THE WHIPPER-IN 73 



Dorsetshire — a country abounding in riot of all 

 sorts, where the covers are large, and there is a 

 chase full of deer and game. True, as Mr. Vyner 

 observes, in a note to this text, that almost all 

 countries now labour under a similar disadvantage 

 from the unhealthy increase of game preserves ; but 

 Dorsetshire, perhaps, is still worse than any, owing 

 to the rather plentiful existence of the little roebuck, 

 which is a sad temptation to hounds at all periods of 

 the chase. Beckford, by no means meant to under- 

 value abilities in a Huntsman ; what he meant to 

 say was, that, situated as he was, he could do better 

 with mediocrity in the Huntsman than in the Whip. 

 Hunting talent was scarce in his day. 



He then gives the following instance of how much 

 more a Whip is at liberty to give play to his genius 

 than the Huntsman, who must necessarily follow his 

 hounds : — 



"A gentleman told me," writes he, "that he heard 

 the famous Will Dean, when his hounds were running 

 hard in a line with Daventry, from whence they were 

 at that time many miles distant, swear exceedingly 

 at the Whipper-in, saying, ' What business have you 

 hereV The man was amazed at the question; 

 * Why, don V you know] said he, ''and be d — d to you, 

 that the great earth at Daventry is ope?i ? ' The man 

 got forward, and reached the earth just time enough to 

 see the fox in." 



Will Dean, or Deane as some spell it, was originally 

 Huntsman to Mr. Childe, who hunted part of Oxford- 

 shire, and doubtless this scene occurred during that 

 time. Dean was afterwards Huntsman with the late 

 Lord Fitzwilliam, who bought Mr. Childe's hounds 

 in 1769, and Dean has the credit of introducing the 

 present dashing style of riding to hounds. He was 

 considered a great authority in former times. 



Mr. Beckford thus recapitulates his qualification for 

 a Whipper-in : — 



