THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 69 



and I will venture to say that nothing but blood could 

 have gone throughout the whole of such a day. Enough, 

 however, of the breeding of our hunters, let us remem- 

 ber, only, that upon their ability to go depends all our 

 chance of seeing anything of the sort of run we are all 

 anxious to see, and that to be prepared for any enjoy- 

 ment of the burst which occurs some fine morning, 

 when least expected, from some covert, the very last "one 

 would have thought of" to hold such a fox, our horses, 

 must he in condition. 



For the most useful hints upon this most important 

 point, I would refer every one to Nimrod's letters, which 

 I consider as gospel on the subject : though it is long 

 since I read them, on their first coming out, I remember 

 enough of them to know that they are to be recom- 

 mended for sound precept, and that it will be well with 

 yourself and your horses if you adhere to the rules they 

 contain. To the publication of these letters are we in- 

 debted for the commencement of a new era, a general 

 revolution, in the treatment of horses. Many were the 

 prejudices to be contended with, before the folly of the 

 old regime was sufficiently manifested. Every one is 

 incHned to be, more or less, 



■ " Laudator temporis acti, 



Be puero ;" 



and it was some time before the new doctrine of summer- 



