148 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



and residences in the country inhabited by famihes 

 of a sociable disposition, in preference to their 

 being vacant, which would be the case if there 

 were no fox-hounds to induce men to reside in the 

 country ; and that those gentlemen who do pre- 

 serve game monopolise so great a portion of the 

 land, that only a few can enjoy shooting, but 

 hundreds can enjoy hunting, whose whole sport 

 and inducement to reside in the country is anni- 

 hilated by this person's keeper killing foxes. In- 

 deed, if there are ladies who do not approve of 

 fox-hunting, the wTiter only requests that they 

 will compare the private amusements of some 

 men who do not hunt with those who do ; for 

 men must have some amusement, and it will be 

 found, that the balance preponderates in favour of 

 the fox-hunter; for instance, the following sketch. 

 Shortly after breakfast, say nine o'clock, he leaves 

 home, probably with this last request from his wife, 

 " Do not forget to ask those several families to 

 dine with us such a day " ; which would not have 

 been thought of, but owing to this chance of 

 meeting them in the field, where he sees nearly 

 all the best society in the neighbourhood, and 

 returns after having had a good day's sport and 

 plenty of exercise, — if through wind and storms, 

 he enjoys his home so much the more. Dinner 

 arrives, everything is capital, he is in the highest 



