The Life of a Foxhound

John Stuart Mill · en
THE LIFE OF A FOXHOUND.

[Illustration: THE MEET.]




                                  THE
                               LIFE OF A
                               FOXHOUND.

                                  BY
                              JOHN MILLS,
         AUTHOR OF “THE OLD ENGLISH GENTLEMAN,” “THE LIFE OF A
                           RACEHORSE,” ETC.

                          THE FIFTH EDITION,
                         WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY
                              JOHN LEECH.

                            [Illustration]

                                LONDON
                          PHILIP ALLAN & CO.
                     QUALITY COURT, CHANCERY LANE

                        First Edition     1848
                        Second Edition    1861
                        Third Edition     1892
                        Fourth Edition    1910
                        Fifth Edition     1921

              Printed by WHITEHEAD BROS., WOLVERHAMPTON.




                                  TO
                          HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
                          THE PRINCE OF WALES
                  K.G., G.M.M.G., G.M.B.E., M.C., &c.


SIR,

That fox-hunting is an ancient and honourable pastime all will agree:
ancient in that the fox was held to be a beast of venery by our
Anglo-Saxon ancestors, honourable because it is a sport that has ever
been associated with those excellent qualities of manhood which are the
prerogative of our race. That it is a royal pastime is equally plain:
for hunting has been regarded, in all ages, as the chief sport of Kings
and Princes. Indeed it is due principally to the encouragement and
protection accorded to it by the Royal House of England that the noble
sport of fox-hunting is in so flourishing a condition to-day. And so
it is both fitting and proper, Sir, that this, the fifth edition of a
notable contribution to our sporting literature, should be dedicated to
you who uphold so admirably the traditions of British sport.

                              Your Royal Highness’s
                                   humble, obedient servant,
                                        THE EDITOR.




PREFACE.


Trimbush told his story--the story of his life--long ago, and a
generation of sportsmen having, probably, been succeeded by another
since then, the autobiography of that old and sagacious hound is
now presented to the notice of those who may have been denied the
opportunity of profiting either by his sage advice or experience.

It will be conceded that, whatever egotism taints his arguments,
Trimbush was “a shrewd philosopher, having a why for every wherefore.”
He spoke of men and foxes as he found them; and if occasionally
somewhat too severe upon the commissions and omissions of the former,
he was equally ready, at all times, to show his teeth to the latter.




LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.


    THE MEET                  _Frontispiece_

    “HEAD AND HANDS WILL BEAT HEELS”      66