JfOTITIA A'ENATICA. 33 



and, before it came to maturity, it fell to the ground. That the annual 

 puUicatiou of the hst of all young hounds, bred throughout the country, 

 would be advantageous to -the cause of fox-hunting, there can be, I 

 should think, but one opinion ; but that advantage would be greatly en- 

 hanced if, on the morning of the dinner, a show could be established, 

 awarding prizes to the breeders of the best puppies, such rewards to be 

 extended, if the funds were suflieiently flourishing, even to the walkers 

 or rearers of the whelps. The judges might be chosen from the most 

 cfHeicnt masters of hounds, or huntsmen of the day. 



The hare was not included amongst the animals of chase by the 

 ancient Britons, as we are informed by Caesar, who tells us that they 

 Jiever ate the flesh of hares, although the island abounded with them.* 

 Since that period, however, tastes have altered ; and although their flesh 

 is now amongst the greatest delicaciesof the age, I dare say very few of my 

 readershavepartakenof that of the fox. But the following anecdote of that 

 animal being regularly roasted and served up at the table of one of the 

 greatest hou vivans of his day, is undoubtedly true, as I heard it from 

 no less than four diff'erent persons, who bore testimony to it, not only 

 from the experience of their eyes, but also of their teeth. The Rev. 

 Charles Curtis, who was younger brother of the late Sir William Curtis, 

 and rector so many years of the parish of Solihull, in Warwickshire, was 

 no less celebrated for his attachment to field sports than for his un- 

 bounded hospitality, and for the excellent table which he always kept. 

 So fond was he of the chase, that for many years he kept a pack of 

 harriers himself, with which he sometimes drew for a fox, as there were 

 no foxhounds in those days which i-egularly hunted that neighbourhood. 

 On one occasion, when the hounds accidentally crossed the line of poor 

 reynard, as he was on his travels, and had given him a dressing of up- 

 wards of two hours in the old-fashioned style, which had found the bot- 

 tom of most of the nags, and amongst them had completely sewed up 

 that of the sporting divine, who, finding it almost dark, himself unable 

 to proceed, and that " although the spirit was willing, the flesh was 

 weak," he gave them a parting cheer, and declared to old Joe Pitch- 

 ford, his huntsman, that if he succeeded in bringing home the brush, he 

 would, without fail, have the carcass dressed for dinner ; in which he was 

 as good as his promise, for, after running their fox hard for a considerable 

 time longer, the hounds gloriously vanquished him ; and, accordingly, 

 he was actually roasted and brought to table, where a considerable por- 

 tion of him was eaten, there being a large party to dinner on that day. 

 The author of these observations has both cured and eaten the hams of 

 badgers himself, and can answer for their excellence. They should be 

 cured by the receipt for doing pig's hams, in which is used a little gar- 

 lic and sugar, or treacle, which render them much more melloAV. They 

 should be smoked and grated Hke tongue or dried beef, which they far 

 excel in flavour. 



This anecdote of Mr. Curtis reminds me of a story told of the old 

 Duke of Northumberland — so celebrated as a sportsman — who, after a 



'^ C«5ar Cel. GsL, lib. G. 



