324 thoi;ghts upon hunting. 



vain.* It never was my expe6lation to be able 

 to fend you a complete trcatife ; — Thoughts upon 

 Hiatt'ing^ in a feries of familiar Letters, were all I 

 propofed to myfelf the pleafurc of fending : — the 

 trouble I have taken in writing them entitles me 

 to fome indulgence ; nor did I, therefore, whillt 

 I endeavour to render them of ufe, iland in 

 any fear of criticifm. Yet if any man, as idle 

 as I have already declared myfelf to be, fliould 

 take the trouble to criticife thefe letters, tell him 

 this: — An acquaintance of mine, who had bc- 

 ftowed much time in improving his place when- 

 ever he heard it found fault with, " allied where 

 *^ the critic lived ? whether he had any place of 

 " his own ? whether he had attempted any im- 

 <^ provements ? and concluded with promiiing a 

 " feep at it.'' — The gentleman here alluded to 

 had lefs humility than your humble fervant. 



* Strangely unfortiuiate fliould I thiMk myfelf, if while I 

 profefs to be a friend to dogs, I flioukl prove their bittcrcfi: 

 enemy, and if thofe mles which were intended to lefien, fhovild 

 increafe their uifFerlngs ; convinced as I am by experience, 

 that a regular fyileni of education is the fureft means to render 

 correfliou unnecefiary. Hnrd is that heart (if any fuch there 

 be) which can ill ufe a creature fo afFe6tionate and fo good ; 

 who has renounced his native liberty to aflbciate with man, to 

 whofe fervice his whole life is dedicated : who, fenfible of every 

 kinduefsi, is grateful for the fmalleft favour; while the worft 

 ufage cannot eftrange his affection, in which he is (beyond all 

 exainplej conflant, faithful, and difinterefled ; who guards hiin 

 by night, and amufes him by day, and is, perhaps, the only 

 companion who will not forfake him in adverilty. 



Take, 



