THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 26)) 



The time is then at hand so well described by one un- 

 conscious of all the beauties he depicted : — 



" Nor yet the hawthorn bore her berries red, 

 With which the fieldfare, wintry guest, is fed ; 

 Nor Autumn yet had dash'd from every spray, 

 With her chill hand, the mellow leaves away : 

 But corn was housed, and beans were in the stack, 

 Now, therefore, issued forth the spotted pack." 



COWPER. 



The racing campaign has terminated with the New- 

 market Houghton Meeting, and then is the time when all 

 the chivalry of England find their minds attuned to the 

 sport not elsewhere so to be enjoyed in all the king" 

 doms of the earth. The desire of the one sport leaves 

 St. James's tenantless ; the bow-windows of White's and 

 Boodle's are deserted ; their occupants are then, as they 

 have been humorously delineated by Mr. Paul, " candi- 

 dates for Brookess." Happily, that one sport still 

 remains uninjured by the march of innovation. The 

 Noble Science flourishes, not only in pristine purity, but 

 in maturity of excellence. The breed of hounds has 

 arrived, if not at absolute perfection, at such a degree 

 as may content its votaries ; nor is there any lack of 

 goodly steeds ; and tell it not in Gath, cry it not in 

 Askelon, that there ever can be lack of foxes ; that any 

 paltry considerations can effect the destruction of a 

 race of animals, possessing attractions alone sufficient 

 to induce a tide of wealth into the country. Those 

 who duly consider what the country would be without 



