CHRISTOPHER IN HIS SPORTING JACKET 



without racing and fox-hunting, where could it be 

 found? Such pastimes nerve one of the arms of the 

 nation when in battle; but for them 'twould be pal- 

 sied. What better education, too, not only for a horse, 

 but his rider, before playing a bloodier game in his 

 first war campaign? Thus he becomes demicorpsed 

 with the noble animal ; and what easy, equable motion 

 to him is afterwards a charge over a wide level plain, 

 with nothing in the way but a few regiments of fly- 

 ing Frenchmen ! The hills and dales of merry England 

 have been the best riding-school to her gentlemen — 

 her gentlemen who have not lived at home at ease — 

 but, with Paget, and Stewart, and Seymour, and Cot- 

 ton, and Somerset, and Vivian, have left their heredi- 

 tary halls, and all the peaceful pastimes pursued 

 among the silvan scenery, to try the mettle of their 

 steeds, and cross swords with the vaunted Gallic chiv- 

 alry; and still have they been in the shock victo- 

 rious; witness the skirmish that astonished Napoleon 

 at Saldanha — the overthrow that uncrowned him at 

 Waterloo ! 



"Well, do you know, that, after all you have said, 

 Mr North, I cannot understand the passion and the 

 pleasure of fox-hunting. It seems to me both cruel 

 and dangerous.^' 



Cruelty ! Is there cruelty in laying the rein on their 

 necks, and delivering them up to the transport of 

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