SCIENCE OF FOXHUNTING. 147 



Perhaps it may be considered that the power of 

 mind ought to take precedence of that of body, 

 and in human life, intellect ranks first. But were 

 a huntsman the cleverest man in the world, and a 

 bad rider, unable to keep with his hounds, all the 

 other talents he might possess would be of little 

 avail. It is required of stewards that a man be 

 found faithful, and undoubtedly honesty in a hunts- 

 man or other head servant in an establishment, 

 where much is entrusted to them, is of the utmost 

 importance. Sober he must be, or his business 

 would be neglected, and no amount of intelligence 

 can compensate for that worst of all vices — drunk- 

 enness — the root from which spring so many evils. 

 In the present generation, this vice is less prevalent 

 amongst men of tolerable education, occupying 

 trustworthy situations, than formerly. Hard drink- 

 ing in any respectable class of society may be said 

 to belong to the past, and swearing also. In our 

 younger days, we have often seen men, ranking as 

 gentlemen, as well as huntsmen and whippers-iu, 

 who indulged freely in potations before taking the 

 field, and then, as it is called, " riding like the 

 devil ; '' and being clever men, these vices in the 

 latter were tolerated. 



There is one other indispensable quality besides 

 honesty and sobriety, of which a huntsman to fox- 

 hounds ought to be possessed — good temper. Hie 

 TnoderatuT equos qui non onoderatitur ircVy is as 

 true now as in the days of old Horace. Many can 

 control their horses who give loose reins to their 

 own passions; irrespective of the unpleasantry which 



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