THE EIGHTH DUKE 



thus brought in improved the cattle, and the farmers 

 were glad to avail themselves of the opportunities 

 offered. The Duke thus laid the foundation of the 

 good work he accomplished for stock-raising and 

 horse-breeding in the country round Badminton. 

 It was this liking for and success in farming, that 

 helped to place him in the position of one of the 

 representative country gentlemen of his day. 



On this work at home was based an influence in 

 politics that made itself felt in London, and brought 

 to him the Mastership of the Horse in 1858, and 

 the Garter somewhat later. The Duke might 

 indeed have taken a larger part in politics than he 

 did, but the years of his greatest influence and 

 activity coincided with the long exile from power of 

 the Tories, and the ascendancy of the Whigs. 



In sport and social life the Duke found his plea- 

 sure, and he was for many years a supporter of the 

 turf. But as a matter of fact, though he was 

 popular and respected, he was not of a temperament 

 to be successful in racing. When he had, or thought 

 he had, a good thing, he let all his friends know it, 

 and, like Sir John Astley, he was sometimes made 

 use of by unscrupulous and designing persons. 



Yet his liking for racing came to him early in 

 life, and he may be said to have inherited the taste 

 from his father, the famous seventh Duke. Probably 

 he saw his first race when as Lord Glamorgan, a 

 little lad of six, he watched a colt of his father's 

 carry in first the white jacket and blue cap which 



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