EARLY HOURS. 175 



questions, as they present themselves. Though 

 I was glad of this expedient to methodize, in 

 some degree, the variety we have to treat of, 

 yet I was well aware of the impossibility of suf- 

 ficiently explaining myself in the midst of a 

 fox-chase, whose rapidity, you know very well, 

 brooks no delay. Now is the time, therefore, 

 to make good that deficiency : what afterwards 

 remains on the subject of hunting will serve as 

 a supplement to the rest ; in which I shall still 

 have it in my power to introduce whatever may 

 be now forgotten, or give a further explanation 

 of such parts as may seem to you to require it. 

 For since my sole view in writing these let- 

 ters is to make the instruction they contain of 

 some use to you, if you should want it, if 

 not, to others, — the being as clear and as expli- 

 cit as I can will be far beyond all other consi- 

 derations. Repetitions, we know, are shocking 

 things ; yet, in writing so many letters on the 

 same subject, I fear it will be difficult to avoid 

 them. 



First, then, as to the early hour recommended 

 in my former letter : — I agree with you, it 

 requires explanation ; but you will please to con- 

 sider, that you desired me to fix the hour most 

 favourable to the sport, and, without doubt, 



