THE EIGHTH DUKE OF BEAUFORT 



done without any sinister motive. It will be grati- 

 fying to you to know that not only do all your 

 friends and acquaintances say that none of your 

 family would willingly have done such a thing, but 

 more especially you yourself are looked up to in 

 your own neighbourhood as everything that a 

 young man should be. Our acquaintance began 

 inauspiciously, but we shall be none the worse 

 friends I hope for that, and I shall be very glad 

 to shake hands with you the first time we meet. 



" I am, yours faithfully, 



" Beaufort." 



With the close of 1868, and the retirement of 

 Tom Clark, one period of the Duke's life came 

 to an end. A time of chano^e was to follow. 



230 



