296 



TJic Coiintry Gcntlcmaiis Magazine 



grunting, Jishing, anb ^kooting. 



ON SPORT AS BEARING ON NATIONAL CHARACTER?' 



IT may be said to be almost a truism, that 

 the love of sport is inherent in the 

 breast of man, and nowhere is this taste dis- 

 played more strongly than in the British 

 islands. Although the English, Scotch, and 

 Irish differ much from each other in many 

 characteristics, they seem to unite on this 

 common ground, and equally to enjoy the 

 sports of the field. Our French neighbours, 

 on the other hand, care little for the country, 

 with all its charms. For them the social 

 influence of the town is sufficient, and should 

 they ever require to live in the country, the 

 life of the town is transferred thither. In 

 Britain the love of sport seems to be the re- 

 sult of the love of freedom, which may be 

 said to be indigenous to the soil. There are 

 many people who think that every hour spent 

 in field sports is an entire waste of time, but 

 it is only when such amusements are followed 

 so unceasingly as to rob us of that time, 

 wealth, or energy which were given us for 

 other purposes, that the pursuit of them can 

 be censured. Again, it may be said in their 

 favour that by their agency the martial char- 

 acter of our people originated, and has been 

 sustained, longevity promoted, and results, in 

 a commercial point of view, important for the 

 welfare of our country brought about. They 

 are, above all, eminently calculated to en- 

 courage the social qualities, and even in those 

 that can be engaged in singly — such as shoot- 

 ing and fishing — it rarely happens that they 

 are not pursued in company ; and if so, then 

 not by choice. In former times there was no 

 bond of union between the two great classes 

 of the people — the aristocracy and the lower 



* On tlie Sports and Pursuits of the Englisli as Bear- 

 ing upon their National Character. By the Right Hon. 

 the Earl of WiUon. 8vo. Lond. 1868. 



orders. The sports of the nobility ^were 

 confined to jousts and tournaments, hunting, 

 hawking, and the chase generally ; but in 

 these the lower orders had no share, except, 

 perhaps, as accessories, or simply as specta- 

 tators. For them nothing was permitted but 

 the practice of archery, quarter - staff, or 

 wrestling exercises, which, though well 

 adapted to make them hardy and self-reliant, 

 kept them aloof from the higher classes, who 

 regarded them with contempt. At the pre- 

 sent day what a change has taken place ! Our 

 principal amusements are those which bring 

 together people of all grades, and for the 

 time break down all class barriers ; and Lord 

 Wilton observes — " the landlord meets his 

 tenant by the covert's side, the cricket field 

 knows no distinction of persons, and the 

 glories of a Derby-day point to a reign of such 

 universal freedom, such jostlings of high and 

 low, such social mixtures, as could be found 

 in no other country of the world." 



Beginning with what may perhaps be con- 

 sidered as the oldest sport — viz., hunting — it is 

 easy to see that this is one of our national 

 amusements, as it is one so freely entered 

 upon by persons of all ranks ; the covert's 

 side being the common ground where all 

 classes meet to enjoy an exciting sport, 

 and where, for a time, there is that good 

 fellowship which is one of its especial char- 

 acteristics. The chase is now confined to 

 stags, foxes, and hares ; but it is to the hunt- 

 ing of the fox that, since about the year 1750, 

 packs of hounds have been established in 

 many of the counties of Britain. There is no 

 doubt that, from the cunning of that animal, 

 a fox chase is far more exciting and spirited 

 than any other kind of hunting. As illustra- 

 tive of the cunning of the fox, Lord Wilton 

 gives us the following anecdote, originally 



