52 BEAUFORT HUNT: PAST AND PRESENT. 



whose ever present sense of duty was illuminated by unfailing 

 sympathy and kindness of heart. In short, he was in the fullest 

 sense of the word a true English gentleman, who left the world all 

 the better for his long and honourable life, and his bright inspiring 

 example. To quote from a letter written by one of Sir Nigel's Glou- 

 cestershire neighbours — " In a short time we who knew him so 

 intimately will be gone, and cannot then speak of his splendid 

 qualities, and it is our duty to his memory and to our race that a 

 record should be left of him. I reverence the memory of the late 

 Sir Nigel ; there is no one like him left that I know — Gentleman, 

 Soldier, Statesman, Business man, Farmer, Sportsman, Friend — he 

 excelled in all." 



Prolonged Connection with the Hunt. 



The following is a copy of a letter received by Colonel Henry 

 from Sir John Wallington, K.C.B., who was for many years " Father 

 of the Hunt," in answer to an enquiry as to how long a period his 

 family had been connected with the Beaufort Hunt : — 



Keevil Manor, 



Trowbridge, Wilts, 



13th Deer., 1905. 

 Dear Frank, 



I had the Blue Coat in 1844, so up to the present date, 1905, 

 have worn it 61 years. 



My father, John Wallington, wore the Coat 68 years, and my 

 grandfather, Edward Wallington, born 1760, died 1829, was also 

 a member of the Duke of Beaufort's Hunt. 



Believe me. 



Yours very sincerely, 



John Wallington. 



Contributed by Will Dale. 



Fox Cottage, Didmarton, 



February, 1914. 

 Dear Sir, 



During my career as Huntsman I hunted and killed 4,000 foxes, 

 and assisted at killing a thousand more at Brocklesby and Bad- 

 minton. The greatest number of days I was out in one season was 

 186, at Badminton, and I was the only one of the firm who went 

 the whole lot. This was when His Grace took over the Avon Vale 

 side, and many a long trot and ride we had home, as there was no 



