OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 53 



these gentlemen, although they were strict game 

 preservers, I have seen more foxes on foot at 

 one time in their coverts, when the hounds drcAv 

 them, than I ever have seen in any other country 

 after regular hunting commenced. I will relate 

 to you another anecdote, bearing upon this point. 

 Being a good deal annoyed by some hounds, 

 which often disturbed a covert belonging to the 

 late Lord Maynard, I mentioned the circumstance 

 to his Lordship, who was a strict preserver of 

 foxes, and one of the best of men ; he said, " if 

 you insist upon it I will send them a written dis- 

 charge ; but I, as an old sportsman, would advise 

 you to arrange with them in a milder way ; it 

 is a bad precedent, and they may retaliate by 

 instigating persons to send you a similar dis- 

 charge in another part of your hunt, and annoy 

 you very considerably." 



A man may have too great an extent of country 

 for his establishment, and so give permission to 

 another pack for a time, to draw some of his 

 distant coverts. It may happen at a future time 

 he may want them, or another person who suc- 

 ceeds him, with a larger establishment, may hunt 

 oftener, and require the coverts to be returned ; 

 in that case the person who has had the tem- 

 porary enjoyment of them has no alternative but 

 to give them up quietly. 



