THE FIRST WILL SMITH. 79 



business of his vocation, which may be recommended for a pattern to 

 those who succeed him, and can never be surpassed." 



ISIG. 



"With silence lead thy many-coloured hounds 

 In all their beauty's pride. See how they range 

 Dispers'd, how busily, this way and that, 

 They cross, examining with curious nose 

 Each likely haunt. Let all be hush'd, 

 No clamour loud, no frantic joy be heard ; 

 Lest the wild hound run gadding o'er the plain 

 Untractable, nor heed thv chiding voice." 



Observations. 



Any sportsman who reads these verses, will at once be satisfied they 

 were chosen by a good judge on hunting, and well selected from the 

 best note-book on hunting ever offered to the public. Many authors 

 speak highly on Beckford's " Thoughts on Hunting," but in my humble 

 opini(m Somerville very far surpasses him and every other author I 

 have yet read. Certainly many useful observations may be selected 

 from Mr. Beckford, and he proves himself a judge and an admirer of 

 Somerville himself, from the well-selected verses he has chosen from 

 that most excellent author. Beckford and Colonel Cook I have no 

 doubt were both good sportsmen, but read Somerville's " Chase " over 

 and over again, and every time you will discover the knowledge of the 

 author. You cannot, if a sportsman, but at once discover that he must 

 have had a most perfect knowledge of the art. In his observations in 

 Book IL on Hare Hunting, he gives such advice as never ought to be 

 forgot by any sportsman, and particularly huntsman. 



"At distance draw thy pack," by which he evidently does not 

 approve of a view ; and then he goes on — 



"Let all be hush'd. 

 No clamour loud, no frantic joy be heard ; 

 Lest the wild hound run gadding o'er the plain 

 Untractable, nor hear thy chiding voice." 



" Now gently put her off ! See how direct to her known home she 

 flies. 

 Here, huntsman, bring (but without hurry) all thy jolly hounds. 

 And calmly lay them on." 



I am no Hare Hunter, but the above is most excellent advice to 

 any man with hounds. And to show that he is also an enthusiast in 

 the chase, in a few lines further he says — 



