OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 101 



nation would be changed : instead of the hardy, 

 open-hearted, hberal-minded Briton, you would 

 see nothing but an effeminate race, that would 

 only meet once a year at a grand battue, to shoot 

 a tame pheasant, and that would be the only 

 chasse in England. Amongst a thousand other 

 advantages belonging to fox-hunting, the bringing 

 together the different ranks of society is not the 

 least : you can see a great deal of life, — and it 

 is no bad school to study mankind in. The 

 emigration to the continent is very great at the 

 present day, but in general confined to people 

 who have small incomes and large families, — 

 education being much cheaper, and no taxes to 

 pay, are the principal inducements ; but if the 

 national amusements are done away with, more 

 particularly fox-hunting, which affords enjoyment 

 to all ranks, and the utility of which to every 

 grade is so very conspicuous, not only the needy 

 will emigrate, but the opulent and even the higher 

 orders, for they will be deprived of their chief 

 amusement in the Avinter. — But let us leave such 

 sad forebodings and get on the line again. 



There are those who think hounds go too fast, 

 and fancy a fox has no chance with them. How 

 is it, then, he so often beats the pack ? No 

 doubt, if hounds, on a good scenting day, go 

 away close at his brush, they have every prospect 



