ilO THOUGHTS UPON IIL'NTIKG, 



could do better ivlth mediocrity hi the one than in the 

 other. If I have written any thing in a former 

 letter that imphes more, I beg leave to retra6l it 

 in this. Yet I muft confefs to you, that a famous 

 huntfman I am not very ambitious to have ; un- 

 lefs, it neceflarily followed, that Iiq muft have 

 .famous hounds : a conclufion I cannot admit, a3 

 long as thefe, fo famous gentlemen, will be con- 

 tinually attempting themfelves to do what would 

 be much better done if left to their hounds ; be- 

 iides, they feldom are good fervants, are always 

 conceited, and fometimes impertinent. I am very 

 Avell fatisfied if my huntfman be acquainted with 

 his country and his hounds ; if he ride well up 

 to them, and if he have fome knowledge of the 

 nature of the animal which he is in purfuit of; 

 but fo far am I from wifhing him to he famous, 

 that I hope he will ilill continue to think his 

 hounds know beft how to hunt a fox. 



You fay you agree with me, that a huntfman 



jfliould ftick - clofe to his hounds. If then his 



place be nxed^ and that of the iiril whipper-in 



(where you h^ive'two) be not, I cannot but think 



, genius may be at leaft as ufeful in one as in the 



other: for inftance, while the huntfman is riding 



to his headmoll hounds, the. whipper-in, if he 



-have genius, may fliew it in various ways; he 



y may clap forward to any: great earth that may, by 



chance. 



