,S THOUGHTS UpON HUKTINGa 



therefore, to enumerate the heroes of antlqiiity 

 who were taught the art of hunting; or the 

 many great men (among whom was the famous 

 Galen) who have united in recommending it. I 

 fhall, however, remind you, that your heloved 

 hero, Henry the Fourth of France, made it his 

 chief amufement, and his very love letters, ftrange 

 as it may appear, are full of little elfe : and that 

 one of the greateft minifters which our own coun- 

 try ever produced, was fo fond of this diverfion, 

 that the firft letter he opened, as I have been 

 told> was generally that of his huntfman. — In 

 moft countries, from the earliefl times, hunting 

 has been a principal occupation of the people, 

 either for ufe or amufement ; and many princes 

 have made it their chief delight : a circumilance 

 which occafioncd the following hon mot. — Louis 

 the Fifteenth was fo paffionately fond of this di- 

 vertion, that it occupied him entirely ; the King 

 of Pruflia, who never hunts, gives up a great 

 deal of his time to mufic, and himfelf plays on 

 the flute : a German, lall war meeting a French- 

 gentleman be defirable or nof, I fliall forbear to determine ; 

 taking the liberty, however, to remind him, that as hunting 

 hath flood its ground from the earlieft times, been encouraged 

 and approved by the beft authorities, and praftifed by the 

 greateft men, it cannot now be fuppofed to dread criticifm, or 

 to need fupport. Hunting originates in nature itfelf, and it is 

 in perfed correfpondence to this law of nature, that the feve- 

 ral animals are provided with neceiTary means of attack and 

 defence. 



