THE LONG MINORITY 



and Mr. Disraeli led the young England party, Englishmen 

 are willing that their natural leaders should lead them. The 

 Vale of Belvoir is rich in such families — the Whichcotes, the 

 Cholmleys, the Tumors, the Reeves, the Fanes, the Dysarts, 

 the Trollopes, and others who have been leaders in politics, 

 in local matters, and in sport. 



Of the changes in the method of hunting the Belvoir could 

 not but feel the influence. Melton, indeed, was not yet a 

 power in the world of sport ; and the " Leicestershire Hunt," 

 as the Sporting Magazine somewhat vaguely calls it, had its 

 headquarters at Loughborough. The examples of Mr. Mey- 

 nell and Jack Raven had shown that the management of a 

 pack of hounds could well fill the time and give occupation 

 to the mental powers of two able men, and the Cottesmore 

 country, the Quorn, and the more distant Pytchley were 

 gaining renown. The Belvoir hounds in the meantime were 

 at a standstill, till the guardians of the young Duke, moved 

 by the Duchess, determined to find a suitable master, and in 

 the choice of Mr. Perceval they were most fortunate. No 

 sooner had the new master taken up the reins than he began 

 to make changes. John Smith and his "wipper-in," Farns- 

 worth, both disappeared, and the place of the former was 

 taken by Newman, the first of that line of great huntsmen 

 who have carried the horn with the Belvoir. Mr. Perceval, 

 who was the brother of the Prime Minister, took up his resi- 

 dence at Croxton Park, and the hounds, which had been 

 previously kennelled at Wilsford, were brought to Croxton 

 for their headquarters. No sooner had the pack been moved 

 than master and huntsman began to consider how to improve 

 the hounds. The Belvoir hounds of the day, though distin- 

 guished by their quality, lacked bone, tongue, steadiness, and 

 size. But there were plenty of walks for the puppies then as 

 now, and consequently no difficulty about having an ample 

 choice. At first Mr. Perceval naturally turned to his neigh- 

 bours, and of these Lord Monson's hounds attracted his 

 notice. The pack hunted by Lord Monson were showing 

 good sport in a country resembling that of the Belvoir in 

 having plenty of woodland and plough, and hounds were 



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