RIDINC; TO HOUNDS 



The magistrates of the Greek Repulilic encouraged music and the 

 fine arts as a cheek against the ferocity of manners which their 

 gymnastic and mihtary exercises might have inspired ; but, at the 

 present day, we have more need of alarm lest the manly diversions 

 should decline, and there should be " nothing left to counteract the 

 feminine and enervating effects of luxurious and fashionable 

 manners." We have not the Campus Martins — -we know nothing of 

 the Romana Militia ; and it is to the sports of the field alone — sports 

 so congenial to our nature — that we are to look for a counterbalance 

 to the evil alluded to, and for the preservation of that manly 

 character which has ever been the distinguishing feature of an 

 English gentleman. It has even been asserted, that to sportsmen are 

 we indebted for preserving the human race from degenerating : of 

 this, however, we are certain, that the sports of the field promote 

 real courage ; for what chance, says a popular writer, would a regi- 

 ment composed of men who could only dance, sing, and act plays, 

 have against one composed of men who could ride, box and shoot ! 



Riding is an accomphshment which has been held in the highest 

 estimation from the very earliest ages, and was rewarded at the 

 Olympic Games. It once formed part of the education of youth ; and 

 we find Cicero, with the vanity generally attending his writings, 

 telling his son Marcus, that as, on account of his father's fame, the 

 eyes of all the world would be upon him, he congratulated him on 

 having received the praise of Pompey for his riding. Lord Chester- 

 field recommended this accomplishment to his son ; as did Lord 

 Chatham to his nephew ; and even a Rajah of Seringapatam does not 



A a 



