78 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



years ago, Goosey being huntsman, they were at that time the 

 cleverest pack of hounds for their height I had ever met with, 

 and I have looked over a few kennels in my time. There is 

 also a chance of obtaining some good drafts from Lord Henry 

 Bentinck's kennel in Lincolnshire. His present pack is founded 

 on the late Lord Ducie's, with an addition of some twenty 

 couples from Mr. Wyndham. No man living was a better 

 judge of the shape and make of a fox-hound, and what his per- 

 formances ought to be in the field, than Lord Ducie. He spared 

 neither expense nor trouble in getting together well-bred hounds, 

 and drafting largely again, and to his liberality in this respect 

 many of his brother masters of hounds were deeply indebted. 

 There are also the Duke of Beaufort's, a very old and popular 

 sort, and deservedly so ; they are a fine lot of hounds, the dogs 

 large and clever, with plenty of bone and power, straight on 

 their legs, and, in short, what fox-hounds ought to be. The 

 lady pack, as near perfection as they can be. Under the able 

 direction of Will Long, the present huntsman, who is not 

 bigoted, as many are, to their own blood only, these hounds are 

 greatly improved within the last few years, and have shown 

 superior sport, not only in running hard, but overhauling their 

 foxes in long runs with a ticklish scent. Long has a thorough 

 knowledge of his business, fully appreciates old pedigrees, and 

 is altogether well fitted to hold the situation which he now does 

 with credit to the duke and satisfaction to the country. Lord 

 Yarborough's are a favourite sort with many, and Lord Fitz- 

 hardinge's, Avho both breed largely. I would begin if I could with 

 the old drafts from the Duke of Rutland's, the Quorn, Sir R. 

 Sutton's, Lord Fitzwilliam's, and Lord Henry Bentinck's, which 

 I think likely to supply the most useful five and six year old 

 hounds. For the young unentered hounds, I should go to the 

 kennels of Tedworth, the Badminton, Lord Fitzwilliam's, and 

 the Duke of Rutland's. To hunt two and sometimes three days 

 a week, you must purchase at least a hundred couples of hounds, 

 but you need not keep them longer than you are obliged. When 

 you have bought the old draft, the huntsman will, I have no 

 doubt, tell you what hounds are likely to answer your purpose ; 

 view with suspicion the three and four seasoned ones, and if 

 out of fifty couples of entered hounds, you can select twenty 

 which will hold out through the season, you may consider your- 

 self fortunate. Put forward twenty-five couples of unentered 

 hounds at least ; be not over particular as to appearances, for 

 huntsmen will not draft clever young hounds, unless above or under 

 their own standard, but keep the best bred. You will have to 

 contend with distemper and other maladies, and young hounds 



