KEEPERS 14T 



with pheasants, belonging to Lord Craven, and see 

 these covers drawn by a pack of fox-hounds, and 

 he will be convinced of the above assertion, for in 

 the several years they were hunted by the writer 

 they were never drawn blank ; and it may be 

 depended on, that the great objection which 

 keepers have to foxes is that they destroy so great 

 a number of rabbits, which are the keepers' per- 

 quisites, and consequently they are disposed to 

 destroy foxes. It is a difficult thing to know how 

 to act with them, but it is much the wisest plan to 

 treat them civilly, even if they are doubtful, until 

 proofs can be brought against them, that they do 

 destroy foxes against their master's will ; for there 

 are many keepers, most highly respectable men, 

 who have a right to expect to be treated civilly 

 and respectfully. And indeed, under any circum- 

 stance, it is the height of folly to abuse them 

 openly, as is too often done ; it only exasperates, 

 for they are generally men not easily frightened, 

 at least if they are good for anything. The thing 

 is, to prove that they do destroy first, and then 

 go to work in every way, by applying to every 

 friend and connection of the master's, and have it 

 represented properly ; when, if he, and even the lady 

 of the manor, are inveterate against fox-hunting, 

 she will, if it is properly represented, see how 

 much more desirable it is to have all the mansions 



