126 OBSERVATIONS ON FOX-HUNTING 



equal never was, and he is inclined to think never 

 will be. 



" The life of INIr. Meynell was spent in con- 

 templating the characters of all and every animal 

 and thing that came under his observation : his 

 first object was to ascertain the probable cause 

 that produced the various effects in man, animals, 

 &c. such as perfection, defects, and propensities ; 

 hence he had an analysis of most things which 

 he had to encounter. His perception was so 

 quick, and his judgment so strong, that he seldom 

 erred in his decisions ; and thus, through the 

 whole of his kennel, he could discover and fully 

 explain the distinct character of every hound. 

 To their health, condition, legs, and feet, he was 

 particularly attentive, and watched them with 

 strict attention ; as he found by experience, that 

 a defect in any one of them made a material 

 alteration in their performances in the field, — 

 observing, drily, that you could not play upon 

 an instrument out of tune. Perfect legs and 

 feet, with tolerable symmetry, were his great 

 objects to begin with ; he was rather partial to 

 large hounds, but he never drafted a small one 

 that he liked, which made his pack less sightly 

 than was generally admired ; but as he built all 

 his foundation of merit upon power, he was less 

 anxious as to appearances. In the latter years 



