The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-04-20 00:00:00

THE BLACKIWOR VALE HUNT.

On Friday evening the annual dinner of the Blaeltmeor
Vale Hunt took place at the Glib), Hotel. Sherborns, and
wee largely attended, additional interest attaching to the
neoceedings from the fact the. a testimonial picture would
b preeested to Sir Richard Gip n„the worthy master of the
hound.. Lord Girths presided. and amongst thou present
were Sir Richard Glyn, Lent Holub, on. W. H. B.
Portman, M.P Mr. W. E. Drym )LP., General
Wardle., Hon. and Rev. W. B. Portnos_,n Hon. IL
Portman. General Antall, Mawr MeAdnen. Majar Roes'
Y.O Colonel Pl,Ol. Colonel Nu% Captain (3. den. Rev.
W. n, Mr. A. Clarion. M,l rN. Y. nal, Mr. T.
Flo ho. sir. J. stfidin a. It P rl A. C e,. r, Mr.
Bendel% Littleliales. Mr. T. E r.. Mr. H. F.rt
Yeatusan, C 'lone Hall, Contain Biddie, J. a Deady
(hon. i.e S. Mr. J. Chapman. Mr. T. W. Datupi.g. Bide,
Colonel Cladrick, Mr. G. Troym-Bullock, Mr. 11. Cir.v-
Bat..er, Mr. To tler, Mr. A. D may, Mr. T. Moore. Mr. U.
Statue, Mr. T. Marriott Duclington, Mr J. W. LAT, Row,
T. Drake. Rev. R. V. Blathwayt, Mr. W. Turner, Mr. J.
Farquharson, Captain Robinson, Mr. H B. Phelps, Mr. A.
Wilmot, Mr. V. V/ood, Crptain fs, Mr. Merthyr Guest,
Mr. J. Batten, Captain Carr Glyn, C donel Illatthewe,
Colonel Henning, Mr. C. Russ, Mr. K. G. Long, Mr. B.
Woodford', Kr. L. Woodford'', Mr. J. Brutton, Mr. C.
finicer, Messrs. Hussey (2), Wadman, English (2), Searle,
Young, and T. Millar.
The usual loyal end other toasts were given.
The CHAIRMAN next proposed "The House of Commons,'
coupled with the names of the lion. W. H. B. Portman
and Mr. Burner.
The Hon. W. It. B. Pcurrium said be rose to respond to
the toast with a very much easier conscience and heart
than he often could do, for there wu at present a sort of
lull in the political world, and his constituents had done
him the great honour of returning him again toParliament
• as their representative in • quiet and unobstructive way,
without testifying their affection for him, as they bed done
In some parts of the county, by greeting him with
showers of stones ; or without causing him as they did
the successful candidate at Shaftesbury, to take refuge in
the principal building of the town. The merits and
demerits of Lord Beaconsfield Government had now
passed into the realms of history, and it was impossible to
say what would be done by the new Government which
would be probably formed in the course of a few days.
There was one very momentous question to be settled, and
that was, who was to be the new Premier; and he was
bound to say that although he had a very strong preference
on this subject, he did not feel at liberty to express it.
(Hear, hear.) As a voter he approved of the ballot, and
Ise was perfectly satisfied that under it it was perfectly
Impossible for any candidate to form the slightest idea of
what the result would be until the poll was declared.
Mr. B said that for his own part he wished the
dlinoludon had takes place earlier or later In the season,
It having deprived him of four weeks' good fun in the
hunting field aid be could only express the hops that
If there was another general election next year it would
not take place till the hunting season was ever. There bad
been sews hard fights in different parts of that county;
but he United that now the contest was over they would
put aside all political differences and feelings, and be as
good friends as ever.
The Cnaffutu had been requested by the members and
friends of the hunt to present Sir Richard Glyn with a
testimonial picture as an expression of their admiration of
the manner in which he had conducted the hunt, of the
efficient way in which the bounds had been managed, and
of the high standard of efficiency on which his bunting
establishment was managed. (Applause.) They all knew
that the mastership of bounds .Ita no sinecure office. The
master was surrounded by diffitulties and annoyances of
every description. and to to popular with all it was almost
necessary that he should have the patience and temper of
Job. (Laugh', r.) He must c mgratulate Sir Richard Glyn
on his great popularity. An evidenes of this was the large
number of sportsmea who jointd him in the hunt, the
large and influential company then present, the large
number of person& who had subscribed to the testimonial,
and the number of foxes kept, not only by owners and
keepers of covers, but even by those who did not join in
the chime. He was sure be should only express the wishes
of all present when be said that he sincerely hoped Sir
Richard wonbl have health and strength to hunt the
county for many years to come—(applause)—and when at
but old age compelled him tolresign the mastership, the
picture presented to him that evening would remind him
of the many kind friends he had, the sport he had shown,
and the many happy days he had passed in the hunting
MGR (Applause.)
Sir 'Venn° (;try, who woo enthusiastically received,
could not forget the fict that it war not many year' since
that no Itse than ISM of the friends and members of the
Blacktonor Vale Hunt presented him with very handsome
caadalahes on the occasion of his wedding, and it WY really
more than be could expect that co 110,41 afterwards they
should come forward awl make bins soother magnificent
present subscribed for by no less than 170 gentlemen.
It situ' led him pleasure to soy, however, that during the
time he hut been muter of the B.V. H. there hat been
peace in the county. There had been none of those
quarrels which were so extremely injurious to fox-hunting
hear)—and which at ono time made G meet the
hot•bed, not of polities, but of forhunting dissension.
Theme had ell terminated, and he mi,tht justly Lay that be
had lined in peace and gooLwill with all neighbouring
muters of hounds. In conclusion, he proposed the health
01 Lord Dishy.
This
_llp4l drunk with eothusium, and Lord DiOlaY

rssPon'i.
Mr.kIEaTIOR GUEST gave " The health of 'Squire
of Sherl-szr• C stle."
The Goo. NW IL B. P01T11.41, XI the nearest of kin of
Mr. Digby present, acknowl..iged the contpliment.
The migniflocnt oiLpaintMg presented to Sir Richard
contains a ',presentation of himself and Lid, Glyn in
bunting costume, and mounted, the former on Berwick,
and the latter on 11 dm r. ready for the orrl, outside
Lawcslen Hoiue. On the kit are George Orhell an?
Biker, the hunt-men, and Tom J rdon, the whipper-in,
also crionntcd, *l'll the lel ,utl whipper•M standing in the
midst if the hounds, of which there are 16 depicted on the
canvas. The likenesses ate mod atrikine, and the general
affect of the pie' ore is exceedingly lifelike.