A SPORTING TRIP TO FRANCE. 203 



from Bennes, and there we determined on first 

 going. I had three couple of French hounds 

 that would hunt anything. Two and a half 

 couple I had bought, and one, old Bappido, I 

 had been made a present of. He was a splendid 

 hound, and I shall have to speak of him and his 

 doings presently. The French hound is a useful 

 animal, and is generally used for any thing- 

 boar, wolf, deer, or hare, but a great change, of 

 late years, has taken place. Many noblemen 

 and gentlemen have good packs, which are 

 properly hunted and done well. English hounds 

 are now in great request with Mossoo, as may 

 be seen from the large drafts which annually 

 find their way into France. 



I have often and often been asked by French 

 gentlemen how it was that if English hounds 

 are so good, his Grace the Duke of Beaufort 

 was not more successful with the wolves some 

 five or six years back ? My answer has always 

 been, because they are too good for the country. 

 The fact is his Grace's hounds are so perfect on fox 

 that they will hunt nothing else, but if his young 

 hounds were entered on wolf, I am quite certain, 

 from what I know of French hounds after many 



