CHANGE TEE JUDICIAL TO HOUNDS 179 



When covers are much disturbed, foxes will some- 

 times break as soon as they hear a hound. Where the 

 country round is very open, the fox least likely to 

 break, is that which you are hunting : he will be very 

 unwilling to quit the cover, if it be a large one, unless 

 he can get a great distance before the hounds. Should 

 you be desirous to get a run over such a country, 

 the likeliest means will be to post a quiet and skilful 

 person to halloo one off, and lay on to him. The 

 further he is before you, the less likely he will be to 

 return. The best method, however, to hunt a cover 

 like this, is to stick constantly to it, not suffering the 

 hounds to break, so long as one fox shall remain : do 

 this two or three hunting days following ; foxes will 

 then fly, and you will have good chases. 



Nothing is more hurtful to hounds, than the fre- 

 quent changing of their country : should they change 

 from a good-scenting country to a bad one, unless they 

 have luck on their sides, they may be some time with- 

 out killing a fox ; whereas, hounds have always a 

 great advantage in a country which they are used to : 

 they not only know better where to find their game, but 

 they will also pursue it with more alacrity afterwards. 



This Letter began by a digression in favour of 

 hunting ; it will end with the opinion of a Frenchman, 

 not so favourable to it. This gentleman was in my 

 neighbourhood, on a visit to the late Lord Castlehaven, 

 who, being a great sportsman, thought he could not 

 oblige his friend more, than by letting him partake 

 of an amusement which he himself was so fond of; 

 he therefore mounted him on one of his best horses, 



