THE FARMER 1G3 



with the hurried, self-interested excitement and elbowing that 

 characterizes the gatherings of large bodies. There is some- 

 thing at once substantial and respectable about the yeomanry 

 of the kingdom, if we may so designate all the landowmers who 

 are qualified to vote for knights of the shire, instead of the 40^. 

 freeholders of former times. 



The " yeomany of England" has always inspired in our 

 landsman's mind the sort of feeling that " Ye Mariners of 

 England " rouses in that of the sailor. We look upon them as 

 one of the main-stays of this country. 



If there is one class of men, however, who can more properly 

 appreciate the spirited liberality of the farmer than another, it 

 is fo.xhunters ; above all, fo.xhunters, who themselves are also 

 farmers. We do not mean foxhunting farmers, but farming 

 foxhunters ; country gentlemen, who keep a small quantity of 

 land in their own hands more for amusement than profit — 

 perhaps. These are the parties who can best enter into the 

 feelings and appreciate the forbearance of the real farmer, 

 whose means of livelihood depend on the well-doing and 

 produce of his crop. Let the squire picture to himself his 

 feelings at seeing the well-ploughed, well-worked, well-manured, 

 well-watched field of young wheat, that he has boasted of the 

 expected produce of to all his neighbours, counted as so much 

 gold, nay, perhaps, held up to the admiration of his local 

 agricultural society — let him picture to himself his feelings, 

 we say, at seeing this beloved spot crossed diagonally by 

 a field of fifty horsemen, followed by a score of boys on 

 ponies, whose rear is brought up by a herd of cows or Scotch 

 cattle, that sweep round the enclosure before they can be 

 got out ! 



How long will it be, we should like to know, before he would 

 muster resolution to take a cool survey of the spot, and look 

 with indifference on the varied footings of the horses and the 

 cattle ? yet this man is a foxhunter himself, to whom farming 



