170 COVERT-SIDE SKETCHES. 



officiated for him as master. He took the Chippenham country 

 — before that hunted by Mr. Horlock — in 1842. It was during 

 his reign that the notorious hunting Sweep was in his glory. 

 At this time Will Long was so popular as a huntsman, that, in 

 1844, he was presented with two goblets, as a mark of respect, 

 by gentlemen who were not members of the hunt. No change 

 of importance occurred with this pack until the present duke 

 (the eighth) came to the title in 1853, and then Long kept on 

 the horn for two seasons, after which he retired, having earned 

 a competence for himself. The duke, in recognition of his long 

 services in the family, gave him a pension, and for years after- 

 wards he was to be seen out with the hounds when they were on 

 his side of the country. Then the duke took the horn, and, with 

 Will Stansby as whip, hunted the hounds. For an estimate of 

 his character as a sportsman, I cannot do better than again quote 

 " Country Quarters :" — "No keener sportsman or better judge 

 of hunting ever went into a field. AVill Long said of him that 

 he was the best whip he ever saw, and knew better when to let 

 hounds alone, and when to interfere with them ; and I have 

 myself seen him lose a good run rather than leave a young hound 

 back in covert, while he is so keen that he would think nothing 

 of finding a fox at half-past six in the evening of a spring day. 

 As a coachman he is quite first-class ; and he or the Marquis 

 of Worcester works a team to covert on most hunting days, 

 while a few years ago he was equally well known on the turf, 

 and had Siberia, Yauban, Koenig, Birdhill, and other good 

 horses; while he sets a good example to all landowners by 

 keeping a stud-horse for the use of his tenants. Kingstown, 

 who was second to Wild Dayrell, stood here for some years. 

 He also had Grey Prince, the sire of some very good hunters, 

 one grey especially being such a favourite of the duke's that, 

 when his legs got shaky, he used to have him conveyed to the 

 meet in a van. This is the horse on wdiich he is painted by 

 Grant, facing the duchess on Tetuan, which picture was pre- 

 sented to her in 1864." 



