46 MEMOIR OF 



forgot it ; for, years afterwards, when the 

 " chilHng touch of Time" had turned the locks 

 of both of them to silver-grey, and they were 

 returning together to Badminton, after a hard 

 day with the present Duke's hounds, Russell 

 asked him if he remembered the first time they 

 met at Sandford Brake. 



"Yes, sir," said Will, "and I'm not likely to 

 forget it. You hoped I should find all the 

 hounds dead upon the benches. But there, I 

 didn't think you meant it." 



" Quite right, Will ; in two minutes after- 

 wards I could have bitten my tongue out for 

 having made such a speech." 



It is impossible to overrate the estimation 

 and respect with which Will Long was regarded, 

 not only by the Beaufort family, but by all 

 who followed him to the chase and enjoyed his 

 cheery company in days gone by ; still, brilliant 

 horseman as he was acknowledged to be, I have 

 heard Russell declare that as a practical hunts- 

 man he could never hold a candle to old Philip 

 Payne nor to the present Duke. That probably 

 was the case ; nevertheless it must not be 

 forgotten that Will Long hunted those hounds 

 with signal success from 1826 down to October, 

 1855, a period of twenty-nine years ; when, 

 overtaken at length by the infirmities of age, 

 he retired from active service, carrying with 

 him his well-earned laurels, and enjoying, by 



