248 



THE FOX. 



doubt, is saved at last, from death. Sly little 

 fellow ! — taking advantage of the momentary 

 pause, he has just had time to squeeze himself 

 into one of his friendly fastnesses hard by, — too 

 strait for even terriers to enter; — and too rocky 

 to admit the operations of the spade and axe. 

 There he sets both hounds and huntsmen at 

 defiance. 



Other covers are drawn, but no fox can be 

 found. 



It is now time to give up the chase and disperse ; 

 for see the wintry sun is nearly at its setting, — and 

 the pack is far from its kennel. The sportsmen retire 

 from the field : — each individual having had a day 

 of rational amusement, with a bountiful stock of 

 fresh air, and an increase of spirits for their differ- 

 ent callings; — so that, in fact, the fox has been 

 to them, the best of all physicians. 



But this manly and exhilarating sport is only 

 suited to Great Britain. Foreign nations have 

 their pastimes of another sort, which we perhaps 

 may undervalue, I think that Englishmen shewed 

 bad taste, when they introduced fox hunting into 

 the Eoman States. Nothing could exceed the 

 astonishment of the Italians, when they witnessed 

 the arrival of our hounds and horses. They could 

 not by any chance be made to comprehend the 



