IGNORANCE OF THE NATURE OF HOUNDS. 127 



It had now become very evident to me that the 

 French system with hounds would spoil the best- 

 bred animals that the English kennels afford. In 

 France the servants called huntsmen are selected, not 

 from knowing anything of the art of venerie, or of 

 the nature of the animal placed under them to be 

 educated and cared for, but simply because they are 

 musicians and can play on the huge horn ; and, as I 

 think I have said before, they are necessitated to 

 seek such a domestic at the opera rather than on 

 account of any skill he has in woodcraft. This is so 

 manifestly wrong that I wonder that the gentlemen, 

 reserving their cumbrous musical instruments to 

 themselves — if they must have them — do not ordain 

 that it shall be sufficient for the servants to use the 

 little straight English hunting-horn, so much better 

 understood by the hounds ; and, while he is attending 

 to and aiding the direct chase, let him leave to his 

 masters the apoplectic pastime of winding a huge 

 instrument, and through it talking to their friends. 

 Hounds in France are used exactly as if their masters 

 thought they were carved in wood, or were bodies set 

 on wheels, which must go on like those of a carriage 

 when set in motion, and that, like a carriage at the 

 end of March, they might be shut up in a sort of coach- 

 house or kennel, and not taken out again or looked at 



