188 REMINISCENCES, ETC. 



The Field, it is only by sacli enthusiasm in tlie pursuit of 

 fox-hunting as he evinced, " that with the improved state 

 of husbandry, and the increasing system of enclosures, 

 added to the large field of thorough-bred horses pressing 

 upon the hounds, it is kept from degenerating into a 

 second-rate sport." His country, therefore, is the real 

 gainer by the line that he pursued, '' for if," adds the same 

 writer, " hunting or any other diversion is really useful in a 

 national point of view, it is of the utmost importance that 

 it should be vigorously carried out, and that a few of the 

 leaders in it should devote their time, their minds, and 

 their fortunes to render it something more than a mere 

 gentlemanly amusement, although to the great bulk of man- 

 kind it presents no other feature whereby it may claim 

 their attention." 



There will perhaps be some who still remain sceptical. 

 These we refer to Lord Bacon's essay on the " True Great- 

 ness of Kingdoms and States," already quoted, from which 

 we extract the following passage : " It is certain that 

 sedentary and within-door arts, and delicate manufactures " 

 (in which as a nation we are chiefly engaged) '' requiring 

 the finger rather than the arm," (and it may be added, 

 laborious studies and professions,) " have in their nature a 

 contrariety to a military disposition ; and generally war- 

 like people are a little idle and love danger better than 

 travail ; neither must they be too much broken of it, if 

 they shall be preserved in vigour." 



If, therefore, hunting, with its perils, its enterprises, and 

 its ambition, has been truly styled " the image of war," — if 

 it has a direct tendency to remedy the natural effect of 

 some of our national habits and employments, — long may 

 the noble youths of our country cherish a passion for this and 

 other manly exercises ! Thus will our bodies be best in- 

 ured to toil, and their nerves best braced to encounter 

 dangers, wherever they may be found. Thus will they be 

 less liable to turn aside to the allurement of vicious indul- 



