THE CONDITION OF HUNTERS 29 



1822 than they did in 1772, the horse that follows 

 them must go faster also. When I began to look at 

 fox-hounds, on a pony, in the Christmas hoUdays, 

 they appeared to me to be a different kind of animal 

 to those which I have seen since. Comparatively 

 speaking, harriers now go the pace of foxhounds in 

 those times, and fox-hounds that of greyhounds. 

 The style of horse, the seat upon him, have all been 

 revolutionised, and fox-hunting in some countries 

 must soon change its name to " racing after a fox." 

 When a celebrated hard rider comes to confess that 

 he was beaten two miles in twenty-two minutes, with 

 a good horse and a good start, which I was witness to 

 with the Duke of Rutland's hounds, what can be the 

 difference between going over Leicestershire on a 

 hunter after a fox, or going over the Beacon at New- 

 market on a race-horse ? The pace, when going, 

 must be nearly the same ; and the only thing that can 

 enable the hunter to continue it, is the relief he gets 

 by being pulled up at his fences. If, therefore, the 

 pace of a hunter — and it is the pace that kills — is 

 anything like the pace of the race-horse, the prepara- 

 tion for that pace should be in some measure similar, 

 or we must admit that he has not fair play. 



There is an expression at the beginning of this paper 

 which is entitled to particular consideration. I say 

 that " all measures which tend to throw Nature out 

 of her destined course by violence are bad." Now 

 we must be aware that Nature never intended that 

 a horse should eat a peck or six quarterns of com 

 in a day besides beans or peas ; be kept in an under 



