270 MANAGEMENT OF HOUNDS. 



unless I paid her a visit in propria persona, she would 

 have all the foxes killed. This being onl^ twenty-five 

 miles from the kennel, vi^as rather a long ride to make a 

 morning call, v^^hich I told Jim to say the next time he 

 went there. " It won't do, Sir," said Jim, " I have told 

 her that same story once or twice before, and it won't do 

 any longer. Go you must now. Sir, or that litter of 

 cubs will go, that's clear, as the young lady is rather a 

 determined sort of character." " Very well, Jim, if I 

 must go, I may as well go at once, so call me at five 

 o'clock to-morrow morning," 



I have before remarked, that a master of foxhounds 

 who does his duty, has no sinecure in any country. In 

 some he is a slave to the public, and obliged to submit 

 to all kinds of inconveniences to keep things together. 

 He works like a horse, and fares like an ass, which by 

 the way, I undoubtedly think he is, all things considered. 

 Although there is a great deal of what is called luck in 

 fox-hunting, yet a master who is thoroughly acquainted 

 with his business, and has a good pack of hounds, may 

 fairly calculate upon showing sport one season with 

 another. The number of foxes killed (of which huntsmen 

 are so fond of boasting) proves nothing as to the merits 

 of the hounds, or the cleverness of the huntsman. Foxes 

 which lie idle, and do not hear the cry of the hounds for 

 perhaps two consecutive months in the year, are as 

 quickly disposed of as cubs in September. A good 

 country even, ill-managed, will fail to afford sport ; whilst 

 a bad country, under active and able management, will 

 obtain notoriety. We cannot level hills, or change flints 

 into sandstone ; but this I maintain, that a thorough good 

 sportsman will make foxes run and show sport in any 

 country. 



