The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-02-28 00:00:00

LORD GRANVILLE ON FOX•HUNTING.

Lord GranvPle, the Lord Warden of the Cincine Porta,
presided on Tuesday eveoing at • banquet glVell at the
Lord Warden Hotel," Dover, in honour ui Lord Guilford, the
Mooter of the Rot Kent F •.hounoe. The guest of the even-
ing woe on the right of his Lordship, who was oupported by
Lord F.trwalter, General Hanker, Major Mason, M.P., Sr
courtehay Hollywood, the Hon. Morton North, Colonel Men,
Mr. Reginald Herbert, Mr. Hammond, Mr. Allred [Annie,
Mr. Churchward, and other iestolug lnhabitante of the
county. The company numbered in all over 100, and the
representatives anti influential character of the assemblage
gave evidence of the popularity of Lord Guilford both as •
neighbour and as master of the hounds.
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_
In proposing the toaat of "The Queen," the Lord
Warden said he had the honour more than a quarter of
a century ago of being placed at the head of her Ma-
jeety's eetabiishment, and therefore he ventured to
allude to her Majesty as mistress of one of the fastest
and finest packs of hounds in the world, and not
only the tooth, r of three foxhunturg eons, but the
lima er-in-law el a well-beloved lady who not only
surpassed most of her sex by the possession of many
eminent qualities, but also distinguished herself as
the most daring rider after the hounds he heel ever
beheld. Prince Arthur, one of her Majesty's sone,
at the beginning of Lord Guildford's marterehip of
the East Kent pack, graced the cover side by his
genial convereation, ILII,i added much to the enjoy-
ment of those who participated in the sport of foxhunt-
irg ; bud they had hail a recent instance in which, after
a long and somewhat romantic courtship, another son
of the Qmen had secured the object of his affection,
whom on would shortly bring borne to receive a hearty
welcome from the country which the daughter of the
Czar of Russia had adopted as her own. Proposing
next " The Army, Navy, and Volunteers," Lord
Granville said they had at that moment intelligence of
an exoedition which had attained its object, and which
had illustrated the facility with which this country
could send out an armed force wherever an emergency
arose. He trusted that such emergencies would occur
as seldom so possible, but it was gratifying ti find that
the country had reason to be proud of the nnanimit y
with which the two services, the Army and the Navy,
worked together. It was true that in the case of the
Ashantee War they had no great or formidable foe to
(Toole, but they had hat c'rcumrtances to contend
with which to an eminent degree called for the
qualities of decision, foreright, moral courage, and
physical energy, and those qualities had been displayed
to a remarkable degree by our soldiers on the West
Coast it Africa. He could not, in referring to that
war, help alluding to a young friend, the son of • very
dear acquaintance, who was one of the first who
volunteered to go out to the Gold Coa•t—the Hon. Mr.
Cherteris. That brave young officer left England,
having shown his family the ordinary medical cer-
tificate ' • but he kept to himself a letter from
1 one of the most eminent professional men In the
' metropolis, telling him that his was such a constitu-
tion that if he went to the war he would go out to
almost certain death. Those, added his Lordship,
were the feelings which were typical of the English
Army and Navy, and which inspired the Eliglish
nation with such complete coeffideuce in them. In
drinking the health of the Army sod Navy he would
more particularly refer to those who hardened their
naives, steadied their judgment, and improved their
eye in the bunting-field. (Hear.) He believed, with
regard to the Army, that L rd Guilford might boast
of long having with him some of the beet men in Eng-
land, and with respect to the Navy, the officers of
which service were naturally often precluded from the
pleasure of the hunting-field, he was able to say from
experience that they always displayed the greatest
courage in the field. He had the opportunity had
year of showing a gallant Admiral for the first
time in his life a pack of bound.— (langhter)—and
he never witnessed anything like the Arinaral'a enjoy-
ment. The best horse had Granville ever had,
and an animal whose venerable outlines were not
altogether unknown to some of those present, was
placed at the diepoeal of the Admiral, by whom his
merits as a fencer were soon discovered, far he tmik
him over a ring of fences in the Northamptonshire
county in • remarbable manner, and the agility with
which, after taking a leap, he pulled himself op to his
original position, surprised all the beholders. (Loud
laughter and applause.)
General Haukey, in responding for the Army, saki
the force were greatly indebted to the Maker of the
Hounds and to the owners of the country hunted for
the kiriduess and good feeling always exhibited towards
the officers who took part in field sport., and if he
were Minister for War he ehould certainly make pro-
ficiencym steeplechasing the subject of a test examina-
tion, aud give a little grant for the encouragement of
military steeplechasing. (Applause.)
Mr. *lured Dame responded for the Navy, and
Lieutenant-Colonel Court for the Volunteers.
In giving the toast of the evening, Lord Granville
said that when he was asked to take the chair at the
gathering he was in office, but he was now in a position
which enabled him to devote more time to the pleasures
rl hunting than had been possible in his calm during
tile last five years. They would agree with him that
was not a fitting opportunity for him to attempt to
answer any of the charges which had been brought
against the late Administration. (Hear, hear.) But
there was one on wnich he should like lightly to touch.
It was remarked by a sporting member of Parliament,
when he contemplated the late Cabinet, "Did you
ever see such a lot of muffs? I don't believe one of them
has ever seen a run in his life." Now, without alluding
to others in the Cabinet, he ventured to back the
oldest member of the last Administration, who was now
in his 74th year, and the youngest member of that
Cabinet, who weighed about 15 stone, to ride over
four miles of fair hunting coup cry against any four
members of the existing Cabinet. (Loud langht-r and
cheers) They habit understand, of course, that the
conditions wore age for age and weight f a weight.
(Renewed laughter.) However that might be, he had
net the slightest doubt thet all politicians and all
statesmen, whether Conservative or Liberal, would
find a great d-at to Lean in the hunting-field, and
even from an old hound. They might learn from
the latter to stick to their work, never to min to
. heel, never to go sin false scent, and, above all,
never to babble when there was nothing to Ave
tongue about. (Laughter and "Hear, hear.') With
regard to the general theme of hunting, he had
always felt that the late lamented Mr. Jorrocks had
exhausted the subject, and that be had taken the wind
out of the Bails of any subsequent orator. He would
therefore confine himsel to one or two leading points
only, and he had not forgott-n that on ore occasion he
boated that he was a manufacturer of wire; he did
not know whether his recommendation of the excellence
and cheapness of the art cie had any effect upon his
andience, tart Le certainly did commend it to their
serious attention, arid now be begged of them
to use it to ring their bells, to screen title children
from the fire, to flash their telegraphic messages
from me point to another and for • variety of other
useful purposes, but for Heaven's sake not to put it in
their fences (ffieers), aid not to use it, whether
fitted or not, for the purpose of ensnaring • fox I (Re-
newed cheers.) Hie Lordship then went on to show
that Kent did not deserve the reputed in of being
considered not a hunting county, and he gave
credit to Lord Guildford for the princely manner in
which he had established and maintained his splendid
iand most complete establishment, showing that he
haol the most anxious desire to give the utmost sup-
port to his neighbours and friends. (Applause.)

He pointed out with some einphasis that the pre
cecv,ction of foxes was not incompatible with the
preservation of game, mod he depre.of el the destruc-
tion f foam in order that the shooting covers might
be productive of good sport. It was the dutv of
sportmien of all degrees to assist one another. (Hoar.
hear ) He believed the love of sport to be inherent
in the English rharmter. There were some people who
liked hoc...waning, some who liked fishing, acme who
preferred hunting the etag, and others the wild fox or
the timid hare—and he did not object to the last amuse-
ment himself white others preferred the amphibious
otter, and ems found great pleasure in hunting the
voracious rat. He thought the admirers of all the
sports should be careful to do nothing that would be
detrimental to each other'. amusement, and in pro-
posing Lord Guilford's health he expressed a hope that
this young nobleman would in the future receive the
hearty support of all lover(' of sport in the county.
( Prolong. d cheering.)
Lord Guilford respondent; and Lord Granville',
health having been honoured, his Lordship responded
in felicitous terme, soon after which the proceedings
terminated.