4 NOTITIA VENATICA. 



for the following pages, I will at once introduce my readers to the subject, 

 humbly assuring them that they will not meet with a long and elaborate 

 account of the natural history of dogs used in the chase, nor a tedious 

 and philosophical treatise on the different properties of medicines used 

 in the kennel, but merely the straightforward and plain course pursued 

 in a hunting establishment, with the most approved methods of breed- 

 ing and rearing the foxhound, and preparing that noble animal for the 

 chase. No wild theories will be introduced, but such information as has 

 been gleaned by the writer during his hunting career will be humbly 

 offered for their perusal. 



Mr. Beckford has designated the pursuit of hunting by the title of an 

 art ; and although I have classed it amongst the sciences, I hope the 

 critic will excuse my enthusiasm, as Mr. Locke, in his celebrated essay, 

 on speaking of the operations of the mind, compares its searching after 

 truth to hunting and hawking, the pursuit of Avhich he says constitutes 

 the chief pleasure. That excellent divine. Dr. Paley, was a sportsman ; 

 and although his practice was confined to the " gentle craft" of fishing, 

 he always spoke of sportsmen with respect ; he felt the inward delight 

 which emanated from the enjoyment of the contemplation of nature and 

 her various pursuits — "he looked from nature up to nature's God ;" but 

 Avhile he acknowledged the pleasure he derived from such recreations, 

 he was at a loss to express, or even to discover why he was thus 

 amused, and declared " he never yet met Avith any sportsman who could 

 tell him in what the sport consisted, resolve it into its principle, and 

 state that principle."* 



It would not be according to the natural state of our sublunary joys, 

 if there could not be found, amongst the great mass of our fellow- 

 creatures, some who, from a blind and bigoted enthusiasm, or, what is 

 far oftener the case, from an innate and invidious morosity, are cynical 

 enough in their dispositions to damnify and cry down everything in the 

 shape of amusement and relaxation from our more serious employments. 

 The charge of cruelty, too, has been brought, in these days of false 

 sentimentality and refinement, against the followers of field sports ; but 

 against such malevolent attacks, and in support of the legality of fair 

 sporting, Ave have the highest authority from the very earliest ages of 

 the Avorld even up to modern times. And Ave have inidoubtedly a full 

 riffht to exercise a dominion even mito death, so lono- as Ave do not in- 

 flict wanton torture, upon all those animals Avhich the Almighty has 

 destined for our use ; Avhethcr AVe consider those ordained for daily food, 

 or those Avhich he has created to assist man in his labours, and contribute 

 to those amusements Avhich Avcre, Avithout doubt, liindly given to him to 

 lighten the burthen of his toils whiclihe is doouu'd to undergo in tliis life. 

 The great Dr. Paley very justly remarks in his " Natural Theology," 

 in speaking of the destruction of one class of animals by anotlier (when 

 they become too numerous or Jielpless through age), that it is not only 

 proved to be exjtedient but merciful, lie observes that " the pursuit of 

 its prey forms tlie employment, and appears to constitute the pleasure 



* Palcy's Nat. Theol. p. 202. 



