William Taplin

“ The most impassioned stag-hunter must confess, that no part of his chase admits of such description. The only variety he can fairly expect, depends upon the wind and the temper of the deer, who, by being either sulky, or not in condition to maintain a contest with the hounds, (to whom he leaves a burning scent, that gives them no trouble in the pursuit,) shortens or extends his gallop; but there is none of the enthusiasm of hunting, which the sportsman feels, when he is following an animal, upon whose own exertions of speed and craftiness his life is staked ”

“ Being separated from a companion with whom he has been accustomed to stand in the same stable, and to accompany each other abroad, his inquiries are loud and incessant upon the road or in the field; and if made upon a RACE COURSE, amidst a thousand horses, they are so completely masters of their own language, that they can instantly distinguish the exclamation of each other from the innumerable NEIGHINGS of all the rest. ”

“ Experience and attentive observation must have convinced every enlightened, humane, and liberal sportsman, that the shoeing-smith has a life of labour and drudgery, for which he is the least paid, and the worst looked upon, of any tradesman in the numerous catalogue of those who have a subsistence to obtain by the sweat of the brow.
That the science of shoeing, and system of farriery, has seldom or ever been undertaken or practised in this kingdom, but by men of the lowest order, and without the advantage of education, must be candidly and clearly admitted ”

“ Naturally disposed to solitude, he never obtrudes upon the haunt of man, but revels in the remote and obscure shades of abstrusity. When caught sight of amidst the umbrageous stillness of his abode, the grandeur, lofty look, and commanding aspect, of his first survey, cannot be encountered without the most aweful and impressive sensations. With ample power to oppose, he has pliability to submit, and, after a few moments interview, deliberately retires to his protecting covert, seemingly more surprized than alarmed at the sight of the HUMAN SPECIES. ”

“ Replete as it is with that great variety which tends to diffuse a genial glow of conscious gratification in every countenance, bespeaking a sense of inexpressible happiness in those who engage in it as spectators only, how much is it to be regretted, that the speed and spirited endeavours of the most beautiful animal in the creation should be prostituted to the worst of purposes! ”

“ His form is the most sublime and beautiful that can possibly be conceived; {347} the elegance of his figure, the commanding effect of his stature, the flexibility of his frame, the elasticity of his limbs, the velocity of his motion, and the proportional immensity of his strength, in addition to the impression made upon the mind by the magnific grandeur of the antlers, branching from his brow, all seem uniformly calculated to render him an object of the most serious and pleasing attraction. ”

“ When the dogs roll, the scent, I have frequently observed, seldom lies; for what reason, I know not; but, with permission, if they smell strong when first they come out of the kennel, the proverb is in their favour; and that smell is a prognostic of good luck.
"When cobwebs hang on the bushes, there is seldom much scent. During a white frost, the scent lies high; as it also does when the frost is quite gone: at the time of its going off, scent never lies: it is a critical minute for hounds, in which their game is frequently lost. In a great dew, the scent is the same. ”

“ From a contemplative review of the operations of nature, it is evidently demonstrated, that there is a secret instinctive principle infused into the whole race of animals, whereby they are impulsively propelled to the propagation of their species, the preservation of their offspring, or an implicit pursuit of their propensities; so that no one shall become too numerous and destructive for the existence of another upon whom they prey, or with which they live in a perpetual state of warfare. ”

“ There is no pursuit, game, or amusement, in which a proficiency is to be obtained, can require a nicer eye, a steadier hand, a cooler head, or a more philosophic patience, than the SPORT before us. Sportsmen of experience waste neither their time nor their labour; they well know, according to the description not long since given, where to find the game, according to the time of the day; and are seldom seen hunting their dogs in unlikely places. ”

“ After these accumulated remarks upon the personal qualifications and official efforts of a whipper-in, it may with truth be affirmed, if he is innately bold, active, and energetic; a prudent, careful, and steady horseman, with a quick ear, and clear voice; with attentive knowledge, and observation to distinguish where he can be the most useful; not possessing the simple conceit of killing a fox without the huntsman, but, on the contrary, feel disposed to assist him all he can; such a one may be considered completely perfect in his department, and will seldom or ever be long out of employment. ”

“ With the hounds, in endeavouring to find, as well as during the chase, their exertions are incessant and indefatigable; and although the fleet pack shall be carrying the scent breast high at the top of their speed, these instinctive devotees to the sport are seldom far behind them. When a fox is run to earth, it is the province of the terrier to follow, and lay at him; as, by the baying of one at the other, the ear will soon be informed, whether the fox lays deep, or near the surface ”

“ The wolf is hardier, and more robust, than the dog, but less alive to the powers of intellectual discrimination: he is almost incessantly prowling in search of prey, and is himself, of all animals, the most difficult to conquer in the chase. ”

“ Hence arises that sterile apathy in the business, which is so much the subject of general indignation and universal contempt; and is the only well-founded reason, why there are so few men of education, or intellectual ability, to be found amidst the daily increasing number who profess the practice. Custom, too, has excluded them from any respectable weight in the scale of society; thereby rendering the obstacles to worldly elevation too numerous, and too uncertain, for even the most laudable and spirited emulation to encounter, with even a distant probability of success. ”

“ We are furnished with the most indubitable assurances, that the Arabs are (if possible) more tenacious, precise, and correct, in the pedigree, or genealogical descent, of their superior and unmixed breed, than the sporting breeders of this country; and that the PEDIGREES of each peculiar and distinguished BLOOD has been for CENTURIES transmitted from generation to generation, with the same authenticated accuracy, as is now the regular practice with every racing stud in the kingdom. ”

“ Stag-hunting, indifferently as it is spoken of by some, is too severe and {360} arduous for others to pursue: laborious as it is to the HORSE, it is in many cases not less so to the RIDER: difficulties occur which require great exertions in one, and fortitude in the other, to surmount, and none but those can lay at all by the side of the hounds.
Rapturously transporting as is the moment of meeting and throwing off with fox hounds, no less so is the awefully impressive prelude to turning out the deer. ”

“ The prudent traveller will never commence a journey of length, without every necessary precaution that can be adopted for general safety during the whole; he will insure to a certainty, by personal examination, the shape, make, fixing, and firmness of his horse's shoes, as the most indispensible prelude to the success of his progress, it being one great step to the prevention of trouble and disquietude. ”