THE BELVOIR HOUNDS. 103 



the Duke of Ptutland wished to reduce his number of hunting 

 days in the week, unless a younger man would undertake the 

 onerous duties, he was most enthusiastic in showing sport, and 

 with sixty couple of hounds hunted five days a week. He 

 never went home while daylight lasted, and Goodall, when 

 asked by any one what o'clock it was, used to answer that he 

 never carried a watch, as his lordship always drew until dark, 

 and told with great unction the story of his once having jumped 

 over the moon, which was true as far as the reflection of it was 

 concerned, in the Melton Brook. Fortunate as was his lordship 

 in commencing his mastership with such a man under him as 

 Goosey, who was as good in the woodlands as in the open, 

 perhaps such a pair as he and WiU Goodall have seldom ever 

 presided over a country and kennel together. At any rate, to 

 find a parallel we must go to Assheton Smith and Dick Burton, 

 or The Squire and Sebright. 



In 18.59 he retired, and the same year saw poor Will con- 

 signed to his grave. Lord Forester was presented with a silvei 

 statuette, representing a scene in which a fox was driven from a 

 high bough in Croxton Park, gave them one of the fastest runs 

 on record to Melton Spinney ; and at the same time a handsome 

 testimonial was presented to Goodall, which, alas ! he was 

 doomed not to live long to enjoy. James Cooper succeeded 

 Goodall with the horn, and a more desperate horseman was 

 never seen, though he certainly was not so successful with the 

 hounds as his predecessor. He had served his apprentice- 

 ship under John Walker with the Fife. Shipherd was first 

 whip, and Nimrod Long, late with the Brocklesby, was 

 second. 



Frank Gillard came as whip from the Hon. Mark Eolle in 

 1860, but went as huntsman to Mr. Musters seven years 

 later, where he stayed until Mr. Musters resigned the Quorn 

 country in 1870, when Cooper, having left the Duke of 

 Eutland, he had the offer of the Belvoir horn, which he ac- 

 cepted, and has since held the post to the credit of himself 



