tI2 THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 



The first, and most essential, thing towards makrng 

 hounds obedient, I suppose, is to make them understand 

 you ; nor do I apprehend that you will find any difficulty 

 on their parts, but such as may be occasioned on yours*. 

 The language that we use to them to convey our meaning 

 should never vary j still less should we alter the very 

 meaning of the terms we use.— Would it not be absurd 

 to encourage when we mean to rate? — and, if we did, 

 could we expeft to be obeyed ? — You will not deny this ; 

 and yet you are guilty of no less an inconsistency, when 

 you encourage your hounds to run a scent to-day, which 

 you know, at the same time, you must be obliged to 

 break them from to-morrow. Is it not running counter 

 to justice and to reason } 



I CONFESS, that there is some Use in hunting young hounds 

 where you can easily command them ; but even this ycu 

 may pay too dearly for. Enter your hounds in small 

 covers, or in such large ones as have ridings cut in them :• 



* Were huntsmen to scream continually to their hounds, using the same 

 halloo whether they were drawing, casting, or running, the hounds could 

 not understand them, and probably would shew on every occasion as little 

 attention to thera as they would deserve. 



