PKEFACE. Vll 



avoid marring that of others ; for, though " I hope 

 I don't intrude" could always produce a laugh 

 for Liston, if it was quoted on maiming a favour- 

 ite hound, or heading a fox just breaking cover, 

 the offender would be told he did intrude most abo- 

 minably ; and " Tally ho, back !" from the hunts- 

 man would probably be followed by anathemas 

 both loud and deep. 



Those who have seen what horses have done and 

 will do with such weights as Messrs. Gurney, 

 Edge, or Colonel Wyndham, and have also seen 

 the best dead beat under the lightest man, must 

 be quite aware of the wonderful difference between 

 riding with judgment and the reverse. It is, in 

 fact, almost in effect as great as that between 

 a good and bad horse. Any ordinary difference of 

 weight is slight when put in comparison with that 

 between judicious and injudicious riding ; and in 

 knowing what does or does not distress horses, 

 this difference mainly depends. 



Figuratively speaking, any man with common 

 judgment and moderate nerve can keep a fair place 

 with hounds, if he rides the same horses, if those 

 are good and handy, and the country an average 

 one as to its general character and fences ; but to 

 make the most of a moderate horse, manage a 

 queer-tempered one, or keep an uncertain fencer 

 straight and on his legs, requires a knowledge of 



