l80 THOUGHTS UPON HUNTINC. 



If the fox break cover, vou will fometlmes 

 fee a young fportfman ride after him. He never 

 fails to afk fuch a one, " Do you think you can 

 " catch him, Sirr—'' Nor—'' Why then be fo 

 " good as to let my hounds try — if they can^ 



[The fubje6l which has been chofen as a frontif- 

 piece to the prefent edition of this work, being in 

 fome degree analogous to mofl parts of Letter xiv. 

 it may not be improper in this place to notice the 

 circumflance which occafioncd it. 



A pack of hounds belonging to his Grace of 

 Beaufort, after a purfuit of many miles, fcented 

 Reynard to a cottage at Castle Coombe, where he 

 had taken refuge in a cradle ; little time, how- 

 ever, was given him in this retreat, as they almoft 

 inflantly entered the hovel, feized upon their de- 

 voted vi61im, and dragged him from his lurking 

 place.] 



LET- 



