278 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



expectation to be able to send you a complete treatise : 

 Thoughts upon Hunting, in a series of familiar Letters, 

 were all that I proposed to myself the pleasure of 

 sending. The trouble I have taken in writing them 

 entitles me to some indulgence ; nor need I, therefore, 

 whilst I endeavour to render them of use, stand in any 

 fear of criticism. Yet if any man, as idle as I have 

 already declared myself to be, should take the trouble 

 to criticise these Letters, tell him this : — An acquaint- 

 ance of mine, who had bestowed much time in im- 

 proving his place, whenever he heard it found fault 

 with, asked "Where the critic lived? Whether he 

 had any place of his own ? Whether he had at- 

 tempted any improvements ? and concluded with 

 promising a peep at it" The gentleman here alluded 

 to had less humility than your humble servant : take, 

 therefore, my sentiments in the following lines : — 



Si quid novisti rectius istis, 

 Candidus imperii; si non, his tit ere me cum.- — HOR. 



Farewell. 



The inclosed curious manuscript was called by its 

 author a hunting song ; it is worth your notice : — 

 once more farewell. 



Hark ! hark to the notes of the melodious French horn 



How sweetly she calls you out in the morn 



She tells you Jemme is mounted on Tartar his steed 



And invites you all to the cover with speed 



Of all pleasures or pastimes ever heard or seen 



There's none in the world like to merry hunting. 



Hark ! cover hark ! the hounds are all in 



The fox they have found and to his kennel they fling 



