28 THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 



I SHALL not pretend to lay down rules which are to be 

 equally good in every country; I shall think myself suf- 

 ficiently justified in recommending such as have been 

 tried with success in the countries where I have generally 

 hunted. As almost every country has a different dialed, 

 you will also excuse, 1 hope, any terms that may not be 

 current with you : I will take the best care 1 can that the 

 number sliall be small. It is needless, I think, to advise you 

 not to adopt too easily the opinions of other men. You 

 will hear a tail man say, It is folly to ride any but large; 

 horses; and every little man in company will immedi- 

 ately sell his little horses, buy such as he can hardly 

 mount, and ride them in hilly countries, for which they 

 are totally unfit. Pride induces some men to di6late ; 

 indolence makes others like to be didated to ; so both 

 parties find their account in it. You will not let this 

 mislead you : you will dare to think for yourself. Nor 

 ' will you believe every man, who pretends to know what 

 you like better than you do yourself. There is a de- 

 gree of coxcombry, I believe, in every thing. You have 

 heard, I make no doubt, that greyhounds are either black, 

 or white, or black and white ; and if you have any faith 

 in those who say they know best, they will tell you that 



