BejIvVOir Hunt. 73 



CHAPTER IX. 



Testimonial to the Duke of Rutland. 



During the season of 1875 there were 

 whisperings of a strong desire on the part of 

 tenant farmers in the hunt to present the 

 Duke of Rutland with some token of their 

 esteem and appreciation of his grace^s courtesy 

 and kindness evinced by the princely liberality 

 with which he had hunted the country for 

 nineteen years, and as some recognition of the 

 honour and privilege they had long enjoyed 

 of hunting with his hounds. Active measures 

 were soon taken, and the first desire — that the 

 proposals should be confined to farmers — took 

 a wider basis. Stronger influences were brought 

 to bear on the advisability of extended co- 

 operation, as county gentlemen, as well as 

 others interested in the hunt, could not allow 

 a movement so popular to be limited to 



