The reminiscences of Frank Gillard (huntsman) : with the Belvoir hounds, 1860 to 1896

Front matter

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(W\aZ/v^

JOHNA.SEAVERNS

Preface

I HAVE hunted the Hne for forty seasons and more, and now I am asked by the rising generation of sportsmen to speak to it, and am reminded that it is a trait of the beautiful Belvoir blood that they can say plenty about it. Well ! the memory of a lifetime spent as huntsman in the Dukes of Rutland's service is a very pleasant one, and has sped by far too quickly. It is a long way to cast back, and was never a favourite practice of mine when I carried the horn. Forrard, hark, forrard ! must ever be the watchword of the chase, and as memories of those who spent their happiest moments with hounds come quicker than the pen will spring to the touch, Mr. Cuthbert Bradley is kind enough to guide that for me. Besides, I am reminded that on one occasion I broke my leg when driving a unicorn team, proving the old adage, " Every cobbler should stick to his last," therefore it is better that the practised pen and pencil of another sportsman, who has employed both during vi HUNTING REMINISCENCES

twelve seasons' sport with the Belvoir, should lead the gallop over these pages.

JNIy feelings prompt me to dedicate this volume to the memory of my late master, Lord Charles Cecil John INIanners, Sixth Duke of Rutland, as a sMght token of unchanged regard and esteem. The kind personal feehng and interest always shown by the house of INIanners towards me during my long tenure of office as huntsman to the family pack, has been an inspiration to excel so far as in me lay. To encouragement from the late Duke of Rutland I owe the habit of keeping a continuous record of the doings of hounds in the field through all my time, to which fact this book owes its origin, and I venture to hope that the anecdotes and sayings recorded therein of a succession of generations of sportsmen who have made Leicestershire famous will be read in no unkindly spirit, but will keep their memory green for many a year to come. Amongst those whose remarks in print I value greatly and have kept for reference when discussing hounds, are those of Mr. G. S. Lowe, Captain PenneU Elmhirst, Plantagenet, and Phantom, of the Field newspaper, who spent many an hour on the flags with me at Belvoir. The writings, too, of Whipster of Land and Water ^ and Tally-ho of the Grantham Journal, I gratefully acknowledge ; whilst through the kind permission of Mr. Basil Nightingale, the proprietors of Land and Water,

PREFACE vu and Bailys Magazine, many of the illustrations

appear here.

The memory of my hounds is very dear to me ;

their individuality has left a lasting impression on

my mind like those of human friends, which only

death can cancel. It was beautiful to have to hunt

such hounds !

F. G.

Belvoib Kennels, 1896.

Chapter I

A Tribute to Fox-hunting — Frank Gillard's Fame as a Hound-Breeder — The Belvoir and the Brocklesby — The Points of the Belvoir Blood — Frank Gillard's Qualities — His Early Life in Devonshire, and Arrival at Belvoir — The Sixth Duke of Rutland and Lord Forester — Mr. Henry Chaplin, M.P., Master of the Burton — Anecdotes — Lord Forester and old Will Goodall — Huntsman to Mr. John Chaworth Musters, the South Notts and Quorn — Mr. Musters' horse Valesmau — The hunters Lady Gray and Methodist — Colonel Burnaby, M.P.— Mr. Tailby, M.F.H.— Sporting Parsons, the Rev. H. Houson, the Rev. Desborowe, Rev. Thomas Heathcote — Rev. Waters — Rev. King — Rev. T. Bullen — Rev. John Calcraft. Rev. R. Sharpe, the Rev. W. Newcome, Rev. J. P. Younge, Rev. Banks Wright — the Rev. G. Carter — Verses by Mr. Parke of Stragglethorpe — Fathers of the Hunt . . . Page 1

CHAPTER H

Spobt in the Sixties

The Origin of Frank's Diary — Blowing the Duke's Horn for the first Time — About Hunting-horns — A Pattern Horn — Colonel John Reeve of Bulby Hall — Sir Thomas Whichcote — Mr. Chaworth Musters and his Ancestors ; his Prowess in the Field^ — The Quorn and Belvoir countries compared — Fatal Accident to a Quorn Whipper-in — Mr. John Coupland succeeds Mr. Musters to the Quorn — Mr. Gaskin of Sysonby Lodge — About the Planting and Keeping of Fox Coverts — Advice given to Frank Gillard by Mr. Musters and the Duke of Rutland . . . Page 15

X HUNTING REMINISCENCES

Chapter III

The Hunting View from Belvoir Castle — Appointment of Huntsman to the Belvoir — Letters of Congratulation — Will Goodall, junior. First Whip — The Institution of the Hound Van — The Kennels at Ropsley — James Cooper, late Huntsman — The Duke of Rutland's Visit to the Kennel — Dick Christian's Story of the Duke's Leap — Tlie Duke as a Master — Mr. George Lane Fox's Letter to Mr. Tom Parrington — Frank's First Entry in the Diary, Aug. 23, 1870 — Osbaldeston Furrier — The Belvoir and Cottesmore Hunts join in the Field — The Duke takes a heavy Fall — Mr. Tom Hutchinson picks him up — A Day of Disaster — Sir Watkin Winn's " Royal " and John Walker in his Kennel — A good Run, and Mr, Henry Custance asks for the Brush — H. R. H. the Prince of Wales has a Day^ — Tlie Field out . . , Page 27

Chapter IV

The Hunt Stud — The Mare that taught Mr. James Hutchinson— Jumping Gates — The Hunters Black Charley and Culverthorpe — Old Tom Chambers — Mr. Ferrand — Sir Thomas AVhichcote's Stud — A Visit from Mi-. Chaworth Musters — A Morning's Cubbing in Flood with Mr. Algernon Turnor only — The Belvoir catch a Blankney run Fox, and two Opinions about it — Colonel the Hon. H. H. Forester — H. R. H. the Prince of Wales at Croxton Park — H.R.H. clears a Prostrate Farmer — H.R.H. apologises — A wet Day in Lincolnshire — A good Day and Mr. George Drummond — Frank Beers from the Grafton — The Hound Grafton Silence

Chapter V

Sir Francis Grant, P.R.A., in the Field and at Work — Leicestershire Sport compared with Lincolnshire Sport^ — Will Goodall, junr. — Sir Frederick Johnstone and Mi*. " Chicken " Hai-topp — Huutei's Tom Day and Lady Grey — Lord Wilton leads the Field — William Blakesborough, Whip — Death of Lord George Manners — Mr. Richard Norman and Lord Forester — The Empress of Austria has a Morning's Cub-huuting — Her Beagles in Austria — Thirty-

CONTENTS xi

eight Days' stop for Frost — Red -Letter Days afterwards — A Fall taken by Captain Riddell — Lord Wilton and Lord Grey de Wilton at Timber ...... Page 57

Chapter VI

Belvoir Blood and Competition — ''Gillard's Compound" — Alfred Orbell Whipper-in — Gillard's Opinion on digging out Foxes — The Rev. " Billy " Newcome of Boothby and Mr. Banker Hardy of Grantham the last home — A Run in the Fens piloted by Mr. F. Smith — Lenton Church Spire — Cuthbert Bede's Pen — Peck, the second Whipper-in, has an awkward Experience — Mr. Micklethwaite on Sport and Marriage — The Gray Horse Sluggard — Retrenchment and Subscription from the Lincolnshire side — Fox killed in a Brewing-Tub at Sleaford — Mr. Tom Oliver — A good Day in Leicestershire and Miss Miles in the Field and on Paper

CHAPTER VH

John Bull's Top-boots — Catching a Lamb-stealer — Thomas, Earl of Wilton, Social AV^hip to the Quorn — Turkish Bath for Hunters — Mr. Little Gilmour, Prince of the Heavies — Sir George Wombwell — The Messrs. Behrens — The Butcher in Blue — The Hound Weathergage entered — Belvoir and Brocklesby Entries — Will Goodall and Rallywood in 1850 — Distinguishing Points of the Belvoir Pack — Weathergage's Pedigree — Mr. Burbidge of Thorpe and his Fox Covert — A Kill in Staunton Churchyard — Lord John Manners across Country — Sir Beaumont and Lady Florence Dixie — Major VV^hyte Melville— Captain Pennell Elmhirst — Melton Spinney — The longest Run of the Season — Lord Carrington — The best Day of the Season — The Hoi'se Melon — Presentation of Plate to the Sixth Duke of Rutland, and his Speech . Page 87

CHAPTER VIH

A scratch Pack v. a thoro'bred Pack — The Business of the Summer — The blind Master from the Grove — Proof of the Pace of the Belvoir Hounds — Lord Rossmore sui-prises Mr. Little Gilmour — Nine of xii HUNTING REIVIINISCENCES

the Messrs. Hornsby in one run — The Rectoi* of Colsterworth's Cottesmore Hunt Hat — Frank's Description of a good Hound Day — The Saffron Family as Hounds — The Samuda Pink Wedding — Another good Hound Day, Senator, Saffron and Brusher — The Hound Wellington killed on the Railway — A good Run from Melton Spring — Lady Florence Dixie presented with the Brush — Story of Captain " Tom " Boyce winning a Brush and Hunt Button — A good Run and Lady Florence Chaplin presented with a Brush — The Ash Wednesday Run — The Hon. H. H. Molyneux's Collection of Ash Wednesday Masks — The Horse Wing gets in the Smite — The Hose Gorse black Fox rather wide of his Home . Page 102

CHAPTER IX

Will Wells, Whipper-in — George Gillson's Career — George Cottrell leads for a Sovereign — A Wet Jacket — The Belvoir and Quorn Packs clash — Two good Gallops from Leadenham — Colonel John Reeves' Entree Dish — Parson Heathcote's Pudding — Brookjumping — The good Fox of Sherbrooke's Covert — A Run to the " Forty Foot " Drain — A severe Run from Sproxton to Crown Point — A curious Accident to Mr. Alfred Cross — Good Sport — The Messrs. Frank and George Gordon — Three Foxes killed by Haverholme — The Horse Peter — Mr. Fisher of Orston Page 119

CHAPTER X

Hunt Changes — Tea with Frank Goodall, the Queen's Huntsman — A Country equal to the Vagaries of any Weather — An awkward Accident — Smite Hill Gorse Flames head a Fox — The big Ash Wednesday Dajf — Mr. Alfred Brocklehurst first up — Colonel Gosling borrows some dry Clothes — A Kill under a Woman's Petticoats — Frank Rides a run under Chloroform — Will Wells' Horse out all night — Twelve - Hour Cubbing Mornings — Arthur Wilson, Whip — Parson Bullen of Eastwell — Wet and good Sport — Interviewing the Duke in his Bed — The Taste of a " Pug " — Blooding a fat American Gentleman— A Jackal Tooth Scarf-pin — A fast Gallop and dead Fox next Day — Lord Queensbury — Lord Doneraile, his Hounds, his pet Fox, his End — A long Run ...... Page 134

CONTENTS xiii

CHAPTER XI

Trojan kills a Fox single-handed — Heathcote Covert — Heathcote Hunters^ Blue Stockings, Janette, and Miss Coates — Hunting in a Hurricane at Aswarby — Sir Thomas Whichcote's Pony — Will Tidey, the hard-riding Keeper — Mr. Ashmead Bartlett Burdett- Coutts joins the Hunt — A quick burst in Leicestershire — Good Days — Folkingham Big Gorse— Accident to the Rev. Thomas Heathcote— Buying Horses without seeing them — Berserker the Hunter Sire — Mr. "Banker" Hardy — A Run Fox killed by Greyhounds—The gamest Fox ever hunted — Arthur Wilson swims the AVTiissendine — Devonshire and Leicestershire Rivers compared — Will Wells and Arthur Wilson across Country — Will Wells' Testimonial ...... Page 151

CHAPTER XII

All the Elements of Danger, Steam, Teeth, and Water — The Hunter " Belvoir Grey Bob " and his end — The fastest Dart of the Season — Lord Grey de Wilton breaks his Leg — Runs from Costou Covert — Tom Chambers the old second Horseman — The Horse Gameboy — Mr. Tom Hutchinson down but not dismayed — A good Run and Mrs. Cecil Chaplin presented with the Brush — Gillard breaks his Leg driving the Hound Van home — Letters of Condolence — Mr. George Lane Fox on Hound-breeding — Acting the Good Samaritan and its Consequences — Harry Bonner the Whip — Mr. Merthyr and Lady Guest — The great Day of the best Season on record — A good Leicestershire Hunt — Horses go in for Swimming — Sir Thomas Whichcote begs a Mask — A fine Field of Ash Wednesday Horsemen ....... Page 165

CHAPTER XIII

The Hound Gambler described, and his Measurements — Canon Kingsley's Description — The Hound Gameboy — Cub -hunting Notes — George Carter the Fitzwilliam Huntsman, and the Puppies by Rubican — Arthur Wilson gets stuck in the Smite — The Belvoir and Quorn Gallop ; Rivalry and the Kill — The Brush of the Belvoir and Quorn Fox — The Rauceby Pink Wedding — The xiv HUNTING REMINISCENCES

Belvoir Hunt Steeplechase Course — A Leicestershire Spin^ — The Marquis of AV'aterford — A critical Field out for the last Day's Sport ....... Page 180

CHAPTER XIV

Six Masters of Hounds out Cub-hunting — Mr. Brockton of Farndon — Tlie big Day of the Season ending at Blankney — Good Hound ^Vork — A Day with Lord Lonsdale's Hounds at Blankney — Blooding Lord William Manners — Mr. Basil Cochrane — The hardest Day of the Season with many Leicestershire Foxes — Home on Foot, all the Horses beat — Three of the Hunt Horses — Frank Beers the Grafton Huntsman — A Note about the Brocklesby Kennel — Several good Days — A Run and Kill by the Forty-Foot Drain — A Wedding Special saves the Pack from Destruction — A good March Gallop and Kill in an Ash Tree — A Note of Music in Frank's Diary — The Fowl-House Door opens to the Name of the Duke . Page 193

CHAPTER XV

Gillard's Family — Frank Gillard, junior, joins the Hunt Staff — A good Run from Sapperton Wood ; Mr. John Gubbins presented with the Brush — Mr. Cecil Rudkin goes hard — Hunting till Dark — The Belvoir and Cottesmore Hounds come together in the Field — The Hound Cottesmore Prodigal — The Kennels to which Frank went for Blood — Old Sir Thomas Whichcote's Opinion of the Day, and his Letter — The late Duke of Clarence — Death of Mrs. ^Villson of Rauceby — Dangers of a Swallow-Hole — Mr. Otho Paget jumps locked Railway Gates — Death of the Master, the Sixth Duke of Rutland — Succession of the Seventh Duke of Rutland — Stud Hounds, the Entry and Nominal — Good Hound Day by Culverthorpe — Aswarby Foxes — An Accident to the Hound Van — Mr. Jolland wins a Fen-Land Fox's Brush — Count Zhrowski — Lost Hounds finding their Way back — Ash Wednesday drops out of the Fixtures — Mr. Richard Fenwick presented with a Brush — A Lady of eighty-six presented with her first Brush — Captain Pennell Elmhirst's Tribute to Gillard's Vigour and Keenness at the end of his nineteenth season Huntsman . . . Page 208

COxNTENTS XV

CHAPTER XVI

The Demand for Gillard's Whippers-in — Accidents to Hounds in the Field, on the Line, and over a Cliff — Tree-climbing Foxes — Mrs. Edgar Lubbock presented with a Brush — Before Christmas Sport — A Ride Home on a very dark Night — A Curious Accident to Mr. Edgar Lubbock's Horse— The Weight of a Fox— The Election and Fox-hunting Candidates — Gillard's Coming of Age, Season 1890-91— Lord Edward Manners, M.P., Field-Master— The Season's Entry— Captain " Jim " Barry presented with the Brush — An awkward Accident to Mr. Cecil Rudkin — Recovery in Time to win a Steeplechase — Accident to the Pack crossing a Frozen Canal — A Day at Staunton, Mrs. Phillips presented with the Brush — A Kill on a Railway Station Platform, Countess de Clairemount presented with the Brush — A fast Spin from Coston Covert — Arthur Wilson sets a Hound's broken Leg— Fox up a Chimney — A Fox commits felo de se — Gillard wins the Melton Town Plate with Gunby ...... Page 226

CHAPTER XVH

Reduced to a Four-day-a-week Pack — An exceptionally good Lot of young Hounds by Belvoir Pirate and Ruiford Dancer — Lord Willoughby de Brooke's opinion of Fallible — Boys and Girls entered to Hounds — Visit of H. R. H. Princess Beatrice of Battenberg — Death of Sir Thomas Whichcote and Mourning for H.R.H. the Duke of Clarence — A Burst from Coston Covert — Old Farewell gives Frank a Fall — Lord Lonsdale saves Mr. Pidcock's Life — Father 0'Flynn,the Grand National Steeplechase Winner — Vigilant wins a Chase for Gillard at Melton — Funeral of Mr. J. Nicholas Charlton — The young Hound Tapster and his End — Good Gallops in November, one voted the best seen in three years — A Record Stop for Frost — A Hunt in Freeby Church for a Fox — A Nine-mile Point in the Fog from Aslackby to Weaver's Lodge — A Race from Staunton lliorus to Normanton Covert — The best Run Gillard ever saw — The Rain Register in a dry March — Leuton Brook — Two Runs into Haconby Fen 1865 and 1893 . . . Page 243 xvi HUNTING REMINISCENCES

CHAPTER XVIII

Dates of commencing Cub-hunting — Foreign Hay — The Hounds Old Gambler, Skylark, the Daughter of Druid — Too many Foxes killed in a Morning — Sir George Wliichcote — Tlie Hunt Honorary Secretaryship — Lord Lonsdale takes the Mastership of the Quorn — Frank Gillard's Contemporarj^, Tom Firr — The old Hunt Horse Oscar carries Miss Robinson — Mr. Arthur Hutchinson, Mayor of Grantham, and the Meet at the Guild Hall — The Fifteen-mile Stubton Run, Mr. S. K. Marsland presented with the Brush at the end of it — Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Phillips' Coverts at Staunton — Tlie Three Shire Bush — Mrs. Bend, the Wife of the Earth-stopper, presented with a Brush — Two good Days before the Frost — A good Run from Heathcote's Covert with a Bobtail — Miss Gertrude Heathcote wins the Belvoir Hunt Red Coat Race — The Heathcote Patent Safety Habit— The Entry 1894— Mr. W. Theobald Maud on Canvas and in the Field — Death of the Hound Nominal — The Revival of the Folkingham Meet and a great Day's Sport — Lord Willoughby de Eresby presented with the Brush — Pulpit Allusions — Bad Falls — Harry Maiden hunts the Pack — The Duke of Rutland's seventy-sixth Birthday — The long Frost — A good Run and Kill at Newton Hall — A good Run and Kill at Lenton Vicarage — The Melton Contingent . . . Page 261

CHAPTER XIX

Stud Hounds at Belvoir Kennel — Gillard relating the Merits of each Hound — The Families of Gambler, Snamrock, and Pirate compared— Hard Ground — The Fox-hunter's Wedding — Opening Day — The Buckminster to Edmondthorpe Gallop — Record Time — The Pack and Huntsman's Horse — Another Buckminster to Woodwell Head Gallop — Continued good Sport in Leicestershire and Lincolnshire during January — Retirement of the Duke of Rutland — The Meeting of the Hunt in Grantham — The Hunt Committee — Frank Gillard's last Leicestershire Day a brilliant one — A Kill in Rankboro Gorse — The Horse Farewell — The number of Foxes killed in twenty-six Seasons — The new Master, Sir Gilbert Greenall — A Tribute to Gillard's Care of the Pack — The Testimonial to the retiring Huntsman — Sir William E. Welby Gregory's Speech — Frank Gillard's Farewell .... Page 278

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

Frank Gillard and " Sluggard/' 1872, from a painting by

B. Nightingale, sen. .... Frontispiece

Frank Gillard, yrom a drawing by Cuthbert Bradley . . vii

Bravo, Whipster !....., xix

Portrait of Frank Gillard, from a photograph by J. Burton,

Leicester ...... Facing 1

Sport and Agriculture, from a drawing by Cuthbert Bradley . 1

The late Will Good all, sen. ,, ,, . 14

Mr, J. Chaworth Musters, M.F.H. „ „ . 15

Mr. John Coupland, M.F.H. „ „ . 26

The Belvoir Hound Van „ „ . 27

Belvoir Castle ....... 35

FoRRARD Away, from a drawing by Cuthbert Bradley . . 42

Frank Gillard „ „ „ . .43

The Sixth Duke of Rutland, by permission of Baily's Magazine

Facing 48 H.R.H. the Prince of Wales inspects the Belvoir, by Cuthbert

Vengeance, by Gameboy — V^anity, from a drawing by Basil

Nightingale ...... 56

Portrait of a Lady, from a drawing by .Cuthbert Bradley . 57 Map of the Belvoir Country .... Facing 64

After the Day's Work, by Cuthbert Bradley . . .71

The Fox on the Kennel „ ^j ... 72

The Brocklesby Rallywood, by pei'mission o/" Baily's Magazine

Facing 76 Hunting the Line, from a drawing by Cuthbert Bradley . 86

Swept over Everything in Chase „ ,, . 87 xviii HLTNTING REMINISCENCES

PAGE

^VEATHERGAGE, BY Warrior — RoYALTY, 1876 . . Facing 94

" A Hinting Morn, I think/' /rom a drawing by Cuthbert Bradley 101 A Cottesmore Hat ,, ,, 102

A Chat with Frank Gillard in Kennel „ ,, 107

A Sinking Fox ,, ,, 118

George Carter ,, ,, 119

Huntsman's House and Belvoir Kennels, from a photograph

Facing 122 The Fate of the Rover is sealed, y^'om a drawing by Cuthbert

Watchman, by Nominal — Whimsical, from a drawing by Basil

Nightingale . . ■ . . .133

A Portrait, from a drawing by Cuthbert Bradley . . 134

A Dart with the Belvoir „ ,, . . 141

Dahlia, by Shamrock — Diligent, from a drawing by Basil

Nightingale Trojan, from a drawing by Cuthbert Bradley The King of the Pack „

Mr. Edgar Lubbock on Deerfoot „ Birds of Passage „

Evidence of a Good Day „

Mr. George Lane Fox, M.F.H. „ A Lead over „

Tom Firr „

Gambler, by Weathergage — Gratitude, 1884, y^om a painting

by Basil Nightingale .... Facing 186

Lord Harrington, M.F.H. , from a drawiiig by Cuthbert Bradley 192

The Stacker's Art ,, „ „ 193

GiLLARD got his Second Horse „ ,, ,, 199

Gordon, by Gambler, 1885 „ „ „ 208

Fathers of the Hunt „ ,, ,, 212

Rev. J. P. Seabrooke on Top-Bar ,, „ 217 The Seventh Duke of Rutland ,, ,,

By permission of Baily's Magazine . . Facing 224

Down the Chimney, from a drawing by Cuthbert Bradley . 226

The Parson gives the Lead „ ,, „ . , 233

Up the Chimney . „ „ „ . . 242

ILLUSTRATIONS

XIX

The Hunt Special ......

The Royal Meet at Cboxton Park, from a drawing by

Outhbert Bradley. By permission of the Daily Graphic The Heathcote Patent Safety, by Guthbert Bradley KiRBY Gate, 1893 ,, „

A Belvoir Red-Letter Day ,, ,,

Portrait of a Lady „ „

Bank Holiday „ „

Finis

PAGE

f jZ^^ f

Facing page i.

^cy

CHAPTER 1 Early Days

A Tribute to Fox-hunting — Frank Gillard's Fame as a Hound-Breeder — The Belvoir and the Brocklesby — Tlie Points of tlie Belvoir Blood — Frank Gillard's Qualities — His Early Life in Devonshire^ and Arrival at Belvoir — The Sixth Duke of Rutland and Lord Forester — Mr. Henry Chaplin, M. P., Master of the Burton — Anecdotes — Lord Forester and old Will Goodall — Huntsman to Mr. John Chaworth Musters, the South Notts and Quorn — Mr. Musters' horse Valesman — The hunters Lady Grey and Methodist — Colonel Burnaby, M.P.— Mr. Tailby, M.F.H.— Sporting Parsons : the Rev. H. Houson, the Rev. Desborowe, Rev. Tliomas Heathcote, Rev. Waters, Rev. King, Rev. T. Bullen, Rev. John Calcraft, Rev. R. Sharpe, the Rev. W. Newcome, Rev. J. P. Younge, Rev. Banks Wright, the Rev. G. Carter — Verses by Mr. Parke of Stragglethorpe — Fathers of the Hunt.

^^MONG the pleasantest rej~\ collections of a pleasurable life, our days with hounds stand out as red-letter days in the calendar of the memory. There is no satisfaction hke a good day's sport. George Whyte Melville said, " After a good day he done a good action." Fox-

B

AqKicuLruf^Efelt as if he had hunting shapes our hfe's course, and the annals of any great pack keep ever green the sayings and doings of a long line of sporting ancestry of whom we may be justly proud. The ardour with which sport is pursued defies the hand of time, and though the leaden wings will eventually cramp even fervour, nothing can rob us of the pleasant memories of the past. The subject of this memoir might well echo the old Latin sentiment.

Be fair or foul, or rain or shine,

The joys I have possessed, in spite of Fate, are mine.

Not Heaven itself upon the past has power,

But what has been, has been, and I have had my hour.

For on the scroll of illustrious huntsmen the century has seen, no naine stands out in clearer rehef than that of Frank Gillard, whose privilege, business, and we may unhesitatingly say, pleasure, it was to hunt the famous Belvoir hounds for the sixth and seventh Dukes of Rutland during a period extending over a quarter of a century. In these days of keen competition, when the utmost skill and attention is bestowed upon the breeding of foxhounds, it was no small attainment on Frank Gillard's part that he kept the pack up to that concert pitch of excellence, so that they are acknowledged by all the j^remiere pack of the day. We may appreciate the respect in which his fame was held by all houndsmen, when we note the fact that in one month during the summer as many as twenty-five masters of hounds paid their yearly pilgrimage to the ducal kennel at Belvoir.

Every kennel in the kingdom looked to Belvoir blood for improvement to its own. It is, in fact, as hard to get away from in foxhound breeding as that of Waxy or Birdcatcher amongst race-horses ; and there are few kennel men who will not admit that a dip into it has been of great service to them. Ancient history tells us that the kennel was established in 1686 by the first Duke of Rutland, whose life, from the invigorating influence of the chase, was prolonged to the patriarchal age of eightythree. The kennel lists and pedigrees date from the year 1750 ; and though the annals of the famous Brocklesby hounds are a few years later, the Belvoir can claim to be the most fashionable pack to-day. The exchange of courtesies, as regards sires, between these two celebrated kennels has been almost continual, so that their blood must be looked upon as nearly identical. Neither is there much difference in the style of the hound bred, though at Belvoir twenty -three inches is the standard of height, whilst at Brocklesby twenty-four inches is the limit. Another peculiarity of the Duke of Rutland's kennel is that they have been very particular with regard to colour, adhering to a rich black, the purest white, and bright tan, so that the latter colour has passed into a recognised quahty amongst foxhounds, known as " the Belvoir tan." That there has been interbreeding, not inbreeding, is beyond a doubt, as there are signs of it in the fact that hounds from Belvoir improve all other packs, but it is very rare that hounds from other kennels improve Belvoir. The kennels that did improve the ducal lines were those possessing a large amount of the blood from which the Belvoir is said to have originated, the Fitzwilliam and the Brocklesby being two noticeable instances. It has been a great point not to breed from kennels with a variety of blood in them, and whenever there was such an experimental trial, the produce was seldom of a sufficient Belvoir type to get an entry. No pack has risen to a state of high repute when there has been a constant change of huntsmen. The Belvoir have been fortunate with but four huntsmen in a hundred years, and to this fact they owe their position as the greatest pack of foxhounds in the world.

A very striking feature of the Belvoir pack is their strong family hkeness, their high -class and wonderful evenness, which is quite unapproached elsewhere. The kennel stands almost alone in having depended entirely on its own breeding for more than seventy years. No hounds have been purchased during that time, and the rule to breed from only the best working hounds has proved a sound one — goo(d qualities cultivated through many generations being transmitted to their offspring. There may be diversities of opinions, or rather of taste, concerning size and colour in foxhounds, but there can be but one standard as regards beauty of outline, and the very important formation of shoulders, backs, loins, thighs, legs, and feet, which are so captivating and characteristic of the beautiful Belvoir blood.

For twenty-six seasons Frank Gillard ruled the destinies of this interesting pack, retiring when the Duke of Kutland resigned the mastership in 1896. The form of the popular Belvoir huntsman is famihar to two and three generations of Leicestershire sportsmen, and regarded as the pink and the pattern of his calling, a gentleman of his profession, whose authority on hound - breeding was nulli secundus, and his abihty to judge young hounds was sought by every kennel in the kingdom. Frank Gillard spent such a long tenure of office under the shadow of Belvoir Castle, that he seemed to form a feature of its surroundings — a typical Duke's huntsman, with the manners and bearing befitted to so high an office. A plucky horseman, he had a marvellous knack of always keeping with his hounds in the field, his head ever accompanying him over the fence, at which his heart had preceded him. For twenty-six seasons he led a hunt remarkable for its size and zealous riding, with nerve unshaken or ardour abated by many accidents and reminders of time. No day's sport was too long for him ; he maintained all the traditions of his predecessors. Goosey, Goodall, Cooper, and Lord Forester, drawing covert just so long as daylight lasted, no matter what the distance back to kennels might be. Strength of constitution has ever been a characteristic of Belvoir hounds, and akin to it their reputation for being able to put in better work in late evening than in early morning. Illbred hounds tire at four o'clock in the afternoon, the tail is very apparent, and bad shoulders then come to grief if asked to race over ridge and furrow.