THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 5 



no pretension ; and that those who may look over (I 

 trust with the intention of overlooking,) these and other 

 failings in the following pages, may find them not wholly 

 deficient in a redeeming portion of plainer Enghsh. 



I have already stated, that much has been written 

 upon subjects far less important to the good of man 

 than hunting ; but having been, in this, my introductory 

 chapter, more than sufficiently prosy, I will not tax the 

 patience of those whom I wish to dip further into this 

 volume, by entering into a consideration of the progress 

 of " The Noble Science " from its origin to its present 

 state of perfection, or of its bearings upon the social 

 character of man ; but I will here briefly record my 

 opinion, that hunting is entitled to all the encouragement 

 which any State may have the power to bestow upon it. 

 The effect of so manly an exercise upon the mind of 

 youth has been well described by abler pens ; its tendency 

 to promote that good fellowship which should be " our 

 being's end and aim " is duly tested by the position of 

 society in those counties where its influence has been 

 most felt. No higher testimony to its practical utility, 

 in a national point of view, can be required than that of 

 as brave a hero as ever drew a sword, — the gallant Lord 

 Lynedoch : — He whom Napoleon characterised as " that 

 daring old man " has often affirmed, that he should not 

 have been the soldier he is, had he not been bred a fox- 

 hunter. 



