OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 67 



work on a bad scenting day, when unable to 

 go the best pace, but brings them to a check, 

 and by incautiously riding amongst them dis- 

 ables many, is unhappily a circumstance but too 

 well calculated to ruffle and derange the best 

 of tempers ; for who could refrain on such an 

 occasion from speaking rather warmly ? " So 

 jealous are some men (said a distinguished hunts- 

 man to me the other day at the covert side,) 

 that they will not even allow my Lord's hounds 

 to work with a hunting scent, although they 

 have every disposition to do so." When such 

 an incident occurs, the Field, as a body, ought 

 to interfere, and not suffer the sport of the day 

 to be marred by the malevolence or ignorance 

 of every individual who chooses to over-ride the 

 hounds. And is it not rather too much to expect 

 a master of hounds, on all occasions, to be vmder 

 the disagreeable necessity of calling to account 

 every stranger, Avhose too great eagerness and 

 want of patience, renders him a nuisance in the 

 Field ? j\Iany, many a day's sport is spoilt by 

 the sole circumstance of hounds being over-rode. 

 Much mischief is also often done when a fox 

 first goes away. All crowd to the spot where 

 he is halloo'd, before the hounds can possibly 

 get there ; every one being anxious for a good 

 start, fearing Jack so and so will have a better 



