Z NOTITIA VENATICA. 



sive work, brought out at a vast deal of trouble, and elegantly 

 illustrated ; and consequently, from its high figure, not within the reach 

 of all the rising generation of sportsmen, who might be induced to seek 

 either amusement or information in searching through its pages. At the 

 earnest request, then, of many and sincere friends, and with the greatest 

 respect and gratitude to the public, for the kind way in which the work 

 has been supported by its great sale, and by the cheering manner in 

 which it has been spoken of by those reviewers who have condescended 

 to notice it in their critiques on the subject, I am resolved, prompted as 

 I am by the allurements of applause, to send it forth once more before the 

 world. A subject so extensive and worthy of investigation I covdd have 

 wished to be taken in hand by some person better quahfied than myself. 

 For my own part, I have had but little experience in authorship ; and I 

 might truly add, '* and am but a rude man, and rustically brought up to 

 hunting," as Sir Walter Scott said of Sir Henry Lee, in Woodstock. 

 But, having been in the habit of keeping a pack of foxhounds, I have 

 enjoyed many favourable opportunities of making myself fully acquainted 

 with a knowledge of the various branches of the science gained by such 

 an occupation ; and I have neglected no opportunity of deriving what 

 information I could from those incidents which circumstances have 

 tlii-own in my way : fully compensated shall I be if one single instance 

 should occur, of either amusement or information being derived from a 

 perusal of this my undertaking. 



Among the numerous authors who have written upon those subjects 

 under the unassuming title of Sporting, many have not only been well 

 received, but have obtained a very exalted place in the scale of litera- 

 ture. Confining ourselves, however, to the subject in question — namely, 

 fox-hunting — since the days of the immortal Beckford, none have treated 

 it in that practical manner which so national an amusement deserves. 

 The great Nimrod, now no more,* who has certainly been the most suc- 

 cessful and entertaining amongst all authors on subjects connected with 

 the sports of the field, either before his time or cotemporary with him, 

 could only expatiate upon the chase in a general way ; he never had the 

 possession of a single hound in his life, and, consequently, could have 

 had no experience in the craft excepting what he picked up from the 

 observations of others. Mr, Delme RadcUttc, who produced a book 

 some few years since, entitled " The Noble Science," was also far too 

 general in his way of treating the subject, observing that the minutiae, 

 or practical parts of the knowledge of managing a pack of hounds in 

 kennel, were only fit topics for the servant 's-hall or saddle-room. An 

 admiral might just as well say that the intricate knowledge of the rig- 

 ging of a *' seventy-four," or expertncss in reefing main-topsails in a 

 gale of wind, were accomphshmcnts only worthy to be known by men 

 before the mast. Depend upon it, there is no employment nor amuse- 

 ment in the world which is worthy of being pursued by man, even ever 



* Death oi' Nimkud. — We i-cgret to announce the death of C.J. Apperley, Ksq., 

 on Friday, at his residence in I'imlico, of inflainiuation in tlie bowels, lie loiii; wrote 

 our sporting matters under the signature of " Nimrod." He was about Gl. — Dell' a 

 Life in London, May 21st, 1813. 



