MR. THORNHILL.— 1834. 301 



BY PLINY ENGLISH. 



FABNBOROURH, MARCH 20tH. 



There is a philosophy as well as pleasure in hunting to 

 those who think with the poet and myself, that — 



' The proper study of mankind is man.' 

 There is also amusement in the chase beyond the delight 

 of pursuit for those who have a fondness for the study of 

 character. It is said of the elder Pliny that he carried a 

 book with him to the field, in order to instruct his mind 

 during the intervals of the sport. If there was no sporting 

 Magazine among the Romans, this was probably only a 

 metaphor. At least it may have been, since seldom is the 

 book of human life to be read with greater advantage than 

 in the hunting field. I am led to this remark by having 

 witnessed one of the beautiful assemblages that fox hunting 

 ever perhaps caused, at Farnborough, on Thursday ; Mr. 

 Thornhill good naturedly met at a later hour than usual, 

 in order to accommodate the ' fantastic toes' that had been 

 ' tripping it' at Leamington ball the preceding night. The 

 collection at Warwick races the day before, and the expec- 

 tation created by two magnificent runs, induced a greater 

 number to assemble than was perhaps ever seen in War^ 

 wickshire. 



The spot selected for the meet, ( and it was cheered in 

 temporary effect by a brilliant sun ) was a bank near Mr. 

 Holbech's house, sloping from the lawn to the sheet of 

 water below ; and from eleven to twelve o'clock the gathering 

 of the Sportsmen was of unusual interest and brilliance. 

 Not fewer than from one hundred and ten to twenty red 

 coats made their appearance on the ground, arriving from 

 time to time with farmers and others less adorned, in 

 eqviipages and on horses ; some remarkable for their great 



