THE HISTORY OF THE BEL VOIR HUNT 



he ? By the bye, I'll tell you a good thing of old Cutty. 

 George Johnson (he had been riding at me — going it, like 

 smoke) — well, he got a regular fall, horse and all, down to- 

 gether neck and crop, in a deep, dry ditch. Johnson was for 

 scrambling out. Old Cutty was just behind. " Lie still, you 



fool," says Cutty. " D you, lie still, till I get over." So 



Johnson lay down in the ditch, frightened out of his life, 

 and old Cutty leaped clean over him. O Lord ! you should 

 have been with us.' " ^ 



Then came the golden age, of which Whyte Melville was 

 the painter and laureate ; while, if the reader will turn to the 

 various hunting scenes which are scattered through Anthony 

 Trollope's novels, he will find admirable sketches of the hunt- 

 ing field as it was in the fifties and sixties. Perhaps Anthony 

 Trollope will be the novelist whom future historians will 

 consult on the manners and customs of the Victorian era, 

 and, like Miss Austen, his novels will see a revival with the 

 help of some Macaulay of the twentieth century. 



When the Duke of Rutland was looking out for a hunts- 

 man there were many points he had to consider in making 

 his choice. The crowd following the more fashionable packs 

 was already becoming overwhelming, nor were the followers 

 as open to reproof and restraint as of old. The Belvoir were 

 just then at the height of fashion. Mr. Coupland, of the Quorn, 

 had not yet had time to show what a good master he was, 

 and Mr. Musters had taken some of the fame and fashion of 

 the hunt with him on his departure. A quick huntsman was 

 needed for the Belvoir, and since the Duke's health was even 

 then uncertain, and it was not probable he could always be in 

 command, a courteous one was wanted. Above all, it was 

 important to choose a man who was thoroughly imbued with 

 the traditions of the Belvoir kennel, and who could be trusted 

 to keep up the standard of the pack. The Duke's choice fell 

 on Frank Gillard, who had come under his observation as 

 whipper-in in i860, and who had afterwards left Belvoir to 

 go to Mr. Musters, and from whose service he had been 

 chosen as huntsman to the Quorn. By the courtesy of Mr. 

 ' Granby, by Lister, vol. iii., p. 174 et seq. ; pub. 1831. 



