The Sporting Dictionary, and Rural Repository, Volume 1 (of 2) / Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the Field

When found, she cannot be permitted to go off too silently before the hounds; her own extreme timidity frequently occasions her heading, and the pack are as repeatedly liable to over-run the scent. The huntsman, by not pressing too close upon the hounds himself, will keep the company at a proper distance also; and when they are thus left to a proper and free use of their own faculties, they are but little likely to over-run it much. The author whose judgment and celebrity has been so frequently mentioned, has something so applicable, and so truly just, in every page upon this subject, that it is impossible to resist the temptation of quoting a few occasional passages, where the intentional meaning is so emphatically and sportingly exprest. He not only accords with every systematic principle of the chase, but so constantly strengthens his opinion with the embellishment of applicable anecdote, that it is impossible to peruse his "Thoughts" without both amusement and instruction. He holds it a rule, "that hounds, through the whole chase, should be left almost entirely to themselves, and not be much hallooed: when the hare doubles, they should hunt through those doubles; nor is a hare hunted fairly when hunted otherwise. They should follow her every step she takes, as well over greasy fallows, as through flocks of sheep; nor should they ever be cast, but when nothing can be done without it."

Making every possible allowance for the diversities of the different chases already alluded to, there are leading rules characteristically annexed to the OFFICIAL DEPARTMENT of the HUNTSMAN, from which hardly any possible circumstance can justify a deviation. In addition to the invariable and indispensible duties of the KENNEL, a strict and regular discipline in the stables (so far as his own and the horses of the whippers-in are concerned) should fall under the eye of his inspection; by well knowing the state of which, he best can tell of what work they are capable. And this is the more necessary, because it is impossible for him to relax from his duty in the field: he is the GENERAL OFFICER, having the supreme command, and whom all must obey. Persevere and conquer, should be his motto in the chase. Veni, vidi, vici, at his return. This, however, becomes more applicable to the spirit of the huntsman whose good fortune it is to preside over a fox-hunting establishment, where every energetic nerve of emulative sensibility is so constantly roused into action. How different from the languid enjoyment, and frigid apathy, of what is so admirably adapted to the opposite extremes of youth and age! upon which no two opinions can arise: the best authorities admit the good find of a FOX to be preferable to a bad run with the HARE.

From the moment of throwing off, as well as during every progress of the chase, it is the peculiar province of the HUNTSMAN to be at the HEAD of the HOUNDS; once convinced of the abilities of his subordinates, he has nothing to do with what is going on behind. The place he should endeavour to keep, when circumstances and unavoidable obstacles do not occur to prevent it, is parallel with the leading BODY of the HOUNDS; in which commanding situation he has unobstructed opportunity to observe what hounds carry the scent; and if it fails, to know to a certainty how far they brought it: as well as ample scope for the exertion of his proper authority, to prevent the horsemen pressing too eagerly upon the HOUNDS (at a moment so truly critical) by the emphatic injunction of "Hold hard!" a signal that never can come with so much propriety from any other voice as his own, nor will it be so implicitly obeyed. A huntsman is naturally anxious to obtain blood, not only to support the reputation but the excellence of his hounds: he should, however, avoid killing his game unfairly, by lifting his hounds too much, or taking them from CHASE to view, which is a most cruel, unfeeling, and unsportsman-like practice. If the hounds cannot kill by fair and equitable efforts, the object of pursuit is justly entitled to its escape.

As in hare-hunting it is impossible to press on the hounds too little, so in fox-hunting it is impossible to press them on too much, at least while the scent is good; that failing, much must be left to their own industrious endeavours; those not soon succeeding, the proper casts should be made with judgment, and that without delay. Five minutes lost in hesitation, frequently loses every promised pleasure of the day. It is proverbially asserted, that in a multitude of counsellors there is safety; this is the very moment that proves an exception to the rule; for, amidst the variety of obtruded opinions, a huntsman should think before he ACTS; and once determined, abide by his own stability, regardless of the frivolities with which he is so frequently surrounded. If courage is thought a necessary qualification in a huntsman, philosophic patience, upon many occasions, is much more so; for, whilst he sees a number of experienced sportsmen in the field ready to assist his own judicious exertions, he has the mortification to observe double the number moving in a retrograde direction, doing every thing but the thing they should do; riding directly where they should not; probably heading the game into COVERT, at the very moment they ought to be standing still "as silent as the grave." A proper degree of modesty, blended with a little good sense and reflection, would soon prevent those confident inconsiderates from such glaring and absurd acts of indiscretion. It is a maxim resulting from observation in the chase, that those who do not seem anxious, and take pains, to do good, are, as it were, habitually unfortunate in doing the very reverse, and becoming (perhaps undesignedly) the almost perpetual instruments of mischief; and to this tribe of misnamed sportsmen, a huntsman has in general the most unqualified aversion; convinced that those who mean to render him service, and prolong the sport, know in what particular place they ought to be upon every emergency; and if they are repeatedly elsewhere, to where they should be, he soon knows how to estimate their judgment in the field, and ability in the chase.

The instant a huntsman observes his hounds come to a check, is the moment when his assistance is most wanting; then is the time to enjoin an equal check and silence of the company; every eye and every ear may be anxiously and inquisitively employed, but not the sound of a tongue is necessary upon the occasion. Those who are inclined to babble in a moment of so much doubtful expectation, lay claim to, and generally obtain, a most contemptuous sneer from the HUNTSMAN, and not unfrequently what is called a blessing into the bargain. He should at no time be too ready to avail himself of a HALLOO when hounds are at fault; they are very often deceptive, and occasion disappointment; exclusive of which, after they have been taken from the spot to which they know they brought the scent, they become less strenuous in their endeavours, when they do not recover it elsewhere, even where they were encouraged to expect it. Boys keeping birds, as well as rustics, from sympathetic enjoyment, frequently lead the huntsman from his point. Mr. Beckford is therefore of opinion, that when a doubt arises, it is better for a whipper-in, or one of the company, to ride forward, and inquire; it is only the loss of a little time; whereas if you gallop away to a halloo, and are obliged to return, the hounds become very indifferent, and it is a chance if they make another effort to recover the scent afterwards.

Not the least attention should be paid by a HUNTSMAN to any halloo unless the hounds are at fault; a huntsman taking his hounds from the chase (when running with a good scent) to a halloo, without much more than a common cause, ought to be dismissed as a fool or a madman. Hounds are sometimes hallooed too much, and too frequently permitted to obey it; the consequence is, they are no sooner at fault than they expect it: huntsmen hurt their hounds by availing themselves of such advantage, it makes them indifferent; they are always upon the listen, become more and more slack, particularly in COVERT. So long as hounds can carry on the scent, it must be admitted a very poor and paradoxical practice to take them off; but when, with all their fair and indefatigable exertions, it cannot be recovered, it then becomes a duty to render them every assistance. Cases sometimes occur in opposition to every effort (particularly in covert) where the leading hounds, in running, get a head of the huntsman, and much before the principal body of the pack; in such situation, he must strenuously surmount intervening difficulties, with all possible resolution, and get to them as fast as he can, with what he can collect of the PACK, and leave the remainder to be hallooed forward, and brought along by the whipper-in.

Huntsmen who have too much dash themselves, dash with so much rapidity in drawing from one covert to another, that they frequently leave hounds behind; and the whipper-in (where there is but one, and there ought always to be two) being no less eager than the huntsman to be forward, renders what was an error in the first instance, a confirmed fault in the next. It would be more sportsman-like to get the hounds collected, and bring them away all together; it might sometimes prevent the return of a whipper-in for even a single skirter, more particularly at the conclusion of the day, when hounds are hallooed off for home. Left behind, they become liable to loss as well as accident: when once addicted to skirting, it becomes a growing vice, and is seldom discontinued; they acquire confidence in hunting by themselves, which they never relinquish, and would rather dwell upon their own tongue, than give proper credit to another: in which persevering obstinacy they continue, till the pack, drawn off, and evening coming on, they are left to make their weary way through a dreary country; or, exposed to the inclemency of a winter's night, take up their lodging upon the ground, with the additional chance of being attacked and worried by every dog they see in exploring their way the following morning.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

ADVERTISEMENT

BEGS to make his most grateful Acknowledgements to those Noblemen and Gentlemen, who have continued to honour him with their Patronage during the fourteen years he has been energetically employed in endeavouring to promote a Reform in the former cruel and erroneous System of Farriery. It is the greatest ambition of his life to have seen that endeavour fully accomplished. Since the original Publication of his "Gentleman's Stable Directory," he has exultingly surveyed, not only the Institution, the Erection and the Establishment of the Veterinary College, but the almost incredible increase of Veterinary Surgeons in every Town; and Veterinary Druggists in every Street of the Metropolis. Many of these, with a certain degree of Professional Fertility, not only do him the honour to imitate his long-established Horse Medicines; but others, with a degree of Liberality peculiar to themselves, offer to supply the Public with "cheap and efficacious" Horse Medicines, for even half what Mr. Taplin's GENUINE Ingredients can be obtained at the first Commercial Houses in the City of London. To the judicious and enlightened this Mystery will sufficiently explain itself. Mr. Taplin, so long honoured by the Countenance and Support of the most distinguished and opulent Characters, never indulged a momentary Idea of dispensing Cheap Medicines, because his Principles would never permit him to put his Hand dishonourably into the Pockets of his best Friends; nor would his well-known Attachment to the Animal, allow him to prepare a single Article upon the genuine Property and expected probable Efficacy of which, he is not only ready at all times to pledge his Reputation, but his Existence. The honour of supplying near six hundred Gentlemen, (a List of whom may be seen,) exclusive of his different Agents, preclude the necessity of pestering the Public with perpetual Advertisements; rendering it at the Commencement of every Season, only necessary to communicate respectful Information, that Gentlemen residing in any part of the Kingdom, addressing their Commands to Mr. Taplin, Sloane-Square, London, shall have their Medicines immediately dispatched by whatever Conveyance they may please to appoint.

List of Medicines, with their Prices.

Mr. Taplin continues to give Advice upon the DEFECTS and DISEASES of HORSES, and to render Assistance in all Cases of difficulty and DANGER, within TEN MILES of the METROPOLIS, upon the most moderate Terms.