108 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



the end, which is best at the beginning. You need not 

 be imposed upon, or led into extravagant prices ; but you 

 will find the wear and tear in one good article, equal to 

 that of three or four of the inferior. Whether in a 

 master of hounds, purchasing hay, corn, saddlery, and 

 equipments for some twenty or thirty horses, and food 

 for hounds, or whether in the smallest possible estab- 

 lishment of a younger brother, this principle should be 

 adhered to ; not only as a matter of luxury and comfort, 

 but as the plan which will answer best in the long run. 

 Have your saddles, bridles, &:c. from the best makers, 

 and prefer to give a hundred guineas for a sound horse, 

 rather than two fifties for a couple of screws. With 

 good management, and the luck of escaping lamenesses, 

 each horse will come out three days a fortnight at least. 

 With two effective horses a man is safe for three days a 

 week, and will find himself far better carried than those 

 who, having more than they require, bring each out less 

 frequently. All this must, of course, depend, in no 

 slight degree, upon the constitution of horses ; but we 

 are taking the case of the smallest sufficiency of effec- 

 tives. If the fixture do not exceed twelve miles, send 

 your hunter on in the morning, rather than to strange 

 stabhng over night. Upon dismounting from your hack, 

 or whatever may be your conveyance to the rendezvous, 

 be it your first care to look your horse over, and see that 

 he appears all right ; that he has not broken out into 



