16 EXPERIENCE IN EOX-HUNTING. 



gallop, or to meet their friends at the covert side ; 

 and after a bit of a skurry, trot home about two 

 or three o'clock in the afternoon, perfectly satisfied. 

 AVell, if they arc satisfied, so are we, that they 

 condescend to give countenance to the national 

 sport ; and it is far Ijetter for them to ride even 

 to the place of meeting, than remain idle at home, 

 or playing at a billiard or card table in some 

 fashionable watering place, such as Cheltenham or 

 Leamington. 



My experience in fox-hunting tells a very differ- 

 ent tale — an early breakfast — hard Avork through- 

 out the day — a late dinner, at the fashionable 

 hour of eight or nine o'clock in the evening ; scores 

 of times, I have been riding after my hounds 

 when it Avas so dark that I could scarcely see my 

 horse's head before me ; and Avhen the moon rose, 

 Ave have been rattling about big Avoodlands, from 

 changing foxes, imtil ten or tAvelve at night. 



