THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING.' l6r 



{hall not be long. A gentleman, to whofe un- 

 derftanding nature had mofl evidently been fpar- 

 ing of her gifts, as often as he took up a book, and 

 met with a pafTage which he could not compre- 

 hend, was ufed to write in the margin op- 

 poiite viatiere embrouiUee, and gave himfelf no 

 further concern about it. As different caufes 

 liave been known to produce the fame efFedls, 

 IhouldjvoM treat me in like manner, I Ihall think 

 it the fevereft cenfure that can be palTed upon me. 

 Our friend Somervile, I apprehend, was no great 

 fox-hunter ; yet all he fays on the fubjedl of hunt- 

 ing is fo fonlible and juit, that I fhall turn to his 

 account of fox-hunting, and quote it where I can. 

 The hour moll favourable to the diverlion, is 

 certainly an early one ; nor do I think I can fix 

 it better than to fay, the hounds fhould be at the 

 cover at fun-rifing. Let us fuppofe that we are 

 arrived at the cover fide. 



Delightful fcene ' 



Where all around is gay, men, horfes, dogs ; 

 And in eacii fmihng countenance appears 

 Frelli blooming health, and univerfal joy." 



Somervile. 



Now let your huntfman throw in his hounds 

 as quietly as he can, and let the two whippers-in 

 keep wide of him on either fide, fo that a lingle 

 hound may not efcape them ; let them be atten- 

 tive to his halloo, and be ready to encourage, or 



M rate, 



