378 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



at all descended from their eminence, if they had, like 

 Shakspeare, delighted as much in bringing the soul in 

 contact with such a sound as this as with the rolling of 

 thunder or the howlings of the storm. 



" The situation of huntsman to a pack of foxhounds is 

 one of great responsibility, and, if the breeding as well as 

 hunting of them be left to him, a very arduous undertaking. 

 Nor does it end here. There is a great call for judgment 

 in feeding hounds to answer every purpose, such as long 

 draws, severe days, and, at the same time, to go the pace 

 without showing distress, and to come home at night with 

 their sterns up and looking fresh. Here variety of con- 

 stitution increases the difficulty ; for, to satisfy the eye, 

 hounds should look level in their condition, as well as 

 even in point of size. One hound will not bear to have 

 his belly more than half filled ; another will not fill his 

 when he may ; and still each must be made equal in 

 strength and wind to the other, to stand hard work, and 

 go the pace without showing distress. A huntsman must 

 have a very watchful eye over their condition, which will 

 be affected by work and weather ; and he must be patho- 

 logist enough to foresee and provide against the alterations 

 which such circumstances produce. He had need also to 

 be a physiologist to exercise a sound judgment in breeding 

 his hounds after a certain form and fashion, which are 

 absolutely essential to their doing well in their work, and 

 at the same time pleasing the eye. Then look at him 

 in the field with a hundred eyes upon him, and a hundred 

 tongues to canvass all his acts ! Here he should be a 

 philosopher, and the qualities given to him, by Beckford, 

 at once make him such. 1 



i " ' A good huntsman,' says Beckford, ' should be young, strong, 

 and active, bold and enterprising ; fond of the diversion, and inde- 

 fatigable in the pursuit of it ; he should be sensible and good- 

 tempered ; he ought also to be sober ; he should be exact, civil, 

 and cleanly ; he should be a good horseman, and a good groom ; 

 his voice should be strong and clear ; and he should have an eye so 

 quick as to perceive which of his hounds carry the scent when all 

 are running ; and should have so excellent an ear, as always to 

 distinguish the foremost hounds when he does not see them. He 

 should be quiet, patient, and without conceit. He should let his 

 hounds alone when they can hunt, and he should have genius to 

 assist them when they cannot.' Perhaps more than this cannot be 

 expected from humanity. Can we give a man higher qualifications 

 than a clear head, nice observation, undaunted courage, an accurate 

 ear, and a lynx's eye, together with a quick perception, endowed 



