128 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



Having been myself a master of foxhounds for many 

 years, I know how necessary it is that a good under- 

 standing should exist between adjoining hunts, and I 

 have also seen the ill effects of a contrary feeling. The 

 enemies of fox-hunting are not slow to take advantage of 

 any rupture between masters of hounds ; and a little 

 flame, when adroitly fanned, will soon become a devouring 

 element, and the whole country be involved in a general 

 conflagration. It is much to be regretted that a club 

 has never yet been formed by masters of foxhounds, such 

 as the Jockey Club, to whose decision disputes might be 

 referred, when there existed any just grounds of ques- 

 tionable legality — as to occupancy of, or title to country. 

 Such a club was attempted some few years since by Lord 

 Hawk and other influential and well-disposed masters of 

 hounds, but soon fell to the ground, from the want, I 

 should say, of an active secretary, who ought to have 

 first been appointed, to carry such a measure into effect. 

 Masters of hounds have generally their hands full of 

 business, and dislike taking upon themselves more, but, 

 were a secretary appointed at first by a certain number 

 of influential masters, whose office it should be to write 

 letters, and obtain the consent of the masters of fox- 

 hounds generally throughout the country, I think the 

 plan would succeed, and a club be formed which might 

 be inferior to none in point of respectability,, and the 

 high station in life of many of its members. 



1 think it will be admitted by even large game pre- 

 servers that the laws of fox-hunting are rather a protec- 

 tion to them than otherwise. Were it in the power of 

 every owner of coverts to choose his own pack, what 

 endless confusion would ensue throughout the length 



