92 THE MASTER OF HOUNDS 



did ; but in later life he sacrificed size for pace. But 

 I am sure that at all times he bred his hounds for the 

 country over which they were intended to hunt. 



" Thus are my eyes still captive to one sight ; 

 Thus all my thoughts are slaves to one thought still." 



So should it be with an M.F.H. Therefore I venture 

 to think that the Duke's system was right, viz., to breed 

 hounds for the country over which they are intended 

 to hunt, irrespective of the dogmas laid down by hound 

 judges. His favourite relaxation was fox-hunting, 

 and he fully maintained the fox-hunting traditions of 

 Badminton during the crucial period in the annals of 

 the sport. Upon his succession to the title and estates, 

 hunting was regarded as a manorial right, which even 

 the most advanced Whigs did not dare to question. 

 Before his death the law and the public opinion of the 

 country had completely metamorphosed the relation- 

 ships between landlord and tenant. The Duke was a 

 strong Tory, with the courage to announce his con- 

 victions ; yet such was his personal popularity as a 

 landlord, and his tact as an M.F.H., that no friction 

 ever arose between him and the occupiers of the land. 

 Finally, it is a subject for congratulation in hunting 

 circles, that there is no danger of the Beaufort prestige 

 in the world of sport dying out for want of support. 



