28 8 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



chapter with the usual gossip — by the relation of what 

 the stud-groom thought, as to the chaiices of Derby or 

 Oaks, according to the future promise of the Tedworth 

 paddocks — of all that the huntsman said upon the 

 strength of his own ideas on the subjects of our con- 

 ference, with many other trifles, of individual rather 

 than of general interest ; but, in this cursory view of 

 Tedworth, I have carefully avoided entering into details 

 to which I am incapable of doing justice, desirous only 

 to give an outline of an establishment w^iich is, in 

 every respect, an honour to the cause which I am 

 advocating. I consider the manner in which fox-hunt- 

 ing is conducted on this side of a county where it is 

 well carried on in every quarter, a fine specimen of the 

 thing " done well, and as it should be done." I have 

 only to add, that Mr. Assheton Smith has thus provided 

 for the sport of his own neighbourhood, hunting four 

 days a week, solely at his own expense ; to repeat, that 

 the successful result of his endeavours has left him no 

 cause to repent of change of country ; and (as my only 

 excuse for any unwarrantable liberty taken with his 

 name), to quote him as a bright example of the satis- 

 faction to be derived from the performance of such a 

 duty as that of residence upon his own property. 



In an author's task, according to Lord Byron, there 

 is nothing so difficult as the beginning ; " except, per- 

 haps, the end." The noble poet might have written 

 less doubtingly. " Finis coronat opus," is one of those 

 wise saws, fully supported by modern instances. It is 

 that which makes the lover pause, " ere he set his seal 



