58 OBSERVATIONS OX FOX-HUNTING 



either to go into court, or to compromise the 

 matter ; and from what I experienced on a pre- 

 vious occasion with tlie Covmtess, I had no wish 

 for the former, — knowing to a certainty I should 

 be beat. It was therefore agreed to compromise ; 

 and the mean wrctcli took 75 franks to settle 

 the affair, althoiigh he was a man of large fortune 

 in France. — This is behaving towards Englishmen 

 with gratitude and liberality, and a kind return 

 for our generous conduct to the vmfortvmate emi- 

 grants during the revolution ! But these are not 

 every-day instances ; nor would it be difficult 

 to envmierate French families that are in the 

 habit of showing many kind attentions to the 

 English ; but as the saying is, " On trouve des 

 bons et des mauvais par tout.'" 



Having before stated the necessity of keeping 

 your kennel effective, I must now tell you it will 

 be necessary to keep your stable effective also ; 

 for if your men are not well mounted, they cannot 

 be of much service in the field, and you are well 

 aware, if you have not good hunters for your 

 own riding, you never can be with your hounds 

 at a time when you may be most wanted. One 

 thing is certain, a man cannot ride over a country 

 if he is not ivell viounted, neither can he show 

 sport if he has not a good pack of hounds. Horses 

 and hounds, if good in nature, are animals that 



