THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



call fox-huntino- — has ^^aiiied much by the change. Gentle- 

 men have so many other pursuits in view, that I give 

 the preference to the servant, who, we know, has none other 

 and is, on that account, if a man of talent, more likely to 

 succeed. Besides, the situation of a huntsman is very trying 

 to the temper, and your " gentleman " too often flies out, where 

 the servant remains passive. However, as I know you to be 

 a devillslt good-tempered fellow, and, I have reason to believe, 

 a thorough sportsman, there is no harm in your trying the 

 experiment of hunting your own hounds ; forasmucli as, if it 

 do not succeed, you can but fall back on a substitute. All I 

 will say now, then, is that I will Inush up my memory on 

 some points, and give you the result of my reminiscences and 

 reflections at the earliest period within my power. In the 

 meantime, believe me, yours truly, 



'John Warde. 



'To Francis Eaby, Esq., etc. etc' 



In about a fortnight after the receipt of this friendly letter, 

 our hero was favoured with the following observations from his 

 kind friend and preceptor : 



' I must start with your start. Do you purchase, or get 

 together a pack of your own ? I should recommend the former 

 at a liberal price. It will save you much trouble, and be the 

 cheapest plan in the end. If 3'ou collect a pack — like 

 Harlequin's snutF, a pinch out of every man's box — have 

 nothing to do but with kennels of the highest character, for the 

 better the hounds are, the less bad, of course, will be the 

 drafts, and vice versa. For example, who would accept of a 



hound drafted from C 's pack ? At all events, if you 



determine on forming a pack by drafts from diflerent kennels, 

 don't fail purchasing twice as many as you may require, for 

 depend on it, one half of them will be useless. Ask yourself 

 the question — " Who would draft (juod hounds ? " You are 

 then purchasing faults, which you may never again get rid 

 of. And do not trust to your eye ; I have had hundreds of 

 beautiful hounds, in my time, not worth one day's meal. 

 Indeed, it sometimes strikes me that, as liounds improve in 

 beauty, which they certainly do, they lose other more necessary 

 qualities. This is certainly the case, unless thev aiv bred 



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