79 



CHAPTER III. 



^THAT HUNTING IS TO THE NATION. 



Author's Letter in 1875— Accurate Calculations— Author's Letter of 1881— Criticism Courted— 

 Refutation Defied— Cost of Hunting— Table of Same— Cost of Keeping Hunters- 

 Hunting Establishments, Value of— Annual Cost— Table of Same— Stupendous Amount 

 — Author's Dogmatism— His Defiance Repeated— But Explanation Given— Cost of 

 Feeding Hounds— Farmers' Co-operation— English and Irish Farmers and Yeomen- 

 Innate Sportsmen— Farmers Get the Money— The Little Red Rover- Poetical Advice 

 to Farmei-s— Result of Stoppage of Hunting— Importance of these Facts and Figures- 

 Leading Periodical's Opinion in 1881— Table of Packs, 1881-1890— England v. Ireland- 

 Why ?— A Mistake in the Press. 



As far back as November, 1875, I published a letter on this subject 

 in the Irish Sjoortsmcm. The calculations I made were reproduced in 

 many other sporting and daily papers at the time, and though they 

 have been quoted very often since, I have never heard their accuracy 

 questioned. The calculations could not, however, be upset, for they 

 were based upon the accurately-kept accounts of several first and 

 second class hunting establishments — fox, hare, and stag hounds — 

 which I was allowed to inspect, and also upon what I know myself 

 on the subject. 



I reproduced the calculation in the second edition of my " Recipes'' 

 «arly in 1881, but when the agitation against hunting began in 

 Ireland towards the end of that year I went much deeper into the 

 subject, and published letters, signed " The Fox," in the Freeman^ 

 Journal and other papers, which received vastly more attention 

 than the others. The first letter dealt only with first and second 

 class establishments, but that of the autumn, 1881, included many 

 smaller packs, and in consequence the estimated average cost was 

 reduced considerably. 



It is necessary to give this explanation in order to explain the 

 alteration in some of my figures, and I want to be as explicit as 

 possible. 



The following calculation is based upon proper and economical 

 management, without providing for waste or extravagance. Stupen- 

 dous though the figures undoubtedly are, and although they can be 

 approximate only, I confidently lay them before the public as being 

 under rather than over the mark. I court criticism and defy refuta- 

 tion, and do so without apprehension. 



Previous to 1860 the yearly cost of keeping foxhounds was calcu- 

 lated at a little under £500 for each day they hunted in the week ; 

 that is, a pack which hunted two days a week would cost a little 

 under £1,000 a year. From 1860 to 1870 this sum amounted to ove 



