SEASON 1895-96 289 



one of the finest and truest days of hound work, 

 the big dog pack hunting most persistently with 

 only a moderate scent, although they were the 

 same hounds which had scored the fastest gallops 

 over Leicestershire. It was moonlight when they 

 whipped off, and the distance back to kennels was 

 eighteen miles. 



On the last day of the month a fine hunting 

 run in the shape of the figure 8 was started 

 from Sapperton Wood, making Ingoldsby Wood 

 the centre and Grimsthorpe Park the farthest 

 point. The line was chiefly on grass, and measured 

 fourteen miles, with the far-famed Lenton brook 

 coming in the outward journey. Those who had 

 the best of this fine gallop were Lord Edward 

 Manners, Mr. J. E. Piatt, Mr. C. Hodgson, Mr. 

 V. Hemery, Mr. F. A. Soames, the Miss Heath- 

 cotes, IMr. F. Sell wind, Mr. Gibson, and Mr. 

 H. Timson. 



The all-absorbing event of this season, and one 

 which claimed the attention of the whole hunting 

 world, was the retirement of the seventh Duke of 

 Rutland from the mastership of his family pack. 

 It is said, " Happy is the nation that has no history," 

 and this also applies to the fox-hunting community, 

 for the fewer the changes the greater the chance 

 of success. The Belvoir had been most fortunate 

 both in masters and huntsmen, the house of 

 Manners providing sport for over two centuries to 

 the dwellers of Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, 

 with only seven huntsmen in their service from 

 1790 to 1896. The retirement, therefore, of the 



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