Conclusion. 31 1 



The nobleman at once said he would give him 

 a much better living in order to be rid of him I 



Having at length brought my book to a con- 

 clusion, I must crave the indulgence of my 

 readers, and beg them to take into consideration 

 the fact that I was never entered for, nor intended 

 to be, an author; and I must apologise for the 

 liberty I have taken in placing such a production 

 before the public. 



It really ought to have been a good book had it 

 been handled with more talent. One thing may 

 be said in its favour, namely, that it is for the 

 most part a statement of facts, the bulk of which 

 were witnessed by the Author, and the remainder 

 can be vouched for. 



It is fair to assume that the period of fifty years 

 treated of in this book will compare favourably 

 with any similar period in the history of fox- 

 hunting ; and certainly men are mentioned who 

 are or were as good as England ever produced. 



As it did not seem possible for me to relate all 

 my experiences in one book, so a great many 

 ofood men whom I have met are not named, and 

 much more might easily have been written of 

 those who have been named ; but I have en- 

 deavoured not to " dwell on the line" and become 

 prosy. 



