62 STAG-HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS 



saw the deer van. Davis underlines heavily all the words 



printed in italics. 



' Ascot Heath : 

 ' December 12, 1839. 



' Sir, — I am delighted to hear of your good sport, but 

 am exceedingly grieved at your information respecting the 

 Hounds breaking away : I always profess candour, and must 

 therefore give my opinion thus. I really believe there is 

 no cure for your grievance ; it probably might have been 

 ■prevented, the method of which cannot be put on paper, as 

 it consists of a thorough knowledge of the temper, disposi- 

 tion, &c. &c. of each Hound — to so great a degree as to know 

 what each intends to do, before putting their vice in prac- 

 tice — and at such times, speak not harshly, but kindly, 

 and even your countenance must bear the impress of 

 friendship. 



' Correction I do not advocate, and it is equally wrong to 

 say I never suffer the whip to be used — but certainly not 

 when you are taking them to the meet ; for by causing one 

 Hound to cry out, the others would be off', " gadding o'er the 

 plain." I am sorry to hold out no encouragement, but it is 

 only an opinion after all. Hounds are sagacious beyond 

 the belief of many, and man must use his own intellect, and 

 learning too, to deceive them ; therefore you must not try 

 deception with them, but treat them with the greatest confi- 

 dence, and make them know you are beholden to them, not 

 vice versa. For instance, yonder is a cluster of people ; 

 they, the Hounds, know that the Deer is gone from that spot. 

 You must beg of them to go there quietly, not say " You 

 shall do so." If you saw me trot up to the spot, I must 

 assure you it was an exception to my general way ; for 

 I creep as quietly and as slow as possible. Yesterday I 

 did so, and stood some time within five yards of where the 

 Deer left the cart. I never heard of any pack doing this but 



