Zbc H)uftes of Beaufort i4T 



to you and thank you for spoiling a very good day's 

 sport' 



The seventh duke enjoyed the reputation of being one 



of the handsomest men, and t/ie most popular sportsman 



of his time. No one who ever had the pleasure of being 



in his society could forget his singularly fine and stately 



person and his perfect manners. He was a gallant 



soldier, too, and won distinction in the Peninsular War. 



While he was serving on Wellington's staff he had the 



misfortune to be captured by the French, but, after a 



few months as prisoner of war, he gained his freedom 



by exchange. For a short time he was a Junior 



Lord of the Admiralty, but soon abandoned office 



for the more congenial duties of a great landlord. 



As a coachman he was second to none, and his 



famous team of skewbalds was one of the sights of 



London. The Turf, too, had a share of his patronage, 



and his small but well-selected racing stud brought him 



some kudos on the race-course. Music and the drama 



had no more lavish and liberal supporter. It was 



largely owing to his generous subsidies that Italian 



Opera at Her Majesty's survived the evil days on which 



it had fallen, and was able to hold its own till public 



taste veered round again to its support. And many a 



thirsty soul on sweltering summer days has blessed his 



name for inventing the delightful cooling beverage which 



bears the honoured name of Badminton. The hereditary 



passion for the Chase was strong in him, and even when he 



was no longer able, from failing health, to ride to hounds, 



he came out and followed them in a light phaeton drawn 



by a pair of piebalds with postillion, an extra pair being 



in attendance with long traces to assist in rattling up the 



hills, whilst there were outriders to open gates, and 



