419 



Then, deprived of the means whereby we have become the greatest 

 nation in the world, and despoiled of those who were our leaders, and 

 who so nobly backed us up, what will be the result ? 



Without hesitation I answer : the ultimate downfall of England ! 



Happily, there is yet time to avert such a catastrophe— dreadful, too 

 dreadful, to contemplate ! 



Let the Government recognise the fact that the greatest question 

 they have to consider, except our naval supremacy, is the welfare 

 OF the farmers and landowners. All others stand as nothing to it. 



To tackle that question, so omnipotent to the nation, Conservatives 

 and Liberals should coalesce, and fearlessly go for what is right, un- 

 mindful of whatever support they may lose by doing so. 



I have now no more to say upon the subject of my book except 

 that our predecessors maintained in the highest degree of excellence 

 our Sports, and handed them over to us in that state. It is our 

 duty to deal in the same manner by those who are to come after us. — 

 Let us do so. 



This book has been written by me for the purpose stated in the 

 preface and repeated often in the chapters. The book generally is 

 meant more for the detractors and enemies of Sport than for sportsmen; 

 so I wish I could think the compilation, imperfect as it is, would 

 find its way extensively among the class it is meant for, but I am 

 prone to believe it will be read more by the others. Let me, therefore, 

 request of my readers who are sportsmen to bring, upon ail available 

 occasions, the great facts which I have dealt with under the notice of 

 those who are our enemies. 



I am strongly of opinion that real downright Sport has few enemies 

 except among those who are ignorant on the subject or are, perhaps, 

 a trifle warped in their fancies. Some of these people are righteous 

 in their own way and may be converted. Let them, therefore, on the 

 off-chance, read " Thoughts upon Sport," at all events Chapter xvii. 



For those who are cursed with wicked and vindictive propensities, 

 combined with a crooked and contracted mind, which induce them to 

 oppose Sport, this book is not meant except so far as to show how 

 untenable is their position. To convert these people is impossible ; 

 in fact, the more good that is shown to be in any institution the more 

 delight will bad people have in doing it injury, for such, of course, is 

 their nature. 



Statistics, with their inevitable accumulation of figures, were always, 

 and still are, my detestation, and whenever their ghastly columns 

 meet my eye I instantly look elsewhere from the hideous vision. 

 Little therefore did I think that, in the autumn of my life, I should 

 engage in compiling what was hitherto so abhorrent to me. Sport, 

 however, exercises such an infatuation upon its votaries that there is 

 no accounting for the results. Hence it is, I suppose, that while deal- 

 ing witH the glorious subject, my constitution— normal as regards 



