The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-11-15 00:00:00

istence.

The able writer of the Cynegetica, already before our
readers, has favoured us with some valuable remarks upon
this unlooked for contribution. Both the matter reviewed
and the critique afford so much of novel and amusing in-
formation, that we beg leave to introduce them, by way
of first courses, for the entertainment of our readers,
which our retrospective notices will not unaptly follow,
by way of remove.t—ED.]
Foxholes,_ Wednesday afternoon.
Mn, EDITOR,—It was beneath the Grecian skies that a young
and active-huntress, in her course as rapid as the winds, pur-
suing on the mountain tops the timid inhabitants of the woods,
by a licautiful personification of mythology, was first and de-
servedly deified. Temples and altars soon arose in all lands to
her honour, and in later ages her worship extended to the Bri-
tish isles ; for, " amongst other goddes also," says Ilolinched,
" had in most reverence, Diana was chiefe, whom they ac-
compted as their peculiar pattonesse, for that she was taken to
be the goddesse of hunting, wherein consisted their chiefest ex-
ercise, pastime, and delight."
• Alas ! alas ! Sir, Dian's revels are now exploded, and her
attendant nymphs dispersed. Diana Venatrix, we are told,
may inspire awe and terror, but can never inspire love—she
may repel, but will never attract. _
V:et, as the impartial are ever ready to hear either sick, and
always disposed to kind interpretations and favourable opinions,
"another Diana, in her diversions," entrusts, at this late day,
her vindication to your columns.

- Pray, Sir, entreat your correspondent Leporicidus to appeal
on her behalf to classical authority for the examples which are
well known to abound there ; and in the meantime aid her, as
you are a sportsman, in establishing her claim to full participa-
tion in the sylvan pastimes, without losing her title to be sup-
posed all that is gentle and amiable in human nature.
Did Frank Osbaldeston ruin up in disgust, as the fearless Die
Vernon bounded over the gate he fain would open to her steed?
Do we not,• on. the contrary—the barrier topped—see him, in
the next instant, at her side, all admiration at her gallant bear-
ing ? And in strict confidence, Mr. Editor, seldom have I my-
self appeared in the chace, either as a spectator or an actor,
hut it has been whispered that the ladies add an inexpressible
charm and lustre to the scene.

in;;;;;a1 memorable instances has history recorded my fair
countrywomen as enlivening the chace. We are told, too, that
in foreigu parts, ladies of distinction pride themselves upon their
adroitness in shooting flying; and when has poet failed to sing,
or painter to represent, the admired nymph delighting in the
nnocent amusement of the angle ? hawking especially was
long a constant and favourite amusement with - the ladies.—
the ages of chivalry and the feudal system, we find that
both they and the- knights appeared foremost. in the field, priding
themselves on riding welt, cud carrying gracefully a hawk
perched on the hand; but when, (as my brothers tell me,). at the
commencement of the,last century, shooting came into practice,
hawking fell rapidly' into disuse. -Now they' persist, Mr. Editor,
in rudely declaring, that the exclusion of the fair sex from the
shooter's avocations is •amply compensated for in the deadly
precision imparted to that branch of field sports by. the intro-
duction of the fowling piece;. but I shall always maintain that
our sports have lost a distinguishing mark of the highest rank
and elegance. Willingly would I commit my certificate to the
flames, and resign my favourite light-barrelled Purdy, could
I even hope to render myself instrumental in reviving among
the fair daughters of merry England the princely sport of
hawking.
As to my shooting, affect not, good Mr. Editor, either incre-
dulity or surprise. Remember that in this, and other of the
field 'sports, I am sanctioned by the examples of crowned heads.
Out of respect to authorities so illustrious let your rising sarcasm
be chucked. Listen and be convinced.
Queen Elizabeth, when at the age of sixty-seven, was ex-
tremely fond of the chase, and very-frevently indulged herself
in foiluwing the hounds. " Her Majesty,'' says a courtier
writing to Sir Robert Sydney, " is well, and-excellently disposed
to hunting, for every second day she is on horseback, and con-
tinues the sport long. She seems to have encouraged it
among her dependants. A feat of activity performed in her
presence by John .ielwyn, her park-keeper, was thought an ex-
ploit of sutteient merit and renown to be engraved on the brass

NOVEMBER 15, 1833.

plate of his monument, at Walton-upon-Thames. " Ile, in
the heat of the chase, suddenly leaped from his horse upon the
back of the stag, (both running at that time with their utmost
speed,) and not. only kept his seat gracefully, in spite of everf
effort of the affrighted beast, but, drawing his sword, wit
it guided him towards the Queen, and, coming near her
presence, plunged it into his throat, so that the animal fell
dead at her feet." The appearance and exploits, likewise, of a
female Nimrod in the field, the Queen of Portugal, are thus
described by Sir Nathaniel Wraxall, in his Historical Memoirs
of his own Timex:—" Whether the diversion was hunting, or
shooting, or falconiug, she was constantly at the King's side.
No woman in Europe indeed rode better or with more skill.
She was admitted to be an excellent shot, seldom missing the
bird at which she fired, even when flying." Dr. Moore,
too, describing a hunting party at Prince Lichtenstein's, ht
Austria, mentions the Princess as very active and conspicuous
on the occasion. "At the beginning of the scene," he says,
" I was a good deal surprised to see a servant hand a fusil to
the Princess. who, with great coolness, and without rising front
her seat, took aim at a partridge, which immediately fell to the
ground. With the same ease she killed ten or twelve pheasants
or partridges, at about double the number of shots. He adds,
" Though I had -not heard of it- before,.l- now understood that.
shooting is not an uncommon amusement with the German
ladies."

In. that country, Mr. Editor, you will also recollect, where the:
chase was-kept up in a style of royal magnificence, such as is
reepresented in the pictures of Rubens, and Wouvermans, and
Suyders, we find it was numerously attended by people of qua-
lity of both sexes. This was especially the case in wild boat
hunting, at which many of each carried javelins. The animal,
after being overpowered by the dogs, or caught in toils, as well
as secured from doing any mischief by the huntsmen, was
usually speared by some person of the greatest distinction pre-
sent, for whom such honour was reserved, frequently by a /a 4,
the attendants assisting.
Although I could urge various pleas on behalf of the right
and propriety of my participating in the - amusements of the
field, I can scarcely flatter mvself that my unknown name and
authority would have influence with the world at large, and,
therefore, I rest my claim upon the declarations of those whose
superior parts and learning must ever command deference. And
so without yielding one tittle of that for which I justly contend,
or confessing my arguments to be inconclusive, or my pursuits
unwarrantable, I shelter myself lot the present, Mr. Editor,
under the signature of VENATRIN.