THE NEW FOKEST AND THE ROYAL HOUNDS. 277 



places, and huntin;^ may begin earlier and last longer 

 than in more cultivated districts, without damaire to 

 growing crops. An establishment such as the Crown 

 fox-hounds would be, would have the effect of bringing 

 other establishments and studs into the vicinity, and 

 afford place as well as profit to the labouring people. 

 Local gentlemen who will not hunt now because they 

 think that they could not often appear with the 

 hounds unless they subscribed, which they cannot 

 afford to do, would then keep more horses, more villas 

 or hunting boxes would be taken, and, in short, a very 

 general lift to the interests of a poor locality would 

 be afforded by the means thus advocated. With all 

 respect for the Crown, I do not hesitate to affirm, 

 that in its distant possessions — I speak of forests far 

 from Windsor Castle — the poor are infinitely more 

 neglected than around the estates and private forests 

 of the nobility and gentry. 



The good and peaceful have no one to reward them, 

 there is no worldly premium to be won by an honest 

 course of life ; virtue is to all intents and purposes 

 its sole and own reward ; but, on the other hand, 

 vice, theft, and smuggling, are in the ascendant on 

 account of gain and apparent impunity. This state of 

 things is all wrong, and, if I may be permitted to say 

 so, not in accordance with the dignity of the Crown ; 

 and, therefore, in these distant forests, a master-keeper 

 or local steward, or ranger capable and fit to do the 

 duty should be on the spot to keep order, restrain 

 roguery, and reward the industrious and good. The 

 names of ranger, master- keeper, &c., with the ancient 

 appellation of bow-bearer, forsooth ! have been to this 

 day retained without the occupation or care for which 

 that name when instituted was held to be responsible 



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