MR. smith's boldness AND DECISION. 147 



ing earnestuess. AYe have become so refined in our 

 tastes, and tliere is such a reduction of intellect, educa- 

 tion, habits, and consequently of character, to the same 

 level, that the word enthusiasm has almost become one 

 of reproach. An ardent or enthusiastic man is pointed 

 out as a madman ; and yet it might be said of Tom 

 Smith, as it was of the heroic admiral, " I wish w^e had 

 five hundred men as mad as he." By this quality, be 

 its estimate what it may, he achieved his renown ; and, 

 what is more extraordinary still, his ardour never flagged 

 nor abated. "Whether it be ambition or any other passion 

 stimulating the senses or quickening the understanding, 

 most men gradually tire of the pursuit. The attainment 

 and fruition of an object gradually lessen our excitement, 

 and we seek a renewal and revival of our activity in varied 

 interests and in fresh pleasures. But we find Mr. Smith 

 year after year following the same pursuit, in the highest 

 degree animating, although having no very great novelty or 

 variety to recommend it, with unabated ardour, with 

 almost increasing zest. Can it be wondered at, with such 

 constancy of purpose as this, and talent to execute co -ex- 

 tensive with it, that he carried the science of hunting as 

 near to perfection as it is capable of, and retained for it its 

 national distinctiveness ? It would be difficult, perhaps, to 

 separate from each other any of the numerous ingredients 

 which, combined with and assisting the enthusiasm we have 

 described, went to raise Mr. Smith to the high rank he 

 will ever possess among British sportsmen. Bacon says, in 

 his admirable essay on State Government, that boldness is 

 the first in civil despatch, boldness second, boldness third ; 

 meaning that, for all practical purposes, all other qualities 

 are immeasurably subordinate to this. In like manner it 

 may be said of fox-hunting, that boldness * in riding makes 

 up three-fifths of eminence in it. The fourth and fifth parts 



* " Jb'irst attribute of a good huntsman is courage ; next, hands and 

 seat." — Beckford. 



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