THE MASTERS OF BADMINTON 



old friend, ' the hunting sweep,' who was received 

 with warm congratulations by all present." 



The Duke mounted this real enthusiast for many 

 years on a chestnut horse called " Prosper," The 

 following obituary notice from Bell's Life tells 

 of Prospers end. This is dated August 19, 1849. 

 " On Friday week it was determined that the ex- 

 tended acquaintance of Prosper and his sable rider 

 must end, and on the animal being led to the kennel 

 the knight of the brush and scraper being present, 

 took hoof in hand, giving him a hearty shake, and 

 witnessed the beloved Prosper pay the debt of 

 nature at the advanced age of twenty-four." 



The days of the seventh Duke were now drawing 

 to a close. His hunting-days were already ended ; 

 and the eighth Duke (then of course Lord Worcester) 

 was acting as master in the field. It was now that 

 the teams of Skewbald horses were so often to be 

 seen. The Duke with four of these ridden by 

 postilions managed to see a great deal of hunt- 

 ing. The present Duke has told me how, when 

 quite a little fellow — he was only six years of age 

 when the old man died — he had his first view of 

 hounds, seated in the hood of his grandfather's 

 carriage. 



It was in 1853 that the seventh Duke passed away. 

 He was on the whole the most successful and 

 prosperous of his line, and he had led a healthy and 

 beneficent life. He left behind him general regret. 

 He had served his country, managed his estates so 



127 



