THE HISTORY OF THE BELVOIR HUNT 



baronet " pounded " Jem Mason when riding Kegworth, a 

 horse that had come from Sir Richard Sutton's stables. Sir 

 Thomas himself, when speaking of Kegworth, is reported 

 by the same authority to have said, " Precious hard if 320 

 guineas can't pound somebody."^ Nor was he merely a 

 hard rider ; he understood hounds, and cared to see them 

 work out the line. It is not therefore surprising that there 

 grew up between Sir Thomas and Will Goodall, the great 

 huntsman, a feeling of respect which eventually ripened into 

 affection. Each kept to his own place with the ease of those 

 days when people were not in such desperate fear of com- 

 promising a position which they never had as they do now, 

 and it was just this that made such friendships possible, as 

 the following letters show. Goodall was, of course, a very 

 uncommon character, and he rose to be great as a huntsman 

 as he would have come to the front in any other calling. 

 His education had not been of books, for after the manner 

 of his class he began life early, and was but eleven years old 

 when he discussed politics and horses outside the House of 

 Commons in the stirring times of 1832 with the other lads, 

 some of whom became huntsmen, too, in their time. But 

 he had undoubtedly the gift of expression and a keen sense 

 of beauty, and his letters are full of genuine enthusiasm for 

 his work, mingled with kindly and tender feeling. It was 

 evidently his practice to consult with Sir Thomas Whichcote 

 on almost every difficulty that arose in his life. The latter, 

 indeed, from his connection with the country and his know- 

 ledge of its affairs and people, was well able to advise in 

 the delicate questions of coverts and foxes, and Goodall drew 

 largely and with perfect confidence on him for guidance and 

 help. Dates are occasionally absent from the letters that 

 passed between the two, but all, I think, belong to the latter 

 part of Will Goodall's career. 



The letters which follow are very rich in characteristic 



expressions, and are marked by Goodall's kindly endeavour 



to tell Sir Thomas of the sport which that keen sportsman 



was unable for one reason or another to share at the time. 



* Silk and Scarlet, p. i r. 



192 



