THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 43 



manner of your huntsman. Hounds, of course, differ, 

 like all other things in Nature ; and some few, very few, 

 like vicious horses, may have a natural ferocity, indo- 

 mitable. I have heard Sir John Sebright affirm, that 

 there is no mastiff, or bull-dog, by nature more savage 

 than a foxhound ; and it is by patient gentleness of 

 usage, combined with firmness of command, and a 

 method of enforcing obedience, that a whole pack is 

 rendered not only docile, but that mass of engaging, 

 attractive, lovable creatures, that they are generally 

 found to be when a kind huntsman, or master, throws 

 himself amidst a hundred of his darlings. If you see 

 hounds shy at the approach of a huntsman, and difficult 

 to be drafted ; if they evidently obey his voice from 

 compulsion rather than inclination, it is the result 

 either of want of temper, or bad manner with them : 

 probably of both. They should seem to bask in the 

 sunshine of his smiles ; they will get so familiarized 

 with him, that a whistle, a wave of his hand, or the 

 slightest indication, will convey to them his desire : 

 they will thus, in casting, wheel right or left, and move 

 in column, like a squadron of horse on a field-day. 



There is, in the human constitution, what is, by 

 medical and learned men, termed idiosyncracy, — a fine 

 long word, meaning a peculiarity ; I should, perhaps, 

 say individuality — requiring separate and distinct treat- 

 ment. The plain English may be found in the old 

 saying, that " What is one man's meat, is another man's 

 poison." In the discovery of this peculiarity in the 



