178 HOUNDS FOR THE PRAIRIES. 



found a very agreeable American gentleman in a beauti 

 fully furnished " state carriage" or saloon all to himself, 

 into which I was admitted by invitation. As such things, 

 then, are in existence, why can they not be had for money ? 

 In the instance to which I refer, the state carriage assigned 

 for the journey to this gentleman was an act of courtesy, 

 because he was travelling to pronounce on, and be witness 

 of, if necessary, some facts regarding the interests of the 

 company. To be able to take a pack of foxhounds to the 

 plains, and to carry with you their food and the means for 

 cooking (for to place them on the prairies behind a wolf 

 or fox without their being in tip-top condition would mar 

 the whole project), would of course cost a considerable sum 

 of money. Thank Heaven, however, we have sportsmen 

 in England who could afford to embark in such a project, 

 and it would be well worth the voyage across the Atlantic 

 to be there to share in the splendid recreation the fulfil 

 ment of such a design would afford. It would be neces 

 sary to hunt from camp, and to repair to the plains amply 

 provided to sustain the condition and health of all. Be 

 tween the days of hunting there would be amusement 

 enough at the smaller game, and, supposing the English 

 hounds were to be sold when the experiment was over, if 

 divided into small lots they would realize a very large sum, 

 for in Kentucky and other states the English foxhound is 

 coveted beyond measure. 



As to horses, for these America might well be trusted, 

 and steeds, at a ridiculous price as contrasted with value 

 in England, could be procured well able to carry 14st. to 

 any hounds in the world. My chestnut horse, Tay mouth, 

 was one of these, and happy indeed should I have been to 

 have been able to set his fiery spirit at the tail of 



