OF HOUNDS. 43 



self the pleasure of seeing such hounds fed as 

 appear to me to be in want of it. I have been 

 told that in one kennel, in particular, the hounds 

 are under such excellent management, that they 

 constantly are fed with the door of the feeding- 

 yard open ; and the rough nature of the fox- 

 hound is changed into so much politeness, that 

 he waits at the door till he is invited in ; and 

 what perhaps is not less extraordinary, he comes 

 out again, whether he has satisfied his hunger or 

 not, the moment he is desired — the effect of se- 

 vere discipline. But since this is not absolutely 

 necessary, and hounds may be good without it ; 

 and since I well know your other amusements 

 will not permit you to attend to all this manoeuv 

 ring, I would by no means wish you to give such 

 power to your huntsman. The business would 

 be injudiciously done, and most probably would 

 not answer your expectations. The hound 

 would be tormented mal-d-propos, — an animal 

 so little deserving of it from our hands, that I 

 should be sorry to disturb his hours of repose by 

 unnecessary severity. You will perceive it is a 

 nice affair; and I assure you I know no hunts- 

 man who is equal to it. The gentleman who 

 has carried this matter to its utmost perfection, 

 has attended to it regularly himself; has con- 

 stantly acted on fixed principles, from which he 



