indeed, seems to have contemplated both that such would be the case, as well as that, at some day, a collated edition of his letters would result from it. In the motto prefixed to his third edition, he thus invites the undertaking

"Si quid novisti rectius istis,

Candidus imperti."

This end his modern editor aims at. In the works of Smith, Radcliffe, and Vyner, a mass of novel matter exists which, amalgamated with the instruction to be found in Beckford, affords materials for a more perfect treatise on the theory and practice of fox-hunting than any that has yet been produced. With these volumes the present edition of the Thoughts upon Hunting" has been carefully collated: all that seemed likely to add to the utility of their reflections has been introduced into it, and, where the pruning-knife was used, it did but remove a few leaves at the utmost.

66

LETTER I.

Bristol Hot-Wells, March 20, 1779.

You could not have chosen, my friend, a better season than the present, to remind me of sending you my thoughts upon hunting; for the accident that brought me hither is likely to detain me some time: besides, I have no longer a plea for not obeying your commands. Hitherto, indeed, I had excused myself, in hopes that some publication on the subject might have rendered these letters needless; but since nothing of the kind, although so much wanted, has appeared, as I am now sufficiently unoccupied to undertake the task, I shall not think it a trifling subject, if you think it a necessary one: and I wish my own experience of the diversion may enable me to answer the many questions which you are pleased to propose concerning it.

You may remember, perhaps, that when we were hunting together at Turin, the hounds having lost the stag, and the piqueurs (still more in fault than they) being ignorant which way to try, the king bid them ask Milord Anglais. Nor is it to be wondered at, if an Englishman should be thought to understand the art of hunting, as the hounds which this country produces are universally allowed to be the best in the world :—from whence, I think this inference may be drawn, that, although every man who follows this diversion may not understand it, yet it is extraordinary of the many who do, that one only of any note should have written on the subject. It is rather unfortunate for me that Somervile should have preferred writing an elegant poem to an useful lesson; since, if it had pleased him, he might easily have saved me the trouble of writing these letters. Is it not strange, in a country where the press is in one continued labour with opinions of almost every kind, from the most serious and instructive, to the most ridiculous and trifling; a country besides, so famous for the best hounds, and the best horses to follow them, whose authors sometimes hunt, and whose sportsmen sometimes write, that only the practical part of hunting should be known? There is, however, no doubt, that the practical part of it would be improved, were it to be accompanied by theory.

It may be objected, that the hunting of a pack of hounds depends upon the huntsman; and that the huntsman, generally speaking, is an

illiterate fellow, who seldom can either read or write; this cannot well be denied. I must, therefore, observe, that it is impossible for the business of a kennel to go on as it ought, unless the master himself knows something of it. There must be an understanding somewhere ; and, without it, no gentleman can enjoy in perfection this noble diversion.

It was the opinion of a great sportsman, that it is not less difficult to find a perfect huntsman, than a good prime minister. Without taking upon me to determine what requisites may be necessary to form a good prime minister, I will describe some of those which are essentially necessary towards forming a perfect huntsman; qualities which, I will venture to say, would not disgrace more brilliant situations: such as a clear head, nice observation, quick apprehension, undaunted courage, strength of constitution, activity of body, a good ear, and a good voice.

There is not any one branch of knowledge, commonly dignified with the title of art, which has not such rudiments or principles as may lead to a competent degree of skill, if not to perfection, in it; whilst hunting, the sole business of some, and the amusement of most of the youth in this kingdom, seems left entirely to chance. Its pursuit puts us both to greater expense and also to greater inconvenience than any other; yet, notwithstanding this, we trust our diversion in it to the sole guidance of a huntsman. We follow just as he shall choose to conduct us; and we suffer the success or disappointment of the chase to depend solely on the judgment of a fellow who is frequently a greater brute than the creature on which he rides. I would not be understood to mean by this, that a huntsman should be a scholar, or that every gentleman should hunt his own hounds. It is not necessary a huntsman should be a man of letters; but give me leave to observe, that, had he the best understanding, he would frequently find opportunities of exercising it, and intricacies which might put it to the test. You will say, perhaps, there is something too laborious in the occupation of a huntsman for a gentleman to take it upon himself; you may also think it is beneath him; I agree with you in both, yet I hope that he may have leave to understand it. If he follow the diversion, it is a sign of his liking it; and if he like it, surely it is some disgrace to him to be ignorant of the means most conducive to obtain it.

I find there will be no necessity to say much in commendation of a diversion to you, which you so professedly admire; it would be needless therefore to enumerate the heroes of antiquity who were taught the art of hunting, or the many great men (among whom was the famous Galen) who have united in recommending it. I shall, however, remind you that your beloved hero, Henry the Fourth of France, made it his chief amusement, and his very love-letters, strange as it may appear, are full of little else: and that one of the greatest ministers which our own country ever produced, was so fond of this diversion, that the first letter he opened, as I have been told, was, generally, of his huntsman. In most countries, from the earliest times, hunting has been a principal occupation of the people, either for use or amusement; and many princes have made it their chief delight, a circumstance which occasioned the following bon mot: Louis the Fifteenth was so passionately fond of this diversion, that it occupied him

that

entirely. The King of Prussia, who never hunts, gives up a great deal of his time to music, and himself plays on the flute. A German, last war, meeting a Frenchman, asked him very impertinently, "si son maitre chassait toujours?" "Oui, oui," replied the other, "il ne joue jamais de la flute." The reply was excellent, but it would have been as well, perhaps, for mankind, if that great man had never been otherwise employed. Hunting is the soul of a country life; it gives health to the body, and contentment to the mind; and is one of the few pleasures we can enjoy in society, without prejudice either to ourselves or our friends.

The Spectator has drawn with infinite humour the character of a man who passes his whole life in pursuit of trifles; and, it is probable, other Will Wimbles might still be found. I hope, however, that he did not think they were confined to the country only. Triflers there are of every denomination. Are we not all triflers? and are we not told that all is vanity? The Spectator, without doubt, felt great compassion for Mr. Wimble; yet Mr. Wimble might not have been a proper object of it; since it is more than probable he was a happy man, if the employment of his time in obliging others, and pleasing himself, can be thought to have made him so. Whether vanity mislead us or not in the choice of our pursuits, the pleasures or advantages which result from them will best determine. I fear the occupation of few gentlemen will admit of nice scrutiny; occupations, therefore, that amuse, and are at the same time innocent, that promote exercise and conduce to health, though they may appear trifles in the eyes of others, certainly are not so to those who enjoy them. Of this number I think I may reckon hunting; and I am particularly glad the same anthor furnishes a quotation in support of it :-"For my own part," says this elegant writer, "I intend to hunt twice a week during my stay with Sir Roger; and shall prescribe the moderate use of this exercise to all my country friends, as the best physic for mending a bad constitution and preserving a good one." The inimitable Cervantes also honourably mentions this diversion: he makes Sancho say-" Mercy on me! what pleasure can you find, any of ye all, in killing a poor beast that never meant any harm!" that the duke may reply-" You are mistaken, Sancho; hunting wild beasts is the most proper exercise for knights and princes; for in the chase' of a stout, noble beast, may be represented the whole art of war, stratagems, policy, and ambuscades, with all other devices usually practised to overcome an enemy with safety. Here we are exposed to the extremities of heat and cold ; ease and laziness can have no room in this diversion; by this we are inured to toil and hardship, our limbs are strengthened, our joints made supple, and our whole body hale and active: in short, it is an exercise that be beneficial to many, may and can be prejudicial to none." Small, indeed, is the number of those who, in the course of 5000 years, have employed themselves in the advancement of useful knowledge. Mankind have been blest with but one Titus that we know of; and, it is to be feared, he has had but few imitators. Days and years fly away, nor is any account taken of them, and how many may reasonably be supposed to pass without affording even amusement to others or satisfaction to ourselves. Much more, I think, might be said in favour of the Wimbles; but it must be confessed, that the man who spends his

whole time in trifles, passes it contemptibly, compared with those who are employed in researches after knowledge useful to mankind, or in professions useful to the state.

I am glad to find that you approve of the plan I propose to observe in the course of these letters, wherein it shall be my endeavour not to omit anything which it may be necessary for you to know; at least, as far as my own observation and experience will give me leave. The experience I have had may be of use to you at present; others, perhaps, hereafter may write more judiciously and more fully on the subject: you know it is my interest to wish they would. The few who have written on hunting refer you to their predecessors for great part of the information you might expect from them; and who their predecessors were, I have yet to learn. Even Somervile is less copious than I could wish, and has purposely omitted what is not to be found elsewhere; I mean, receipts for the cure of such diseases as hounds are subject to. He holds such information cheap, and beneath his lofty muse. Prose has no excuse, and you may depend on every information that I can give. The familiar manner in which my thoughts will be conveyed to you in these letters, may sufficiently evince the intention of the author. They are written with no other design than to be of use to sportsmen. Were my aim to amuse, I would not endeavour to instruct; a song might suit the purpose better than an essay. To improve health by promoting exercise-to excite gentlemen, who are fond of hunting, to obtain the knowledge necessary to enjoy it in perfection, and to lessen the punishments which are too often inflicted on an animal so friendly to man, are the chief ends intended by the following letters.

COURSING.

THE Champion Meeting at Newmarket, which excited great interest in the coursing world, came off on the 7th of December, and four following days; the competition between the first English and Scotch hounds, for Stakes worth taking pains to win, added to the pride all coursers feel in seeing their dogs rank amongst the first— called forth all the judgment their various owners were masters of, as well as the skill of the trainers to bring good dogs, and in fit condition to contend for the palm of victory. The meeting was sufficiently interesting to cause me to go 150 miles to see it, without having any inducement but the love of the sport; and, though I cannot speak highly of it, still the one day from the Exning field, where every course took place across the flat, in distances varying from one to two miles, was of so splendid a description as to make amends for the distance I travelled, even taking into consideration that thirty miles of it was from Bedford to Cambridge, certainly one of the most dreary drives in England. I was disappointed in hearing, on my arrival, that we were not to be gratified by a fair trial for superiority between the Scotch and English greyhounds, as Lord Eglinton's and Mr. A. Graham's