, le.
MT PEAR ItaWARD,
Many thank, for )oor letter of Saturday last. I am
glad to find that Mr. Sheridan awl Lord pottlmore concur with
you and vie in not 'Mewling to ask 1.1111.10 n to hunt any
suyeft• now in Mic P'wthasion of Mr. Itadelyffe or myself until
' this rowan has ended.

.....
I should be glad to comply with your wish, that I shoubl
attend the meeting which Is to he held at Dorchester on the
sth of November, but I am, as you know, not *bin to ennnun"
ter any unnecessary fatigue.
I ahould. however. he much obliged to you if you would read
this letter to the meeting to make known my riot. no to for-
huMlng In IMmetshire.

•
I he • very •trong •pininn that the were un-
'ably treated when certain covert' were withheld limn them,

which naturally form a part of their country, are very eon-
cident to their kennels, and are very inconvenient on account
I• 1 their great distance to the pack a hich is kept at the Hyde
K. do. The urbanity and kindness of Mr. Badelyffe have
I , tided to make the arrangement as little inconvenient as pos-
sible, and to him I wish to offer this public tribute lof my good
toting. Presuming the object of the meeting to be the mak•
a coUtitry for Lord Poltimore CIJ a pastime, willing to aid
in in prousiUng the ainuenient f the county cDti kind, neigh•
Isoirly, and thorou9k sportiouj prittriples, rendering what L.
due to Mr. Itadelyffe and myself. I shall rejoice extremely In
the mop. 4 such an effort, and as a landowner In the now
vau.nt country. I shall be happy to co-operate In any way in
my power. But I mud an far guard myself an to any that
I shall expect that each master of foxhounds be treated with
equal consideration.
Very truly yours,
O. D. W. DIGBY.
Now, continued Lord I)igby, with Lord Poltimore's
periniaaion Mr. Wingfield Ingby's hounis will, during
the absence of Lord Poltimore, try those coverts. Lord
Ilehester's only request is that Melbury should not re-
main • preserve of foxes, simply as such.
Mr. MADCLT IL said—Mr. Sheridan having mentioned
my name, the boundary was clearly defined and laid
down for me at the meeting referred to, at which Lord
Digby presided. And certainly Lord Dishy did then
ask distinctly whether any one would hunt the Canis-
tuck country. There was no one, and I did not think
anyone would do it. I said nothing more. I was then
asked why I did not draw some of the coverts, and
the observation was made that if I did not come the
foxes would not be kept. I made a great strain to get
there, and I will not make a great strain to continue to
get there. I wish to do everything in my power to
promote sport, and encourage other packs of hounds as
much as possible. It is essential to have the Rockland
country, and if I am asked to go to hunt a fragment of
the Cattistuek country without that, there would in
reality be no country at all. There is one observation
I must not omit to make, and that is that I am ac-
quainted with Pird Poltiaiore, and I do congratulate all
within reach of his lordship's hounds that he is the man
to come forward and hunt your country; he is a very
affable young man, and every inch a sportainan.
(Cheers.) If we have four packs of hounds we shall have
inure sport and more foxes; but I most say that
this is not exactly the time of year that such a pmposi-
tion should be made. Dockland is a very pretty bit of
country. " Hunt Iluckland if you can,' said Mr. Far-
qulianion. I replied if they wished Inc to do so I
would. "If you don't hunt it," said he, "you will keep it
up, and it will come in another time." I should be sorry
for it to be said that Iliad hunted this Vale country and
kept hounds from the Cattistock country. I cannot
afford to hunt this country inpielf, and I think it much
better to Kt Lord Poltimore hunt it than to put your
howls in your pocket to help anybody else to do so.
((lifers.and laughter.) . _

Mr. PORTMAN said he thought the meeting must define
the country before they came to a resolution to permit
Lord Poltimore to hunt it.
Mr. SIIRIMIDAN said that the boundaries Lad been
already defined at the meeting at which Lord Digby
presided.
Lord DIGRT explained that he had asked who was
going to hunt the country, when Mr. Itadclyffe and Mr.
Portman came forward. Those gentlemen then agreed
as to the division of the country with the exception of
one point, which was Ifelbury Park. Mr. Portman
then gave in his claim, on condition that I would write
to Lord Shaftesbury, Mr. Sturt, and Mr. Farquharson
for their coverts. I did so, but it was with no agree-
went that, in the case of my obtaining their permission,
that Melbury should not be given up. Mr. Farquharson
did not give his consent at the time. I then mentioned,
on the part of Lord Ilchester and myself, that I should
be at liberty to offer that to Mr. Wingfield Digby,
until • pack of hounds were kept at Cattistock. (Loud
cheers.) As to the Cattistock country that was all the
country that was loft on the left-hand side of the road
from Dorchester to Sherburne, and as far as Farthing
Gate, which is just by Holnest.
Mr. PORTMAN contended that Clifton and Grange
Woods were necessary to Mr. Digby, and that having
received them without any question about Cattistock, he
was rot willing to give them up.
The CHAIRMAN said he distinctly recollected what
occurred at the meeting which had been referred to,
when it was generously said that the Cattistock country
should be reserved for any gentleman on a future day to
hunt it.

Lord DIGIST :—I can only say it must begin at
Farthing Gate near Holnest, that is Middleman& ; I
can only mention what was left at the meeting. The
country, as I have said, went on the right-hand aide of
the road all the way to Weymouth. Then we were
bounded by the lea; then on the other side from Far-
thing Gate we went by Holnest to Totnell-corner. There
are coverts of Mr. Drax's which are not in the Cat-
tistock country ; but there is a drove-way which goes
down to Totnell-corner, that is the Cattistock country;
then we go on to Ulietnole. Al the time of the meet-
ing Clifton Wood was then in the Cattistock coun-
try. Since then, I have heard, from Mr. Bridge him-
self, that Clifton Wooddoes belong to Mr. Digby.
The CHAIRMAN observed that if they looked for the
original boundary of the Cattistock country the Sher-
borne road would represent it. That was the boundary
in Mr. Phillips's time, and on his death Mr. Farquharson
succeeded to that country.
Mr. MAN FIELD said that Mr. Shirt succeeded Mr.
Phillips, which the chairman admitted to be the case.
Lord Diane then proposed that Lord Poltimore should
be perinitted to hunt the Cattistock country.
Mr. GUNDRT said be had great pleasure in seconding
the proposition of his Lordship. He said he felt he was
a little out of place in taking so prominent a part in
these proceedinp as to second the resolution, living so
far west as Ile did. His depending upon Lord Poltimore's
coming forward must be his apology for taking the step
lie did. There was one word inure he wished to say, in
connection with Mr. Hadclyffe. He had had the plea-
sure of communicating by letter with Mr. Badelyffe, and
was most happy to take the opportunity of publicly
thanking him for the kind, courteous, and friendly man-
ner in which be received the proposition on behalf of the
same gentleman which he had made to him. Nothing
could be inore handsome, nothing more generous, than
the way in which Mr. Itadclytre had met their wishes ;
he therefore, begged to tender to him his most hearty
thanks for AO doing. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said it had been proposedandseconded
that the proposition made through Mr. Sheridan, which
was a subject of great congratulation, should be accepted.
Those who were in favour of the proposition were to
hold up their hands.
Th.: resolution was then carried unanimotudy.
The meeting then proceeded to settle the question of
the boundaries.

Mr. SHERIDAN asked the meeting to define exactly
what they considered to be the boundaries of the Cattis-
tock country. If on intimation to Lord Poltimurc by an
individual landlord that he could not hunt this and
that covert, then it would be a question with Lord
Potties...re whether he could hunt that country at all.
But the boundaries must be defined in order to enable
Lord Poltimore to entertain the question.
Mr. PoRTM A s again insisted on the necessity of retain-
ing. Clifton and Cirange Woods.
The CHAIRMAN said it weal' question, as it appeared to
for the meeting to determine—whether they would
adhere to the old boundary of the Cattistock country as
taken by Mr. Farquharson, or whether they would come
to an undendanding that there was to be • new Cattis-
tack country with certain coverts excepted.
Mr. SHERIDAN :—I haves:owe hereto-day to make •
propsoition to this meeting with respect to the Cattistock
country; I make it on Lord roltimore's behalf,
having received the boundaries as defined at the meeting
of last year over which Lord Digby presided. It was
upon the clear understanding that that was to be the
boundary that I ventured to come here and claim per-
mission for Lord Poltimure to bunt the country. If it
should now appear that those boundaries which Lord
Digby laid down as having been decided upon are not
the boundaries, then it becomes a question whether be
will be enabled to hunt the country. (A Voice, " You
certainly will not.") When Mr. Portman and Mr. Red.
clyffe took possession of their country, the boundaries
were then defined; they were sent to me as the bound-
aries, and upon those boundaries I 11)11 here to say that
Lord Poltimore will hunt the eountry. (Hear, hear.)
And with this country before him he will hunt it three or
four days • week. But if you alter the boundaries, and
say he is not to have this and not to have that, the
whole thing is at az end.
Lord DIODE explained that his only doubt was about
Clifton Wood. He had applied to Mr. Bridge, and got
for answer that at that meeting Clifton Wood was then
vacant.

Mr. Poitntsn said Mr. Digby could hunt the Clifton
covente u long as he kept hounds to hunt that
country. .

Mr. SHERIDAN said if Mr. Bridge should say "'don't
choose that Mr. Digby should hunt that covert," he
could say so.
Mr. Poanwr observed that Mr. Wingfield Digby
said he would hunt that country; he had gone to a
great expense last season for the purpose, and when
the owner of Clifton and Grange woods had given him
unconditional permission to draw these coverts he thought
it rather hard to come now to this meeting and say that
the Cattistock country is bounded so as to take away
those coverta from him.
Lord DICKY :—Let it be defined where the Cattistock
country was left at the last meeting, and then let the
gentlemen of each hunt write to the proprietors and
settle the matter between themselves if there are any
disputed covert.. I know Clifton Wood was given
away unconditionally.
Mr. SHERIDAN : I draw your attention to this fact,
please answer this question.—l come here to-day with
certain boundaries laid down, upon which I have Lord
Poltiniore'a permission to propose that that country
should be hunted. Those boundaries so defined to me
induced me to come forward, they were from the Turn•
pike gate and so on, as before described, to Somerset
Holts.
The Rev. S. DENDIT interposed several observations
in support of Mr. Portman's view of the matter.
Mr. Jolla TATCHILL BULLER came forward to pro-
pose second resolution, defining the boundaries of the
Cattistock country, as follows :—"That the Cattistock
country commences at Clifton Wood, coming up to Yet-
minster to Totnell corner, then turning to the right as
far as Mr. Drax's property extends, leaving Mr. Drax's
house and coverts at Holnest on the left, taking every.
thing to the right hand-side of the woods! Revell's Inn,
over the hill to the Giant's Head, hounded by the turn-
pike road by the west to Dorchester, then from Dor-
chester to Weymouth, including all coverts west of the
road." If that country, added Mr. Tatchell, be hunted
by any other pack of hounds it would be such a key to
the country that he would advise no gentleman to enter
upon it; he would he seriously disappointed every day
they run through Melbory ; every cover then being dis-
turbed. and it would be impossible for him to show
sport to anything like that extent which Lord Yolti-
more's noble establishment would otherwise enable him
to do. (Hear.) You know very well that if a pack of
hounds drew Grange or Come Wood Lord Poltimore would
hav:a.
m e
yabegiangle country co
velo a
utod disappointmentshould
‘mwld' beanen(egid.. e
di f irn:'r
yu.
conic over that river with a pack of hounds in
Clifton Wood, which is the key of that country, it
i
hear.) I would not
yseyhieridan to i
have madotaow
beiselohs bsei son-in-law
slif
Mr. Sheridan had not written to Inc. I have cosidered
thewrontgh thing
advising
nag mr.
attentively,
to take a country which I say again can be productive
only of disappointment. (Hear, hear.) I say there is
country, and there must be a boundary; but if there
be no boundary hay give it up altogether, and let the
whole thing end in smoke. I don't think that Mr.
Dishy, if he were to see the position in which the Cat-
tistock country is, would offer an opposition. (Uost.
hear)

The CHAIRMAN : I think Mr. Mitchell's observations
ought to be received with considerable attention
I am sure Done of Ms would like to see Lord

Poltimore disappointed. If the original boundary a
the eattistock country were taken as left by my
uncle, there would be no difficulty in defining it. I
think you must take care what you do to-day, and not
establish a precedent. I think every right feeling should
be shown to Mr. Wingfield Dighy. You nit's' take
care of this—You mast not establish a precedent that
any master of hounds can go and draw • covert which
may be offered by any propnetor. The chairman ad-
duced an instance of the truth of this remark by citing
• conversation between Mr. Assheton Smith and Lord
Codrington, and stated that he was very anxious that
the meeting should be right on their laws about built-

jog.
Rev. S. DISDICT : Is it fair to take away those
coverts which Mr. Digby has hunted regularly, and
give them to a person who will bunt them only six
weeks before and six week after Christmas?
Mr. EDWARD POP, felt great pleasure in seconding
the proposition of Mr. Tatchell in defining the Cattis-
tock country. He (Mr. Pope) looked upon these coverts
drawn by Mr. Digby as a loan payable on demand, and
he trusted the resolution would receive the unanimous
assent of the meeting.
Mr. POSTMAN said it appeared to bim that the boun-
daries proposed by Mr. Tatckell were not the same as
Busse laid down at the meeting last year.
Lord Dioer said : Let it be known that as far as there
being no defined Cattistuck country, part of it was
claimed by Mr. Reddy& and part by Mr. Portman, and
what was not claimed was left as the Cattistock country.
There was no part whatever claimed by Mr. Digby; the
only thing was as to Humber Wood. I met Lord
Beecham in the House of Lords, when lie came and sat
by me, and asked who hunted that part of Mr. Far-
quharson's country in which Short Wood was. I re-
plied that Mr. Itadelyffe hunted it; his Lordship then
immediately said, "Mr. Reddy& shall have it; as I
consider that Mr. Farquharson was ill-used." Those
were the words which passed ; I merely mention them
here as such, and with no purpose whatever of reviving
the recollection of angry feelings. Lord Beecham
added that be had had in that country three of the hap-
piest hunting months in his life, and that he had bought
of Mr. Farquhareon the best horse he had ever ridden.
Mr. Pourii.sx said the only quisition was as to the bit
of country which they wished Lord Poltimore to hunt,
which included the coverts of Clifton and Grange woods,
which Mr. Digby had received permission to hunt, the
Cattistock country being at that time vacant, the own-
ers having given him leave to hunt without any condi-
tion whatever. Now, I say, said Mr. Portman, that it
is unfair towards Mr. Digby to take away Clifton and
Grange woods after he has hunted them as often as he
could. Mr. ?ortolan then described the country which
he wished tobe defined, which was nearly identical with
the boundaries proposed by Mr. Tateliell, excluding
Clifton and Grange woods, which he said Mr. Digby had
empowered him to state lie was unwilling to give
up. That, he contended, was • certain line of boundary
which if the gentlemen who supported Lord Poltimore, ,
and those who supported the Blackmoor Vale Hunt would
agree upon would render the country well bunted by
two packs of hounds, and they would all get sport with-
out any quarrelling. Mr. Portman concluded by pro-
pming, as an amendment—That his boundaries, starting
from the Yeovil Turnpike to Ryme, on to Yet minster,
Leigh, Totnell corner, and Dogberry-gate, should be the
boundaries defined by this meeting.
Lord DIGBT said be quite agreed with Mr. Tatehell
that if Prince's Wood was taken away they really took
the plum out of the pudding. When they came to take
away every atom of the Vale and only leave a little bit
down by W. Cookraem's he certainly did not think that
was right.
Mr. PORTMAN said he was not authorized to cede
Clifton or Grange Wood.
Lord Diner observed that it then came to this—Lord
Poltimore must endeavour to get leave to hunt those
woods.

Mr. PORTMAN said that Mr. Digby was under an im•
pression that Mr. Start had given him permission un-
conditionally, and he presumed that Mr. Sturt would
adhere to what he had done.
Lord DIOBT reiterated his remark, that, at the meeting
at which he presided, he himself distinctly stated that
if any one came forward to hunt the Cattistock country
those coverts should be given up; and his Lordship read
an extract from the published report of his speech on
that occasion in proof of what he said.
. . . .

Mr. BeLLOCK 'seconded Mr. Portman's amendment.
The CHAIRMAN said that he had hoped the meeting
would have been perfectly unanimous in its feeling with,
reference to the business then before them. They must,
however, be funnel in all they did. A resolution was
proposed by Mr. Tatchell, seconded by Mr. Oundry, as
to what was to be the line of boundary constituting the
Cattistock country. Mr. Portman had proposed an
amendment, seconded by Mr. Bullock, that Clifton
Wood and Grange Wood shall still be a portion of the
Blaekinoor Vale country. That question they were
anxious to determine then.

Mr. T. IieLLKS begged to say a word before the
Chairman pot the amendment. In ord.* that there
might be the most perfect understanding and kind feel-
ing between all masters of hounds and gentlemen of the
different parts of the county, Mr. Sheridan had just told
him that, rather than any obstruction should be thrown
in the way, he would give up all claim to Clifton Wood
if Grange Wood were ceded to him.
Mr. PORTMAN said they could give up Prince's Wood,
but the rest of the Grange Wood he was not authorized
to relinquish.
LORD DEBIT said the only thing to be done was for
them to define the Cattistock country, and then let
Mr. Wingfield Digby and Lord Poltimore write to the
owners for leave to hunt the part of the country con-
tended for. But, mark me, said his Lordship, that is a
country at the same time, and we have power, as •
meeting,to define the country. (Hear, hear,) When that
is done you must have an understanding with the
owners of the coverts.

The CHAIRMAN then put the amendment, for which
only four hands were held up. The original motion
was then put, defining the boundaries as before des-
cribed, ooinniencing at Clifton Wood, and was carried
by RR overwhelming majority.
Mr. RAIX'I.T YFIS intimated his willingness to give up
his country immediately that a pack of hounds amid be
brought forward • in the meantime he would bunt it
until it suited Lord Poltimore's convenience to begin.
Mr. Radclyffe took the opportunity to tender to in-
dividuals present his best tbanka to them as owners for
the kindness with which they had treated him. With
regard to these arrangements he had merely gone out,
and left it to them to du as they liked.

In the course of conrersatio-n as to when Lord Polti-
more could commence hunting the country, Mr. Sheri-
dan stated that his Isirds/sin would not come before
Christmas under any circunistices.
Mr. JOHN BATTEN having offered • few observations
on the state of these matters—

Mr. SINIIIDAN repeated that Lord Poltimore would
give up Clifton Wood if Prince's Wood and Grange
Wood were retained to him. He added that he sup-
posed Lord Poltimore would arrange amicably, and
would be every way disposed to do justice to Mr. Digby
in the same good spirit which Mr. Digby would in all
probability be willing to treat Lord Poltiinore. (Hear,
hear.)
A general conversation upon the main points which
had been dismssed before the meeting was then carried
on, and the proceedings brought to a close by a vote of
thanks to the Chairman for his valuable and efficient
services, which vote was carried by acclamation and
briefly acknowledged by Mr. Harbin.