LETTER XIX. 



FINDING, by your last letter, that an early hour 

 does not suit you, I will mention some particulars 

 which may be of use to you when you hunt late : — An 

 early hour is only necessary where covers are large and 

 foxes scarce : where they are in plenty, you may hunt 

 at any hour you please. When foxes are weak, by 

 hunting late you have better chases : when they are 

 strong, give me leave to tell you, you must hunt early, 

 or you will not always kill them. I think, however, 

 when you go out late, you should go immediately 

 to the place where you are most likely to find, which 

 generally speaking, is the cover that hounds have been 

 least in. If the cover be large, you should draw only 

 such parts of it as a fox is likely to kennel in : it is 

 useless to draw any other at a late hour : besides 

 though it be always right to find as soon as you can, 

 yet it can never be so necessary as when the day is far 

 advanced. If you do not find soon, a long and tire- 

 some day is generally the consequence. Where the 

 cover is thick, you should draw it as exactly as if you 

 were trying for a hare, particularly if it be furzy ; for 

 when there is no drag, a fox, at a late hour, will lie till 

 the hounds come close upon him. Having drawn one 

 cover, let your, huntsman stay for his hounds, and take 



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