278 THE SPORT OF KINGS 



admitted on all hands, though it is equally certain 

 that only a course of fatuous indifference to the 

 rights and feelings of what may be generally 

 described as the landed classes would cause fox- 

 hunting to be suddenly abolished in the United 

 Kingdom. Fox-hunting exists by sufferance, but 

 the sufferance is of an active rather than of a 

 passive nature. We have, of course, to take 

 things as they are in a great measure, and as things 

 are, fox-hunting is an institution which is firmly 

 established in the country. But as 1 have pointed 

 out, though fox-hunting is firmly established, the 

 rights of the landed interest must be recognised 

 by hunting men, or otherwise hunting will be in 

 danger. But if farmers should be considered, if 

 their prejudices even should be treated with respect, 

 and it it is the duty of hunting men to endeavour 

 to get more in direct touch with farmers in the 

 purchase of their provender, these obligations 

 imply others on the part of the farmers, who, if 

 well treated by hunting men, should certainly act 

 in reciprocal fashion. I have spoken of the 

 farmer feeling annoyance at unnecessary gaps 

 being made and at fences being jumped close to a 

 gate when hounds are not running. In his own 

 interest I would point out that it is desirable 

 for a farmer to have his gates in such condition 

 that they will open easily. He will find that 

 gates which open easily will prevent a lot of gap- 

 making and unnecessary jumping. It is by no 

 means an uncommon thing in some hunts for 

 farmers to be paid considerable sums for covert 

 rents, the coverts generally being planted on the 

 worst field in the farm. Now one would naturally 

 suppose that this implies that the coverts should 



