shows the HberaUty of hunting, (if I may so express it), 

 it is "Old Jorrocks." His character shows us how a 

 tallow chandler and good sportsman can be combined, 

 and how the essence of vulgarity even is capable of 

 establishing itself in our estimation. Merely because the 

 sporting instinct was nurtured, grew, and triumphed in 

 the same personation, and set its mark on him, so un- 

 mistakeably that to aristocrat and democrat alike he was 

 a sportsman first, and a fine old cad afterwards ; stand- 

 ing up bravely and consistently for his pink cloth, and 

 shaming all those who were half-hearted or unreal in 

 their sporting tastes. 



It is because I believe hunting to hold the first place 

 in the affections of the many in the district where oay 

 lot is now cast that I have ventured to republish, in the 

 form of a diary, my notes on the past hunting season. 

 We cannot burnish any baser metal to the brightness of 

 gold, nor can I make the doings of our chronicle, rub them 

 up as industriously as possible, shine so brightly as I 

 would. The truth must be told that the season of 

 1884-85 has been a disappointing one, from causes many, 

 and not far to seek. 



First of all it followed the best on record. 



Secondly : It opened with an exceptionally dry 

 Autumn, and this want of moisture has more or less 

 been maintained throughout. 



Thirdly : Scent, (consequent chiefly on the first two 

 reasons,) has been unprecedently bad and uncertain, 

 except on the grass. 



Fourthly : The foxes have run short. Gone to ground 

 almost invariably, and, in some parts, have been 

 decidedly scarce. 



This last reason I attribute to three causes. More 

 old foxes were killed last season than usual, and, conse- 

 quently, old dog foxes were not so numerous as they 

 should have been at the opening of the season. Then 

 cubs were; more plentiful than usual, and have run 



