SCIENCE OF FOXHL'XTIXG. 413 



expense for the recreation of himself and neighbours. 

 What would younger sons during their vacations, 

 professional men, farmers^ tradesmen^ and others, 

 who have no ground to shoot over, do for occasional 

 relaxation from business, without foxhounds or 

 harriers ? I can assure you, sir, our neighbourhood 

 was the dullest of the dull until our great Squire 

 came down to settle at his old place, and brought 

 with him a pack of foxhounds. The change pro- 

 duced by this event is really marvellous. Friends 

 who chanced to meet perhaps once a month at a 

 dinner party, then known by name only, living out 

 of visiting distance, now greet each other at the 

 covert side three times, if they are so disposed, in 

 the week, some galloping over the downs on their 

 hacks to have a gallop with the hounds. The tillers 

 of the soil are seen flocking together with their 

 jovial faces. Parsons, proctors, tradesmen, doctors 

 swell the meet, on their roadsters, cobs, and ponies, 

 just to have a look at the hounds, and join in social 

 chat, before the business of the day begins. All 

 appear with cheerful countenances. Many intro- 

 ductions are made ; people become acquainted who, 

 save for foxhunting, might have been strangers for 

 life. In short, sir, the animals you are pleased to 

 call 'vermin^ have been productive of more social 

 intercourse between man and man — bringing also 

 the lower and higher classes into communion and 

 good fellowship — than all the hares and pheasants 

 in the British Isles put together." 



" Ohe ! jam satis,'' exclaimed our host. "Pray 

 forgive me, Fortescue, the lapsus linguce of classing 



