154 FOX-HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS 



The hunt servants to the Quorn at this time 

 were Will Staples and Jack Wiggles worth ; the 

 hounds consisted of Sir Bellingham's original 

 pack in addition to his purchase of all Osbal- 

 deston's hounds, with the exception of twenty-five 

 couples. 



At this period the Quorn subscription 

 amounted to between three and four thousand 

 pounds, and Sir Francis Burdett, who was one of 

 the principal subscribers, wrote : '' Put me down 

 for ;^300, and if that is not enough I am good for 

 £200 more/' 



*' Nimrod '' tells us much about the good sport 

 of that time, and that during one of the seasons 

 the '' old pack " killed every fox they found 

 during the first six weeks. We are also told by 

 the same writer that, as regards riding. Sir Belling- 

 ham had quite established his reputation as a 

 leader among the best heavy-weights of that day. 

 There was a celebrated run from Glen Gorse to 

 Stanton Wood, for example, where he particularly 

 distinguished himself on a horse called Cock 

 Robin by taking the lead and keeping it until 

 the finish, although two of the best light-weights 

 in England, Colonel William Coke and Colonel 

 George Anson, started within half a field of him, 

 but never caught him until all was over. 



It was about this time that his hunters became 



