THE FOX. 



Were it known, ten miles from our own village, 

 that it possessed a fowl-department of easy and 

 of safe access, that fowl-department would certainly 

 be robbed before the dawn of day. 



The Hunt, has it always in its power to make 

 staunch friends of the farmers, by remunerating 

 them for Josses in poultry, really sustained, and 

 where the fox alone has been the plunderer. Our 

 gamekeepers too, partaking of an annual good 

 dinner provided by the members of the hunt, 

 in case the pack consists of what we denominate 

 " confederate hounds and receiving on the same 

 day, their perquisite for stopping the earths on the 

 midnight previous to the hunting morning; and 

 also a bonus for a find, as it is usually called ; 

 everything would then go on, well and satisfactorily 

 to all parties. 



If T shall succeed in shewing that the fox is a 

 valuable quadruped to us in a national point of view, 

 I shall be amply repaid for my trouble, and perfectly 

 satisfied. Indeed, it has been for this end alone, 

 that I have taken up the pen on this subject. 



Nobody can be more convinced than I am, 

 of the fox's worthlessness, when contemplated as 

 a little sculking, pilfering, and rapacious animal, — 

 the farmers detestation, and the hen -wife's bane. 

 But when, on the other hand, I behold in him full 

 powers to afford amusement and exercise to all 



