THE BEL VOIR CIRCLE 



In no sense does pluck, pure and simple, serve to make a 

 man a " stayer " in hunting. But of course we cannot do 

 without pluck, and Cecil Forester possessed this together 

 with other qualities, and his reputation has descended to 

 us as one of the foremost of the many hard riders of his 

 day. 



He was the nephew and heir of that George Forester, of 

 Willey Park, by whom he was brought up. In his fortunate 

 life there were no changes, vicissitudes, or doubts. He 

 was bred up a sportsman, and to fox-hunting he gave 

 his life, thoughts, energies, and means, and could he have 

 escaped the gout he might have hunted for many more 

 years than he did, in the first rank of Leicestershire riders. 

 Lord Forester was a heavy-weight, and, like others of his 

 family, tall and remarkably good-looking. He married in 

 1800 the Lady Katharine Manners, and from that time 

 was a constant visitor at Belvoir, and became a regular 

 follower of the Duke's hounds. Lord Forester was a good 

 judge, not only of horses, but of hounds and hunting 

 altogether. No doubt he had often been at Belvoir before, 

 but I find that the first mention of him in connection with 

 the hunt was in 1 804, when he writes : — 



'■'■ Dece^nber 6th, 1804. 

 " The behaviour of your young hounds this day demands 

 my notice, as well as the prospect of our future sport and 

 diversion. The whole of their behaviour might have been 

 viewed by Mr. Meynell or any other judge of hunting ; 

 there was a large field out, and I never saw people more 

 pleased, or Newman so perfectly satisfied with his hounds." ^ 



He had already a great reputation, and words of praise 

 from him meant much. He was much given to pressing 

 on hounds, but this fault arose rather from jealousy than 

 want of knowledge. A good friend, a most honourable 

 gentleman, and a pleasant companion, he could not bear 

 to see any one in front of him, while his weight made it 

 necessary for him to take every advantage he possibly 



^ Memoirs of the Belvoir Hounds, p. 37. 

 119 



