OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 113 



and forgive " I shall bury the circumstance in 

 oblivion. 



An Irish gentleman, a friend of mine, sent me 

 a Limerick Paper containing the following des- 

 cription of a late " fox chase " which, being in 

 a different style to what we are accustomed to 

 in England, may probably be amusing to you ; 

 I have therefore copied it for your perusal. 



" On Wednesday last, the Ormond hounds had 

 another brilliant heading run of thirteen miles 

 from point to point, in an inconceivably short 

 time, over a most sporting country. Having 

 drawn Milltown and Glasshouse without finding, 

 intelligence was brought that a fox had been 

 seen near Skinsmore. 



" Men, boys, and girls ! 

 Desert the unpeopled village, and wild crowds 

 Spread o'er the plain, by the sweet frenzy seized. 



The intelligence wanted but confirmation. Har- 

 mony and Merlin, the heralds of the pack, soon 

 proclaimed the joyful ridings — 



" They cheer the pack, 

 Opening in concerts of harmonious joy, 

 But breathing death. 



The fox had gone a considerable time before to 



Cangort Wood ; but it is not for time or distance 



9 



