THE EXCELLENCE OF HUNTSMEN 227 



bringing them into the field in their fullest vigour, is 

 the excellence of a good kennel-huntsman ; l if, besides 

 this, he make his hounds both love and fear him ; if 

 he be active, and press them on while the scent is 

 good, always aiming to keep as near the fox as he 

 can ; if, when his hounds are at fault, he makes his 

 cast with judgment, not casting the wrong way first, 

 and only blundering upon the right at last, as many 

 do ; if, added to this, he be patient and persevering, 

 never giving up a fox while there remains a chance of 

 killing him — he then is a perfect huntsman. 



Did I not know your love of this diversion, I 

 should think, by this time, that I must have tired you 

 completely. You are not singular, however, in your 

 partiality to it ; for, to show you the effect which 

 fox-hunting has on those who are really fond of it, 

 I must tell you what happened to me not long ago : — 

 My hounds, in running a fox, crossed the great 

 Western road, where I met a orentleman travelling 



1 To make the most of a pack of hounds, and bring them into the field 

 in their fullest vigour, is an excellence that huntsmen are very deficient 

 in. To obtain a knowledge of the different constitutions of so many 

 animals, requires more discernment than most of them are endowed 

 with. To apply that knowledge, by making separate drafts when they 

 feed them, would also take up more time than they choose to bestow : 

 hence it is that they generally are fed all together : — they may be well 

 fed, but I much doubt whether they are ever made the most of; such 

 as require to be fed a little at a time, and often, must, I believe, be 

 contented with a little only. Few huntsmen seem fond of their hounds : 2 

 one reason of it, perhaps, may be, that they are paid for looking after 

 them. 



[ 2 Beckford must have been singularly unfortunate in his huntsmen, 

 or the breed has altered very much since that date. It would be 

 very difficult now to find a huntsman who was not devoted to his hounds, 

 and it always seems rather cruel, when a change is made, that the man 

 should have to part with his four-footed friends.] 



