THE DUKE AS MASTER 



House, no defeats could shake his views of what was best. 

 Yet, though conservative, he was never reactionary, for he saw 

 the value of a widespread education, and endeavoured to 

 foster its cause in every way. Schools, built with his help, 

 sprang up all over his property, and were always a source of 

 the greatest interest to him throughout his long life. He had 

 all the kindness, the shrinking from giving pain, of his 

 father, with an even greater firmness of principle and pur- 

 pose. 



His character was shown by the resolute manner in which 

 he crossed a country mounted on horses which other men 

 found difficult to ride — as a young man he loved four-year- 

 olds — and he was always near hounds as long as they were 

 running. If in the dusk a crash was heard, his field knew at 

 once where the master was. 



Hunting was his favourite sport, for though elected by 

 acclamation a member of the Jockey Club, he took no great 

 interest in racing. Of shooting he was very fond, and the 

 moors at Longshawe and the coverts at Cheveley became an 

 unceasing source of delight to him when gout, the injuries 

 occasioned by falls, and the infirmities of age made his 

 appearance in the field less and less frequent. 



Belvoir was still the scene of much splendid hospitality, 

 and distinguished parties of guests met the hounds. Lord 

 Beaconsfield, who had won the respect and liking of the 

 Duke and his now distinguished brother. Lord John Manners, 

 was a frequent visitor, and hunted at times clad, it is said, in 

 a velvet coat and grey trousers. The sketch which I repro- 

 duce shows Mr. Disraeli as he then was, under the guidance 

 of Lord Wilton. The intimacy of Disraeli at Belvoir came 

 about through the friendship of Lord George Bentinck, 

 the common friend of Lord Granby and the rising Con- 

 servative leader. The expediency which must rule the 

 actions of all public men separated Lord Granby from 

 Mr. Disraeli in some degree, but did not impair the friendli- 

 ness and general support given by the Manners family to the 

 Conservative party. The Duke of Rutland, when he became 

 master of the hounds, had completely won the confidence of 



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