242 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



means the least of the bargain. No one, who had 

 enjoyed that plenty, would like to brave any alterations 

 which might be calculated to affect (however tempora- 

 rily), the existence of such an essential. 



" 'Tis better far to bear tlie ills we have, 

 Than fly to others which we know not of ;" 



and, perhaps, it is as immaterial to the master of the 

 hounds, as to any one of his constituents, that he 

 should " hold a candle to the devil ;" or, to use another 

 vulgarism, *' pay through the nose" for everything, 

 lliese demands come within calculation of the expenses 

 of the country ; they are nothing new, nor can they be 

 matters with which any one can be unacquainted, on 

 taking office. It is less, therefore, on behalf of masters 

 of hounds, than as a matter worthy the consideration of 

 any himt, about to commence de novo, or having the 

 power of improving the usual order of things, that I 

 have alluded to defects in the management of countries, 

 and have expressed a desire for change of system. In 

 offering a show of reason for such a wish, it will be 

 right to point out a few of the present evils, which 

 appear to me chiefly to require new enactments, and 

 for such a task I may not be perhaps, altogether, un- 

 qualified, considering that in Hertfordshire they have 

 been allowed to increase, and arrive at an extent, which 

 lias, I believe, no parallel in any other country. In so 

 doing, inasmuch as I cannot contemplate the prospect 

 of any change in my own time (nor could I countenance 



