LETTER XXVI. 283 



themselves little trouble what they are running after. 

 That a good sportsman may be of service sometimes to 

 hounds is very true, but it is the best plan to admit of 

 no interference at all by amateurs, and a pack of hounds 

 must be wretched indeed to stand in need of such assist- 

 ance. Real lovers of the sport may do good in many 

 ways, such as keeping the ground clear of stragglers, 

 where the fox is likely to break, preventing too much 

 noise, giving the hounds time to settle to the scent be- 

 fore the host come clattering on their heels, &c. ; but 

 the less they say to the hounds the better. 



Half the checks which occur in a season are caused 

 by men riding too close upon the hounds, and driving 

 them over the scent ; and most annoying it is to a master 

 to see often the whole field bent upon destroying that 

 which he is anxiously endeavouring to afford them — a 

 good run. What any amateur has to do riding along- 

 side of the leading couples, I am at a loss to comprehend, 

 where even the huntsman has no occasion to be, unless 

 he is troubled with short sight. I maintain that no man 

 should ride in such near proximity to the hounds, and 

 where he cannot help doing mischief. To the left or 

 right hand of the pack, as the wind may be, is the hunts- 

 man's place, but not so near to the leading hounds as to 

 prevent or interfere with their swinging either to the 

 right or left, when the scent fails at head. They should 

 have always room for this. The eye of the huntsman 

 ought always to be intently fixed upon the leading 

 hounds, and he must be a stupid fellow if he cannot 

 detect in a moment when they have no scent before them. 

 By riding at their head he encourages others to follow 

 his example ; and if the hounds throw up suddenly, they 



