LETTER II. 13 



pack, we must try and make one up with the best ma- 

 terials at hand. 



It may be considered invidious my making comparison 

 between the many first-rate establishments now in ex- 

 istence ; I should, therefore, select from those kennels 

 where the oldest and best blood is to be found, and also 

 from those where I should be likely to obtain hounds 

 suitable to my purpose. Whatever huntsmen may say 

 about their old draft, look always with most suspicion 

 upon hounds of three and four years old. They may tell 

 you they are too high or too low, too fast or too slow ; 

 but the truth is, they are too faulty for them to keep. 

 It is but fair you should have them with others. You 

 take the draft as it is, and must make the best of it. 

 The five and six seasoned hounds are the only ones you 

 can depend upon in this lot ; and if you obtain your 

 drafts from the grass countries you will have a better 

 chance, as they generally draft hounds, although very 

 good, which cannot keep the pace in a flying country ; 

 but they will make a very fair fight in a provincial or 

 wooded one. These will form your body-guard — tried 

 and veteran troops — upon whose steadiness you must 

 rest your hopes of final victory. I commenced in this 

 way myself ; and being fortunate in having a friend who 

 was doing the same thing, he agreed to take all I did not 

 require at two guineas per couple. Having such a 

 chance, I did not mince the matter ; but got together all 

 the drafts I could lay my hands upon from good kennels, 

 both young and old, so that I had the picking of nearly 

 a hundred couples of hounds to begin with. 



The best blood at that time was to be found in the 

 kennels of the Dukes of Grafton, Beaufort, and Rutland, 



