SEASON 1880-81 149 



who were best placed were Captain T. Boyce, 

 Captain Smith, Lord Cloncurry, Mr. George 

 Drummond, Mr. H. Praed, Mr. W. Chaplin, and 

 the Duke of Portland, who took two falls during 

 the run. 



It was about this time that Lord Doneraile and 

 Lord Queensbury rented the Rectory at Barrowby 

 as a hunting-box, both being very hard men to 

 hounds. During the time of Cooper the huntsman, 

 Lord Queensbury left the navy and started to 

 hunt from Aswarby, riding old screws, which when 

 shoved along in reckless fashion over every sort of 

 country gave their rider some tremendous croppers, 

 but taught him much experience. Lord Doneraile 

 was a great sportsman, having hunted with Lord 

 Henry Bentinck's hounds ; and he quoted him on 

 every occasion as the highest authority on all 

 matters connected with the chase. One season his 

 lordship bespoke the whole of the Belvoir draft, 

 and these were duly despatched to Ireland, where 

 he and two other masters were to divide the 

 hounds. For months Gillard never had a line 

 acknowledging their arrival, and when at last in- 

 formation did come, it was to the effect that rabies 

 had broken out in Lord Doneraile's kennel, said to 

 have been imported by the Belvoir draft, and as in 

 the case of a diseased cow, the vendor must bear the 

 loss. A lawyer had to look into the case, which, 

 when investigated, brought a cheque for the full 

 amount by return of post. A curious and sad 

 ending closed this sportsman's career. It was his 

 wont to adopt as a pet a tame vixen fox, which 



