238 THE NOBLE SCIENCK. 



that spirit of harmony which should prevail, and ever 

 be maintained, between two neighbouring Hunts, It 

 appeared that, upon a great controversy which occupied 

 so much of the attention of the sporting world last sea- 

 Ron, public opinion was very much, almost entirely, on one 

 side, in favour of the retention of country by the party 

 to whom it had been conceded, without reservation ; 

 but upon the ''audi alteram ^)rtrie?n" principle, and 

 taking into account the quarter from whence the 

 attempt at recovery proceeded, it is only justice to sup- 

 pose, that such claims, however difficult to establish, 

 were founded on the fairest grounds. A similar diffe- 

 ence, but of less notoriety, has, since then, occurred in 

 another district. In this case, again, the right, according 

 to the opinion of competent judo^es, seems to have been 

 easily determined ; but if once such questions are agi- 

 tated — if doubts are once admitted within the range of 

 argument, it is no easy matter, "tantas componere Utes." 

 However amicably such disputes may have commenced, 

 bad blood is rapidly engendered, and open rupture too 

 soon succeeds to the coolness occasioned by protracted 

 litigation, which must terminate to the dissatisfaction of 

 one competitor, if not of both. Something after th® 

 manner of racing rules, as matter of reference, might be 

 advantageous to those called upon to arbitrate in such 

 cases. Possession is said to comprise nine points of the 

 law ; but this will not hold good in fox-hunting, unless 

 a better title to the occupation of the country is suffi- 

 ciently manifest. Our Hertfordshire country is, in all 



