two may be guessed at, without the Reader being very wrong in his divination; where I have left this possibility, it is where I am indifferent about the matter, either from not considering any great delicacy necessary, or from not having said any thing likely to wound the feelings. There are men who have hunted westward of London who have seen more than one "bruising" M. F. H. There are men in London and its vicinity who have seen more than one Mr. Jessamy; though I am thankful to say that I never saw but one veritable Jessamy with hounds. I have put the General on a dun horse, merely because I never saw him on one of that colour; but the General lived and rode. The Clergyman mentioned lived (and I hope lives), and well he did his duty in every thing; and well he did his duty when, sub rosâ, he managed a pack of fox-hounds. Young Roberts lived, albeit that was nearer his Christian than surname. Thus far I satisfy the curiosity of the Reader ; my friend and guest also lived, and subsequently often showed the way in Leicestershire. Would he were now alive! Having thus introduced my Characters to my Reader, I hope he will permit me to introduce the book. If I should be asked why I have not written a better book, the answer is very easy- because I did not know how. If I am asked why I have written in a somewhat peculiar way—I will give my reasons for doing so. Whatever theme an author selects for his pen, I conceive he should, as far as possible, make his style correspond with his subject. If it be a light one, a regular didactic style might lead to the supposition that the author attaches too much importance to his own work; if in narrating a simple tale, an author adopts a florid style, he spoils his work; he makes that ridiculous which in simple language would, perhaps, have been touching and interesting. Under such impressions I considered the subjects of this book could not be discussed in a too unaffected or familiar style; and hence I address what I say to a Friend instead of the Public. I had, however, another motive. I considered that to bring forward cases that, with small unimportant alterations, actually occurred, would enable the Reader to form his judgment from them; my own might very probably err: but the cases as I have stated them are correct. If, therefore, the Reader should form erroneous opinions from them, I shall not be liable to the charge of having misled him. The friend alluded to, and for whom I once penned many sheets similar in matter to the present, was for many years well-known both to the fashionable and sporting world. He is gone, but his memory will live long after the Author of these pages will have been forgotten. H. H.. CONTENTS. The Chase: its Pleasures. The Fox-hunter and the Farmer A Case in Point. Plain Facts. Sportsmen personified. Masters of Fox-hounds: their distinctive Features. Harry Hieover's Visit to a Stud. The Model Stud-groom, Confidential Inquiry. Conduct in the Field. Harriers and Peculiarities. Hints on Leaping. Armed for either Field. A Bargain. Going further to fare worse. A pleasant ERRATUM. Page 126. line 5. for " Delpine" read "Delpini." |
