LETTER XXI. 



YOUR huntsman, you say, has hunted a pack 

 of harriers : it might have been better, perhaps, 

 had he never seen one ; since fox-hunting and hare- 

 hunting differ almost in every particular ; — so much, 

 that I think it might not be an improper negative 

 definition of fox-hunting to say, it is, of all hunting, 

 that which resembles hare-hunting the least. A good 

 huntsman to a pack of harriers, seldom succeeds in 

 fox-hunting : — like old hounds, they dwell upon the 

 scent, and cannot get forward ; nor do they ever 

 make a bold cast ; so much are they afraid of leaving 

 the scent behind them. Hence it is, that they poke 

 about, and try the same place ten times over, rather 

 than leave it ; and, when they do, are totally at a loss 

 which way to go, for want of knowing the nature of 

 the animal they are in pursuit of. As hare-hounds 

 should scarcely ever be cast, halloo'd, or taken off 

 their noses, hare-hunters are too apt to hunt their 

 fox-hounds in the same manner ; but it will not do ; 

 nor could it please you if it would. Take away the 

 spirit of fox-hunting, and it is no longer fox-hunting : 

 it is stale small-beer compared to brisk champagne. 

 You would also find in it more fatigue than pleasure. 

 It is said, thei'e is a pleasure in being mad, which only 



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