234 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



should be guided. To affirm that such are or ever will be 

 (in these unlawful aggressions upon the just prerogative 

 of the master of foxhounds) countenanced or supported 

 by any real gentleman or true sportsman is a calumny. 

 No gentleman would degrade himself by practices so 

 little according with those feelings and characteristics 

 which distinguish as plainly his bearing in all relations of 

 life, as the character of a high-bred foxhound is distin- 

 guished from that of a crop-eared cur. Let each man 

 pursue his own calling, or his own favourite amusement, 

 whether in pursuit of a fox, hare, or stag ; but let him 

 not interfere illegally and unfairly with his neighbour's 

 sport. Never let that golden maxim be lost sight of 

 which prescribes to all alike — " Do to others as you 

 would they should do unto you." 



To afford no grounds of excuse for any such inter- 

 lopers, masters of foxhounds should hunt their country 

 regularly, the bad and the good in succession. A con- 

 trary practice will give the disaffected good cause to 

 murmur, and, as a certain consequence, foxes will be de- 

 stroyed either by keepers and farmers, or caught by 

 poachers. He who would keep a country well together 

 must make up his mind to draw both bad coverts and 

 good ones as systematically as he takes bad and good 

 scenting days, to suit the public convenience, and if he 

 fails to do so he will assuredly fail in giving general satis- 

 faction or ensuring good sport. When the best part 

 of a country only is regularly hunted, your best foxes 

 will shift their quarters to more distant places, where, if 

 undisturbed by hounds, they may remain the greater part 

 of the hunting season, or until such time as their career 

 is cut short by some more ignoble fate ; so that in these 



