tHOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. I79 



There is infinite pleafure in hearing a fox well 

 found. When you get up to his kennel, with a 

 good drag, the chorus increafing as you go, it 

 intpires a joy more eafy to be felt than defcribed. 

 With regard to my own fenfations, I would ra- 

 ther hear one fox found in this lively manner, than 

 ride the befl hare-chace that ever was run. 



Much depends on the firfl finding of your fox, 

 Dhnidium facfi, qui hene ccepit, hahet, which we 

 learned at Weflminfter, is verified here; for I 

 look upon a fox well found to be half killed. I 

 think people generally are in too great a hurry on 

 this occafion. There is an enthufiafm attending 

 this diverfion, which, in this infiance in particu- 

 lar, ought always to be rellrained.* The hounds 

 are always mad enough when they find tlieirfox; 

 if the men be alfo mad, they make mad work of 

 it indeed. A gentleman of my acquaintance, who 

 hunts his own hounds, and is not lefs eager than 

 the reft of us, yet very well knows the bad con- 

 fequences of being fo, to prevent this fault in 

 himfelf, always begins by taking a pinch of fnuff, 

 he then fings part of an old fong, " Some fay that 

 " care killed the cat^^ &c. By this time his hounds 

 get together, and fettle to the fcent. He then hal- 

 loos, and rides as if the d — 1 drove. 



* There are but few inftances where fportfmen are not too 

 noify, and too fond of encouraging their hounds, which fel- 

 <iom do their bufmefs fo well as when little is faid to them. 



N 2 If 



