THE FARMER'S MAGAZINE. 



they live with, and the respect in which they hold 

 their landlord. The confidence in each other, so 

 characteristic of the Lincolnshire lettings, has no 

 higher example than that which has so long existed 

 between the Dukes of Rutland and their people. 

 On either side it is preserved as something of a 

 hereditary right. Of the poor the present Duke is 

 equally mindful, as he is discriminate in the appli- 

 cation of his bounty; and the intellectual advance- 

 ment of those about him is one of his chief studies. 

 He contributes munificently to the estabUshment 

 and maintenance of schools, and all similar institu- 

 tions, while he was very instrumental in bringing 

 " the Middle-class Examination" system to 

 Grantham — a benefit, however, of which the town 

 does not appear very ready to avail itself. But 

 Grantham owes much to his Grace in other ways, 

 as we heard and saw on all sides in a recent visit 

 to that high capital of ploughs and steam-engines, 

 of pork-pies, and gingerbread nuts. 



And, of course, we went on, dipping into " the 

 Vale," hearing still of " my kind Lord Duke," as 

 poor Will Goodall calledliim, and no little of Will 

 himself. And there was something of a direct 

 sympathy for us now, comparative strangers 

 though we were in the Duke's country. For when 

 Goodall was just entering with |that kindest and 

 best of masters the late Mr. Drake, we ourselves 

 were creeping up on a grey pony to " Chilton 

 Village," " Ryecot Kennel," " the Quarters," or 

 some other outlying Meet, with them. There could 

 not have been a better school for a young one, as 

 many an Oxford " man" can tell — the kindly word, 

 the half-shake of the head, and the gentlemanly 

 reproof that kept those large fields in order — while 

 " Young Sir Henry" and " Mr. John" would show 

 them the way, and old Griff Lloyd grumble along 

 on his grey, never quite happy after he lost his 

 dominion. Will Goodall, then, as we can give 

 personal assurance to, came of a good school, and 

 he did all honour to his bringings-up. As they 

 still talk of him about Grantham, "he was the 

 most genial- companion, the boldest rider, and the 

 best-hearted huntsman in England." And the 

 Duke was worthy of, as he could appreciate, such a 

 servant. He at once undertook to provide for the 

 widow, who lives in a house at Croxton, with her 

 large family put into all sorts of ways of getting 

 on. His selection of a successor to Will's horn is 

 as well spoken to by the hunt ; and though it must 



be somewhat trying to follow so " well graced an 

 actor," Cooper, we are told, has already won the 

 good opinion of his field, alike by his ability and 

 conduct — "a keen hand and daring horseman." 

 In his keeping the blood of the Rallywoods pro- 

 mises still to prosper. And the Duke, too, it must 

 be remembered, is as keen as ever, and might still 

 face the Croxten park wall. It was only last season 

 that, in the Shoby Scholes day with the Quorn, he 

 was one of the very few who lived through that 

 fast thing at the finish. 



Unlike his lamented father, the Duke of Rutland 

 is no racing man, and the deeds of Flambeau and 

 Rat-trap find little favour in his sight. Although 

 a member of the Jockey Club, he will often be 

 busy in the preserves at Chieveley, even when on 

 the Heath they are wagering over a Cambridge- 

 shire or a Clearwell. At home, however, he takes 

 to it a little more kindly, especially at his own pet 

 meeting at Croxton, where the Stokes' and the 

 Burrows' bring out that wonderful class of cock- 

 tail, with just the stain and no more, and that shall 

 hereafter carry the Duke and other thrusting welters 

 to the fore over their own dearly beloved Vale — 



" There's not in this wide world a valley so sweet." 



His Grace, too, is generally one of the stewards 

 at Leicester ; but we missed his stalwart figure 

 there this autumn, when the rustics were hurrahing 

 at Lord Stamford, and Newmarket jockeys riding 

 races on one side of the hedge, and reapers cutting 

 wheat on the other. The Chieveley choice over 

 again ! 



One word more, and we have ended at our argu- 

 ment. We will jot Belvoir about with a thriving 

 tenantry and an improving peasantry. We will 

 fill the Castle with company, the siables with 

 horses, and the kennel with hounds. We will take 

 in, from our point of view, the village-school and 

 the Farmers' Hall ; and we will dwell yet a little 

 on one spot here in the range of that noble 

 domain — where the rifle butt is erected, and 

 whither the volunteers are marching. There are 

 none more welcome ; for, from the first, the Duke 

 of Rutland has taken a strong interest in the 

 movement, and done all he can, here again, to 

 develop that sense of duty between man and 

 man, upon which the welfare of all so intimately 

 depends. 



