THE EIGHTH DUKE OF BEAUFORT 



ism to be found in so many of the country homes 

 of England. What the old Tory families lost in 

 political power they gained in local influence. Their 

 long residence made their homes centres of local 

 politics ; and in the case of the Somersets the 

 institution of the hunt extended their influence far 

 and wide, and made the name of Badminton 

 famous. 



Of the hunt I shall have much to say later. The 

 only fact to be noted here is that its world-wide 

 fame was made possible by the action of Duke 

 Henry, who was the first to devote himself to the 

 home sphere of influence his successors have culti- 

 vated ever since. He recognised the possibility of 

 Badminton being to a modern nobleman what the 

 castles of Chepstow and Raglan had been to his 

 ancestors. 



In the fulness of time the Duke passed away 

 (January 21st, 1699), leaving to his successors the 

 task of establishing the family he had founded 

 anew. That this was done we know. The build- 

 ing up of the fortunes of the Somersets was, how- 

 ever, a quiet work, and leaves little for the pen of 

 the historian to narrate. When we come to the 

 time of the seventh and eighth Dukes, who again 

 stand out as men of mark, they claim a more 

 detailed notice than do their immediate prede- 

 cessors. 



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