52 OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 



towards any one ; I have no motive but to give 

 you my observations and opinion formed from 

 experience. 



I remember an anecdote related of a friend 

 of mine and his neighbour, not many miles from 

 Blandford, in Dorsetshire, which happened some 

 years ago, both parties, alas ! are now gone to 

 that bourne from whence no traveller returns. 

 My friend was fond of shooting, and had a toler- 

 able domain, and preserved strictly ; his neigh- 

 bour also was partial to the trigger, his property 

 was the most extensive, he therefore had less 

 excuse for sporting on that of another. One day, 

 after my friend returned from hunting, he was 

 informed that in his absence his neighbouring 

 friend had been shooting pheasants in a distant 

 part of his manor. Instead of shewing any hosti- 

 lity, the next morning, about 11 o'clock, he went 

 to his neighbour's preserve, near the mansion, 

 and began shooting the pheasants right and left, 

 having sent his servant on before with his clothes, 

 and desired his best compliments ; adding, that 

 as the gentleman had done him the honour to 

 shoot on his manor the day before, he was come 

 to-day to return the compliment, and to take 

 a family dinner with him ; of course an explana- 

 tion took place, and they lived on friendly terms 

 ever afterwards. I must in justice say, of both 



