OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 65 



description of people gained him the esteem of all 

 parties ; and during his reign such a thing as a 

 blank day was totally unknown. 



The subject upon which I am now about to 

 treat is, I am well aware, a very delicate one ; 

 but as you have requested me to give my candid 

 opinion ujjon every thing which relates to fox- 

 hunting, I should consider myself remiss if I did 

 not do so. 



Gentlemen should recollect, let their situation 

 in life be ever so exalted, if they condescend to 

 hunt their own hounds, that when in the field 

 they are huntsmen ; a huntsman is a public 

 character, and as such is liable to have remarks 

 and criticisms made by the Field (who it is al- 

 ways to be remembered are hut lookers on, and 

 as such, are apt to flatter themselves they knozv as 

 much of the game as the actual player,) and to be 

 sjDoken to by farmers and others on the occur- 

 rences which commonly happen in the day's 

 hunting ; if things go on well, and the sport is 

 good, the master of the pack is no doubt the 

 person most pleased, feeling conscious that his 

 exertions contribute much to the amusement of 

 the day ; and there is certainly no pleasure 

 more gratifying to ourselves than that of pleasing 

 others. On the contrary, if every thing should 

 go on untowardly, which will frequently happen 



