LETTER XXIX. 319 



these prejudices should not exist. There is plenty of 

 room in this land of liberty for every man to follow his 

 own pursuits, without infringing upon the rights of 

 another. 



Fox-hunting is all very well in its way, so is hare- 

 hunting, so also is game-preserving ; neither is there any 

 reason or just cause why fox-hunters, hare-hunters, and 

 game-preservers should not co-exist in the same country, 

 and be upon the best terms, as neighbours ought to be. 

 Our friends of the trigger must not suppose that fox- 

 hunters wish by any means to interfere with their just 

 prerogative in preserving game ; they are, I hope, too 

 liberal-minded to be either envious or jealous of others 

 amusing themselves as they may think proper after 

 another fashion. All they ask is, that as they have no 

 wish to interrupt their sport, so game-preservers will act 

 in the same spirit of forbearance towards them, and not 

 interfere with their amusement by allowing their keepers 

 to kill their game. Surely this is no very great favour 

 after all, and if one fox can afford so much amusement 

 to more than a hundred of his neighbours, the illiberality 

 of any game-preserver who destroys foxes cannot be very 

 questionable. 



A double-barrel was fired in BelVs Life a short time 

 since at illiberal fox-hunters and whining farmers by a 

 random shot^ who fancies, perhaps, he has peppered us a 

 little, and if we don't like it we are to be treated to a 

 bite of the steel traps to settle us — that is, if we are 

 nasty ; but our friend of the trigger is, I dare say, a very 

 nice young man, who possibly may keep tame rabbits, as 

 well as tame pheasants, and amuse himself in various 

 other innocent recreations. I think, however, he has 



