THE MASTERS OF BADMINTON 



enables him to form a correct judgment of the work 

 of the hounds, and the conduct of his servants in 

 the field. The Badminton pack are conspicuous for 

 two of the most essential qualities in foxhounds — 

 quickness and stoutness. They have also good 

 noses, and will persevere with a bad scent through 

 difficulties, with an anxious desire to get forward. 

 For speed they have always enjoyed a high reputa- 

 tion, and perhaps on this account principally are 

 great favourites with the fast men. That they can 

 and do go the pace is beyond dispute, but for this 

 reason only they would find little favour with me in 

 the absence of other more enduring and sterling 

 qualities. They are very quick and rapid movers 

 when a fox is first found, spreading and dashing 

 through the covert as well-bred foxhounds ought to 

 do, and they stick to him afterwards, turning quickly 

 with him in his shifts, and have the knack of getting 

 away pretty close to his brush without saying much 

 about it either." 



To the family life at Badminton in the time of 

 the seventh Duke I have referred elsewhere, but 

 there are certain details connected with the hunting 

 establishment and the stables as described by Nim- 

 rod's vivid pen that will find fitting notice here. 

 Concerning the hounds and their work, this always 

 interesting writer says : 



" Of the hounds, I believe there to be but one 

 opinion ; and, as far as I am at present qualified for 

 the assertion, that opinion is mine. They stand as 



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