3 o SPORTS AND ANECDOTES. 



his delivery was often very moderate, and if at any 

 distance from him, you could hardly make out what he 

 said, and from the voilt manner in which his discourse 

 was given out, he was bad to be heard, and what was 

 heard was so confused that I might almost compare 

 it to the buzzing noise made by a bee in a churn. 



I hope I am not painting the devil blacker than 

 he really was, and I hope that in the present day 

 there are no parsons of any kind, hunting, or shoot- 

 ing, or sporting, who would think of attending a 

 funeral in their top boots and spurs ; but such things 

 have been : should any such be still to be found, 

 who feel that the cap fits them, let them wear it. 

 Palmam qui meruit ferat, which, rendered into 

 English is, " Birch and green holly, birch and green 

 holly, if thou be beaten, boy, thank thine own folly." 



Forgive me, Reverend Sirs, if I seem to be hard 

 upon you ; but I have seen the time when some of 

 the cloth were almost too fast. I trust since the 

 time I am writing about, that you have in many 

 respects mended your manners, and though you 

 hunt and shoot in moderation, which is good for 

 your health, and harmless when done in a moderate 

 way, you have left off the fast and jealous ways 

 I have mentioned, as having come under my 



