264 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



master of hounds had nothing whatever to do with the 

 sport, further than that of providing what belongs to 

 him, of the means necessary to its enjoyment, the 

 country might still be sufficiently indebted to him. If 

 he properly performs his duty to the utmost that can 

 reasonably be expected of him — if all in his department 

 be " done well, and as it should be done," he may, with 

 the truth and modesty, and in the words of Othello, 

 say — 



" I have done the State some service, and they know it : 

 No more of that." 



The remedies which I would suggest, for all that is objec- 

 tionable in the administration of general affairs, affecting 

 the commonwealth of the hunt, may be comprehended 

 in a few words ; — I would not entirely abolish rewards 

 to keepers, by way of encouragement, in shape of 

 douceurs at Christmas, or at the end of the season ; but 

 I would have no regular charge for finds, nor even 

 regular charges for earth-stopping, excepting in coverts 

 expressly hired for the purposes of the hunt. There, 

 such payments might be a part of the wages of those 

 employed ; but I would have the preservation of the 

 foxes, and the stopping of the earths for hunting, 

 matters entirely dependant upon their respective pro- 

 prietors. I would have every lord of a domain, make 

 a point of enforcing his determination to contribute, 

 gratuitously, all in his power to the noble sport. In- 



