WITH THE DUKE OF BEAUFORT'S HOUNDS 73 



the best part of a hundred couple of hounds, the 

 wherewithal to hunt six days a week, commenc- 

 ing the middle of x\ugust, finishing in April. The 

 extent of the country allows of two different packs 

 and two hunts being out on the same day, his 

 Grace and Will Dale hunting one or the other, so 

 that the equivalent of some seven or eight days 

 may be said to count to a week's sport with the 

 Badminton. A large type 

 of hound has always been 

 favoured by the Dukes of 

 Beaufort, measuring quite 

 twenty -four inches, being 

 best adapted for taking 

 the stone walls in their 

 stride. " The Beaufort 

 Justice " is one of the 

 great hounds of the last 

 century, whose blood laid 

 the foundation of much 

 excellence, for he became 

 the patriarch of the pack ; 

 the badger-pied colouring, which is a distinguishing 

 feature of the Badminton, being attributed to his 

 influence in the kennel. 



Belvoir, Badminton and FitzwilHam exchanged 

 courtesies, with great advantage to each, and Mr. 

 T. W. Dale relates in his history of the Hunt, 

 that, " In 1801, Belvoir borrowed a hound from 

 Badminton, named Topper. This hound is one of 

 the roots of the family of which Rallywood, Weather- 

 gage, Gambler, Dexter, and Dasher are famous 

 representatives." The late, and present Dukes of 

 Beaufort retained their old sorts, but brought the 

 kennel up-to-date with valuable purchases of dog- 

 hounds from Lord Portsmouth in 1876 and Mr. 



The Duke of Beaufort. 



