X PREFACE. 



but SO far from attempting any such alteration of my 

 text, as might constitute a deviation from his jiath, T 

 have been proud to find that I have unconsciously 

 trodden in his steps. The mode of treatment cannot 

 be very dissimilar, where both are impressed with the 

 same exalted view of the subject. It is not necessary 

 that a painter should expunge the effect of a rainbow 

 from his landscape, because he finds that the idea had 

 previously been adopted by another artist. 



To all other faults of this work will be superadded 

 that of egotism. The third person is more consistent 

 with the labour of composition ; like the editorial 

 " we," it may afford some aml)ush, or may soften the 

 asperity of didactics ; but hoping that, while I am 

 above ground, no one will ever draw for me without 

 a certainty of finding, I have preferred egotistically 

 to answer in my own person, for every precept I have 

 ventured to propagate ; have adhered throughout, 

 " currente calamo," to the epistolary style, and may 

 safely affirm, that from the first to the last line com- 

 mitted to press, I have not made two copies of one 

 single page. 



If I am taxed with undue criticism upon The Diary 

 of a Huntsman, or with a desire to disparage that 

 production, the manner in which I have spoken of 

 its autlior, as a sportsman, previous to his appearance 

 as a penman, must acquit me of anything approaching, 

 in the remotest degree, to personal disrespect. To 

 have been silent altogether, would have argued that 



