XOTTTIA VRNATirV. 9 



France lioiiiuls arc Iccjit, tlicy are employed in luintinp; the wild boar and 

 the stag, the coup de f/racc being- in most instances given by the gnn or 

 spear. As I have observed, little or no hunting has ever been attempted 

 in the real English style, excepting by some sportsmen who a few years 

 ago established about 20 coujiles of hounds at St. Omer's, which under 

 the management of Mr. Woodbridgc, so well known as a first-rate per- 

 former in Essex, had very tolerable sport, and killed a great many foxes; 

 but it yvus chiefly cover-hunting, from the reasons I before mentioned. 

 A pack was also at one time kept by some Englishmen at or near St. 

 Malo ; as also at Pau, where Sir Henry Oxendon had good sport for se- 

 veral seasons, frequently running wolves, but never killing these ani- 

 mals, which far surpass a fox in wind and endurance. In tlie spring of 

 the year 1843, when the Earl of Chesterfield was at Rome, where his 

 lordship had been spending the previous winter, he sent for 15 or 16 

 couples of draft hounds from England, and by having several sharp runs 

 in that neighbourhood, and killing a few brace of foxes in gallant style, 

 he quite astonished the Italians ; Avho, fond as they are of music, had 

 never before been delighted with such harmonious melody as echoed 

 upon that occasion through the hills and vales of that classic ground. 

 The number of foxes shot in France is, during some seasons, very great. 

 According to the summary published in the Journal des Haras, 

 for August, 1837, the numbers returned as killed amounted to 14,791 ; 

 besides wolves, old and young, 641 ; boars, 461. When travelhng in 

 Germany, in the year 1837, the author saw amongst many other 

 curiosities at Kranistine, which is the hunting chateau of the Grand 

 Duke of Hesse Darmstadt, in one of the rooms, a very curious picture, 

 representing a royal party enjoying the diversion of shooting wild boars 

 in a small enclosure ; from which it appeai-s that the animals were en- 

 ticed or driven into a small space, surrounded by net-work, and at one 

 corner was built a room, through the windows of which the sportsman 

 was enabled to show his skill in rifle-shooting, Avithout any inconvenience 

 from either the Avounded animals or the inclemency of the weather. 

 This mode of diversion is now seldom or never practised ; but Mr. 

 Bright, in his travels through Austria, informs us, that so lately as 

 1814, a similar exhibition took place in the neighbourhood of Vienna. 

 In mentioning the amusements with Avhicli the court were entertained 

 in that year, he describes one which was designated by the title of a 

 •' Royal Hunt," and says that " the monarchs and royal personages who 

 were to be the chief actors in this tragedy, provided with fowling pieces, 

 placed themselves in certain stations Avithin a large arena, Avhich had 

 been prepared for the purpose, scA^eral miles from the city, and Avas sur- 

 rounded by accommodations for a large assemblage of nobility. Each 

 of the sportsmen was attended by four pages, to assist in reloading, 

 Avhile yeomen armed Avith spears stood behind to protect them from any 

 danger Avhich might threaten. All being thus artfully arranged, a num- 

 ber of Avild boars, deer, hares, and other animals of chase, Avhich had 

 been before fjrovided, Averc let loose in succession, and the privileged 

 sportsmen continued to fire, until the Avhole Avere destroyed, or the de- 

 stroyers Avere Aveary of their labour. It uiay excite some surprise, but 



