382 HUNTING TOURS. 



vicissitudes of the elements, as he had pre- 

 viously done too incautiously; he there- 

 fore was compelled to abandon the delights 

 of foxhunting and beguile his leisure hours 

 vrith farming, in which he distinguished him- 

 self as one of the most celebrated breeders of 

 shorthorns ; thus the name of Lord Ducie 

 and the famous Duchess breed, to which he 

 was justly partial, hold a conspicuous position 

 in the portly volume called the Herd Book. 

 On the Earl's retirement. Lord Gifford became 

 his successor, with a pack of hounds he had 

 formed of good materials, in a vacant district 

 on the borders of Herefordshire and the Lud- 

 low country; and being hunted with great 

 skill by his lordship, as they ripened into 

 perfection, the sport they afforded was of the 

 highest character. Entering into all the details 

 of the chase, both in the kennel and in the 

 field, with the utmost zeal and good judg- 

 ment, and possessing all the attributes of a 

 master of foxhounds, it was a source of 

 universal regret throughout the country when 

 it was made known, in the spring of 1845, 

 that it was his intention to resign. No gentle- 

 man coming forward willing to embark solely 

 in the responsibilities, a committee was formed, 



