THOl^GHTS UPON HUNTING. l8^ 



true, this laft fnows real genius ; and to be per- 

 fect:, it mult be born with him. There is a 

 fault, however, which a knowing huntfman is 

 too apt to commit : he will find a frefh fox, and 

 then claim the merit of having recovered the 

 hunted one. It always is dangerous to throw 

 hounds into a cover to retrieve a loft fcent ; and, 

 unlefs they hit him in, is not to be depended on. 

 Driven to the laft extremity, fhould a knowing 

 cafl not fucceed, your huntfman is in no wife 

 blameable: mine, I remember, lofl me a good 

 chace, by perfevering too long in a favourite calt; 

 but he gave me fo many good reafons why the 

 fox ought to have gone that way, that I returned 

 perfectly well fatisfied, telling him, at the fame 

 time, that, if the fox ivas a fool, he could not 

 help It, 



Gentlemen, when hounds are at fault, are too 

 apt thenifelves to prolong it. They fhould aK 

 ^ays ilop their horfes fome diftance behind the 

 hounds, and, if it be poflible to remain fJent, 

 this is the time to be fo: they fliould be careful 

 not to ride before the hounds, or over the fcent ; 

 nor fhould they ever meet a hound in the face, 

 unlefs with a deilgn to flop him. Should you at 

 any time be before the hounds, turn your horfe's 

 head the way they are going, get out of their 

 track, and let them pafs ])y you. 



In 



