CHAPTER VII 



" First let the kennel be the huntsman's care, 

 Upon some little eminence erect, 

 And fronting to the ruddy dawn ; its courts 

 On either hand wide opening to receive 

 The sun's all-cheering beams, when mild he shines 

 And gilds the mountain tops." SOMERVILLE. 



THERE is no place where the breeding or care of foxhound 

 puppies, at their walks, is managed so well as at Berkeley Castle ; 

 at least no place that has ever come within my observation where 

 such strict rules are so widely maintained. The tenants are 

 obliged to walk one or two puppies, according to the extent of 

 their farms ; and the gamekeeper, within whose district they are, 

 is expected to visit those puppies and report if they are not 

 going on well, or, in other words, if they have not their liberty, 

 or do not look fat and happy. This constant care and obser- 

 vation is of the utmost service, not only in the rearing of fine 

 puppies, but to the public at large ; not only to the hunting 

 public, but to all ; for as a hundred couples of puppies, more or 

 less, are sent forth to range the fields every year, till the period 

 comes of returning them full-grown to the kennel, if they were 

 neglected, and hydrophobia should break out, it is impossible to 

 conceive the damage that might occur to man and beast ! The 

 precaution adopted, and this keen surveillance, I have not a 

 doubt saved my kennel at Harrold, and perhaps myself, as well 

 as my men, from considerable danger. When my entry for the 

 year was sent to Harrold from Berkeley Castle, the man who 

 brought them delivered to me a letter, stating that there had 



