THE EIGHTH DUKE OF BEAUFORT 



No. 2 in the eyes of the hunting world ; the 

 Belvoir pack being considered No. i. This much, 

 however, I am able to say, that for high form and 

 power, arising from depth of chest and exuberant 

 muscle in all their acting parts, and the total 

 absence of extraneous substance in parts not called 

 upon to act, the Beaufort pack is most conspicuous, 

 as, also, for their uniform size ; so much so, indeed, 

 that, although it may exist elsewhere, superiority 

 may scarcely be necessary for all the purposes of 

 fox-hunting. Neither does appearance in the ken- 

 nel exceed their performance in the field. Whether 

 with a warm or cold scent, they are allowed to be 

 equally perfect in their work ; and the following 

 facts may be adduced in support of this character. 

 In a short country, not admitting of much cub-hunt- 

 ing, they had killed more than thirty brace of foxes 

 up to the last week in January ; and as a specimen 

 of their speed, under the most favourable circum- 

 stances, one burst may be mentioned, which took 

 place about a month back. The point-blank dis- 

 tance was said to be four miles and a half; the 

 time in which it was run, fourteen minutes ! Now, 

 were I an aspiring young man, well mounted, and 

 determined to go, — in other words, resolved to have 

 a good place with these hounds, — I fear I should 

 now and then be called over the coals for riding 

 * too near to their tails,' as Matty Wilkinson was 

 wont to say ; for what chance would Harkaway 

 have, supposing him to be the jumper his Irish 



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