300 HORSES AND HOUNDS. 



As far as it was feasible, I pursued this plan for many years 

 with great success, but in our country, containing very few fox- 

 hunters, as proprietors of coverts, I was of necessity thrown 

 very much into the power of keepers, and unable to extend it 

 throughout as a general system. I perfectly coincide with Mr. 

 Delme Radcliffe's opinion, that " I would have the preservation 

 of the foxes, and the stopping of the earths for hunting matters, 

 entirely dependent upon their respective proprietors. I would 

 have every lord of a domain make a point of enforcing his de- 

 termination to contribute gratuitously all in his power to the 

 noble sport." Would that this were the case ! that this con- 

 summation, so ardently desired by every true fox-hunter, might 

 be accomplished! but I fear such a state of harmony and 

 mutual co-operation is reserved for the golden age. From my 

 experience of such matters, little assistance can be expected 

 from non-hunting men, who often think the favour sufficiently 

 great to allow a master of hounds to draw their coverts, and 

 rather consider it due to their servants, keepers, or woodmen, 

 to be paid a very handsome remuneration for their extra work 

 in earth-stopping. It is principally on this account that I have 

 suggested the expediency of the master employing a general 

 earth-stopper, to get rid of this annual imposition and drain on 

 his purse ; but so tenacious are some men of their rights, " to 

 do as they like with their own," it must be expected that some 

 impediments would be thrown in his way. There are not 

 w^anting in most countries men who are jealous of the fox- 

 hounds, and instead of assisting the master, they throw every 

 obstacle in his way ; endeavouring to increase his expenses, in 

 the hope of driving him from the country. It is, I am con- 

 vinced, this pressure from all quarters upon the purse of the 

 master, which prevents gentlemen of moderate means from 

 taking the management of hounds ; the expenses in these times 

 are perfectly ruinous to all except a man of large fortune : and 

 this accounts for the changes which are always going on in fox- 

 hunting establishments. 



In scarcely any country are the subscriptions, even when 

 regularly paid up, sufficient to meet the annual outgoings, and 

 most masters have to dip their hands very deep into their own 

 pockets, to meet the extras — which are legion. It may be urged, 

 as recommended by some writers on Fox-hunting, why not do 

 away with earth-stopping altogether, and thus at once cut off 

 root and branch all expenses attendant on stopping them? 

 This plan has been tried by other masters as well as myself; 

 the result with others I know not, although from the practice 



