EARL OF STAMFORD 277 



It was said at the time that Leicestershire had never 

 known a more popular master of hounds than Lord 

 Stamford, and there was every reason, it was stated, to 

 think that his lordship would have continued to hunt the 

 country but from a feeling of annoyance or disappoint- 

 ment with certain nameless owmers of coverts who had 

 promised to preserve foxes for him, but had failed to 

 carry out what they had professed themselves ready to do. 



Lord Stamford's sale took place at Ouorn on Satur- 

 day the 9th May 1863. Messrs Tattersall, who con- 

 ducted the proceedings, expected no more than about a 

 couple of thousand persons, and made arrangements for 

 that number. 



They found, however, that a great many more would be 

 present, and so set about putting up some substantial posts and 

 rails, around which about seven thousand persons assembled. 

 Colonel Thomas, well known in the Heythrop country, had run 

 down to Quorn during the previous week to see if there was any- 

 thing likely to suit the Prince of Wales, and as the result of his 

 report General Hood gave 500 guineas for Bentinck, and 310 

 guineas for the Right Man. Trumpeter's reserve price was 600 

 guineas. With one or two exceptions all the horses brought as 

 much as, or more than, they originally cost, and the total sum 

 realised by seventy-nine horses was 14,350 guineas, giving an 

 average of nearly 182 guineas each. The Prince of Orange in- 

 tended being present, but he missed his train. Special trains 

 were run from Derby, Leicester, and other places, while there 

 was a great collection of horse-boxes at Barrow Station for the 

 convenience of purchasers. The late Mr. Edmund Tattersall 

 conducted the sale. The Emperor of the French sent over Mr. 

 Gamble, the superintendent of the Royal stables at the Louvre ; 

 but it is believed that he went home without buying anything. 

 Among those present were the Duke of Buccleuch, Lords Henry 

 Bentinck, Middleton, Galway, Dacre, and Eglinton ; the Marquis 

 of Hastings, Lord Algernon St. Maur (afterwards Duke of Somer- 

 set), Lords Ingestre, Gardner, Harrington, Hopetoun, Sir F. 

 Johnstone, Mr. Clowes, Mr. George Lane Fox, Mr. Hall, Mr. 

 W. G. Craven, &c. 



