LETTER XXIV. 



I AM now, my friend, about to take leave of you ; 

 and, at the same time that I give repose to you, 

 let me entreat you to show the same favour to your 

 hounds and horses. It is now the breeding season ; a 

 proper time, in my opinion, to leave off hunting ; since 

 it is more likely to be your servants' amusement than 

 yours ; and is always to the prejudice of two noble 

 animals, which we sportsmen are bound in gratitude to 

 take care of. 



After a long and tiresome winter, surely the horse 

 deserves some repose. Let him, then, enjoy his short- 

 lived liberty ; and, as his feet are the parts which 

 suffer most, turn him out into a soft pasture. Some 

 there are who disapprove of grass, saying, that, when a 

 horse is in good order, the turning him out undoes it 

 all again. It certainly does : yet, at the same time, I 

 believe that no horse can be fresh in his limbs, or will 

 last you long, without it. Can standing in a hot stable 

 do him any good ? — and can hard exercise, particularly 

 in the summer, be of any advantage to him ? Is it not 

 soft ground an d Jong rest that will best refresh his 

 limbs, while the night air and morning dews will in- 

 vigorate his body P 1 Some never physic their hunters ; 



f 1 The question of summering hunters is still being debated, and 

 each system has its advocates. We agree with Beckford that turning 



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