VI PREFACE. 



their adventures, that a single far-fetched or over- 

 strained paragraph casts a doubt on the veracity of 

 a whole volume, and therefore their desire should be 

 to state the truth, and nothing but the truth, from 

 the beginning to the end. 



Men who write on sporting subjects are but too 

 apt to seek opportunities in which to compliment 

 their entertainers, and by false descriptions to gain 

 undue applause for their sport and establishments. 

 This ought not to be so; for if journalists perpetually 

 spoke in praise, and declined to point out egregious 

 errors, what chance would there ever be of intro- 

 ducing a better system ? 



In writing from the castle, chateau, or house of 

 an entertainer, care should invariably be taken not 

 to trench on private or personal matters, — a fault 

 sadly fallen into by some of my predecessors, but 

 from which the good taste of the sportsmen of the 

 present day will, I am sure, for the future guard 

 them. Sport, and matters pertaining to the Chase, 

 which partake almost as much of a public as a 

 private amusement, afford an ample field for the 

 pen, and when naturally and faithfully described, 



