OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 35 



tion ill the arrangements made for the day, it 

 may be all very well to do what you can to oblige 

 any particular person or set of men out ; but 

 it should nevertheless be remembered by all the 

 field, that as people are in the habit of coming 

 great distances, in every direction, to the point 

 where hounds meet in the morning, by thus 

 acceding to the wishes of a few, you are likely 

 to inconvenience many ; besides the probability 

 of occasioning yourself, servants, hounds, and 

 horses, (should the draw be from home instead 

 of toicards it,) to remain out late, and undergo 

 the fatigue of creeping home along dark muddy 

 lanes, in a wet December night, without even 

 the moon or stars to guide you. Some men Avill 

 mislead you to avoid having their coverts dis- 

 turbed ; fearing a tame pheasant may fly away 

 to his neighbour's preserves. After all, it is best 

 to be firm, and never change the plan of drawing 

 which you may have fixed upon, and considered 

 to be the most probable one for sport. You will, 

 no doubt, now and then be requested to meet 

 at a particular place, to oblige a friend who may 

 have a party of fox-hunters at his house ; and, 

 provided you can do this without interfering with 

 your arrangements, and that it is not prejudicial 

 to sport in other parts of the hunt, there can be 

 no harm in complying with it. 



