EARLY RECOLLECTIONS. II 



steel head could be sent through an iron 

 spade. 



For foxhunting I never cared much, as the 

 ostentation, the crowd, and the absence of oppor- 

 tunity for the exercise of any individual hunting 

 instincts in the participator were distasteful con- 

 comitants. To be obliged to concentrate all one's 

 energies and strain the powers of one's horse in 

 overcoming artificial obstructions, to the exclusion 

 of any of the more legitimate operations of real 

 hunting, seemed to verge on boredom, and hardly 

 repaid one for wearing the conspicuous red coat 

 and uncomfortable leg-gear. 



