prime little crib of my own, and I do not want
any place or pension to burthen my country ;
therefore I cannot, will not be looked upon as a
flatterer. Our king is a friend to the people he
is one of us an Englishman to the back bone :
he has lived amongst us ; he is acquainted with
our wants from his own eyes and ears ; he is
also aware of our difficulties and privations ;
and he loudly praises our subdued feelings



towards love of country. King William has
now arrived at the top of the tree the English
oak ; and he is most anxious to do all the good
he can for his loving subjects, and all his ex-
ertions are directed towards making them
happy. He does not want to deprive the peo-
ple of their little sports and amusements ; and
he will not in the slightest degree abridge the
sports of his subjects. There is nothing like
cant and humbug about the conduct of our
beloved sovereign ; but, after the manner of a
true-hearted sailor, it must be all fair above
board, or else he will shiver their timbers
who may try to deceive him under false colours.

May I never cock my eye-glass again if I
don't well remember seeing that great person-
age when he was his royal highness, the duke
of Clarence, at a mill, at Moulsey Hurst ; and
blow me, why should I be ashamed to tell the
truth? I shall never forget the English-like
conduct of his royal highness upon that occa-
sion : I was delighted with it and every
person present was in raptures with the re-
marks which issued from the lips of the royal
duke. Indeed, his majesty is too well aware
that " TRUE courage" is the key-stone to the
greatness of Old England.

One of those aristocratic boroughmongering
lords, who had left his carriage for a few mi-
nutes, as he was accidentally passing the spot,
to take a peep at the " Sports of the People/
felt himself very much annoyed that he was
not immediately recognized, and a. 'bed of
roses' prepared for him, to prevent the rude
wind from interfering with his dignity : one of
those sorts of persons in the peerage, whom
the late facetious Peter Pindar has so finely
sketched :

But then I'm told agen, that grandeur's sure,
At owning obligations to the poor ;
Such thanks cut no figure in discourse,
To say, I'm much oblig'd to " a horse."
Now such forgetfulness is most unpleasant ;
The man that doth receive a hare or pheasant
Might certainly somewhat from manners spare,
And say, I thank ye for the bird or hare.

But there was nothing like thanks in the
composition of the noble lord alluded to ; nay,
quite on the contrary, he looked down upon
the spectators with the most aristocratic sort
of contempt, and appeared quite restless for
fear the slightest touch from a plebeian should
contaminate his olfactory nerves. The royal
duke, observing the uneasiness of the noble
lord, thus addressed him : " My lord, you ap-
pear rather to be annoyed ; but be pleased to
recollect that we are all Englishmen alike
here ; and as to places, we must do the best
we can for ourselves." Blow me, but this slap
of the chops, as I called it, operated like a
cordial to my feelings ; nay, better than a
thumping glass of brandy ; and I remember it
as well as if it only occurred yesterday, saying,
well, I wish I may die if ever his royal high-
ness comes into power, he will be the right
sort of a king to make the people happy ; and
hang me but my conjectures have proved "
bit of good truth."



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPOUTS.



It is at Ascot, delightful Ascot races, where
the public have the opportunity of beholding
his Majesty, and of hearing his remarks with-
out the least reserve. The course at Epsom
races, on the Derby day, displays thousands of
well-dressed persons, with plenty of dash, and
here and there sprinkled with some fashion-
able folks ; and is, in reality, a most beautiful
and interesting sight ; but on Ascot Heath
the splendour of the scene is unrivalled ; and
the truth is verified to the echo which applauds
again, that the king's name is a tower of
strength. Ascot may be deemed the rallying-
point for all the nobility and gentry, for miles
round Windsor, to pay homage to their beloved
monarch. It is also at Ascot that dukes,
duchesses, marquisses, earls, &c., are to be
met with in numbers, promenading up and
down the course, as much at their ease as if
walking on a private lawn. It is also truly
interesting to view the king at his ease, di-
vested of the paraphernalia and etiquette of
the court, habited like a private gentleman,
easy of access, and conversing with the utmost
affability and attention to all his auditors. To
behold a monarch of a mighty and powerful
nation, without his guards (but possessing a
more firm and lasting support than stone walls,
or fixed bayonets), secure in the hearts of his
people's love : it is English from top to toe ;
and not only a most gratifying, but a real pic-
ture of the independence and liberty of the
country. The distance of Ascot from Lon-
don gives it also a preference over Epsom :
the set out and return to the Metropolis, is too
long a journey for a single day, and tends to
operate more like fatigue, than hours devoted
to pleasure. The ride through the great park,
the appearance of the noble trees, the beauti-
ful surrounding picturesque scenery, the
dashing charioteers along the road, the ve-
nerable castle, enriching, and giving the pros-
pect a perfect climax, altogether make the
journey to Ascot races one of the most desira-
ble places for a week's pleasure in the kingdom.
His present majesty, king William, has not
been so much interested on the turf as his
royal brother, the late king George, and his
royal highness, the duke of York. The latter
august personage first made his debut in the
Sporting World, at Ascot races, in 1789; and
bis royal highness was extremely attached to
horse-racing; and, at one period of his life,
his stud was said to be unequalled. But,
nevertheless, his present Majesty enters into
all the spirit of the lively scene, and appears to
enjoy it equal to any of the sporting characters
present. During the last races, after the king
was asked how many of his horses should start
for a certain plate, his majesty answered, with
great naivete, " O let ail the FLEET ran !"

But blow me, if it an't all the same thing,
after all talk as you like, and say what you
will about the matter every man has his
hobby io this world, and will ride him
after his own pleasure. When I was a young
one (and I wish I may die if I should have



any objection to peg back a few years ; for, to
tell the truth, I am not so tired of the pleasures
of this world, as to wish to give them up yet
a-while ; and, indeed, my Paulina says that
she should have no objection if I could make
myself a bit younger as youth is the season
made for joys. Very true, my dear Paulina,
says I, but you know very well that we cannot
have our cake, and eat it. Yes, when I was
a young one I was a tiny bit of a Sporting
Character, and rather a sort of hankering after
the fancy, and was generally considered a
'good man'by all my acquaintances: but, very
soon after my Paulina took a ' fancy' to me, I
was compelled to take a leaf out of another
sort of book ; indeed, I became completely
changed in my habits and general disposition,
and being rather of an inquisitive turn of mind,
I obtained the title of PAUL PRY. Blow me,
if one of the Sporting Fellows, for a joke, or
chaffing me, as he said, endeavoured to give
my pedigree to the company, one night, when
I accidentally ' dropped in' to the Pig and
Tinder Box, to have a few whiffs on the sly :
" Why," said he the people all laughing,
" that sire of yours, Paul, was not half a good
one; he was nothing better than a pitiful
sneak poking his nose into every company,
where he was never invited, and pretending
to know every body's business, and a complete
stranger to his own affairs ; and, to wind up
his character, a most disagreeable, impudent
fellow. In this state, during his rambles,
where he ought not to have rambled, he met
with Miss Curiosity, a sort of slip-slop per-
sonage a back-biter fond of making mis-
chief, and a promoter of scandal. She was
never welcome any where, either at home or
abroad dear at any price ; and must have
been knocked down by every auctioneer in the
kingdom, as a " shocking bad lot !" This was
your precious dam ; and the pedigree of your
parents. The above union produced a colt
yourself who was named Paul Pry a chip
of the old block, but, most certainly, worse in
quality and quantity than either your no-no-
thing sire, or your presuming, ignorant, vain,
self-sufficient dam. Now, if you think you
can get a sounder pedigree of your family, or
a better character for yourself, why all that I
have to say more on the subject, is, you may
go and look for it." Blow me if this chaffing,
as he called it, did not procure him lots of ap-
plause, and roars of laughter ; and I could
not help joining in it with the comical dogs ;
as it was not so much out of the way, neither,
as a body might say and people in general
might not obtain such a good pedigree by
paying for it at the Herald's office.

I wish I may die, if the Sporting World
is not a complete world within itself it
has its laws, customs, manners, peculiarity
of language, and style of dress ; and a very
funny world it proves to many folks there
are a great number of ups and downs in it ;
and worse falls are experienced by Sporting
men than, any tumbles they meet with ift



PIERCE EGAVS BOOK OF SPORTS



57



hunting. Blow me, if I have not heard
the sporting world compared to a pawn-
broker's shop that the chances are Tvu> to
One against any person who enters it as a
matter of speculation to realize a fortune ;
although it cannot be denied that such achieve-
ments have been accomplished, and may be
accomplished again ; but the instances are
very rare.* But, nevertheless, it has its
advantages as well as its evils ; and the races,
in many parts of England, not only afford
pleasure to numerous classes of society, but
enable many poor country folks to pay their
rent ; indeed, who look forward to the time of
the races as a sort of land-mark, from which
the above advantage is derived by the great
influx of strangers which generally attend
such sports, and likewise from the sums of
money which are expended at them. The
sporting world also offers great encouragement
towards promoting the breed of horses, dogs,
&c., and many noblemen, and gentlemen,
il to the Kiitish sports, expend great
part of their fortunes by giving employment to
thousands of persons. il< not be

<I.-!i. <! that the attractions of the sporting
world are very alluring to the high-spirited,
the thous;htles>, ami unwary persons to
speculate with their money on sporting
<. ; that ruin, precipitate ruin, is too

often t onsequences before any such

result is anticipated. There is also great

Mr. John

i the kingdom but obtained by unwearied in-
dustry and practical experience. His teord on the
.ood for thousands, nay, to any amount : his
v also in f<ivi K has never been impeached*
nml his conduct honorable and gentlemanly through-
out u,, :U. His knowledfe of the odds
fa SHperUtivf ; and his calculations upon the above
rapid in the extreme : indeed, he stands so
this respect that the first accountants lu the
kingdom could not get the best of him," either ea

the score of .micliu-. ,>r in p..int i accuracy 1:1
placing the odds upon the various horses. It is true
,H been one of the favorites of the pow-
erful ami all worshipped goddess, and he has obtained
for himself a large fortune ; but it is equally true ho
has proved by his conduct throughout his family
wrth\ ,.: that great success which has atteit
speculations on the turf. And in the character of a
::. an affectionate husband, an indulgent fond
lath. r. .uid a kind hearted brother, he has never been
surpassed In other situations a warm friend, and a
companion. Since the days of Colonel
turf, we have had nothing like the
enterprise of Mr .lluiley: on .!/, ,,no* alone the winner
of the - -,. he netted it,000.

i been the proprietor of Hare Park, near New-
nrirket. where he took up his residence for some
time ; but he has since disposed of it, and now lives

ri.'ht 1'ark.near I'ontefact, also purchased by
him -wlu-re ht> i* \i.ited by persons of the first' de-
scription in Society : and no man " does the honors
of the table" with a better specimen of ' good breed-
iii.;' than Mr. Gulley. Tl.e words of POPK are
strongly verified by the conduct of this gentleman.

r and shame from no condition rise

Act well your part, tin-re all the honor lies.

The great flow of riches into his coffers have not

a, i either has his great success elevated

<t above his old friends and acquaii

1 1 remains the same plain unassuming



and hi g hl> respected JHH.N Gi LLtT. Trip to Ascot
Ructs.



ambition in the sporting world like othsr
movements in life, that some men wish to pos-
sess the best stud in the kingdom ; or a crack
pack of hounds ; and superior animals of
every description ; and no doubt but great
sums of money have been expended in this
manner. It is equally true that many per-
sons are to be met with in the sporting world,
who obtain a livelihood, as it is termed, on the
" chance of the thing ;" but nevertheless it does
not follow that all sporting men are GAMBLERS :
indeed, the contrary is the fact ; there are
numbers of breeders of horses, and backers
of men, who contribute towards the stakes or
prizes given for certain things, to be accom-
plished in the sporting world as a reward for
trials of skill and exertions, in the true sense
of supporting British sports, but who never
risque a shilling on any event in a gambling
point of view. However such things must find
their own level ; and notwithstanding the rapid
strides the March of Intellect has made to-
wards the improvement of society, we h<i\e
not heard amongst the numerous patents
have been specified, that one has been ob-
possessing the qualities of changing a
fool into a wise man ; to put brains into an
empty scull ; or to convince an obstinate
man against his will ; but, until something
like this can be procured to regulate the pro-
pensities of mankind, orators may declaim
against the pernicious effects of the sporting
\\.-rl.l, and parsons preach till they become
hoarse, and yet obtain no proselytes. Blow
me, as often as I hare said to my Paulina,
ho have their eyes open ought to see
their way ; or, in other words to * look before
they leap ;' and if they hare ears to hear,
why do they not listen to good advice, and
avoid the glaring errors committed by the
thoughtless and dissipated part of society f
and again, why do not men in general profiO
by the terrible examples which daily cross
their paths, to behold men of immense property
reduced to wretchedness and beggary, and
all owing to their improper conduct? " Why,,
my dear Paul" said Paulina, laughing, " you
are become quite a preacher, you have been
prying for something, I think ?" ' Yes," I
replied, " Paulina, I must admit I have had
a little of the talk this time to myself, and
you must not expect to keep all the preaching-
to yourself in future ; and, therefore, by way
of finale to my synopsis, the next opportunity
that occurs I shall take another peep at the
sporting world, or as my learned friend in the
temple, Dr. Latitat, observes MORE ANON.



THE HUNTSMAN AND WHIPPER-IN.

It is no uncommon practice, among our
young 'squires, to take the first wide-throated
attendant that offers his service, and make him
his huntsman; imagining the colour of his
coat will qualify him for the office: but cer-
tainly no one is n't for it who is not born with



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.



a natural cast and readiness of mind, and has
not improved those talents by long study, ob-
servation, and experience.

Peter Beckford, Esq., in his Thoughts on
Hunting, makes it appear that a good hunts-
man must be an amiable, as well as an ac-
complished character. " A good huntsman,"
says he, " should be young, sti'ong, active,
bold, and enterprising ; fond of the diversion
and indefatigable in the pursuit of it ; he
should be sensible and good-tempered ; he
ought also to be sober ; he should be exact,
civil, and cleanly ; he should be a good horse-
man, and a good groom ; his voice should be
strong and clear, and he should have an eye
so quick as to perceive which of his hounds
carries the scent when all are running ; and
should have so excellent an ear as always to
distinguish the foremost hounds when he does
not see them. He should be quiet, patient,
and without conceit. Such are the excel-
lencies which constitute a good huntsman : he
should not, however, be too fond of displaying
them till necessity calls them forth. He
should let his hounds alone whilst they can
hunt, and he should have genius to assist
them when they cannot."

It is well known that the conquest of a
hare, like that of an enemy, does not attend
on vigorous attacks or pursuits, but there are
a hundred accidents to which the success of
the field is obnoxious, and which ought always
to be in the head of the huntsman, if he
would come off with glory.

A huntsman must not forget that a hare has
her particular play ; that, however, that play
is occasioned or changed according to the
variation of wind and weather, the weight of
the air, the nature of the ground, and the de-
grees of eagerness with which she is pursued.
Nor is he to be unmindful of the numerous
accidents she may meet with in her way, to
turn her out of her course to cover her flight
to quicken her speed, or to furnish her with
an opportunity of new devices. It is not
enough to have a general knowledge of these
things before the game is started ; but in the
heat of action, when most tempted to be in
raptures with the melody of the cry, and the
expectation of success ; at every step he
should calmly observe the alterations of the
soil the position of the wind the time of the
year ; and no less take notice with what
speed she is driven how far she is likely to
keep on forward or to turn short behind ;
whether she has not been met by passengers
frightened by curs intercepted by sheep ;
whether an approaching storm a rising wind
a sudden blast of the sun the going off of
the frost the repetition of soiled ground the
decay of her own strength, or any other pro-
bable turn of affairs.

Other things are equally necessary to be
remembered by the huntsman, as the particu-
lar quality and character of each dog ; whether
the present leaders are not apt to overrun it ;
which are most inclined to stand upon the



double ; which are to be depended on in the
highway, on the ploughed ground, or a bare
turf, in an uncertain scent, in the crossing of
fresh game, through a flock of sheep, upon
the soil or stole-back. The size and strength
of the hare will also make a difference ; nor
must the hounds themselves be followed so
closely, or so loudly cherished when fresh
and vigorous, as after they have run off their
speed and mettle, and begin to be tired.

A young huntsman, when the scent lies
well, should always keep himself pretty far
behind. At such a time, especially if it be
against the wind, it is impossible for the poor
hare to hold it forward ; nor has she any trick
or refuge for her life, but to stop short by the
way, and, when all are passed, to steal imme-
diately back, which frequently occasions an,
irrecoverable fault in the midst of the warmest
sport and expectations, and is the best trick
the poor hare has for her life in scenting
weather ; whereas, if the huntsman were not
too forward, he would have the advantage of
seeing her steal off and turning her aside, or
more probably the pleasure of the dogs, re-
turning and thrusting her up in view.

It often happens that the fleet dog is the
favorite, though it would be much better if
he were hanged or exchanged. Be a dog ever
so good, in his own nature, he is not good in
that pack which is too slow for him. There
is generally work enough for every one of the
train, and every one ought to bear his part ;
but this the heavy ones cannot do if they are
out of breath by the unproportioned speed of
;a light-heeled leader. For it is not enough
that they are able to keep up, which a true
hound will labour hard for, but he must be
able to do it with ease, with retention of
breath and spirits, and with his tongue at
command. It must never be expected that
the indentures of the hare can be well cover-
ed, or her doubles struck off (nor is the sport
worth a farthing), if the harriers run yelping
in a long string, like deer or fox-hounds.

Sportsmen should hang up every liar and
chanter, without sparing even those that are
s?Ily and trifling, without nose or sagacity.
It is common in many kennels to keep some
for their music or beauty, but this is extremely
wrong. It is a certain maxim that dogs
which do no good must certainly do much
harm ; they serve only to soil the ground, and
confound the scent ; to scamper before and
interrupt their betters in the most difficult
points. And long experience authorises me
to affirm, that four or five couple, all good
and trusty hounds, will do more execution
than thirty or forty, where a third of them are
eager and headstrong, and, like coxcombs
among men, noisy in doing nothing.

To join with strangers is an effectual method
to spoil and debauch the staunchest hounds,
to turn the best-mettled into mad -headed
galloppers, liars, and chatterers ; and to put
them on nothing but out-running their rivals
and overrunning the scent. The emulation of



PIERCE EGAN'S BOOK OF SPORTS.



59



leading (as well in dogs as their masters) has
been the absolute ruin of many a good cry.
Nor are strange huntsmen more desirable
than strange companions ; for, as the skill and
existence of these animals consist in use and
habit, they should always be accustomed to
the same voice, the same notes or hallooing,
and the same terms of chiding, cherishing,
pressing, or recalling ; norshouldthe country
fellows be allowed, in their transports, to ex-
tend their throats.

Change of game should be avoided, but
many sportsmen would think it a hardship to
have nothing to kill when hares are out of
season ; it it, however, certain, that the best
harriers are those which know no other.

Mr. Beckford, speaking on this subject,
says, he always thought a huntsman a happy
man; his office is so pleasing, and at the
same time so flattering; we pay him for that
which diverts him, and he is enriched by his
greatest pleasure ;* nor is a general, after a
victory, more proud than a huntsman who re-
turns with his fox's head.

I shall finish my remarks on the necessary
qualifications for hunting with an anecdote
related by the gentleman above-named : " I
have heard that a certain duke, who allowed
no vails to his servants, asked his huntsman
what he generally made of his field-money ;
and gave him what he asked instead of it :
this went on very well for some time, till at
last the huntsman desired an audience :
' Your Grace/ said he, * is very generous, and
gives me more than ever I got for field-money
in my life ; yet I come to beg a favor of
your Grace: that you would let me take
field-money again, for I have not half the
pleasure now in killing a fox that I had be-
fore.'"

Permit me, gentlemen, before I conclude
this long epistle, to say something on the
perfections and duty required of a whipper-
in. He should be attentive and obedient to
the huntsman ; and, as his horse will proba-
bly have most to do, the lighter he is the
better : but, if he be a good horseman, the
objection of his weight will be sufficiently
overbalanced. He should always maintain
to the huntsman's halloo, and stop such
hounds as divide from it.

When stopped, he should get forward with
them after the huntsman.

He must always be contented to act an
under part, except when circumstances re-
quire that he should act otherwise ; and, the
moment they cease, he must not fail to resume
his former station. When the huntsman can-
not be up with the hounds, the whipper-in
should ; in which case it is the business of
the huntsman to bring on the tail hounds
along with him.

Where there are two whippers-in, the first
should be considered as a second huntsman,
and should have nearly the same good quali-



* The field money which is collected at the death
of the fox.



ties. \Vhen whippers-in are left at liberty