106 HUMANITY APPLAUDED. 



attainable by more reasonable means. Having 

 never hunted with gentlemen who follow this 

 practice, I must leave the first question for 

 others to determine ; but having always had my 

 hounds steady, I can myself answer the second. 

 The objections I have now made to the treat- 

 ment of young hounds by some huntsmen, 

 though addressed, my friend, to you, are general 

 objections, and should not personally offend you. 

 I know no man more just, or more humane, than 

 you are. The disapprobation you so strongly 

 marked in your last letter, of the severity used 

 in some kennels, the noble animal we both of us 

 admire is much beholden to you for. Your in- 

 tention of being present yourself the first time a 

 hound is flogged, to see how your new whipper- 

 in behaves himself, is a proof of benevolence, 

 which the Italian author of the most humane 

 book* could not fail to commend you for. 

 Huntsmen and whippers-in are seldom so 

 unlucky as to have your feelings ; yet custom, 

 which authorizes them to flog hounds unmerci- 

 fully, does not do away the barbarity of it. A 

 gentleman seeing a girl skinning eels alive, asked 

 her " if it was not very cruel?" — " O, not at all, 

 sir," replied the girl ; " they be used to it.''' 

 * Dei delitli e delle pene. 



