12 OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 



vegetating on the Continent, to know the best 

 blood now going, except from a chance List which 

 may occasionally be sent me. The Yarborough's 

 however, the IMeynell's, the Warde's, the Grafton's, 

 and though "last not least," the Beaufort's, still 

 rank in the first class. Half the hounds in the 

 kingdom are, it must be acknowledged, of the 

 blood of the late Mr. Meynell's " Gusman," and 

 Lord Yarborough's " Ranter." I could name fifty 

 favourite sorts, but as every thing is regulated 

 by fashion, you will of course, in some degree, 

 fall under it's influence. 



" Fashion though FoUj^'s child, and guide ot fools, 

 Rules e'en the wisest, and in learning rules." 



But never let fashion so completely bias you, as 

 to prevent you from breeding from good noses. 

 Those that can turn quick with a scent, be assured, 

 are the sort of hounds to kill Foxes in any country. 

 Breeders are generally too partial to their own 

 sort ; Philip Payne, Huntsman to the Duke of 

 Beaufort, is reported to be the best judge of 

 breeding in the kingdom ; and from His Grace's 

 list I observe he is not bigoted to any particular 

 sort, but sends his bitches to the different Dog- 

 hounds of celebrated packs, all over the kingdom. 

 He informed me if he heard of one that had a 

 particular good nose, and did his work well, he 



