LETTER XL 



The first business in fox hunting is, as an old and staunch 

 friend to this sport once expressed to me, to draw at 

 once those places where you are most likely to find a 

 fox. The day often turns ofi* unexpectedly, and, gene- 

 rally speaking, the morning is the best time for scent. 

 The hounds are also fresh, and a good hard running fox 

 is much more easily disposed of satisfactorily before two 

 o'clock than after that hour. I have no objection to 

 give every fox a fair chance for his life at starting ; no 

 mobbing and hustling as soon as he is upon his legs ; but 

 let him be fairly found, and go fairly away, and then, 

 my masters, catch him if you can. Beckford, perhaps, 

 might call me a fool for giving any fair play at all ; but 

 it is the only way to ensure good sport, and make good 

 hounds. If, when a fox is first found, the huntsman 

 begins hallooing and screaming, the whippers in/ollow- 

 ing suit, and half the field joining in the hue and cry, 

 your fox will be headed back ; the hounds becoming wild 

 with excitement, will dash over the scent, and, " Act 

 1st," a failure. A good fox will make his point after all, 

 so you may as well, and better, let him have it at once. 



In the early part of the season, when the hazel coverts 

 are disturbed by nutters and shooters, the most likely 

 places to find foxes are in the short underwood of two 



