EARLY HISTORY OF FOXHUNTING 9 



education in cities, camps, or courts, it is 

 doubtful whether they are of the greater orna- 

 ment or use to the nation in which they Hve. 

 It would be an everlasting reproach to politics 

 should such men be able to overturn an estab- 

 lishment, which has been formed by the wisest 

 laws, and is supported by the ablest heads. 

 The wrong notions, and prejudices which 

 cleave to many of these country gentlemen, 

 who have always lived out of the way of 

 being better informed, are not easy to be con- 

 ceived by a person who has never conversed 

 with them." 



This essay of Addison was part of a 

 systematic attack upon the country party, 

 supporters of the " October Club," by a keen 

 Whig partisan, a member of the rival political 

 club, the " Kit-Cat," and must therefore be 

 taken with a grain of salt. We must remem- 

 ber, too, that at this time jeers at country 

 gentlemen were very popular with the Wits 

 in Town, as we see, for example, by the 

 characters of " Bob Acres," and " Squire 

 Western." 



Addison's picture of Sir Roger de Coverley, 

 and it is a very charming one, is probably a 

 very accurate portrait of the country gentle- 

 man of the day. Several circumstances com- 

 bined to make the position very agreeable 



