PEETENDED SPORTSMEN. 179 



wind, does not hear you coming ; and your 

 hounds by this means are never out of your 

 hearing : besides, if he turns down the wind, 

 as most probably he will, it lets them all in. 

 Suppose yourself acting directly contrary to 

 this, and then see what is likely to be the con- 

 sequence. 



You think I am too severe on my brother 

 sportsmen. If I am more so than they deserve, 

 I am sorry for it. 1 know many gentlemen 

 who are excellent sportsmen, yet I am sorry to 

 say the greater number of those who ride after 

 hounds are not, and it is those only that I 

 allude to. Few gentlemen will take any pains ; 

 few of them will stop a hound, though he should 

 run riot close beside them ; or will place them- 

 selves for a moment, though it be to halloo a 

 fox. It is true, they will not fail to halloo if he 

 comes in their way ; and the}' will do the same 

 to as many foxes as they see. Some will encou- 

 rage hounds which they do not know : it is a 

 great fault. Was every gentleman who follows 

 hounds to fancy himself a huntsman, what noise, 

 what confusion would ensue ! I consider many 

 of them as gentlemen riding out, and I am never 

 so well pleased as when I see them ride home 

 again. You may perhaps have thought that I 



