The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-22 00:00:00

TLIE PDX-11 UN 7 ER.

As to physical abilities, a strong constitution is
needful to enable any man to undergo the hardships
of hunting a pack of foxhounds. Setting aside the
wear and tear of every-day life during the season,
through all kinds of weather, casualties still occur,
even to the best rider—falls, knockings about, hard
blows, perhaps a broken collar-bone or ribs, which
will prove of what stamina the corporeal is com-
posed. To be always with his hounds, he must
be a first-rate horseman ; not a bold, reckless
weight, we think 12st. or 13st.
rider ; and, as to
in the saddle quite as likely to hold his own
over a stiff vale country as one under. Big
fences more often obstruct light weights and light-
made horses than those of the contrary calibre or
stamp. A little horse, to be always taking high
leaps, which he must do to get clear of strong
blackthorn or other thick hedges, will soon have
him. In short, he is
the " puff " taken out of
always in difficulties from violent exertion ; whilst
the heavy
with
work their way through all
opposition comparative ease. Light weights are
also more inclined to take liberties with their horses
than men of more robust frame, who know they
must husband their resources as much as possi-
ble. We have had both heavy and light men as
whippers-in, and always found the former could
beat the latter ou the same horses over an enclosed
country. By heavy weights, we do not mean a
lump of so much human flesh, but a muscular
frame, stripped of all superfluities, without an ounce
of flesh to spare—that is a powerful man in the
saddle—elastic, wiry, and agile, one who can assist
the animal he is bestriding in difficulties, and hold
him together when requisite. More than once
or twice we have heard the idea ridiculed that the
rider can assist or lift his horse, and it is true
that we have very
often seen the horse exercising
supreme superiority
over his master, carrying
him where he likes, and doing just as it pleases
him ; but in these cases the rider has been over-
matched, without sufficient muscular power to regu-
late his horse's action ; a little man mounted on a
15-stone hunter always reminding one of a tomtit
on a leg of beef. Having alluded to the physical,
we must now treat of the mental power and other
qualifications necessary to constitute a perfect mas-
ter of the science.
Perhaps it may be considered
that the power of
mind ought to take precedence
of that of body,
and in human life intellect ranks
first. But were a huntsman the cleverest man in
the world and a bad rider, unable to keep with his
hounds, all the other talents he might possess would
be of little avail. It is required of stewards that they
be faithful, and undoubtedly honesty in a huntsman
or other head servant in an establishment where much
is entrusted to them is of the utmost impor-
tance. Sober he
must be, or his business would be
neglected, and no amount of intelligence can
com-
pensate for that worst of all vices—drunkenness--
the root from which spring so many evils. In the
present generation this vice is less prevalent amongst
men of tolerable education, occupying trustworthy
situations, than formerly. Hard drinking in any
respectable class of society may be said to belong
to the past, and swearing also. In our younger
days we have often seen men, ranking as gentle-
men, as well as huntsmen and whippers-in, who in-
dulged in potations before taking the field,
and then, felenr,easyit is called, " riding like the devil ;"
men, these vices in the latter and, being clever
were tolerated. There is one other indispensable
quality besides honesty and *sobriety of which
a huntsman to foxhounds ought to be possessed—
good temper. " Ilic moderatur equos qui non
is as true now as in the days of
moderabitur has"
old Horace. Many can control their horses who
pleasantry which
give loose reins to their own passions ; irrespec-
tive of the un will arise between
master and man, where the greatest cordiality
should exist, when the latter is blest with
an infirmity of temper, it is notorious that the
well-being of the
pack depends in a great measure
upon a quiet, kindly disposition, combined with
patience and forbearance. Animals generally,
dogs particularly, will not attach themselves to
men of harsh, violent tempers ; they judge us as
we judge them and our fellow-beings, by that most
the spirit breathing within—the
unerring index of
eye. With what reluctance have we witnessed
pointers and setters following and obeying a sulky,
ill-conditioned brute of a keeper, who, upon resist-
ance or misunderstanding
his orders, would nearly
flay them alive ;
and although huntsmen, by the
rules and nature of their office are not permitted to
flog their hounds, and cannot positively be accused
of showing bad temper in the field, we can tell by
the manner of their dependants towards them the
characters of the men without examining their
physiognomy. —The Science of Fox-hunting. By
-
Scrutator.

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.—The Lancet con-
tains a descriptiou, illustrated with sketches, of the
bullet with which the Duke of Edinburgh was wounded.
Tho missile appears to have been ono of those ordinarily
used with a revolver. It is small, and of conical form,
and, when extracted, was flattened and otherwise altered
in shape at one extremity. This was, no doubt, caused by
the ball having impinged obliquely upon the ninth rib of
the right aide of the spine, by which it happily became
deflected, and, instead of passing through the body, pur-
sued a course forwards to the position from which it was
extracted. The medical officer who forwarded the sketch
of the bullet added tLat no bad consequences had resulted
fr9l4 the injury which 80 rib DMA have sustained.

IMPERIAL PARLILKENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS—Lssr EVENING.
The SPEAKER took the Chair at 4 o'clock.
THE IRISLI CHURCH.

Mr. G. HARDY gave notice that on the second reading
of the Irish Church Suspensory Bill ho should move that
it be read a second time that day six months. (Hear, hear,
and cheers from the Ministerial side of the house.)