LORD MANNERS 69 



the huntsman to beHeve such was the fact. I do not 

 think he ever tried this on with Firr, but that 

 huntsman could start away with a few couple with 

 perfect confidence that the remainder of the pack 

 would thread the horses and be with him in less 

 time than most packs take in getting out of covert. 

 I cannot remember now when it was the Duke of 

 Portland first came to Melton, but think it was 

 about 1881. However, he was still a regular visitor 

 to the town in 1885, and it must have been about 

 then his half-brothers, Lord Henry and Lord WilUam 

 Bentinck, first appeared. The elder brother had 

 the misfortune to be a heavy weight, and had 

 therefore that difficulty of getting horses to carry 

 him which all such men have to contend with, even 

 when there is practically no limit to the purse. No 

 one, I think, enjoyed his sport more, and I have 

 been surprised that he never revisited the scenes 

 which I feel sure he will look back upon as some of 

 the j oiliest in his youth. 



Lord Manners, when he took the Quorn, was a 

 very good man to hounds, and being a light weight, 

 could ride blood horses. If he will forgive my 

 saying so, I don't think he was ever what you call 

 a " hound man," but was very keen on the sport, 

 and was content to leave that part entirely to Firr. 

 Financial embarrassments in the previous master- 

 ship, as I have already said, raised up rather strained 

 relations with some occupiers of land, which re- 

 quired a liberal hand and considerable tact to re- 

 move. Lord Manners was most successful in pouring 

 oil on troubled waters, and on his resignation after 

 about two seasons he had gained every one's good- 

 will, and the country was sorry to lose him. For 



