LETTER XX. 217 



** forbidden fruit is always the best," and I suppose my 

 worthy friend was of the same opinion. His practice, if 

 rather objectionable, was certainly less so than knocking 

 a hound's head nearly off for committing no fault at all 

 — Medio tutisshnus ibis. 



Whoever begins hunting a new country, with a new 

 pack of hounds got together from different kennels, must 

 expect to meet with difficulties and disappointments, and 

 little else for the first season. A lot of hounds and a 

 pack of hounds are two distinct things, as any novice 

 will soon discover to his cost. I have, however, seen 

 sport occasionally with such, but, being mostly of an ac- 

 cidental nature, it will not last. Hounds ignorant of 

 their country, and unacquainted with each other, cannot 

 •fairly be expected to do much, although very often much 

 is required of them. A new master of hounds, also, un- 

 less he has already been broken in to his business, has 

 a very difficult card to play. A man may have ridden 

 half his life after hounds, and be considered a good 

 sportsman, but the management of an establishment is 

 altogether another affiiir ; he must make up his mind at 

 once, therefore, for rough usage, hard work, and few 

 thanks. He will find plenty of would-be masters in the 

 field, and the chances are, that his huntsman will also be 

 master at home in the kennel, and his stud-groom master 

 in the stable. If master himself in his own house, he 

 may think himself tolerably well ofi^. Domus et placens 

 uxor is a sure and happy relief after all the toils and 

 troubles of a hard day are over. Should the last of these 

 blessings be denied him, the office of a railway porter is 

 a sinecure in comparison with his. 



It is, no doubt, with many, a very fine thing to be 



