1903 The Flowing Bowl by Edward Spencer

66 THE FLOWING BOWL he became its chief director. He was untiring in business, a man possessing the broadest views of men and things, a bit crotchety on occasion, but possessed of " that most excellent gift of charity," in boundless supplies. Amongst his other benefactions was the building and endow ment of St. Paul's, Burton, and the gift of recreation grounds, a free library, and swimming- baths to the adjacent town of Derby. He also built and endowed another church on his own estate, at Rangemore j and his hand was never out of his cash-pocket when he could aid in a good work. He represented Derby, in the Liberal interest, from 1848 to 1883, was a tower of strength to that party, albeit possessed of nothing like bigoted opinions. On the contrary, it was his custom through life, like Hal o' the Wynd in The Fair Maid of Perth, to " fight for his own hand." And as an instance of his energy and grit, it may be mentioned that after voting in the House of Commons for Mr. Gladstone's Irish Church Disestablishment Bill the division on which did not take place till 2 A.M.—he travelled by the " newspaper train " at 5 A.M. from Euston to Rugeley in order to hunt with Mr. Hugo Meynell Ingram's hounds, later in the morning, changing his clothes on the way down. The meet was at Brereton Hayes, close to Cunnock Chase, and I well remember greeting him that morning, and receiving for a reply: " Thank you, I'm pretty well for an old 'un." He was over seventy (I think) at the time. That was three decades ago ; and since then the trade of Bass has increased enormously.