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THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 



the mafter himfelf knows fomething of it. There 

 mull be an underftanding fomewhere, and with- 

 OLit it no gentleman can enjoy in perfection this 

 jioble diversion. 



It was the opinion of a great fporttman, that 

 it is not lefs difficult to find 'i perfect huntfman, 

 than a good prime minifter. "Without taking 

 upon me to determine what requifites may be 

 neceffary to form a good prime minifter I- will 

 defcribe fome of thofe which arc effentially ne- 

 ceffary towards forming a perfc6l huntfman ; 

 qualities which, I will venture to fay, would not 

 difgrace more brilliant fituations : fuch as a clear 

 head, nice obfervation, quick apprehenlionj un- 

 daunted courage, flrength of conftitution, a6li- 

 vity of body, a good car, and a good voice. 



There is not any one branch of knowledge, 

 commonly digniiicd with the title of art, Vy'hich 

 has not fuch rudiments or principles, as m.ay lead 

 to a competent degree of fkill, if not to perfec- 

 tion, in it : whilft hunting, the fole bufinefs of 

 fome, and the amufement of moll of the youth 

 in this kingdom, feems left entirely to chance. 

 Its purfuit puts us, both to greater expence, and 

 ^Ifo, to greater inconvenience than any other ; 

 yet, notwithftanding this, we truft our diverfior^ 

 in it to the fole guidance of a huntfman : we 

 follow jull as he iliall chufe to conduct vis j and 



