The Eton College hunt

by Anthony Crommelin Crossley

GOOD-NIGHT.

CHAPTER III.
THE AMALGAMATION.

The idea of amalgamating the College and the Oppidan packs of Beagles was first mooted in 1864, but little came of it, probably owing to the reluctance of College to renounce the undoubted advantages which it possessed. A. J. Pound, the Master of the College Beagles in 1865 and 1866, was opposed to the scheme for reasons which he has shown in the Journal Book of the College Beagles (pp. 223, 224). Towards the end of the season of 1864, on March 16th to be exact, the Oppidan Beagles invited the Master and Whips of their neighbours to their annual drag at Salt Hill, where they partook of refreshments, liquid and solid. During these Mr. E. Royds arose and proposed “That the two packs be amalgamated.” These are the words which A. J. Pound has written in the Journal Book, and which adequately express his view of the proposal:

“Mr. Pound seconded the motion, though much against the grain. It may be well to make a few remarks here showing the advantages and disadvantages. It may as well first be mentioned that it is almost a settled thing that the two packs be amalgamated next year. The advantage of this arrangement will be entirely on the side of the Oppidans, the increase of country enabling them to hunt every day of the week, and good kennels in lieu of their present ones. The disadvantages on the side of College, inasmuch as the subscription being so much heavier than the present one, none will care to join who do not try to ‘run to hounds,’ and in all probability none, Colleger or Oppidan, who cannot ‘run to hounds’ will be allowed to join. The great amusement of the Easter Half will be snatched away from College, and we fear loafing will increase in a double proportion. Still it is to be hoped that Collegers will try and hold their own against the Oppidans in the amalgamated field, and we think all must see that this step is a necessary one and cannot be prevented now that the amalgamation has proceeded so far and Collegers are admitted to all the races. College must go with the age, for the age will not go with College.”

The College Beagles had only two more days hunting and then Pound closed the Journal for the season in the following way:

“May the E.C.H. never amalgamate, may the E.C.H. never enjoy worse seasons than the two last, are the fervent prayers of Mr. Pound, who with deep regret resigns his post of Master to Mr. Armitstead.”

The obvious reluctance of Pound to amalgamate and his bitter phrases regarding the whole proposal certainly seem strange to us who live in days when there is little if any difference between Collegers and Oppidans (except brains). Perhaps he was angry at being, so to speak, “cornered” at the Salt Hill refreshment table. Probably he was in a false position. In 1864 the Collegers had been admitted to all School races, and so were scarcely in a position to refuse flatly what was simply a request of the Oppidans. In his entry many of his remarks seem somewhat lacking in common sense. If there was an increase of country for the Oppidans surely the same applied to the Collegers. Again it appears selfish to grudge the Oppidans the use of the kennels, especially when the combined pack would obviously be much improved by hounds from the Oppidan pack.

Indeed his only real grievance seems to be that many Collegers would not be allowed to run with the beagles and that others would not be willing to do so owing to the increased subscription. There seems to have been at the time a desire to keep the field very select, a membership of only seventy boys being allowed. Perhaps the Head Master objected to many boys being allowed to run. Or again perhaps the Masters considered themselves unable to control a larger field. But it is at least peculiar that as large a field as possible was not encouraged to run with the beagles. It would have meant a larger subscription, and consequently a better pack and better sport. As it was, however, the subscription was one pound, and only twenty boys from College were admitted by the terms of the treaty drawn up later in the year. This treaty we shall append shortly.