THE EIGHTH DUKE OF BEAUFORT 



many deceptions, and for a considerable portion of 

 his career he turned aside from the turf altogether. 

 He would have nothing to do with it, till timely 

 penalties, inflicted with unsparing hand, had at least 

 improved the practice of the racing world, if they 

 had not greatly raised its principles. Though no 

 doubt Lord Worcester loved racing, it never en- 

 grossed his time and attention as did other forms 

 of sport. I think, indeed, we may say that hunting 

 and soldiering in the early part of his career, and 

 hunting and politics in the later years, had his 

 heart. 



It was two years after the death of his father, the 

 seventh Duke, that there came into the eighth Duke's 

 life a period he thoroughly enjoyed. For three 

 seasons he hunted his hounds himself. During this 

 time he kept a journal that is full of touches of 

 interest. It is a relief to turn to its clear-sighted 

 comments and humorous reflections, from the some- 

 what dry records of Will Long. 



Will Long had now been huntsman for many 

 years. In hunting matters the Duke was his pupil, 

 and it may be the old man was somewhat impatient 

 of the control of the master whom he had instructed 

 as a lad. At all events, the Duke one morning found 

 himself without a huntsman, and he resolved for 

 the future to carry the horn. The Duke records 

 the change in the opening words of his diary. Of 

 the pack with which he started, we find there were 

 of old hounds, " dogs, twenty-five couples; bitches, 



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