The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-31 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 31, 1864.

NIL WILLS' NEW NOVEL.
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THE THREE WATCHES
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Foxhunting in Gloucestershire.

0d; Wednesday the hunting gentlemen and
fartnars within: the limits of the hunting-country
of Lord Fitzhardinge met at. Berkeley Castle, tit
compliance with an invitation from ,his lordship to
diseuss the 'subject of the difference which has
arisen between -him and the Rev.'Sir.E(.. Colt in
reference to certain impediments said to have been
placed in the way of the hunt by STr Edward and
his tenant, Mr. James Cox. About 200 gentlemen
attended, and thejileeting was hero:in the splendid
ol# baronial ball)ofthe noble castle. -Amongst those
preseldwe're:LtireFitzbardinge, Colonel Berkeley,
ALP;; Colonel' kingscote, M.P., Mr. C. Berkeley,
MAP:, Sir Charles::Cay ler, &c. •

FITMARDINGE said he regretted to inform
the oonipany iltiat:he was no longer master of the
country ; it had been taken out of his hands by Sir
E. Colt and his- tenant, Mr Cox, and they were now
masters of the country, It depended upen them (the
tve!o gentlemen" he had named) whether they were
to • hinting or no 4=th:re.' He had,
therefore,•callestl them together to ask-them whether
tlatt Should Velthb state of thinge that 'should exist.
He bad done everything in his poWer to conciliate
SiT E. Colt and his tenant. He corresimiteled with
E. Colt, bat'he (Sir E. Colt) treated 'him with
impertinenceeciinsequently he dropped the corre.
spendence. ma* left the case in the hands of
/hip gentlemen of the country. Col. Berkeley well
knpw all the facts better than he (the noble lord)
did. and he wbuld,explain the course-that had been
purned towards -Mr J. Cox and Sir-E. Colt. He
(his lordship) Would'irot state one single thing that
'he could notprovalay:the.oath of credible witnesses,
Ho begged noiv to!leave the casein their hands for
them to deal withlSir E. Colt. -His lordship cone
eluded by asking- lilt P. W. S. Miles to take the
chair, remarking that the company might please
themselves whether they would believe him (the
noble lord) orSieE. Colt.
The Cliatattiiiiiexpr seed a hope that they were
eoleik_themeethet= • ixttekt - • -
steal' of disagreeable one, ecause he did hope that
the result of that meeting would be to place the
nob!e sport of fox-hunting upon its true and legiti-
mate footing. He was delighted to see so many
yeomen of the county there that day, and be felt per-
fectly certain the noble lord of that old castle must
also rejoice to see CO many familer feces before him.
He hoped that in any remarks that might be made
that day no unpleasant expressions might be used,
becalm they knew that the great majority—he may
say nearly all—were of one way of thinking, and
it would be very bad taste to cheer themselves.
But there was justice to be obtained, and he hoped
that before they left that hall a deputation of gentle-
men and farmers might be appointed, with whom
might be lefe the task of settlicg this question, and
he trusted, putting it upon a satisfactory footing
for all time. (Applause ) Now, he did not think it
would be a wise thing for them to enter upon the
discussion of what had taken place ; but his recom-
mendation to them was —and he left them to deal
with the matter as they chose—that they should
appoint three or five—say three gentlemen and
two farmers—as a deputation, who should go to Sir
Colt and his tenant, and see if they could not put the
question upon a satisfactory footing. (Applause.)
They were met there that day upon a great fox
hunting question. It was not only the case of a dis-
pute here, but they knew that in different parts of
the country fox hunting was, in some instances, not
looked upon quite in the way they would like, and,
therefore, he thought they would be doing a great
good if they looked upon this case in a general point
of view, and endeavoured to put their case as fairly
before the public as they could. (Hear, hear.) He
had always himself seen the noble lord who sat be-
side him, and the noble duke who kept a pack the
other side of the country, invariably do their best to
prevent any wheat being ridden over unnecessarily.
(Hear, hear.) They knew perfectly well if the hounds
were run hard they (the sportsmen) had no time to
think, and they often went the straightest way they
could, and sometimes wheat would be ridden over
but he knew there was not the damage done to wheat
by riders going over that some people would imagine.
(Hear.) It would detain them too long to enter upon
such cases, but he knew facts which he could vouch
for, and he had no doubt they did themselves. He
was not going to enter upon the merits of fox bunt-

ing—which would be a trite subject with them—but
they knew it promoted the cordiality and unanimity
of the country, and put the persons who enjoyed it
upon an equality, and the best man was he who had
got the best horse. (Hear, hear.) Independently
of the good done to all classes he might say he
thought the sociability of the hunting field was a
thing to be kept up all over the country. (Hear,
hear.) He could only say himself that, having had
the good fortune to hunt in many counties of Eng.
land, wherever he had gone he had invariably
_ _ _

found the farmers to open their doors to the " field,',
and to give them proofs of their hospitality. (Hear,
hear.) They knew that that feeling existed in their
own county. (Hear, hear.) They hardly ever
went past a farmer's house bat he would in the
most friendly way make them an offer of cider.
(Hear, hear.) The same kind of hospitality took
place in Leicestershire, where the pork pie was
always ready for the field. (Laughter.) He would
not, however, detain them upon the present occa.
sion, but he would proceed to call upon a gentleman
to move the first resolution. There would be two
resolutions proposed to them, and it would be for
them to consider them, and, if deemed proper,
adopt them. He felt sure that the noble owner of
that castle would not attempt to dictate in any pos-
sible way to anybody there, but that he wished—as
all the gentlemen whom he saw around him wished
that a spontaneous expression of the whole country
might be given in favour of a pursuit they had all
at heart, and he trusted it would be the means, as
he said before, of creating unanimity in that coun•
try. (Applause.)
Mr PHELPS said the said the first resolution had
been placed in his hands. He was quite sure that
the whole company present would join him in the
adoption of it. He was very glad to see so large a
meeting on the question which had brought them
together. The resolution expressed gratitude to Lord
Fitzhardinge and his ancestors for the handsome

and liberal manner in which they had supported
the hounds of that country. The noble lord was
anxious to promote the good feeling of his neigh-
bours, and to do them all the good in his power.
He (Mr. Phelps) much regretted that any difficulty
had arisen, but he hoped it would speedily cease.
The resolution he proposed was--" That this meet-
ing wishes to express to Lord Fitzhardinge the
great obligation it feels under to him and his an-
cestors for the princely manner in whic'a they have
hunted the country for so many years, and that it
much regrets that any interruption to the harmony
that has always existed should have now arisen."
Mr. Phelps contended that not only was fox-
hunting an enjoyable sport, but that it was bene-
ficial, for there was no sport in which so many
could join continually, and in which more oppor-
tunities were given for showing kindness toward
one another.

Colonel MASTER seconded the resolution, and it
was carried unanimously.

Captain ADEY said the resolution which he had
to propose was one with which they would all agree.
They fully admitted tkat it was only by the cour-
tesy of landowners and tenants that fox-bunting
could be carried on: They had been very fortunate
hitherto, and it was rarely they got any misunders
derstanding, but something had occurred in that
neighbourhood which they were all aware of. He
could not make it out, and he could not think it
rpassililenheit lithave
_ _ _

in such a Manner as had been representedi,of them
by Sir E. Colt. He thought there waiVno doubt
he had encouraged his tenants to kill 'the foxes.
The resclxition that he had to propose was—
"That, with the approval of Lord '.gitzhardinge,
Mr. B. Biker, Mr. Maclaine, Mr. Phelps, Mr. S.
Young, and Mr. W. Hobbs be appointed a depu-
tativittfrm this meeting, and be requested
,t,ol wait upon the Reverend Sir:Edward Harry
Vaughan Colt, and while admitting to him it was
only by the courtesy and sufferance of 'landlords and
tenants that hunting can be carriedon in any country
they do t(zr ust he and his tenants will accede to the
wishes o influential and numerous a'meeting, and
come to a satisfactory arrangement with the deputa.
tion."

Mr T. Buses seconded the resolution, and it was
also carried unanimously.
Mr Busu said it would be well that the name of
their chaiiman should be added to the deputation.
The nsnie ofiNfr W. P. S. Miles was accordingly
added, and three-0111013 having been given for Lord
Fitzhardinge, and Vire& faieol. Berkeley the com-
pany were invited by the noble earl to partake of
luncheon.

The hounds subsequently met in Castle Meadow.
There was a very numerous "field," and several co-
verts of the neighbourhood were drawn.

Houseless Poor in London.

The following has been addressed to the Presi•
dent of the Poor•law Board :--

" Poor-law Board, Whitehall, Dec. 30.
" Sir =l have the honour to submit to you the
following remarks on the subject of the houseless
poor of the metropolis, and of the Act of last session
(the 27 and 28 Vict. c. 116), known as the Metro.
politan,llouseless Poor Aot.
" In r 1863 returns were obtained by your direr•
tion from several metropolitan unions and parishes,
showing the extent of the accommodation provided
fur destitute vagrants and wayfarers, and the num-
bers who either received or who were refused a
night's:lodging during the first week of each of the
monthi of January, March, May; and August, 1863.
" It. appeared from these retians that in the
aggregaie accommodation was provOd in the seve.

Tratt
buted.

Le accommodation was very

€qua

"The conclusion which you formed on examining
the returns was, that in some unions the provision
for vagrants and wanderers was st.fricient, while in
others it was manifestly inadequate, so that a seti.
ous and unequal burthen was thrown on the former
as compared with the latter.
" The attention of the Peor-law Board had cn
several occasions bean previously directed to the
same subject, and the board had frequently re•
ferred to the defects in the mode of administering
relief to vagrants and houseless poor in the metro-
politan district, and had endeavoured to induce.
boards of guardians to discharge the obligation
which rested on them in regard to this class of poor.

" These considerations induced you to issue a
minute to the boards of guardians of the metropolis,
dated Dec. 23, 1863.
" In that minute you remark—' It is a funda-
mental principle of the Poor-law that every desti-
tute person, without reference to the question of set-
tlement or residence, is primarily entitled to relief
where he is actually destitute, and it is the duty of
the guardians to see that all necessary and reason-
able arrangements are made for affording to every
such person the requisite relief, whether in food,
clothing, medical attendance, or lodging.'
" You then informed the guardians that the oblis
gation upon themselves and their officers to afford
the requisite relief to all really destitute applicants
was imperative and could not be evaded.
" Thus the requirements of the existing law, and
the best means of discharging the obligations which
it imposed, were clearly pointed out, and you relied
on the boards of guardians and their officers to give
practical effect to your minute.
"In the last session the Metropolitan Houseless
Poor Act' was passed. That act did not introduce
any new principle, buCit removed all inducements
to restrict admissions into the vagrant wards from
a desire on the part of boards of guardians to be re-
lieved from bearing an undue share of the cost of
maintaining vagrants. This the act effected by
enabling boards of guardians to be refunded by the
Metropolitan Board of Works, whatever cost they
might incur.
" I have satisfaction in being able to state that
almost all the metropolitan boards of guardians have
heartily co-operated in endeavouring to carry out
the objects of the act, and that there is now only one
board of guardians which has failed to provide spew
cial accommodation for destitute vagrants and wan-
derers. _ _

"The following 39 unions and separate parishes
are within the metropolitan districts, viz. :—Beth-
nal-green, Chelsea, Clerkenwell, St James ; Fulham,
St George, Hanover square; St George-in-the•
East ; St Giles-in-the-Fields and St George,
Bloomsbury; Hackney, Hampstead, Holborn,
St Mary, Islington; St James, Westmin-
ster, Kensington, City of London, East
London, West London, St Luke, Middlesex ; St
Margaret and St John, Westminster; St Martin-in-
the-Fields, St Marylebone, Mile.end Old Town,
Paddington, St Pancras, Poplar, Shoreditcb, St
Leonard; Stepney, the Strand, Whitechapel, Ber-
mondsey, Camberwell, St George-the-Martyr,
Lambeth, Newington, St Olaves, Rotherhithe, St
Saviour's, Wandsworth and Clapham, Greenwich,
and Lewisham.
" The poor laws are administered in these places
by 39 separate boards, composed of 1,215 guardians
of the poor, of whom 130, being county magistrates,
are ex ofcio guardians of the poor, There are 41
workhouses in the district (the parish of St. George,
Hanover.square, and the parish of St. John, West.,
minster, possessing respectively two workhouses,
each parish using one workhouse for the reception
of destitute vagrants). There are 82 masters and
matrons of workhouses, and 96 relieving officers.
" The guardians of the West London 'Union pro■
vide accommodation for destitute vagrants in
lodging-houses, as the workhouse of that union is
being taken down, it having been purchased for the
purposes of a railway.
There are thus 37 workhouses within the metro•
politan district, in each of which there are wards
specially dedicated for the reception of destitute
vagrants And wanderers, and in the aggregate these

wards will now accommodate fully 1,400 persons.
Thirty of these wards contain all necessary and
sufficient arrangements for affording requisite relief,
and 21 of the 30 wards have been lately enlarged,
I consider that seven of these wards are still inade•
quate, although I am aware that the accommodation
which even these afford has enabled the guardians
to admit all who have applied for admission. In
the case of one only of these vagrant wards has ad-
mission been refused, so far as I am aware, in con-
sequence of their being full.
" Thring the first week of De:umber, 1863, 3,408
beds were occupied in the vagrant wards of the
metropolitan district, but during the corresponding
week of this present year 4,655 beds were so occu-
pied.
" The greatest number of beds occupied in one
night in the first week in December 1864, was 712,
and the lowest number 607.

" A task of work suited to the age, strength,
and capacity of the persons admitted is exacted in
28 of the workhouses, the boards of guardians cons
sidering it expedient that a task of work should be
required from each able-bodied person relieved, in
return for his food and lodging, in conformity with
the 5 and 6 Vict. c. 37, sec. 5.

"In nine of the workhouses a task of work
was not exacted at the beginning of this month,
but, in accordance with the recommendation of the
Poor-law Board, this subject is now-411(3er the
-acirlifirritittoixotiffth)lo-11iir d r7driittMlign
my. visits,to several of tthese boards I have en.
deavoured to show the guardians that the dispeus.
leg with the iask of work is,caleulated to encourage
vagrancy.—Your obedient servant,
" H. B. FAANALL,
I'Metropolitan Inspector of Poor Laws 4'

at Collision and Loss of Four Lives.