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of the hunt, that has been a winner before, 

 and is named by some obscure farmer ; and 

 the cup frequently ornaments the side- 

 board of one who is the least deserving of 

 it ; but that is no reason at all why it should 

 be discontinued. It is the intention of the 

 thing which pleases, as a sort of grateful 

 return for the supposed injury done to 

 the farmer. I am confident, that by this 

 means, I have gained the good will of 

 many an opulent yeoman, who was before 

 inimical to fox-hunting. I have heard them 

 say to each other, " it is very kind of the 

 gentlemen to think of us." I remember 

 a farmer coming up to me at one of our 

 hunt-races, whom I before suspected of 

 killing foxes, and addressing me thus, — 

 " My woodman, Sir, told me, he thought an 

 old vixen would lay up her cubs in our 

 home-wood ; if it should so happen, I give 

 you my word, Sir, not one of them shall be 

 destroyed." The woodman was right in 



