THE COMPOSITION OF PATTIES 113 



call to-morrow for the money " ; with which, throwing 

 pussy down, he hastily made his exit before the woman 

 could recover from her astonishment at this brazen act ; 

 and it need scarcely be remarked that the desired effect 

 was produced on the customers, who quickly dispersed, 

 with rather queer sensations about the stomach ! 



Whether sausages and pork-pies are made of horse-meat, 

 it behoveth us not perhaps too diligently to inquire, and 

 certainly it is no business of mine, who have an uncon- 

 querable aversion to all such highly seasoned compounds ; 

 but although we admit hounds do eat horse-flesh, we are 

 not quite satisfied that others besides my feeder have not 

 partaken of the same meat finely minced and peppered. 

 Knackers' yards are cleared out in a very unaccountable 

 manner sometimes, and perhaps it may not be quite safe 

 for the patronisers of patties, sausages, and gravy soup 

 to speak too disrespectfully of kennel beef. 



Seeing, therefore, that there is nothing very disgusting 

 in the food eaten by fox-hounds, I do not conceive that 

 any nobleman or gentleman would lose caste, or com- 

 promise his dignity, or that his olfactory nerves would 

 be seriously offended, by acting occasionally as Master 

 of the Ceremonies, in standing at the feeding-house door, 

 witnessing his favourites dispatch their dinner ; and for 

 such an act it would be rather hard to be stigmatised 

 as a dog-feeder. For myself, I must confess and plead 

 guilty to the charge of taking a deep interest in horses 

 and dogs. Although I may be ridiculed for the expression 

 of the sentiment — that mutual attachment should exist 

 between master and hound — destroy that feeling, and we 

 then use these animals (so identified with our recreations 

 and pastimes, and formed by nature to be man's assistants 

 and companions) as mere living machines, to pander to 



