298 HUNTING DIRECTORY. 



Hunting, an universal passion. 



dows, however, in France, are entitled to notice. Instead 

 of glass, thin canvas is vised, which, it seems, will admit 

 a free circulation of air, and, at the same time, effectually 

 keep out the flies, which, in summer, are great torments 

 to dogs. 



Hunting may be regarded as an universal passion ; 

 but pursued with more ardour in England than in any 

 other country ; and it must be admitted that English 

 sportsmen stand unrivalled either as to their know- 

 ledge of the chase, or the manner in which they pursue 

 it. Nor is hunting in this country confined exactly to 

 the higher orders, or such as can afford to keep horses 

 for the purpose ; as the hounds are miiformly attended 

 by pedestrian sportsmen. It is true, the pursuit of the 

 fox is not well calculated to afford diversion to the latter 

 class ; yet extraordinary instances of this kind occasion- 

 ally present themselvesj and cannot fail to excite atten- 

 tion. In the present year (1826) I repeatedly met the 

 fox hounds of Hugo Meynell, Esq. of Hoarecross Hall, 

 Staffordshire ; and I uniformly found them attended by 

 a pedestrian sportsman, of rather singular, but charac- 

 teristic, appearance : he was a yovmg man, about five 

 feet eight inches high, with a countenance not remark- 

 able for animation ; yet there was something about him 

 more than usually interesting. He appeared in a scarlet 

 jacket, buttoned close, and in other respects equipped 

 for running. The first time I had occasion particularly 

 to notice this young man, was one morning, when Mr. 

 Meynell's hounds found in a cover called Ravensdale, 

 eight miles from the town of Derby. It had been a 

 sharp frost during the night ; and when the fox went 



