THE EARTH-STOPPER iii 



pleasure in the possession of foxes than of game in 

 their coverts ; therefore it appears somewhat absurd 

 that they should be compelled to become parties to 

 the purchase of them from the very servants whose 

 duty it is to protect them. The Master stipulates 

 with his keeper no less for the protection of the 

 fox than of the pheasant, and yet allow^s an extra- 

 ordinary premium to be paid, a prize to be directly 

 awarded to him for the fulfilment of that, in de- 

 fault of w^hich he should, and generally would, be 

 discharged." 



Mr. Delme Radcliffe suggests the follow^ing 

 remedy : — 



" I would not entirely abolish rewards to keepers," 

 says he, " by w^ay of encouragement in the shape of 

 douceurs at Christmas, or at the end of the season : 

 but I would have no regular charge for finds, nor 

 even regular charges for Earth-stopping, excepting in 

 coverts expressly hired for the purposes of the hunt. 

 There such payments might be a part of the wages 

 of those emiployed ; but I would have the preserva- 

 tion of the foxes, and the stopping of the earths 

 for hunting matters, entirely dependent upon their 

 respective proprietors. I would have every lord of 

 a domain make a point of enforcing his determination 

 to contribute gratuitously all in his power to the noble 

 sport." 



A very good resolution, say we ; but suppose the 

 said lord is a shooter, how then? Foxhunters are 

 very apt to fancy that every one must favour their 

 sport, but some apparently very friendly people 

 would have no objection to see foxhunting abolished 

 altogether. 



"Instead of a regular bill, amounting to from ^lo 

 to ^15 to be presented by a keeper," writes Mr. 

 Radcliffe, " as the price of his forbearance, in per- 

 mitting the existence of animals considered obnoxious 

 to game, and, in reality, destructive to the rabbits, 



