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

271 E TOX-HUN7ER.

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 occar,
even to the best rider—falls, knockings about, hard
perhaps a broken collar-bone or ribs, which
blows, perha
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
rider ; and, as to weight, we think 12st. or 13st.
in the saddle quite as likely to hold his own
as one under. Big
light weights and light-
made a
horses stiff
more
thanoften
l e
thoseobstruct
.country
o 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
the " puff " taken out of him. In short, he is
always in difficulties from violent exertion ; whilst
the heavy weights work their way through all
opposition with 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 on 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
But of body,were a
and in human life intellect ranks
fi
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
undoubtedlyieae
establishment
Nahu
ntsman
or h ereinu
ful,
ch
be
otherfaith heal aservant
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 freely in potations before taking the field,
and then, as it is called, " riding like the devil ;"
and, being clever men, these vices in the latter
were tolerated. There is one other indispensable
quality besides honesty and sobriety of which
a huntsman to foxhounds ought to be possessed—
good temper. " Hie nioderatur equos qui non
moderabitur iras" is as true now as in the days of
old Horace. Many can control their horses who
give loose reins to their own passions ; irrespec-
tive of the unpleasantry which
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
unerring index of the spirit breathing within—the
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.

TIIE DUKE, OF EDINBUROIT.—The Lancet con-
tains a deScription, illustrated with sketches, of the
bullet with which the Duke of Edinburgh was wounded.
The 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
t
in shape at ono extremity. This was, no doubt, caused by
ball having impinged obliquely upon the ninth rib of
the right side 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 that no bad consequences had resulted
iroll4 the injury which 04 rib mug haw ougaijavd,