The Foxhound. 107 



of the Badminton Hounds, which were originally 

 staghounds, and according to tradition only changed 

 to fox as the result of an accident ; for, had not the 

 staghounds been allowed to run riot and hunt a 

 fox after a blank day in search of their proper game, 

 the transition might have been longer delayed. 

 Thirdly, we come to the Belvoir, a famous pack, 

 established as far back as 1 730, when five noble 

 lords, viz., John, Duke of Rutland; George, Earl of 

 Cardigan ; Baptist, Earl of Gainsborough ; John, 

 Lord Gower ; and Scrope, Lord Howe, met and drew 

 up a formal agreement as to how the hunt should be 

 carried on. All details were provided for, the sum 

 and substance being that each of the above-named 

 proprietors should pay a hundred and fifty pounds 

 ' into the hands of Alderman Child,' of Temple 

 Bar, and that more money should be paid if the hunt 

 required it. The agreement further specified that 

 the hounds should be nineteen in number, and not 

 more than twenty inches high. The establishment 

 was to consist of a steward, one huntsman, six 

 whippers-in, and two cooks, ' to be turned off, paid, 

 and disposed of by the majority of the party.' 

 Twice within its long history has the Belvoir pack 

 received outside help. On the death of the fourth 

 Duke of Rutland, in the last century, Sir Carnaby 

 Haggerston was at the head of a committee 



