292 THE DIARY OF A HUNTSMAN 



with pheasants, belonging to Lord Craven, and see 

 these covers drawn, by a pack of fox-hounds, and 

 he will be convinced of the above assertion, for in 

 the several years they were hunted by the ^vriter 

 they were never dra^vn blank ; and it may be 

 depended on, that the great objection which keepers 

 have to foxes is that they destroy so great a 

 number of rabbits, which are the keepers' per- 

 quisites, and consequently they are disposed to 

 destroy foxes. It is a difficult thing to know how 

 to act with them, but it is much the wisest plan to 

 treat them civilly, even if they are doubtful, until 

 proofs can be brought against them, that they do 

 destroy foxes against their master's will ; for there 

 are many keepers, most highly respectable men, 

 who have a right to expect to be treated civilly and 

 respectfully. And indeed, under any circumstance, 

 it is the height of folly to abuse them openly, as is 

 too often done ; it only exasperates, for they are 

 generally men not easily frightened, at least if they 

 are good for anything. The thing is, to prove that 

 they do destroy first, and then go to work in every 

 way, by applying to every friend and connection of 

 the master's, and have it represented properly ; 

 when, if he, and even the lady of the manor, are 

 inveterate against fox-hunting, she will, if it is 



