THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 129 



it did formerly, to dress like a gentleman ; and as it is 

 not absolutely necessary that port wine and black- 

 currant jelly should be the chief ingredients of proper 

 blacking, or that the boot-top liquid should actually 

 be composed of champagne and apricot-jam, according 

 to the most approved University prescriptions, it is 

 to be hoped that such boots as those worn by his Grace 

 of Dorset may long retain their supremacy, not only 

 as the most becoming, but the most appropriate. It 

 would be difficult, perhaps presumptuous, to offer any 

 rules for hunting-apparel, unless possessed of the ability 

 with which Colonel Hawker has given instructions 

 for the dress of the shooter, — as the colour of the 

 upper garment is almost universally the same, and 

 the cut of it must, of course, be regulated by the taste 

 of the wearer,— -but to the precaution against wet and 

 cold which would suggest lamb's-wool stockings and 

 thick soles for the feet, I would venture to add that 

 of a lining of flannel to the coat, as a measure of no 

 little comfort and utility. It is said, that Mr. Brummel's 

 orders to his tailor were, to " keep continually sending 

 leather breeches ;" but I venture to recommend leather 

 in preference to all others, because they are almost 

 everlasting, and, therefore, though double the price at 

 first, are cheapest and best in the end. It is a common 

 error to suppose that they are attended with any 

 inconvenience in wet weather ; this might have been 

 the case once, when they were made to fit like the 

 tightest pantaloons ; but, as they are now made, they 



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