Sunday 3 May 2015

PIERS EGERTON-WARBURTON ESQ. OF ARLEY HALL

How much hunting in Cheshire owes to Mr. WARBURTON and his father (the late Rowland Egerton-Warburton, Esq.) may be easily inferred from the fact that in 1872 the latter, owing to loss of sight, retired from the secretaryship, an office he had held for thirty-five years, when his son (the present Mr. Warburton) was elected to succeed him, and he has carried on the management down to the present time—i.e., for thirty years. A service of 65 years by father and son!

In the year 1836, the number of subscribers to the Hounds was only 17. Now it is 83.

Of course, the secretaryship represents a small part of the debt. Mr. R. Warburton's poetry and songs must have had an incalculable effect in maintaining the spirit and "go" of the Hunt. Would that we had his refined and beautiful figure and features portrayed in our book, but his active pursuit had ceased when Mr. Massey began his series of portraits—hence our loss.

His son, though he does not exercise the father's poetical gifts, wields a most skilful pencil; and to him we are indebted for the likeness of our Artist which adorns the first page of our Album. His private collection is full of striking and life-like drawings, mostly pen and ink, of quite a number of persons connected with our Field.

'Tis pleasant to know that a still later generation is fitly represented by a son, now at Christ Church, Oxford, who may be trusted to carry on the traditions and tastes of his family, whose place, Arley, I should add, has ever been a very stronghold of foxes.

COLONEL LEGENDRE STARKEY OF HUNTROYD PARK AND HORATIO BEHRENS ESQ.

We have here a most sporting match, instigated by Captain White and Lord Combermere, who are looking on, whose verdict on the finish was, "Wins by a Nose"; but whether that nose was an equine nose or a human, was always a moot point, for the riders were both specially and bountifully dowered in that expressive feature.

EARL GROSVENOR AND PETER COLLISON



These two names were for a long time "familiar in men's mouths as household words."

As master and huntsman of the Cheshire, they were second to none. LORD GROSVENOR resided at that time at Calveley Hall, in the very cream of the country. At his father's death he became Marquis, and afterwards the first Duke, of Westminster.

Vain and needless, and perhaps impertinent, to speak of his character and public career, for the whole civilised world knew and admired them; and many an object of charity, private and public, had cause to lament his death. PETER COLLISON, his huntsman, was a good servant, rather of the order
celebrated with Mr. Jorrocks in the person of James Pigg.

AUGUSTUS DE TRAFFORD Esq. AND CECIL DE TRAFFORD Esq.

These two brothers of Sir Humphrey, aforementioned, were, through a whole generation, among the very flower of the Cheshire Hunt, well mounted and properly dressed. Where hounds went, there was AUGUSTUS DE TRAFFORD; and when they ran hardest, and longest, there, if you could attain the neighbourhood yourself, you would surely find CECIL DE TRAFFORD.

BOLTON LITTLEDALE OF SANDIWAY HOUSE

This Plate seems to me to be one of the happiest inspirations in the Album.
Mr. Littledale was a warm and active friend of foxes and hunting, and
to represent him as viewing away TWO foxes from one of his own gorses, with hand uplifted to enjoin silence, and with so pleased an expression on his kindly face, is an idea worthy of all admiration.

I believe on more than one occasion he purchased a farm just because it had
a good covert on it, and he has actually been known, after his dinner, to turn out again on a winter's night, in order to see for himself that there had been no foul play towards a fox run to ground that day on his property. Show me anyone capable of so active goodwill in these days, and I will take off my hat to him in all honour and respect! Happily for Cheshire he has left in his son a worthy representative of his name and fame. 

Fortes creantur fortibus et bonis," &c.