116 
MISCELLANEA. 
tion of placing at the disposal of that body the appointment of 
an assistant-surgeon in the Company’s service, to be conferred 
on one of the students of the hospital, who is to be selected for 
his professional merits, and his correct and gentlemanlike con¬ 
duct. Such a noble and judicious exercise of patronage reflects 
credit, not only on Mr. Plowden, but also on the institution 
which he has thought worthy of his bounty. Were the dis¬ 
posers of the patronage of the East India Company to adopt a 
course like this more frequently, the result in a few years would 
be most beneficial to the service, and would exercise a beneficial 
influence on medical science in India, by introducing into it 
a number of highly educated young men, selected for the ap¬ 
pointments specially for their diligence, industry, and medical 
attainments.— Times. 
(*** Would not the same patronage bestowed on veterinary 
colleges redound to the credit both of them and the East India 
Company; while such a boon would materially benefit the 
service of the latter, and the science of the former ] 
FOX HUNTING. 
u But, though foreigners cannot understand it, it is a sport 
which affords enjoyment to all classes of people in this country. 
In this respect it has a decided advantage over racing. At 
Newmarket, when races of the greatest interest are run—races 
on which enormous sums are staked, and for which the best 
cattle in England are entered—the peasantry who are engaged 
in agricultural pursuits in the vicinity of the course scarcely 
think it worth their while to turn their heads from their ploughs 
and harrows to see how the contest proceeds; but when a fox 
is out, Hodge, the instant that he is aware of the fact, quits his 
ploughs and harrows, and all, and away he scampers after the 
hounds. ( Cheers ) This shews how exhilarating and delight¬ 
ful a sport it must be. But its advantages are numerous and 
important. It is not that the physical frame of man is invigo¬ 
rated by it, and his intellect made clear and strong; but by 
means of this noble amusement habits are acquired which fit a 
man for the creditable discharge of other and more important 
duties. Depend upon it, no successful fox-hunter was ever a 
fool. (Cheers.) He must not only be a man of sense, but he 
must have a good eye, a ready hand, a cool head; he must be 
capable of enduring great fatigue; he must, above all, have 
great nerve, and an unswerving determination to accomplish the 
object he has in view, no matter what difficulties and obstacles 
may present themselves in his way. It is upon these qualities 
that the national character of Britons is based.”— Extract from 
the Chairman s speech at the dinner given to Mr. Conyers, the 
well-known and respected master of the Essex fox-hounds. 
