OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 109 



exclaim, " if you hunt late, and kill my old bitch 

 fox that has bred you so many litters, I never 

 will forgive you." 



I have no doubt you will think it a bold asser- 

 tion on my part when I say, I have seen hounds 

 hunt too much ; what I mean to infer is, they 

 never ought to hunt when they can run, I have 

 known hounds from custom reduce the scent to 

 a hunting one, after running a few fields the best 

 pace. No man is fonder of seeing hounds hunt in 

 a fox-hunting style than myself, but I cannot say 

 I approve of pottering, " Bellman, well hit, he is 

 come so far, old fellow ; " then, " Thunder," 

 makes another hit, a few yards further on ; that 

 is not the ivaij to kill your fox. I like to see, the 

 instant a hound makes a hit, the whole pack 

 join him like lightning, and guide the scent with 

 energy ; no flashers or dashers. In some play 

 Bannister acted the character of a servant to a 

 sick gentleman, who was dangerously ill, — his 

 nephew called to inquire after his uncle's health, 

 when the servant informed him, he had no time 

 to lose, as Lawyer Dash was up stairs making 

 his will, " and he will dash you out or dash you 

 in in the twinkling of an eye." Now, if you 

 have any dashers or flashers in your pack, they 

 will lose your fox for you " in the twinkling of 

 an eye." For my own part, I am never pleased 



