THE HISTORY OF THE BELVOIR HUNT 



the third Duke and the absence of Lord Granby, not to 

 speak of the latter's careless and rather shiftless character, 

 made it invaluable in keeping up the family prestige. He 

 made Belvoir his home, and there it was that Crabbe met his 

 brilliant but unlucky son Robert, who went with the fourth 

 Duke to Ireland and there died by his own hand. Robert 

 Thoroton was the friend and companion of the Irish Viceroy, 

 and like his father he too made his headquarters at the 

 Castle. He is said to have been a bold rider, "even in 

 the Belvoir hunt," which shows that the followers of these 

 hounds had already gained the reputation for cross-country 

 riding which they have never since lost. Bright, kindly and 

 clever, though reckless and somewhat unprincipled, Robert 

 Thoroton loved the uncouth poet, and his influence softened 

 the difficulties of the chaplain's post and soothed the pains of 

 dependency which pressed less heavily on his own gay, care- 

 less spirit than on the proud sensitiveness of Crabbe. In his 

 story of " The Patron," Crabbe has poured out the bitterness 

 of his spirit, yet he was saved from the follies of his hero John 

 by the sound sense and clear-eyed insight into character 

 which marked him. The chaplain had too an eye for nature, 

 and a tolerant pity for the infirmities of men and women, 

 which made him, though stern, so profoundly human a poet, 

 so that Mrs. Browning's criticism of Euripides — 



" Our Euripides, the human, 



With his droppings of warm tears. 

 And his touches of things common 



Till they rose to touch the spheres " — ^ 



applies equally to Crabbe. 



In 1784 the Duke was nominated Lord Lieutenant of Ire- 

 land. He owed the appointment to his friend Pitt, who 

 appreciated his gifts, and forgave and indeed sympathised 

 with his failings, and, as he needed a popular Viceroy, found 

 one in the young noble who united such practical abilities to 

 an unusual charm of manner. The Irish Viceroyalty does not 

 come within the scope of this work, and when the Duke left 

 Belvoir never to return he passes from our view. But if any 



* " Wine of Cyprus," by Elizabeth B. Browning. 

 66 



