THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 365 



kindness for a little advice and instruction. By following 

 your precepts in part, it is possible I may succeed ; but, if 

 to the full extent, there would be little doubt of it. 

 Homer, you know (for you look into books as well as into 

 kennels), makes Achilles a clever fellow. ' No wonder,' 

 says Eustathius, ' he had Chiron for his tutor, and a 

 goddess for his mother.' For myself, I cannot claim such 

 high origin, but I have reason to hope that, te duce, 

 I may, sooner or later, fulfil the highest object of my 

 ambition that of keeping and hunting a pack of foxhounds 

 with credit to myself, and satisfaction to my field. 

 Believe me, dear Sir, faithfully yours, 



" FRANCIS RABY." 



The answer to this letter, received by return of post, 

 ran thus : 



"DEAR RABY, I am always glad to hear of young 

 men of fortune wishing to keep foxhounds, and especially 

 when they have been well educated for the task, which I 

 consider you to have been, by not merely serving an 

 apprenticeship at Melton, but by having gone about the 

 country seeing all the best establishments, and, of course, 

 the best huntsmen. From reports that have reached me 

 of your performance in the field I do not mean merely 

 riding to break your neck I am proud to acknowledge 

 the compliment you pay me, of considering me as your 

 tutor, and it will give me much pleasure to offer you the 

 result of my experience as far as the management of 

 hounds both in the field and in the kennel ; but, mind 

 me, only as a master of hounds and a sportsman. I never 

 hunted hounds in my life ; it was not the fashion, in early 

 days, for gentlemen to fill the office of huntsman, which 

 was left to servile hands, and I do not think that, all 

 things considered, the noble science as you call fox- 

 hunting has gained much by the change. Gentlemen 

 have so many other pursuits in view, that I give the pre- 

 ference to the servant, who, we know, has none other, and 

 is, on that account, if a man of talent, more likely to 

 succeed. Besides, the situation of a huntsman is very 

 trying to the temper, and your ' gentleman ' too often flies 

 out, where the servant remains passive. However, as I 

 know you to be a devilish good-tempered fellow, and, I 

 have reason to believe, a thorough sportsman, there is no 



