On Hunting , Shooting , &c. 347 
afpires, and all his enjoyments foon become in- 
fipid and didafleful, when not acquired by fa¬ 
tigue and induftry. See the hardy hunters rife 
from their downy couches, fhake off the (lum¬ 
bers which dill weigh down their heavy eye lids, 
and ere Aurora has yet covered the earth with 
her flaming mantle, haden to the fored. They 
have behind, in their own houfes, and in the 
neighbouring plains, animals of every kind, 
whofe fle(h furnifhes the mod delicious fire, and 
which offer themfelves to the fatal ftroke. La¬ 
borious man difdains fo eafy a purchafe. He feeks 
for a prey, which hides itfelf from his fearch, or 
flies from his purfuit, or defends itfelf from his 
violence. Having exerted in the chafe, every 
paflion of the mind, and every member of the 
body, he then finds the charms of repofe, and 
with joy compares its pleafures to thofe of his 
engaging labours.” 
If exercife, then, be neceffary to the health and 
well-being of man 3 if it be alfo neceffary to 
thofe pleafures, for which nature hath infpired 
him with the third; and if hunting, (hooting 
and fifhing furnifh dimulating motives, which, 
in their abfence, it would not be eafy to fupply; 
thefe diverfions may be edeemed both innocent 
and virtuous, whild confidered folely with re- 
fpetfl to the agentj and it remains only to 
examine, how far, to the united motives of 
pleafure and advantage to man, other reafons 
. may 
