THE PATRON OF CRABBE 



I s. d. 

 To Robin Pearson, i year's paymt. & allowance for Boots, 



Capp, etc. 53 I o 



To Simon Bains, do. do 37 8 o 



To I year's Livery— Great Coat, Shirts and Taylor's Bill for 



Rt. Pearson 8 11 o 



To do. do. do. S. Bains 8 11 o 



From this document, the original of which is in the posses- 

 sion of the Duke of Rutland at Belvoir, it appears that the 

 official whom we now call first whipper-in was then known as 

 second huntsman, and the hunt servant's livery was a blue 

 coat with red waistcoat It will be seen that there was only 

 one so-called " wipper-in " — at all events they did not call 

 him a whip — that the hunt employed four men and eleven 

 horses, and that the hounds were at Wilsford, and the stables, 

 as at present, in the Park. The expense of the hunt estab- 

 lishment for the year seems to have been £tj^ los.^ and if we 

 take into consideration the difference in the value of money a 

 hundred years ago, the cost was not inconsiderable for a pack 

 which probably hunted regularly for two days a week only. 



When the Duke died there was the certainty of a long 

 minority. Pitt was left guardian of the children, and they 

 had their mother, who, whatever the differences that had 

 arisen between her husband and herself — and these could not 

 have been inconsiderable unless the Duke has been much 

 maligned — after his death forgot all but the frank charm of 

 his early life and his lovable character, and though often beset 

 with offers of marriage, remained faithful to his memory and 

 the care of her children. It was said of the Duchess by one 

 who knew her during her husband's reign in Ireland that 

 she was cold in manner and dull in conversation, but what 

 appeared dulness to one who was himself a dull-witted and 

 superficial observer, may well considering the circumstances 

 of her surroundings, have been a not ignoble self-restraint. 



69 



