198 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



than rabbits, instead of waiting, as is our fate, in 

 Herts, for the progress of harvest. Such woodlands 

 are immensely in favour of a huntsman, affording him 

 abundant opportunity for making young hounds ; indeed, 

 leaving no excuse for unsteadiness. 



Mr. Smith, in recommendino^ cub-huntinof of an even- 

 ing, instead of at dawn of day, says, that he is " not 

 aware that this plan has ever been adopted by any other 

 person ;" still he is *' bold enough to assert that it is a 

 good one." I can make bold to recommend it to those 

 who prefer sunset to sunrise, as having been successfully 

 practised, from time immemorial, in the establishments 

 at Wakefield and Brocklesby, by the present Lord Yar- 

 borough, for the number of years he has been master 

 of hounds ; by his father, and grandfather before him ; 

 by the Dukes of Grafton, and others innumerable. 

 I mention these names (as it would be unfair to adopt 

 any suggestions from the pages of a contemporary 

 writer, without due acknowledgement of the source 

 whence they are derived), merely to prove that I am 

 indebted only to such high authorities for this, with 

 other valuable hints ; and in addressing myself to em- 

 bryo masters of hounds, some of whom may not be 

 physically equal to the fatigue, or in any respect uj) 

 to the trouble of courting the first blush of Aurora, I 

 should have advised such a proceeding, as a custom 

 more consonant with their habits, and by no means 

 uncommon. As the practice, however, cannot be called 

 general, it is no matter of surprise that many should 



