THE HISTORY OF THE BELVOIR HUNT 



hunted on the same lines as those of Mr. Meynell, from 

 whose kennels they had derived many of their qualities. 

 They were very showy and attractive, being mostly of a 

 rich black-and-tan ; and it is said, though I think without 

 sufficient ground, that the Belvoir derived their characteristic 

 colouring from the blood introduced from them. Some tan 

 hounds, no doubt, are to be traced to these kennels, as the 

 result of the free use made of Lord Monson's Dashwood, but 

 it was not until the fifth Duke purchased Mr. George Heron's 

 celebrated pack from Cheshire, and incorporated it with his 

 own, that there was any predominance of colour in the Bel- 

 voir pack, nor do I think that the latter hounds were drafted 

 for colour before the time of Lord Forester. 



It is possible, however, that the colouring of the Belvoir 

 hounds came in first with Dashwood and his sons. Then 

 came certain crosses from Lord Fitzwilliam's pack, which 

 were resorted to to give the Belvoir more drive, for the Mil- 

 ton hounds were full of dash and drive, though they are said 

 to have been sadly wild at times, before the days of Sebright. 

 After this came some eleven couples of hounds by the Pytch- 

 ley Dancer, a pack which had attained to much note under 

 Lord Spencer, who had hunted the country from 1750, and 

 gave up hounds to Mr. Buller in 1796. The Pytchley hounds 

 were hunted during Lord Spencer's time by the celebrated 

 Dick Knight, who had begun his career as whipper-in to a 

 namesake, Richard Knight, though it would appear he was 

 no relation. It was on the death of the elder Knight that 

 Dick became huntsman. The Druid ^ seems to consider the 

 latter famous rather as a rider than a huntsman, but I gather 

 that, having even in those days a hard riding field, he was 

 accustomed to lift his hounds in order to prevent them being 

 pressed, and in so doing he was rather ahead of his time. He 

 showed good sport, and the hounds were so noted that it is 

 probable Knight was one of those men who, like Tom Firr, 

 could lift hounds and yet get them to put down their heads 

 again, and hunt as soon as he laid them once more on the 

 line. This can only be done by a huntsman who, though 



^ Post and Paddock, p. 327. 

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