THE HISTORY OF THE BELVOIR HUNT 



got a nasty fall, from his horse swerving at a wide and wet 

 ditch on the take-off side of a small fence and pitching him 

 over his shoulder into the ditch. He got very wet ; and 

 although he was not otherwise much the worse, still he 

 thought it was as well to go home, as his carriage was 

 quite close at the time, in the Sedgebrook and Allington 

 road. After this event the Duke almost entirely gave up 

 hunting, and when he did go out it was only in his carriage. 

 The Duke was very fond of shooting, and this sport he was 

 able to enjoy up to within a few weeks of his death. There 

 were many great changes both in Melton and in Grantham 

 during the time that Gillard was huntsman. At Grantham 

 we lost that celebrated old sportsman, Mr. John Hardy, the 

 banker ; also his son, and Mr. Manners, the solicitor, and 

 other sportsmen. Colonel Parker, the late Mr. Hardy's son- 

 in-law, came to reside in Grantham about this time, with his 

 family, and they have hunted for some years with the Belvoir. 

 Mr. Cross and Mr. Crawley, and Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Lub- 

 bock and Captain Tennant, also had studs of hunters there ; 

 and Lord Petre and his brother, and many more. At Melton 

 there were many changes. The Messrs, Behrens rented 

 Newport Lodge for a term of some years. Mr. E. Baldock 

 bought Craven Lodge. Mr. Younger also appeared at Melton 

 with a large stud of horses, and after his death was succeeded 

 by his son, Mr. W. Younger, M.P. Captain and the Hon. 

 Mrs. Candy, and Count Zbrowski, also hunted from there. 

 In March, 1882, Thomas, Earl of Wilton, died at Melton 

 after a long illness. He certainly was one of the best riders 

 over a country that I ever saw ; even in his old age he 

 could easily beat many of the young men of the day. He 

 is well described in Sheridan's verses, which I quote — 



" Next on his switch-tailed bay, with wandering eye, 

 Attenuated Wilton canters by. 

 His character how different to know— 

 A compound of psalm-tunes and Tally-ho, 

 A forward rider half disposed to preach, 

 Though less inclined to practise than to teach ; 

 An amorous lover with a saintly twist, 

 And now a jockey, now an organist." 

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