122 HUNTING DIRECTORY. 



man. The business would be injudiciously done, and 

 most probably would not answer your expectations. The 

 hound would be tormented mal-a-propos ; — an animal so 

 little deserving of it from our hands, that I should be 

 sorry to disturb his hours of repose by unnecessary seve- 

 rity. You will perceive it is a nice affair ; and I assure 

 you I know no huntsman who is equal to it. The gen- 

 tleman, who has carried this matter to its utmost perfec- 

 tion, has attended to it regularly himself; has constantly 

 acted on fixed principles ; from which he has never 

 deviated, and I believe has succeeded to the very utmost 

 of his wishes." 



In Beckford's time, the method above described was 

 in its infancy, and he speaks inconsiderately upon it ; 

 he derides a practise of the most essential utihty, (par- 

 ticularly in making hounds well acquainted with their 

 names) which in fact may be said to constitute the per- 

 fection of kennel discipline ; and which, in the field, has 

 the most beneficial influence, inasmuch as it renders the 

 hounds more obedient. The advantages of such a system 

 are evident at the first glance, and the practise has 

 become general throughout the kingdom : — hence the 

 drafting off lean hounds into a separate kennel may be 

 easily avoided, as well as several other rather antiquated 

 methods which the above able writer has taken the 

 trouble to describe. 



" My hounds are generally fed (says Beckford) about 

 eleven o'clock ; and if I am present myself, I take the 

 same opportunity to make my draft for the next day's 

 hunting. I seldom, when I can help it, leave this to my 

 huntsman ; though it is necessary he should be present 

 when the draft is made, that he may know what hounds 



