The Sun.
London, England, 1824-02-05 00:00:00

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

Anticipating a Check, and making a judicious Cast, (when
Casting is necessary,) is the most useful knowledge in Fox-
Hunting.
At a time when all the world run mad about Fox-Hunting,
presentd havea is
y learnediarrhard-riding
_r
itdoi
ieign j,oaynidt
at night when over the convivial board, their only pleasure seems
I a amt
i o n surprised
: the that
fashion so
few
of e Gentlemen
to be in relating the exploits or disasters of their own, or their
friends horses, not a word about the best or the worst hound
in the pack; pr any idea ever started to ascertain whether by
system, or by accident, they had contrived to carry a scent
twenty miles over a country to kill a fox ; and how so great an
event has been achieved, few modern Sportsmen can with any
degree of accuracy relate.
Many years ago, I recollect a gentleman who kept ten horses
in Leicestershire, and who had been riding near me often in a
very fine run, in which two of the most interesting and beauti-
ful things happened that ever I remember to have seen ! and to
whom I remarked them, when the run was over—" Good God,
Sir," said he, " 1 saw nothing of it." This was a hard rider,
who, from his own account, saw nothing while riding his horse
as hard as he could go, and as near the tail of the hounds as he
could possibly get, and how should het for a man behind the
hounds cannot be a judge of what is going on in front, and
is the first person (by pressing upon them) to bring them to a
check.
A good Sportsman will, as often as possible, ride parallel with
the pack, not after them, unless by short turns he is obliged to
do otherwise; by which means he can see every thing that is
going on, and anticipate the probable cause of hounds coming
to a fault; and 1 believe a good Huntsman, and a minute ob-
server, will twice out of three times, discover the object in the
line of hounds that caused it, and as soon as he suspects it,
pull up his horse.—For instance a church, a village, a farm
house, team at plough, men at work, sheep, and above all,
cattle, are the things most likely to impede the scent, (be it re-
membered, that the breath of one cow will distract hounds
more than an hundred sheep,) when any of these objects pre-
sent themselves in the face of hounds, you may then anticipate
a stop, and by pulling up your horse, and observing which way
the pack inclined before the check, you will be able (without
casting) to hold them to the right or left accordingly.
If casting is necessary, you should be directed by the pace,
or degree of scent which you brought to the spot where the
hounds threw up : if you came quick, and your hounds are not
blown, (be sure to attend to that) you may make a quick cast
in the direction which the hounds were inclining, by forming a
small circle first, and a larger eircle afterwards, if you are not
successful—gut if the hounds are blown, you should invariably
cast them very quietly, and hold them back, for when hounds
have run a long way hard, they loose their noses for want of
wind, and run beyond the scent, especially if there is water in
their view.

In a fair Country, and hounds in condition, it is my opinion
that if the above observations could be carried into effect, few
foxes would escape : patience is the best performer in the chase :
all hounds in these times are well enough bred, and all hounds
have power enough (if judiciously directed) to kill their fox.
A SENIOR SPORTSMAN.
Pershars, Jan. 1824.

The trial of BROCHETTI, in the Court of As-
sizes, terminated on the 31st of Jan. The Jury, after two hours'
delikieration, found BROCHETTI guilty of the attempt to mur-
der M. IsAcuAttus,. but not guilty of having premeditated it,
and acquitted him.on the charge of attempting to murder the
woman. He was condemned to be imprisoned, and kept to
hard labour for his life, to stand in the pillory, and to be brand-
ed with the letters," T. P." BROCHETTI heard his sentence
with great unconcern.
It is a curious fact, that the Emperor of Brazils,
Dox PEDitothe First, _is a good 'turner and goldsmith; and
besides is a proficient in several other mechanical arts,: Several
elegant snutr-boxes are in Europe made -by him, as well as a
golden key used by the Chamberlainsin attendance on the King.

FOR THE SUN.

PATRIOTISM.

Mr. EDITOR—In all ages, and among all na-
tions, patriotism has been ever considered as the
greatest of political virtues. It was admired by
the rude and barbarous hordes of Germany, no
less than it was reverenced by the more civilized
and accomplished people of Greece and of Rome.
Indeed, though all nations held it in the greatest
estimation, we still find that the Most generous
paid the highest honours to the eminent men
who, actuated solely by the noble principles of
patriotism, made the welfare and honour of their
country the primary object of their attention ;
and devoted the whole of their abilities to the
service of their fellow-citizens. The estimation
in which such men were held is fully exemplified
in the praises bestowed upon them by contem-
porary writers, and by the methods employed to
transmit their noble deeds to the latest posterity.
Nor can this be a matter of astonishment, if we
reflect upon the merit due to men who generously
sacrifice their own individual ease, and the en-
joyments of pleasure, to at tend upon public af-
fairs, and to secure the happiness and prosperity
of mankind.

This due sense of the sacrifices which a true
patriot makes of his own personal comforts at the
shrine of his country, is not, however, the only
reason why patriots have been ever an object of
respect and of admiration. A moment's reflection
upon patriotism will convince us that this virtue
can exist only in great minds, and that none but
men of the most powerful understandings can at-
tain to so great a degree of elevation. A narrow
mind is necessarily confined within the area of a
circle suited to its own limited capacity, beyond
the sphere of which it cannot possibly expand.
It may study its own interest : it may even ex-
tend its cares, to promote the advantages of
many ; but it is wholly incapable of feeling that
laudable ambition which awakens the latent
powers of the mind, and impels it to exert itself
for the good of society at large. Many men may
feel desirous of benefiting their relatives, and
other friends, but few, and therefore highly re-
ppertain only
generous a;
and spectable, are those who can regard every fellow.
citizen as a relative, and the whole human race
hese feelings
en-
title those who may possess these eminent quali-
tiesas t
o their
minds friends.
elevat ed
noble,
to the love of their contemporaries, and to
the respect and admiration of succeeding ages.
To the disgrace of human nature be it said, that
in all ages the most eminent patriots have fre-
quently experienced only the basest ingratitude
from their blinded fellow-citizens : but of so disin-
terested a nature is patriotism, that not even this
reflection could deter men from pursuing a path
which had so frequently led to destruction. Nor
must it be imagined that they hoped to avoid the
fate of their predecessors in this dangerous, yet
honourable career. No, they knew well enough
the dangers that surrounded them ; they were
well aware that their contemporaries might be
blind and ungrateful ; but these reflections could
not daunt their stout hearts, and thus fearlessly ex-
posed their own lives, to procure the prosperity
of their native land ; and to obtain the admira-
tion of posterity.
The ingratitude with which the Romans, but
more especially the Athenians, treated some of
their most eminent patriots, affords a matter of
much surprize, whilst it casts a foul stain upon
the memory of both these otherwise celebrated
people. This evil, for such it may be consider-
ed, had its principle in the very nature of their
respective constitutions. Devotedly fond of their
country, but still more attached to their liberty,
they admired the patriot whose deeds cast a
lustre upon the former, whilst they dreaded the
virtues which might endanger the existence of
the latter. In a government essentially po ular, ,
and among a people alive to the charms ofp ora-
tory, and to the splendour of military atchiev-
ments, orators, and successful commanders, could
and often did, exercise a considerable influence
upon the public mind. And, indeed, so consi-
derable has this influence sometimes been, that
the existing form of government was virtually
subverted, and the republic became an empty
name, whilst the most absolute authority was
exercised by some successful demagogue. The
annals of Greece, and of Rome, afford many ex-
amples of this occasional subversion of the Re.
publican Government; and their examples will
sufficiently explain the principles upon which the
Greeks and the Romans frequently acted, in
regard to some of their most virtuous citizens.
They admired, and dearly estimated, the pa-
triotism of their leading men, but they dreaded
the influence which was an almost necessary
consequence of their virtues, and sacrificed them
at the shrine of liberty. But no sooner were
their jealous apprehensions quieted than they
hastened to honour the memory of men for whom
they felt no less veneration than fear.
Free and pure patriotism can be found only
under a popular form of Government, because
then only has the citizen no other incentive so
action, save the honour and glory of his country.
It is for his country that he acts, it is from his
country alone that he looks for recompence. In
a Monarchy the case is widely different. There
are no doubt men of a noble mind that seek the
benefit of their country, and labour to obtain its
approbation : but it is more or less to the Monarch
that they look for reward. It is no longer the
laurel crown, nor the glorious, but momentary
triumph, that form the object of their ambition,
and that stimulate them to action ; it is honorary
title and distinction bestowed upon them, but
which they can transmit to their posterity, and
which raises them not only above the rest of their
fellow-citizens, but even above those of an equal
condition in life. Hence, patriotism has unavoid-
ably degenerated : and it is a melancholy truth
that the patriotism of modern times is too often
only a delusive, mask, worn to conceal party
spirit, or self-interest.

A. P.