THE NOBLE SCIENCE, 249 



country/' the object of these meetings is, a regular 

 audit, a systematic settlement of accounts. The only 

 difference between these, and the generality of such 

 meetings on business, is this, that here each guest, 

 instead of disbursing, is prepared with a stated demand 

 for certain dues, to be then and there received, previous 

 to participation in the cheer provided for him by his 

 debtor. After a rigid scrutiny of all claims, by the 

 huntsman, who is the chancellor of exchequer on 

 these occasions, two hundred and fifty pounds is the 

 least which can be set down, in round numbers, as the 

 sum which passes through his hands in distribution ; 

 and it is well, then, if he succeeds in giving satisfaction 

 to the majority. Here is a distinct charge upon the 

 country, averaging from two hundred and seventy, to 

 three hundred pounds per annum, for the finding of 

 foxes only ; not one shilling for the hire of an acre ; 

 not one sixpence towards compensation for damages ; 

 but every farthing as a bonus upon the mere preserva- 

 tion of animals, which would otherwise be destroyed as 

 vermin. Although I have heard of no other country 

 where a fox is better worth his weight in gold, I find 

 that, in some others, it is customary to give as much as 

 half a sovereign for each find. This, though not alto- 

 gether a sovereign remedy, is meeting the evil half way, 

 and the reduction in the sum total would, of course, be 

 commensurate. But in how many more countries, ay, 

 and in the midst of game preserves, do foxes swarm, 

 where nothing in shape of a reward is given ; where 



