36 THE BADMINTON HUNT. 



individual were to molest a fox, a pheasant, 

 or a hare, within the district, he would be 

 unworthy of the name of an Englishman. 



An anecdote is related of Philip Payne, 

 who was engaged as huntsman in 1802, 

 which very forcibly exemplifies the pre- 

 vailing modes of treating hounds in those 

 days. After feeding, and when about to walk 

 them out into the park, the whippers-in 

 proceeded, according to custom, to couple 

 up the hounds. " Oh, take those couples 

 away ! " he exclaimed ; "we don't want 

 them." To which the whipper-in rejoined : 

 " We always couple them, sir ; that they 

 may not break away after the deer." 

 Philip's mandate, however, was imperative; 

 and the hounds evinced no disposition to 

 riot. A happy change has taken place 

 since those days ; kindness and quietness 

 has superseded harshness and abuse, and 

 hounds are infinitely steadier and more 

 handy. Philip Payne was a practised 



