THOUGHTS UPON HUNTING. 201 



to be less than one hour, or to exceed two : it is sufHciently 

 long, if properly followed : it will seldom be longer, unless 

 there be a fault somewhere ; either in the day, in the hunts- 

 man, or in the hounds. What Lord Chatham once said of 

 a battle, is particularly applicable to a fox-cha?e : it shoyld 

 be short, sharp, and decisive. 



There is, 1 believe, but litile difference in the speed 

 of hounds of the same size : the great difference is in the 

 head they carry ; and, in order that they may run well 

 together, you should not keep too many old hounds : 

 after five or six seasons, they generally do more harm than 

 good. If they tie ^upon the scent, and come hunting 

 after, hang them up immediately, let their age be what 

 it may : there is no getting such conceited devils on; 

 they will never come to a halloo, which every hound that 

 is off the scent, or behind the rest, should not fail to do ; 

 and they are always more likely to draw you back than 

 help you forward*. 



-* From this passage, the critic endeavours to prove the sportsman's 

 ingratitude ; and yet common sense, I believe, ir.duces most men to rid 

 themselves of that, which, if kept, would be prejudicial to them. The 

 critic seems to allude to a well known fable of JEsop, but is not very 



