158 ON HUNTING. 



hedge and half in a ditch, or pounded before a 'bul- 

 finch,' feeling very ridiculous. There are men who cut 

 a very respectable figure in the hunting-field who never 

 saw a pack of hounds until they were past thirty. The 

 city of London turns out many such ; so does every 

 great town where money is made by men of pluck, bred, 

 perhaps, as ploughboys in the country. We could name 

 three one an M.P. under these conditions, who would 

 pass muster in Leicestershire, if necessary. But a good 

 seat on horseback, pluck, and a love of the sport, are 

 essentia.1. A few years ago a scientific manufacturer, a 

 very moderate horseman, was ordered horse exercise as 

 a remedy for mind and body prostrated by over-anxiety. 

 He found that, riding along the road, his mind was as 

 busy and wretched as ever. A friend prescribed hunt- 

 ing, purchased for him a couple of made hunters, and 

 gave him the needful elementary instruction. The first 

 result was, that he obtained such sound, refreshing 

 sleep as he had not enjoyed since boyhood ; the next, 

 that in less than two seasons he made himself quite at 

 home with a provincial pack, and now rides so as to 

 enjoy himself without attracting any more notice than 

 one who had been a fox-hunter from his youth upwards." 



The illustration at the commencement of this chapter 

 gives a very fair idea of the seat of good horsemen 

 going at a fence and broad ditch, where pace is essential, 

 A novice may advantageously study the seats of the 

 riders in Herring's " Steeplechase Cracks," painted by 

 an artist who was a sportsman in his day. 



A few invaluable hints on riding to hounds are to be 

 found in the Druid's account of Dick Christian. 



The late Marquis of Hastings, father of the present 

 Marquis, was one of the best and keenest fox-hunters 



