THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING, I| 



'* it is an exercife that may be beneficial to many, 

 ^^ and can be prejudicial to none." — Small, in- 

 deed, is the number of thofe, who in the courfe 

 of 5000 years have employed themfelves in the 

 advancement of iifeful knowledge. Mankind 

 have been blell with but one Titus, that we 

 know of; and, it is to be feared, he has had but 

 few imitators. Days and years fly away, nor is 

 any account taken of them, and how many may 

 realbnably be fuppofed to pafs without affording 

 even amufement to others, or fatisfadion to our- 

 feives. Much more, I think, might be faid in 

 favour of the Wimbles ; but it muft be confeffed, 

 that the man who fpends his whole time in trifles, 

 pafies it contemptibly, compared with thofe who 

 are employed in refearches after knowledge ufeful 

 to mankind, or in profeffions ufeful to the flate. 



I am glad to lind that you approve of the plan 

 I propofe to obferve in the courfe of thefe letters, 

 wherein it fhall be my endeavour not to omit 

 any thing which it may be necefTary for you to 

 know ; at leail, as far as my own obfervation 

 and experience will give me leave. The expe- 

 rience I have had may be of ufe to you at pre- 

 fent ; others, perhaps, hereafter may write more 

 judicioufly and more fully on the lubje6l : you. 

 know it is my interell to wifli they would. The 

 few who have written on hunting, refer you to 

 Ifheir predeceffors for great part of the informa- 

 tion 



