THE SPORTING WORLD. 167 



those engaged in it, men of (to say the least) 

 equivocal and objectionable character. This of 

 course, says nothing agamst the pursuit, or 

 those who pursue it properly. The sporting world 

 labours under such disadvantage, so in sooth do 

 even the learned professions, and, I opine, to a 

 pretty considerable extent, trade, of all and every 

 kind, but we have this consolation, if the evil 

 disposed, in either of these, darken its horizon, 

 the well-disposed stand out in bold relief with 

 redoubled lustre. 



Under the above head of sporting characters 

 I bring the stag hunter. Not in any way meaning 

 by this to mention his name in reprobation, 

 ridicule, or contempt, but simply that I do riot 

 hold turning out an animal merely to catch him 

 again, a legitimate sport of the country, neither 

 do I so call turning down a bag fox. To shew 

 that the latter is not so, mention only the name 

 of a "bagman," as having been hunted or to be 

 hunted by a pack of foxhounds, to the master 



