THE GENEROUS GRANBY 



Whether Granby would have taken rank among our 

 greatest military leaders, if he had been placed in a position 

 to test his capacity, it would be vain to ask, but I think 

 that a careful study of his campaigns leads to the conclusion 

 that he was a man of much greater power than he has been 

 given credit for. In the later years of his life a too great 

 love for the bottle somewhat clouded his clear spirit, and, 

 like a much greater general, he lost some of the fame he 

 had won on the field of battle in the arena of politics. Over 

 the story of his splendid campaigns I must pass hastily, 

 noting only his quick eye for a weak spot in the enemies' 

 lines, and his promptness in seizing the chances fortune 

 offered him, since these are qualities which, if not exactly 

 acquired in the hunting field, are improved and perfected 

 by the chase. 



When he returned to England he was the most popular 

 man of the day, and on his homeward journey confidential 

 messengers awaited him at every port to claim his support 

 for the ministers in power. He was offered any post he 

 chose to name, and took the ordnance, from which Ligonier 

 was removed, the latter being compensated with an Irish 

 pension and an English peerage, according to the manner 

 of the time. It was no doubt a job, but no one could deny 

 Lord Granby's fitness for any military post. 



Nor was Lord Granby's popularity without its effect on 

 the progress of fox-hunting. The sport was the recreation 

 of statesmen, and the Cabinet of the Duke of Grafton 

 numbered two masters of hounds among its members. 

 Indeed, it was said that the Duke himself was fonder of 

 hunting than of business. At all events, the Belvoir Hunt 

 was growing steadily in popularity, and the pack was being 

 improved by further strains of foreign blood. 



"The stallion hounds in use at Belvoir were, in 1756, from 

 Lord Chetwode's kennel ; 1757, from Duke of Grafton's 

 and Sir John Key's ; 1760, Mr. Pelham's Vigo and Rattler, 

 and from Duke of Devonshire ; 1762, Lord Thanet's Rasper; 

 1763, Duke of Devonshire's Victor, Lord Townsend's Captain 

 and Clincher, Mr. Meynell's Royal ; 1772, Mr. Mundy's 



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