316 THE QUORN HUNT 



were quite upset by the rush of mounted men when the 

 fox was found ; others deny the story. They were well- 

 bred and excellent workers, but had been accustomed to 

 hunt in a rather cold-scenting plough country, where over- 

 riding was not practised. When they came to Leicester- 

 shire it took them some time, according to the best 

 accounts, to become accustomed to the new surround- 

 ings. However, be that as it may, the purchase is a 

 notable one, since the hounds which Mr. Coupland then 

 bought are really the foundation of those in the Quorn 

 kennels at the present day, as never since that time 

 has the Quorn pack been dispersed. 



Mr. Coupland, besides being a fine horseman, was 

 one of the early members of the Coaching Club, and 

 at one time his well-appointed drag was familiar to all 

 the habituds of Hyde Park. He was also known in 

 connection with steeplechasing : he himself had been 

 seen in the saddle at Hoylake, and among other horses 

 he owned Staunton, Bannockburn (who beat Brick at 

 Birmingham), Round Text, and some others. About 

 the year 1867 Mr. Coupland married Mrs. Webster, 

 daughter of Sir Henry Calder, and grand-daughter of 

 the first Earl of Limerick, and though Mrs. Coupland 

 did not ride to hounds very much, she hunted a good 

 deal on wheels. 



As already mentioned, Frank Gillard began as 

 huntsman, but Mr. Coupland released him in conse- 

 quence of the representations of the Duke of Rutland, 

 and in his place arrived James Macbride, who came 

 from Lord Fitzhardinge. 1 



1 James Macbride, who died in 1886, at the age of fifty-five, whipped in 

 to the Quorn from 1863 to 1866, when Mr. Clowes was master ; John Goddard 

 was huntsman, and Tom Firr second whip. He was next huntsman to the 

 Shropshire, then under Mr. Hill, in 1866, and after three years there he 

 went to the Berkeley, on the retirement of Harry Ayris ; and then, after 

 one season with Lord Fitzhardinge, came to the Quorn for two seasons in 

 succession to Frank Gillard. Leaving the Quorn, he went to the Meath, 



