6 CENTURY OF ENGLISH FOX-HUNTING 



long since have been relegated to ancient history 

 together with the port-wine-drinking squires of the 

 last century ; but every schoolboy who has studied 

 the rudiments of political economy knows that the 

 sport produces national wealth — directly, through the 

 encouragement of the horse-breeding industry and 

 the consequent demand for fodder, and indirectly, 

 through the circulation of money throughout the 

 country, which would otherwise be diverted into 

 foreign channels. It may be said, without exaggera- 

 tion, that fox-hunting is the foundation of our 

 national country life, for if it were not for hunting 

 the large country seats would either be closed or let 

 to tenants, between whom and the farmers there 

 could be no sympathy. Farms would fall into decay, 

 and the capital, without which the poor farmer is help- 

 less, would be taken abroad ; thus the small farmer 

 would find himself without a market for the produce 

 of his farm. This is a dismal picture to draw, 

 suggesting probabilities of agricultural ruin ; but 

 for this reason it behoves us to examine carefully 

 whether fox-hunting maintains its influence on agri- 

 culture and its popularity amongst the farming com- 

 munity. In my advocacy of the national sport I 

 confess that I am inclined to be optimistic, but the 

 most extreme optimists are obliged to admit that 

 there are many signs in country life, which portend 

 against the welfare of hunting. New customs have 

 arisen which are inimical to the sport. More men 

 hunt, and owing to the suburban builder and the 



