THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 17^ 



others will, regardless of temperature, keep to certain 

 days for the dispensing with, or commencement of, 

 the enjoyment of a fire ; but I never yet could un- 

 derstand the merit of being regulated by anything but 

 natural inclination, upon rational principles, in these 

 particulars. If all are merry, and none weary, or 

 wishing to be gone, why mind the clock ? I can see 

 no reason for curtailing the pleasures of the dance, 

 though they should reach the meridian of the follow- 

 ing day ; nor, by the same token, should it be pro- 

 tracted one instant for the sake of being, what is called, 

 kept up, though it had not endured an hour. The ther- 

 mometer is a better guide than the almanac, as to fire 

 and clothing ; you may be lounging alfresco at Christ- 

 mas, and stirring up the sea-coal at midsummer. There 

 is no rule for these things ; and when hounds have 

 wound up their fox properly, in a run exceeding forty 

 minutes, unless they are very short of work indeed, 

 under any circumstances, I question the propriety of 

 drawing again. It is far better to take them home 

 satisfied, to leave off well, flushed with success ; or you 

 may undo all that has been done. With regard to 

 short days, I hold it far more advisable, on a day which 

 has proved so decidedly adverse as to preclude all 

 chance of sport, to retire at once, appointing an extra 

 day in the same week, than to persevere without hope 

 of any amendment in weather or scent, for want of 

 which, hounds are getting every moment more disgusted. 

 On the other hand, should the day be favourable, I 



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