THE EOTAL BUCKHOTTNDS. 117 



satisfaction on several occasions. Soon the towers of 

 the grand old castle are left behind, and I pass through 

 Eton, journeying in the direction of Bray, experiencing 

 the feeling of exhilaration consequent upon being 

 mounted on a pleasant horse and moving quickly 

 through the crisp air of the early morning. 



All nature looks smiling and gay, 



So I'll join the glad throng, 



And go laughing along, 

 For we'll all go a-hunting to-day 



as the old song says. Well, of all sports there can be 

 little doubt that hunting bears off the palm ; and though 

 there is a small section of our legislators who would put 

 an end to field-sports of every description, by destroying 

 the game, cutting down the plantations, rooting up the 

 gorse- covers, felling the ancient oaks and elms, levelling 

 the beautiful hedgerows and fern-clad banks, plough- 

 ing up the deer-parks, and consequently driving the 

 country gentlemen, thus deprived of their sports, to seek 

 amusements in other far-off places, I do not think, 

 looking at present prospects, that that state of things 

 will occur in my time. It is tolerably certain that I 

 shall not live to see " the stately halls of England/' the 

 mansions of the nobility, and the grand old historic 

 castles shut up and dismantled, whilst the country is 

 divided into two-acre holdings and occupied by a 

 peasant proprietary. No, I don't think it will happen 

 in my time ; and I fancy that as long as I can ride to 

 hounds I shall find green fields to gallop over, good 

 covers to draw, and stout foxes to follow ; and if after 

 my time by chance this social deluge should swamp the 

 country, I for one at any rate shall be safely landed. 



