THE HISTORY OF THE BEL VOIR HUNT 



as Brummell, for although he enjoyed an excellent run, the 

 reader will note that no special mention is made of any 

 particular distinction as accruing to the Prince. For these 

 records only mention names seldom, and then only when 

 distinction has been honestly earned. 



*' His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales honouring the 

 hunt with his presence, we went straight to Waltham Pastures, 

 which we tried blank. . . . Drew on to Bescaby Oaks, 

 where we found three or four foxes ; and the hounds dividing, 

 six couples, with many of the gentlemen, went over Croxton 

 Park towards Belvoir ; but taking them off, they returned 

 back to the other part of the pack, which had run a fox to 

 ground in some earths under a wall near Herring's House, 

 Hounds now went back to the Oaks, and finding a fox, ran 

 for one hour and ten minutes, killing their fox in Branston 

 Street. The following day the Prince of Wales came out 

 again. Sport was not very good, and the only notable 

 incident was that a fox found in the Old Park, and run to 

 ground near Draper's Lodge, is said to have been ' the largest 

 fox we had almost ever seen, and even after he had been in 

 the wet drain for above half an hour, he had not lost his size 

 though wet and stiff.' " ^ 



From the Prince and Brummell to Lord Alvanley is an 

 easy transition, for he was much in their society. Though 

 possibly not much more admirable in character than the 

 others above mentioned, Alvanley was certainly a man of 

 more power than either. He was the son of a law lord, and 

 had ability far above his reputation. Under the frivolities of 

 the dandy, the follies of the wit, and the dissipation of the 

 man about town, he disguised indeed many excellent gifts. 

 Whatever he did, he did well and with all his heart. A hard 

 rider among hard riders at Melton and Belvoir, a dandy 

 among dandies at Watier's, he was the friend and associate 

 of Talleyrand, of whom he used to tell an amusing story of 

 the great diplomatist being moved to tears. The Duke of 

 W^ellington had defended M. de Talleyrand from some attack 

 in the House of Lords. When Alvanley visited him the next 



^ Journal of Operations of the Belvoir Hounds., 1801, pp. 24, 25. 



114 



