28 RECORDS OF THE CHASE 



they having des<!ended from heir to heir about two 

 centuries. The noble house of Yarborough has paid 

 vast attention to the blood of their fox-hounds. It is 

 justly esteemed the acme of perfection. For a long 

 series of years no hound has been retained unless he 

 is in every respect worthy of preferment. They are 

 celebrated for stoutness, courage, speed, exquisite 

 scenting powers, and symmetry. Governed by a taste 

 hereditary in the family for the same good properties, 

 that confusion of sorts manifest in many other kennels 

 has been avoided in this. ^Vhenever it has been found 

 necessary to apply to other establishments for fresh 

 blood, it has been obtained principally from those of 

 the Duke of Rutland, the late Lords Lonsdale and 

 Middleton, Lord Fitzwilliam, Lord Henry Bentinck, Sir 

 Tatton Sykes, Sir Richard Sutton, Mr. Osbaldeston 

 and Mr. Foljambe ; but having sio many of their own, 

 the alternative is not so frequently essential as it is in 

 kennels where the means are limited. In the huntsman, 

 likewise, the same preference is apparent. The name of 

 Lord Yarborough 's huntsman has been too well known 

 in hunting circles for many years to require an intro- 

 duction ; the present man, Mr. William Smith, succeeded 

 his father, who, in like manner, followed others of his 

 kindred. Frequent changes of either masters of hounds 

 or huntsmen commonly occasion great confusion, and 

 often reduce those which boast of great superiority to 

 little better than a scratch pack. Perfections are 

 regarded so differently by different men. This may be 

 accepted as another reason why Lord Yarborough's 

 hounds have attained such a high degree of perfection : 

 they have experienced none of the difficulties incidental 

 to changes, either of masters or huntsmen, except when 

 the unrelenting hand of death has issued the mandate 

 which we must all obey. 



Not being in possession of authoritative information, 

 I cannot state precisely how long a time hounds have 

 been in the possession of the Duke of Rutland's family ; 

 but I believe I am correct in stating that it is upwards 



