THE MASTERS OF BADMINTON 



bone. This, indeed, we know was a point on 

 which Payne was very strong. No hound could 

 have too much bone for him. 



The Dorimonts were noted for their finding 

 powers, Echo's father, Boxer, being said to find 

 three foxes out of four, while his brother Raffle 

 once distinguished himself by hunting a fox for 

 half a mile along the top of a wall. The hounds 

 of this family were mostly badger pie. They had 

 the short, square, sensible, but rather dour-looking 

 heads that were often to be seen in the Badmin- 

 ton kennels in Charles Hamblin's time. 



In due course the seventh Duke succeeded to 

 the title, on the death of his father in 1835. The 

 new Duke was a man who had lived more in the 

 world than his immediate predecessors. Not less 

 keen about sport than they, or a whit less devoted 

 to his home and kennels at Badminton, he yet 

 moved in a wider circle. In his earlier days he 

 was one of that brilliant band of soldiers, sports- 

 men, and dandies known in society as '* elegant 

 extracts," and officially as the loth Hussars. Many 

 of the officers of this regiment distinguished them- 

 selves in war, sport, or politics, and not the least 

 brilliant among them was Henry Marquis of Wor- 

 cester. Tall, handsome, an excellent dresser ac- 

 cording to the fashions of his time. Lord Worcester 

 was the very man to be popular in such a regiment. 

 During the brilliant services of the loth Hussars 

 in the Peninsular War, where they often crossed 



95 G 



