12 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



vantage from the reading of it : I hope these Letters 

 will not prove the only exception. Should they fall 

 into the hands of such as are not sportsmen, 1 need 

 not, I think, make any excuses to them for the 

 contents, since the title sufficiently shows for whom 

 they were designed. Nor are they meant for such 

 sportsmen as need not instruction, but for those that 

 do ; to whom, I presume, in some parts at least, they 

 may be found of use. Since a great book has been 

 long looked upon as a great evil, I shall take care 

 not to sin that way at least ; and shall endeavour 

 to make these Letters as short as the extent of my 

 subject will admit. 



You will rally me, perhaps, on the choice of my 

 frontispiece ; but why should not hunting admit the 

 patronage of a lady ? The ancients, you know, 

 invoked Diana at setting out on the chase, and 

 sacrificed to her at their return : is not this enough 

 to show the propriety of my choice ? At all events, 

 I assure myself that you will approve her attendants, 

 Health, and Contentment. 



I shall now take my leave of you for the present. 

 In my next Letter I shall proceed according to 

 your desire, till I have answered all your questions. 

 Remember, you are not to expect entertainment : 

 I wish that you may find some instruction : the 

 dryness of the subject may excuse your want of 

 the one, and I cannot doubt of your indulgence 

 whilst I am obeying your commands, though / should 

 fail in the other. 



