THE HISTORY OF THE BELVOIR HUNT 



" AswARBY Park, 



''September i$th, 1867. 

 " Cooper, — 



" I am much obliged to you for the very pretty little 

 terrier puppy you sent me. 



" I trust the brace of foxes you turned out in Newton 

 Gorse will like their new abode, and that they will stay there 

 until you call upon them in November. 



" Colonel Reeve writes me word you are to be at Leaden- 

 ham to-morrow at eight ; it is rather too early and too far 

 for me at this time of the year. 1 shall be glad to know 

 when you are likely to come into these parts. I believe we 

 have a fox or two. I was so delighted to hear your report of 

 the Duke. I trust he may be spared to reign over Belvoir 

 for many a long year. 



" I have been on a visit to Mr. Fox, where I saw a splendid 

 pack of hounds. The dogs I thought were too large, but the 

 bitches are beautiful. Mr. Fox told me at Doncaster he had 

 had a very successful morning or two amongst the cubs. 



" Thos. Whichcote." 



"AswARBY Park, 



" October 6th, 1867. 

 " Cooper, — 



" I am much obliged to you for your letter received this 

 morning. I hope you found Devonshire productive of merit 

 in the shape of fox -hounds. If report speaks the truth Lord 

 Portsmouth, Lord Poltimore, and Mr. Mark Rolle's kennels 

 are all worth visiting. I have not had the good fortune to 

 see any of them. Lord Portsmouth's, I am told, are very 

 large hounds. If such is the case I cannot fancy they are 

 adapted for any country. 



" I wonder whether you have seen Lord Wemyss' hounds. 

 They are a very old-established pack. In all probability 

 they are bred chiefly at home. I hear they do wonders in 

 the field. 



" Hunting at present in the country is a complete farce. 

 Your cubbing must have been sadly retarded by the state of 



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