“Half holiday. Met at Sanatorium. Had a brace of bagged hares. The first did not give us much of a run, but the second gave us a clipper; the run of the season in fact. Ran a ring to Chalvey, to the Sanatorium, away to Slough and Upton Park, where we killed. Vide Bell’s Life for Sat. 26th.”
In this run they joined forces with the College pack for the first time. Two more days they repeated the experiment, and then not again until the amalgamation in 1866. After such an extraordinary run it is surprising that the arrangement was not made permanent, but the fact remains that the packs continued separate for another six years.
Charrington’s last run with the Beagles was the climax of his Eton career. Here is the entry in his diary. It will describe better than any words of mine what must have been his feeling of satisfaction at having accomplished a work that was destined to prosper long after he himself had died.
“Monday, April 11th. The last day of the season. Met at Philippi. Had a capital run for the wind up and killed our hare in the Field all amongst the fellows playing at cricket.”
I wish I knew something about Johnstone, but no information whatever has come into my hands concerning him, except that he was Charrington’s principal coadjutor.
In 1860 R. E. Moore was Master, and of him I know very little indeed, except what Col. R. F. Meysey-Thompson says in a letter.
“In 1860 R. E. Moore in Sixth Form was Master, and the pack began to be looked upon as a recognised institution, though it was not until the next year 1861 that a regular subscription was made when J. G. Chambers was Master (afterwards so well known as a ’Varsity oar and champion walker and for many years the umpire at the ’Varsity Boat Race).”
Moore actually secured the Head Master’s leave to keep Beagles, and henceforward it became an official sport at Eton. Moore had for his only whip Baker mi., who performed the (?) unparalleled feat of winning the School Steeplechase while still in jackets.
All through this period the Beagles were growing in importance in the School. They did not force themselves forward, but almost imperceptibly they began to assume the position they have held ever since. And they continued to prosper during the next three years under the Mastership of J. G. Chambers, W. T. Trench and F. G. Pelham.