THE HISTORY OF THE BELVOIR HUNT 



which Mr. Francis Sloane Stanley rode got to the end of the 

 run, it never came out again that season. Two or three of 

 the hunt servants' horses were also done up for the season. 

 Among the few who got to the end of this famous run were 

 the Duke of Rutland, Mr. John Welby, Mr. Partridge, Mr. 

 Bruxner, Captain Owen Williams, Mr. Francis Sloane Stan- 

 ley, Mr. Gordon, Mr. Bower Talbot, and the huntsman and 

 first whip, and perhaps one or two more. 



This run is well described in a short poem by Mr. John 

 Welby, entitled " The Scalford Run," and will be found in the 

 Lays on the Belvoir Hunt, p. 1 8. The last verse, which I quote 

 by kind permission of Mr. Welby, very well describes the 

 loss Mr. Bower Talbot sustained in his valuable horse. 



" To those who rode thro' the whole run I can swear 

 The Duke and his huntsman were certainly there. 

 I can tell you, my lad, too, that I did not lag; 

 I got to the end, but I finished my nag." 



Another famous run took place on January the 17th, 1863 : 

 from Coston covert fifty minutes without check, the hounds 

 killing the fox in a stackyard in Waltham village. In the 

 commencement of the run the fox went in the direction of 

 Garthorpe and pointed for Saxby Spinney, but turning right- 

 handed, made as if for Brentingby Spinney, but leaving that 

 covert on the right, he crossed the Melton turnpike road, 

 pointing for a field or two towards Melton Spinney, but the 

 wind being against him, he could face it no longer ; he there- 

 fore turned right-handed again and made for Waltham and 

 was fairly hunted down in a farmyard at the entrance of that 

 village. After some delay, as none of the second horsemen 

 had put in an appearance, the Duke settled to take the hounds 

 home. In this remarkably fast fifty minutes, Mr. Hatton 

 Turnor, of the Rifle Brigade, had by far the best of it ; he 

 was riding a thoroughbred-looking hack, and the huntsman 

 and he fairly led the field the whole time, the Duke of 

 Rutland also being well to the front. 



In February, 1863, an unpleasant incident occurred. After 

 meeting at Croxton Park on a fine hunting morning, the 

 Duke of Rutland gave the order to the huntsman to draw 



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