Chapter I: Preface

There seems to be no real reason for writing a Preface to this book except for the purpose of thanking the many Old Etonians who have given me their assistance in its production. At the same time I should like to take this opportunity of explaining that, when I began compiling this record of the Eton College Hunt, it was mainly for the purpose of amusing myself during the intervals of school work, football and beagling in the Michaelmas Half of 1921, and it was not until the book was nearly finished that I became bold enough to imagine that it might be of interest to others who, like myself, have hunted the hare on the ploughs of Dorney and Datchet.

I am only too conscious of the inadequacy of my own work, but, in spite of its defects, I hope that this short history of a pack of Beagles which has been in existence for 64 years, and which has given their first experience of hound lore to so many eminent amateur huntsmen, may be of some interest to Etonians past, present and future.

I then decided to enlarge the original scope of the book by obtaining contributions from recognized authorities on the various aspects of Hare Hunting. I have added these in the shape in which I received them as Part II., and I must thank COL. ROBERTSON-AIKMAN, MAJ. FISHER, MR. G. H. LONGMAN and MR. HOWARD-VYSE for their great kindness in giving me their help.

I would also like to thank MESSRS. LONGMAN for their kind permission to include Ch. III. of Part II. which has already appeared in the ‘Hare’ volume of the Fur and Feather series published by them: MESSRS. ARNOLD for their kindness in allowing me to give a story of Rowland Hunt; MRS. GRAZEBROOK for lending me the diaries and photographs of her father, EDWARD CHARRINGTON; and COL. MEYSEY-THOMPSON for the loan of his diary and for his many letters which have helped to throw light on an otherwise dark period.

A. C. CROSSLEY.

ETON, _December 1921_.

CONTENTS.

PART I.

CHAPTER

I. THE OPPIDAN BEAGLES 1

II. THE COLLEGE HUNT 12

III. THE AMALGAMATION 21

IV. ROWLAND HUNT AND HIS SUCCESSORS 35

V. FROM 1886 TO 1899 51

VI. THE GOLDEN AGE, 1899-1914 60

VII. THE WAR AND THE FINAL TRIUMPH 80

PART II.

CHAPTER

I. HARES, BY MAJ. ARTHUR T. FISHER 91

II. KENNEL MANAGEMENT, BY H. H. HOWARD-VYSE 98

III. BEAGLING, BY G. H. LONGMAN 101

IV. THE HUMANITARIAN ASPECT, BY COL. ROBERTSON-AIKMAN 107

APPENDICES.