MR. BECKFORD, equally energetic in his endeavours to discover and ascertain the origin and property of SCENT, very modestly confesses his state of uncertainty, in a few lines preparatory to his remarks made in a letter to his friend, where he observes, "As you ask me my opinion of SCENT, I think I had better give it you before we begin upon the subject of HUNTING. I must, at the same time, take the liberty of telling you, that you have puzzled me exceedingly; for scent is, I believe, what we SPORTSMEN know least about. SOMERVILE, the only one I know of who has thrown any light upon the subject of HUNTING, says, I think, but little about scent; I send you his words: I shall afterwards add a few of my own." Adverting then to the conclusion of the above quotation, he most judiciously proceeds: "I cannot agree with MR. SOMERVILE, in thinking that SCENT depends on the AIR only; it depends also on the soil. Without doubt, the best scent is that which is occasioned by the effluvia, as he calls it, or particles of scent, which are constantly perspiring from GAME as it _runs_, and are strongest and most favourable to the hound, when kept by the gravity of the air to the height of his breast: for then it neither is above his reach, nor is it necessary he should stoop for it. At such times scent is said to lie _breast high_. Experience tells us, that difference of soil occasions difference of SCENT; and on the richness and moderate moistness of the _soil_ does it also depend, I think, as well as on the AIR. At the time leaves begin to fall, and before they are rotted, we know that the scent lies ill in covert. This alone would be a sufficient proof, that scent does not depend on the _air only_. A difference of scent is also occasioned by a difference of motion; the faster the game goes, the less scent it leaves. When game has been ridden after, and hurried on by imprudent sportsmen, the scent is less favourable to hounds; one reason of which may be, that the particles of scent are then more dissipated. But if the game should have been run by a dog not belonging to the pack, seldom will any scent remain.