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occasionally to ride his hobby, provided it 

 be a rational one. 



A certain late great potentate, who was 

 very inimical to the chace, wished also to 

 make it appear " cruel, and no occupation 

 for the mind." The first of these ideas 

 came with a bad grace from this great man 

 (but hunting was not his taste) ; and as to 

 the " occupation," I think I may venture 

 to affirm, if there be one out-of-door 

 amusement which employs the mind more 

 than another, it is fox-hunting ; and men 

 of the first rate abilities keep their hunters, 

 and indulge in this noble diversion. I have 

 occasionally read in the newspapers insi- 

 nuations against fox-hunters ; for what rea- 

 son I am at a loss to know ; I see no just 

 cause why a fox-hunter, if he conducts him- 

 self as a gentleman, is not as respectable a 

 character as one who follows other pursuits 

 less manly and more enervating. Whenever 

 I hear persons of either sex repeating sto- 



