OF SELBORNE. 29 



diversion : but, in the following winter, when the hinds 

 were also carried off, such fine chases were exhibited 

 as served the country people for matter of talk and 

 wonder for years afterwards. I saw myself one of the 

 yeomen-prickers single out a stag from the herd, and 

 must confess that it was the most curious feat of acti- 

 vity I ever beheld, superior to any thing in Mr. Astley's 

 riding-school. The exertions made by the horse and 

 deer much exceeded all my expectations ; though the 

 former greatly excelled the latter in speed. When the 

 devoted deer was separated from his companions, they 

 gave him, by their watches, law, as they called it, for 

 twenty minutes ; when, sounding their horns, the stop- 

 dogs were permitted to pursue, and a most gallant 

 scene ensued. 



LETTER VII. 



TO THE SAME. 



THOUGH large herds of deer do much harm to the 

 neighbourhood, yet the injury to the morals of the 

 people is of more moment than the loss of their crops. 

 The temptation is irresistible ; for most men are sports- 

 men by constitution : and there is such an inherent 

 spirit for hunting in human nature, as scarce any 

 inhibitions can restrain. Hence, towards the beginning 

 of this century, all this country was wild about deer- 

 stealing. Unless he was a hunter, as they affected to 

 call themselves, no young person was allowed to be pos- 

 sessed of manhood or gallantry. The Waltham blacks 

 at length committed such enormities, that government 

 was forced to interfere with that severe and sanguinary 

 act called the black act 1 , which now comprehends 

 more felonies than any law that ever was framed 

 before. And, therefore, a late Bishop of Winchester, 



1 Statute 9 Geo. I. c. 22. 



