tZZ THOUGHTS UPON HUNTINCf* 



LETTER IX. 



THE variety of queftions which you are 

 pleafed to afk concerning the huntfman, will, 

 perhaps, be better anfwered, when we are on the 

 fubje6t of hunting. In the mean time, I will en- 

 deavour to defcribe what a good huntfman fhould 

 be. He fhould be young, flrong, adive, bold 

 and enterprifing ; fond of the diverlion, and in- 

 defatigable in the purfuit of it ; he fliould be fen- 

 iible and good-tempered ; he ought alfo to be fo- 

 ber ; he ihould be exa^l, civil, and cleanly ; he 

 fhould be a good horfcman, and a good groom ; 

 his voice fhould be flrong and clear, and he 

 fhould have an eye fo quick, as to perceive which 

 of his hounds carries the fcent, when all are run- 

 ning ; and fhould have fo excellent an ear, as 

 always to diflingullh the foremoft hounds, when 

 he does not fee them. He fhould be quiet, pa- 

 tient, and without conceit. Such are the excel- 

 lencies which conflitute a good huntfman : he 

 fhould not, however, be too fond of difplaying 

 them, till neccfiity calls them forth. — He fhould 

 let his hounds alone, whilll they can hunt, and he 

 fhould have genius to ^K\^ them, when they 

 cannot. 



With 



