INTRODUCTION. 



THE love of sport is a feeling inherent in most English- 

 men, and whether in the chase, or with the rod or gun, 

 they far excel all other nations. In fact, the definition of this 

 feeling cannot be understood by many foreigners. We are fre- 

 quently ridiculed for fox-hunting : " What for all dis people, 

 dis horses, dis many dog ? dis leetle (how you call him ?) dis 

 ' fox ' for to catch ? ha ! you eat dis creature ; he vary fat 

 and fine ? " 



This is a foreigner's notion of the chase ; he hunts for the 

 pot ; and by Englishmen alone is the glorious feeling shared 

 of true, fair and manly sport The character of the nation is 

 beautifully displayed in all our rules for hunting, shooting, 

 fishing, fighting, etc. ; a feeling of fair play pervades every 

 amusement Who would shoot a hare in form ? who would 

 net a trout stream ? who would hit a man when down ? A 

 Frenchman would do all these things, and might be no bad 

 fellow after all. It would be his -way of doing it. His notion 

 would be to make use of an advantage when an opportunity 

 ! 6 



