54 BEAUFORT HUNT: PAST AND PRESENT. 



Presentations to the 8th Duke of Beaufort. 



(From the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, January 23, 1864.) 



The picture intended to be presented to His Grace, and which 

 has been exhibited at Chippenham and Tetbury, contains the portraits 

 of the Duke and Duchess. It was painted by Mr. F. Grant, K.A. 

 (afterwards Sir Francis Grant), and is considered by those who 

 Lave seen it to be one of the best of that celebrated artist's 

 works. It is full size, being 12 feet high, and about 8 feet wide. It 

 represents His Grace dressed in the blue and buff uniform of his 

 Hunt, seated on his favourite grey horse, " Speculation," in an 

 attitude of repose, looking back as if waiting for the huntsman to 

 come up with the pack, in obedience to the summons of the horn, 

 which the Di;ke is holding in his right hand. The Duchess is on a 

 grey barb, which she purchased when at Gibraltar two years ago. 

 She is dressed in a blue and buff riding habit and hat, and is looking 

 towards the Duke. In the foreground are two of the best hounds 

 of the Badminton pack, " Finder " and " Hector." The likenesses 

 are considered very good. The frame is neat and without much 

 ornament, and bears on a small tablet these words : " Presented to 

 Henry, 8th Duke of Beaufort, by the gentlemen and farmers of his 

 hunt, and other friends, January, 1864." 



The testimonial originated in a desire expressed by several farmers, 

 as well as by the members of the hunt, to present to the Duke some 

 token of the respect felt towards him by every class of those who, 

 whether as owners or occupiers of land comprised within the hunt, 

 or merely as hunting with His Grace's hounds, appreciate the liberal 

 and sportsmanlike manner in which he has hunted the country 

 since his father's death, and desire to offer him an acknowledgment 

 of his courtesy and liberality. The number of subscribers exceeds, 

 we are told, 400 ; and His Grace and the Duchess will value the 

 compliment all the more from its being the joint present of persons 

 of every rank of life. The picture is to be engraved before it reaches 

 its final resting place at Badminton. 



(From the Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard, June 18, 1864.) 



The following correspondence has taken place on the occasion 

 of presenting to the Duke of Beaufort the picture containing the 

 Portraits of His Grace and the Duchess, painted by F. Grant, Esq., 

 K.A. :— 



" January, 1864. 



" Dear Duke of Beaufort, — We send with this a list of the sub- 

 scribers to the picture by Mr. Grant, containing the portraits of 

 yourself and the Duchess, and on behalf of those whose names are 



