LETTER IV. 



I AM glad that you do not disapprove the advan- 

 tage I have made of my friend Somerville. I 

 was doubtful whether you would not have censured 

 me for it, and have compared me to some of those 

 would-be fine gentlemen, who, to cut a figure, tack 

 an embroidered ed^ino- on their coarse cloth. I shall 

 be cautious, however, of abusing your indulgence, 

 and shall not quote my poet oftener than is necessary ; 

 but where we think the same thing, you had better 

 take it in his words than mine. I shall now proceed 

 to the feeding of hounds, and management of them 

 in the kennel. 



A good feeder is an essential part of your establish- 

 ment. Let him be young and active, and have the 

 reputation at least of not disliking work : he should 

 be good-tempered, for the sake of the animals en- 

 trusted to his care ; and who, however they may be 

 treated by him, cannot complain. He should be one 

 who will strictly obey any orders that you may give, 

 as well with regard to the management as to the 

 breeding of the hounds ; and should not be solely 

 under the direction of your huntsman. It is true, I 

 have seen it otherwise : I have known a pack of 

 hounds belong, as it were, entirely to the huntsman ; 



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