NATURAL HISTORY 
riding-fchool. The exertions made by the horfe and deer much 
exceeded all my expeftations ; though the former greatly excelled 
the latter in fpeed. When the devoted deer was feparated from 
his companions, they gave him, by their watches, law, as they 
called it, for twenty minutes; when, founding their horns, the 
ftop-dogs were permitted to purfue, and a moft gallant fcene- 
enfued. 
LETTER VIL 
TO THE SAME. 
Though large herds of deer do much harm to the neighbour- 
hood, yet the injury to the morals of the people is of more mo- 
ment than the lofs of their crops. The temptation is irrefiftible ; 
for moft men are fportfmen by conftitution : and there is fuch an 
inherent fpirit for hunting in human nature, as fcarce any inhibi- 
tions can reftrain. Hence, towards the beginning of this cen- 
tury all this country was wild about deer-fhealing. Unlefs he was 
a hunter, as they affefted to call themfelves, no young perfon was 
allowed to be poflelfed of manhood or gallantry. The PFaltham 
blacks at length committed fuch enormities, that government was 
forced to interfere with that fevere and fanguinary aide called the 
black aB^, which now compi-ehends more felonies than any law that 
ever was framed before. And, therefore, a late bifliop of Winchejler, 
Statute 9 Ceo. I. c. aa. 
when 
