MY FIRST PACK 7 



Osbaldeston's, and Mr. Warde's. My first pack was 

 composed of drafts from other kennels, principally un- 

 entered hounds, of which I bought to a large extent ; and 

 after selecting the best bred, if not the best looking, the 

 others were handed over to friends occupied in the same 

 line of business. But, some few years after, on the op- 

 portunity being afforded me, I purchased the pack be- 

 longing to the renowned John Warde,to which some twelve 

 or fourteen couples of my best old hounds were added ; 

 and I think I may venture to affirm that I became then 

 master of a kennel of hounds which, in power, symmetry, 

 and performances, have never been surpassed, and I 

 believe never will be ; for after their fox was found, they 

 required the assistance neither of huntsman nor whipper- 

 in. I had only to show them the covert they were to 

 draw, and if there was a fox in it, they gave me no further 

 trouble until he was either killed or run to ground. 



Although there exists a very great diversity of opinion 

 in regard to the height and size of fox-hounds — some 

 maintaining that a small hound can more easily creep 

 through a fence than a large one can jump over it ; and 

 others contending that large hounds can cross a stiff 

 country with less exertion than little ones — there is a 

 general harmony of ideas, or almost unanimous agreement, 

 amongst experienced masters of hounds and huntsmen, 

 as to shape, make, and symmetry ; and in this respect 

 the breeders of small hounds have decidedly the best of 

 the argument, since it is much more easy to produce a 

 clever pack, under twenty-four inches, than one above 

 that standard ; and there is another recommendation in 

 favour of the Lilliputian race — that they consume less 

 oatmeal. They are more easily managed also, and kept 

 in more servile subjection ; for the lash of the whip 



