the devoted deer was separated from his companions, 

 they gave him, by their watches, law, as they called 

 it, for twenty minutes ; when, sounding their horns, 

 the stop-dogs were permitted to pursue, and a most 

 gallant scene ensued. 



LETTER VII. 

 To Thomas Pennant, Esq, 



Though large herds of deer do much harm to 

 the neighbourhood, yet the injury to the morals of 

 the people is of more moment than the loss of their 

 crops. The temptation is irresistible ; for most men 

 are sportsmen by constitution : and there is such an 

 inherent spirit for hunting in human nature, as scarce 

 any inhibitions can restrain. Hence, towards the 

 beginning of this century, all this country was wild 

 about deer-stealing. Unless he was a hunter, as they 

 affected to call themselves, no young person was 

 allowed to be possessed of manhood or gallantry. 

 The Waltham blacks at length committed such enor- 

 mities, that Government was forced to interfere with 

 that severe and sanguinary Act called the Black Act 

 (9 Geo. I. c. 22), which comprehends more felonies 

 than any law that ever was framed before. And 

 therefore, Dr. Hoadley, the Bishop of Winchester, 



when urged to re-stock Waltham-chase, refused, from 



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