PREFACE. 



If it be enquired what necessity there existed for the publi- 

 cation of another book on the subject of Fox-hunting, when 

 the works of Beckford and Mr. Delme Rdlcliffe have already 

 exhausted the subject, and left scarcely the shadow of a 

 chance for any writer, however deeply versed in the knowledge 

 of the Noble Science, to offer anything that could compete 

 with these already fully appreciated authors, I reply, that 

 these Letters were never originally intended to appear beyond 

 the columns of BelVs Life ; but numerous applications having 

 been made to the Author to publish them in a separate form, 

 this volume appears, thus summoned, before the Public. To 

 meet the often-repeated question, when the publication would 

 commence, the Letters have been hastily and with few altera- 

 tions submitted to the Press. Perhaps I may be pardoned 

 for making some allusion here to the high though unmerited 

 eulogium which has been passed upon the humble productions 

 of my pen by the highly talented and experienced author of 

 '* The Noble Science," to whom my best thanks are due for 

 the compliment he was pleased to pay me, when these Letters 

 first appeared in BelVs Life, To fluency of language or 



