DOGS. 247 



I shall, however, make one observation, which is, 

 that a dog is far more likely to become a first-rate 

 one, by being made a companion of, and corrected 

 by rating and shaming him, than by being kept 

 entirely away from the breaker, except to be taken 

 tmthe field, and there flogged for every fault he com- 

 imts. I had a friend in Dorsetshire, who was not only 

 one of the best shots that ever lived, but who had, per- 

 haps, the very best dogs in Europe, and I know this 

 was his plan. 



[In the fourth edition, I observed that any one who 

 had been much in the west of England would know 

 who I meant ; but I now sincerely regret to add that 

 this gentleman died in 1825. While he lived, the 

 public mention of his name might have been thought 

 a liberty ; but now that he is no more, I feel it a duty 

 a tribute due to his memory. The sportsman alluded 

 to was Bayles Wardell, Esq., who, take him for every 

 thing, was one of the very best shooting sportsmen that 

 ever went into a field ! To say of any man that he 

 was the best shot in England, would be as bold an as- 

 sertion as to say that there was any man in England 

 who could shoot better than Mr. Wardell !] 



With regard to spaniels, they are, nine times in ten, 

 so badly broken in, as, in general, to be only fit to drive 

 a large wood ; but, if taught to keep always within 

 half a gunshot, they are the best dogs in existence for 

 working among hassocks and briars. They should be 

 trained very young, or they require an unmerciful deal 

 of flogging ; and it is sometimes advisable, at first, to 

 hunt them with a forefoot tied up in the collar. 



If you have occasion to punish a dog, which I should 



