AULD LANG SYNE. 343 



man, wholly marred it. The greatest praise is 

 due to Lord Althorp and Mr. Drake, as sports- 

 men, for changing the character of their hounds, 

 but we are not sure that more credit is not to 

 be attached to Tom Bebright than to either of 

 them. The former had a steady pack to begin with, 

 and the latter only wanted tongue; whereas Tom 

 went to sea without a compass, and having every fault 

 to contend against without one redeeming virtue. 

 How he got them right, or how long he was about 

 it, we know not, but that he did it is an accomplished 

 fact, as for many years he has had a pack which the 

 proudest man in the realm might well be proud of. 

 There is a Latin adage, the English of which is, " If 

 a man is not born a poet, you can't make him one." 

 Tom was bred and born a sportsman. His father, 

 old Tom Sebright, knew hunting thoroughly, and 

 hunted the New Forest hounds some fifty-three years 

 ago. 



The hunting in that country, in the month of 

 April, is charming beyond description. A bright 

 gaudy day is not generally supposed to be favourable 

 for hunting ; but in the New Forest, in the spring, 

 it cannot be too brilliant ; in fact, in wet weather 

 they can do nothing. About the year 1802 they 

 hunted thirteen days in April, and perhaps the first 

 or second of May, and killed eleven foxes after a 

 run : not the sort of run you have in Leicestershire, 

 of ten or twelve miles from point to point, but to a 

 man who really likes hunting it is inconceivably 

 beautiful. With good health, youth on your side, 

 pink and leathers in prime trim, and a pleasant nag, 

 nothing could be more enchanting or heart-stirring 

 than the meet in the New Forest on a lovely morn- 

 ing. The bogs in that country, which extend for 

 miles, are as deep as the lake of Avernus ; and if 

 you get in, you will never get out again, at least with 

 your horse. Here the foxes delight to lie ; and see- 



