250 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



I can hardly think you serious, when you ask me, 

 If the same hounds can hunt both hare and fox? 

 However, thus far you may assure yourself, that it 

 cannot be done with any degree of consistency. As 

 to your other question, of hunting the hounds yourself, 

 that is an undertaking which, if you will follow my 

 advice, you will let alone. It is your opinion, I find, 

 that a gentleman might make the best huntsman : I 

 have no doubt that he would, if he chose the trouble 

 of it. I do not think there is any profession, trade, or 

 occupation, to which a good education would not be of 

 service ; and hunting, notwithstanding it is at present 

 exercised by such as have not had an education, 

 might, without doubt, be carried on much better by 

 those that have. I will venture to say, fewer faults 

 would then be committed ; nor would the same faults 

 be committed over and over again, as they now are. 

 Huntsmen never reason by analogy, nor are they much 

 benefitted by experience. 



Having told you, in a former Letter, what a hunts- 

 man ought to be, the following, which I can assure 

 you is a true copy, will show you, in some instances at 

 least, what he ought not to be : 



Sir, 



Yours I received the 24th of this present Instant 

 June and at your request I will give you an impartial 



account of my man John G 's Character. He is a 



Shoemaker or Cordwainer which you please to call it 



without doubt, follow the scent unwillingly, owing to the little credit that 

 they give to it. In my opinion, therefore, a scent which is less good, but 

 more equal, is more favourable to hounds. 



