94 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



huntsman, somewhat notorious for his sharp dressings, had 

 dressed them to so much purpose that their legs were swollen 

 to double their usual size, and the poor animals were suffering 

 severely. I remonstrated with him upon the absurdity and 

 cruelty of subjecting his hounds to such torture, and asked him 

 what his object could be in using such powerful and noxious 

 ingredients, of which I was satisfied his ointment must be com- 

 posed. His reply was, " It makes them look fine in their coats 

 during the summer months, and the effects of the dressing are 

 over in a few days." My rejoinder was not at all palatable to 

 this great man in his own opinion, as I gave him to under- 

 stand that I considered a similar dressing might be applied 

 much more satisfactorily to himself, with tarring and feathering 

 to boot, than to the poor animals which were submitted to his 

 tender mercies. 



Prejudices are very difiicult to remove, especially with hunts- 

 men, who consider themselves a privileged class, and unfor- 

 tunately ignorance and obstinacy often go hand in hand toge- 

 ther. A man who is above being taught, or too conceited in his 

 own opinion to benefit by that of others, whether peer or pea- 

 sant, you may at once set down as an ignoramus. The best 

 reason, perhaps the only one assigned for some of these prac- 

 tices, is that Mr. So-and-So, the duke's huntsman, used to treat 

 his hounds in this manner; and thus things continue from 

 huntsmen to whippers-in for years, without inquiry. Mr. Beck- 

 ford also may be quoted as high authority, but if I recollect 

 correctly, his remarks upon the subject of dressing hounds are 

 rather ambiguous. I may be considered very presumptuous in 

 venturing to call in question such high authority, but it is quite 

 evident from many observations made by Mr. Beckford, that 

 although practically acquainted with all that related to the 

 management of hounds and horses in the field, he was only 

 theoretically so with regard to the kennel regime. On dressing 

 hounds he remarks — " The oftener hounds are dressed I suppose 

 the better they will look ;" he does not say that he either tJiiriks 

 or considers they would look better, but merely supposes. In 

 another case his feeder gives him information about boiling 

 oatmeal and merely scalding barley meal. You may say such 

 knowledge is only necessary for the feeder and huntsman, and 

 I quite agree with you, if you have your ten thousand a 

 year, and care little about the expenses of your hunting esta- 

 blishment. 



I am not writing (as I stated at the commencement) for great 

 men, who can afford to keep up great establishments, and who 

 are not supposed to condescend to such trifling matters, but to 



