PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS 



can also recollect several good runs from Burbidge's covert, 

 notably the one on the day of Mr. Samuda's wedding to Miss 

 Cecile Markham, on December 12, 1877. On this occasion 

 the Duke of Rutland, Sir Philip and Lady Miles, Miss Mabel 

 Miles, and myself, drove over to Melton in the Duke's omni- 

 bus, and arrived just in time for the wedding, which was 

 known as the pink wedding, as members of the different 

 hunts were asked to come in hunting costume. Very few, 

 however, did so ; and, in fact, with the exception of the Duke 

 of Rutland and myself, and perhaps one more, I saw no red 

 coats in the church. The wedding breakfast, however, was 

 well attended ; as also the meet, which took place outside the 

 house in a small grass field, at about one o'clock. After drink- 

 ing the health to the bride and bridegroom, the order was given 

 to draw Burbidge's covert. A fox went away immediately 

 across the river, and gave us a fine hunting run, making first 

 of all for Berry Gorse, and from thence nearly to Ranksboro ; 

 turning back by Pick well and Leesthorpe, he passed near Wild's 

 Lodge, and from thence nearly straight for Craven Lodge, 

 Melton Mowbray, near which house he was marked to ground. 

 The Duke of Rutland had kindly mounted me on one of the 

 best horses in the stables, called Hornsby, so I saw the whole 

 of the run very well indeed. He had also mounted Miss Miles 

 on a good horse, called Laurel, and she was also in the first 

 flight through the run, which lasted rather over an hour. 



This same year (namely, 1877) a hunt testimonial was pre- 

 sented to the Duke of Rutland. The ceremony took place 

 at the Castle, on the morning of April 10, and Sir William 

 Welby Gregory, on account of the absence from England of 

 Lord Brownlow, was deputed by the Hunt Committee to be 

 their spokesman and to make the presentation. The testi- 

 monial took the form of a splendid set of silver candelabra, 

 which were presented to the Duke at a luncheon given by 

 him in the guard-room at Belvoir Castle, the candelabra being 

 placed upon the table, several gentlemen and members of 

 the Belvoir hunt being present, also numerous tenant farmers 

 from Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, and Nottingham. Many 

 ladies were also present as spectators, and they listened to 



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