THE GOOD DUKE 



this end was obtained was by the squires joining forces to 

 hunt a larger territory than any single member of their body 

 could manage, and for this they had a more effective pack 

 than had hitherto been the case. Then as one squire in the 

 long run would outstay his fellow-masters, many of the old 

 lesser private establishments became united, and succeeded to 

 the territorial rights of all, the limits of the hunting countries, 

 as we have them to-day, thus becoming gradually deter- 

 mined. 



The earliest huntsman of the Brocklesby was Tom Smith, 

 father of the well-known huntsman who was, as whipper-in 

 and huntsman, in the service of the Pelham family for nearly 

 sixty years. The hounds, when this Thomas Smith had them, 

 owed much to Belvoir blood, which indebtedness was amply 

 repaid during the mastership of Lord Granby, who went 

 largely to the Brocklesby kennels. The Smiths had been 

 long tenants on the Pelham estates, and they were of superior 

 education and ability. Their great love for the chase led them 

 to take service with the Lords of Brocklesby, and for one 

 hundred and fifty years some member of the family held the 

 post of huntsman. If we may judge from a picture by Stubbs 

 of a certain hound named Ringwood, which hangs at Brock- 

 lesby, the pack had by the time the picture was painted (1719) 

 already reached a high standard of excellence. The pedi- 

 grees of this kennel go back to 1746. The particular Smith 

 who came into office in 18 16 was a contemporary of Goosey, 

 at Belvoir, and these two huntsmen were probably the best 

 hound judges of their day. Smith was perhaps the better 

 huntsman of the two in the field, and was a man of more 

 education and refinement than Goosey. We shall see later 

 what the Belvoir was able to do for the Brocklesby, but at 

 this time Goosey, anxious to get the best possible hound, 

 turned to the Brocklesby for help. I am inclined to think 

 that now Goosey had more freedom allowed him than had 

 been the case before. The coming of reform was already 

 casting its shadows, and the Duke of Rutland was one of 

 those who foresaw that it would deal a blow to the country 

 party. He consequently opposed it strenuously, and when 



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