160 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



were a secretary appointed at first by a certain number of 

 influential masters, wliose oflice it should be to write letters, 

 and obtain the consent of the masters of £ox-hounds generally 

 throughout the country, I think the plan would succeed, and a 

 club be formed which might be inferior to none in point of 

 respectability, and the high station in life of many of its 

 members. 



I tliink it will be admitted by even large game preservers 

 that the laws of fox-hunting are rather a protection to them 

 than otherwise. Were it in the power of every owner of coverts 

 to choose his own pack, what endless confusion would ensue 

 throughout the length and breadth of the land. The law courts 

 would be fully occupied every term with actions of trespass, 

 and nearly every man at enmity with his neighbour. English- 

 men are, constitutionally, I may say, fond of the chase, and the 

 noble science has many more advocates and devotees in the pre- 

 sent time than it has ever before possessed. The current has set 

 in, and seems so strong in that direction, that it would be hope- 

 less for individuals, however powerful, to endeavour to fight 

 against it ; and that man must possess^ a very narrow and selfish 

 mind indeed, who would needlessly interfere with the amuse- 

 ment of the many, when it costs himself very little or nothing. 

 It is far better to' have respectable establishments, with gentle- 

 men, generally, at their head, founded and conducted upon 

 honourable principles, under the long-established law or custom 

 of fox-hunting, than a lot of scratch packs, quarrelling and 

 squabbling in tlie country, which would be the case were the 

 old laws of fox-hunting done away with. 



Many game preservers are secretly, though not perhaps openly, 

 hostile to fox-hunting, because their keepers inform them that 

 the foxes devour half the pheasants. Should there be a bad 

 breeding season, or Mr. Keeper appropriate rather more eggs or 

 birds than usual to his own share, all are put down to the 

 account of the foxes. The old story of two of a trade never 

 agreeing is exemplified in this instance. The fox commits sad 

 havoc with what the keeper considers his especial perquisites, 

 rabbits, and consequently he never lets an opportunity escape of 

 traducing his enemy. Keepers will also persuade tlieir masters, 

 if they can, that vermin cannot be kept down without steel 

 traps — which they know are pretty sure to catch foxes ; but 

 their masters little think that they will catch pheasants and 

 hares with even more certainty than foxes. I took a keeper 

 some years ago from rather a suspicious place, but, as he had a 

 very good recommendation, I determined to give him a trial. 

 The first thing he asked for were some steel traps, to catch the 



