THE HISTORY OF THE BELVOIR HUNT 



will be sorry to hear that dumb madness has broken out 

 in Lord Queensberry's kennel. He has already lost three 

 hounds, and if it only takes off the right ones it will do no 

 harm. I paid the Tynedale kennels a visit. They are 

 hunted by a young man who lived with Lord Kesteven. I 

 never came across a man who had so little idea of what a 

 hound ought to be. I mean an animal adapted to stay and 

 catch a fox. Captain Smith, of Honbling, sent me a fine old 

 dog-fox and a beautiful cub, which he said had been clearing 

 out all the hen-roosts in his neighbourhood. I immediately 

 ordered my mark to be put upon them, and started them off 

 to a covert not a hundred miles from this house. Probably 

 they are now in the locality from whence they came ; still I 

 have given them the option of a new berth, and I trust they 

 will remain there until you call upon them. 



" Thos. Whichcote." 



Sir Thomas apparently rescued foxes from doubtful neigh- 

 bourhoods, and turned them out in more hospitable districts. 



"AswARBY Park, 



'' Apnl lOth, 1869. 

 " Cooper, — 



" I think it right to inform you foxes are fast going to 

 perdition in this country. My new keeper found one in 

 Barrows' plantation partly covered over with leaves ; it had 

 been trapped in a hind leg and the brush cut off. It had 

 been dead some time when he discovered it. A vixen. 



" This morning Mr. Hack, of Silk Willoughby, sent another 

 vixen over here which had been caught in his farmyard. I 

 told his man to take it back again, as a broken-backed fox 

 was a useless animal. I understand the man did not obey 

 my orders, but turned the poor brute out in my stableyard. 

 It had also been in a trap, but not lately. Mr. Hack's dogs 

 caught it. I fear there will be a general slaughter. 



" Thos. Whichcote." 



In this year Lord Forester's health had begun to fail, as a 

 letter from London, from Sir Thomas Whichcote, shows. 



266 



