SEASON 1870-71 29 



ance, and amongst the hard -riding fraternity and 

 covert-owners there was great rejoicing, the letters 

 from Lord Forester, Mr. John Welby, and others 

 being sacredly preserved by their recipient. His 

 Grace the Duke of Rutland wrote from his seat in 

 Scotland, May 1870 : "I am much indebted to 

 Mr. Coupland and gentlemen of the Quorn Hunt 

 for releasing you, and I shall be very glad of your 

 services. You know it is a place for regular hard 

 work, as the distances are long and 1 hunt five days 

 a week." Sir Thomas Whichcote, one of the 

 hardest men that ever rode to hounds, wrote from 

 Aswarby Park, Lincolnshire, " I cannot resist 

 giving a Une of congratulation, and I trust 

 Providence will spare you many a long year to 

 fulfil the proud position of huntsman to the kindest 

 master of the noblest pack of hounds in England. 

 I intend to purchase three more hunters for next 

 season. Young Goodall writes me word the Duke 

 has been kind enough to appoint him first whip ; I 

 think you will find him sharp, active, and attentive." 

 The first whip referred to in the letter was Will 

 Goodall, the son of old Will Goodall who had a 

 numerous family, and hunted the Belvoir for nearly 

 twenty years, meeting his death by falling upon his 

 own hunting-horn, which he had thrust into the 

 side pocket of his coat. Young Will's first 

 experiences were in the stables at Aswarby Park, 

 where Sir Thomas Whichcote paid for his education, 

 and taught him to ride ; he then " entered to 

 hounds" as second whip under George Carter. From 

 there he got promotion with Mr. Henry Chaplin, 



