OF STEADINESS. 223 



should know and follow him as well as the 

 huntsman. 



I am sorry to hear your hounds are so un- 

 steady : it is scarcely possible to have sport 

 with unsteady hounds ; they are half tired before 

 the fox is found, and are not to be depended 

 upon afterwards. It is a great pleasure, when 

 a hound challenges, to be certain he is right : it 

 is a cruel disappointment to hear a rate imme- 

 diately succeed it, and the smacking of whips, 

 instead of halloos of encouragement. A few 

 riotous and determined hounds do a deal of 

 mischief in a pack. Never, when you can avoid 

 it, put them among the rest : let them be taken 

 out by themselves, and well chastised ; and if 

 you find them incorrigible, hang them. The 

 common saying, evil communications corrupt 

 good manners, holds good with regard to 

 hounds ; they are easily corrupted. The se- 

 parating of the riotous ones from those which 

 are steady answers many good purposes. It 

 not only prevents the latter from getting the 

 blood they should not, but it also prevents 

 them from being overawed by the smacking of 

 whips, which is too apt to obstruct drawing, 

 and going deep into cover. A couple of 

 hounds, which I received from a neighbour 



