THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



as the talent which gives him tlie most (hstinouislied pre- 

 eminence over his own species. Study it, then, as you regard 

 the wishes — I may say more — the desires of 



' Youi- affectionate uncle, 



'Beaumont Raby.' 



To this epistle, our hero returned the following reply : — 

 ' My dear Uncle, — 



' It is with much regret that I find myself compelled to 

 decline complying with any wish of yours, particularly with one 

 so earnestly expressed as that which is the subject of your last 

 kind letter. But the fact is, being confident that my enjoyment 

 of life is one of the objects most dear to your heart, I have less 

 compunction in refusing to grant your present request than 

 I should otherwise feel. I have more than one objection to 

 becoming a member of Parliament. First, on the score of 

 expense, for, as it is my wish to keep not less than six hunters 

 (I have four now — my father has just made me a present of 

 two), and I mean to be absent from home, in some of the best 

 hunting countries, during the winter, it would surely involve 

 me in expenses which I might not be able to meet, for, as you 

 are aware, my allowance from my father is only £800 a j^ear. 

 Then, again, of what use should I be in Parliament with my 

 slender experience of the world, and no knowledge of business 

 beyond adding up a bill ? I suppose I might, if called upon, 

 make a tolerable speech — that is to say, if it were on a subject 

 with which I was conversant ; and without being so, the 

 tongue of the Demosthenes would be useless. But, to tell you 

 the truth, I am not so much enamoured as yourself, with the 

 effects of fine oratory ; neither do I think it is altogether neces- 

 sary to dress up the new-born occurrences of the day in the 

 pompous robe of history. Your fine talkers always remind me 

 of the fable of Narcissus — they fall in love with their own 

 voices, as he did with lii.s own face. Did the flaming speeches 

 or strong remonstrances of Demosthenes (indeed, old Juvenal 

 tells us he had better have remained a blacksmith) banish cor- 

 ruption from Athens ? Did what is called the masterpiece of 

 Cicero's orations prevent the banishment of Milo, or his invec- 

 tive against Anton}^ destroy the power of that tyrant ? Was 

 not He " who spake as never man spake," disregarded and per- 

 secuted to death by the multitude ? Can human elocution 



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