FOX-HUNTING AND ITS FUTURE 



fox-hunting squires of the eighteenth century would 

 have been horror-stricken if they could have foreseen 

 the immense gatherings which in fashionable countries 

 now cover the fields and throng the covertside. Until 

 past the middle of that century those country gentlemen 

 and they were the vast majority who cared for field 

 sports kept a few couple of hounds, and hunted when 

 and as it pleased them. Often these hounds were 

 of different breeds, and fox, hare, and otter were 

 pursued in season. Somervile, the author of that 

 excellent poem, The Chace (still, perhaps, the best 

 description of hunting in the English language), who 

 died in 1742, at the age of 65, was a typical example 

 of the hunting squire of that period. At his house at 

 Edstone, in Warwickshire, he maintained a few couples 

 of harriers, foxhounds, and otter hounds, with which 

 he pursued the quarry which happened to be in season. 

 These cheery sportsmen of the eighteenth century 

 met usually at a much earlier hour than at the present 

 time, and spent much longer days in the saddle. The 

 country was then in great part unenclosed, and although 

 there was necessarily a fair share of leaping, there 

 could have been nothing like the amount of fencing 

 now enjoyed by fox-hunters. Long hunting runs at 

 a steady pace were much more often the rule than those 

 fast gallops which at this period of the twentieth century 

 are so much in vogue. Hounds were not then bred for 

 pace as they now are. Sportsmen rose very early in 

 those days : 



" Ere yet the morning- peep, 

 Or stars retire from the first blush of day, 

 With thy far-echoing- voice alarm thy pack, 

 And rouse thy bold compeers," 



says Somervile in his vivid poem. After a long and 

 enjoyable day's hunting the squire and his friends 



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