THE DUKE AS MASTER 



and are pleased with the young hounds, but six cubs is too 

 many to kill in one morning, is too great a waste of the raw 

 material, and does the hounds no good. I should generally, 

 if I could, after killing one, take the hounds to another covert. 

 The ground must be in capital order, we have had so much 

 rain." 



Then comes an invitation from Sir Thomas Whichcote to 

 come to Aswarby and stir up the cubs. 



"AswARBY Park, 



" September 2\st, 1866. 

 " Cooper, — 



" I am much obliged to you for sending me your move- 

 ments for this day. Had you let me know about Ropsley 

 Rise I might have struggled thus far. By all means have 

 those strong earths broken up. If you do not, they will be 

 a bother to your pack all the season. When are you coming 

 to Aswarby to enliven my cubs? They ought soon to be 

 put on to their pins, or they will have no action whatever, 

 and become a prey to the Belvoir hounds without making 

 a struggle. I was very sorry to hear of the Duke being 

 knocked up by three days' shooting in succession. I heard 

 he had to take to his bed and call in medical aid. All these 

 drawbacks do not sound well at the commencement of a 

 winter campaign. This weather must be very suitable for 

 your operations. Last night it poured down with rain. I 

 should fancy the ground was in first-rate order. Partridges 

 here are a complete failure ; very few of them and very small 

 birds. Hares numerous, and rabbits a common nuisance. 

 On the 1st of October I go into the north of Lincolnshire 

 for a week's shooting. 



"Thos. Whichcote." 



Again Sir Thomas writes about cub-hunting, and refers to 

 a visit he had paid to Mr. Fox and the Bramham Moor 

 kennels. This and the next letter show Sir Thomas's dis- 

 like to a large hound. 



263 



