The Sun.
London, England, 1840-04-09 00:00:00

TIIE DUKE OF BE A.UFORT'S HUNT.-His

Grace the Duke of Beaufort returned from London on Tues-
day to his princely seat at Badminton Park, in order to meet
an illustrious and noble hunting party, whom lie had invited to
partake of the hospitalities of Bodtninton. Thursday was ac-
cordingly fixed for the last lawn meeting, in order to close the
season with eclat, and a more brilliant affair, perhaps, never was
witnessed in this part of the country. The Duke entertained a
breakfast party of thirty-two of the nobility and gentry of the
county. Immediately atter the breakfast was concluded, a splen-
did carriage and four, with outriders in green and gold, drove
up to the grand entrance hall, when her Grace the Dcchess of
Beaufort, accompanied by Lady Augusta Somerset, Lady Wil-
ton, and Miss Pierpoint, took their seats and proceeded to the
further extremity of the park—his Grace and noble guests pre-
ceding, attended by his huntsman dressed in green, with the
hounds, now tried the first cover, where, however, they were
unsuccessful in finding. The Duchess, and her distinguished
visitors, remained for about twenty minutes, when she again
drove down the park, followed by an immense assembbige of
beauty and fashion. Among those as it were in immediate at-
tendance on her Grace, and riding on the right hand of the
carriage, was our old friend the sweep " wot hunts with the
Duke." The gentleman in black caused the greatest merriment
to the noble party by whom he was surrounded ; God bless his
old smutty face, often have we seen his likeness in the print
shops, but it was now our peculiar privilege to see him in his
goodly person. There he sat, brush in hand, dressed in the
costume of his calling, looking as proud as the first magnate of
the land. Another well-known character must not be omitted;
this was the sporting or running tailor who patronizes the hunt
of my Lord Segrave. This man has been known to run forty
miles to the hunt, and seldom or never fails to be in at the
death. Bruch disappointment was evinced by the absence of
his Serene Highness the Prince Ernest, of Saxe-Gotha. He
was to have arrived at Badminton on Wednesday, but owing
to a severe accident ;whilst hunting with Lord Cardigan,
in Northamptonshire, on Tuosday, he was confined to his
bed, and is seriously indisposed. His Highness, it appears,
is a bold and daring rider, and in taking a dangerous leap
he fell, and his horse rolled over him ; by this unfortunate acci-
dent three of the Prince's teeth were knocked out, and he
was otherwise much hurt. Twelve of the Prince's hunters
and servants arrived at Petty France on Wednesday, where
they at present remain. Among the illustrious guests invited
to meet the Prince, was his Grace the Duke of Wellington,
and, as we understood, Prince George of Cambridge, but who
were not present. In his Grace of Beaufort's stables are
seventy-two of the most splendid hunters. Another cover now
was tried, when three foxes stole away. At last a fine fox was
started, and he made for the first cover in Badminton Park.
The whole field was soon after him. Reynard then turned
short to the left, and came a"ross the park in front of the
house. This was the first time this season that the fox took
gr Ibi tr
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of
tmomenthe
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the windows, and seemed Duke's family
exceedingly
were
alt
to enjoy the sport in the highest ex-
, treme. In the evening the Duke and Duchess entertained a
distinguished party of thirty-six to dinner. This (lay will long
be remembered at Badminton, and also in its immediate neigh-
bourhood. Our sooty friend, " the man wot hunts with the
Duke," and without whose enlivening presence we verilylieve the Duke would give up hunting altogether—o
u be-
lieve
then declared it was (and he is good authority) one of the
,' most splendacious affairs scot ever ho sawed," and not all
" Garrnany," with any other countries to hoot, could produce
such
a sight ! he further declared it NN as the " only sight" he
I ever seed.—Dtvizes Gazette.

SUMMONSES FOR CITURCII-RATES. At the
1::: ,:‘,fi trh. eKS.ocoei eitio,f,
Magistrates' sitting,. Town-hall, yesterday, a summons was
granted on the application of Alr.. Churchwarden Masters, tif
.7.l4ohinneArnl
St. Margaret's, against the following
Friends:—Messrs. RallSOlrie,
Mr. May, and Lucy Choat. Is it according to law to include
half a dozen recusants in one summons? Nye have always un-
derstood that such a mode is illegal.—lpswich Express.