UNIV. OF HUNTING. HORACE has well described the sports of the field, with the love of horses and hounds, as pleasures best suited to the beardless youth, just unshackled from guardians; but in our age of perfection, we find these pursuits not only occupy the prime of life, but descend with us to the period of old age. We have silverheaded Nimrods, and sexagenary huntsmen, in the sporting field. Nay, our veteran sportsmen are looked up to as worthy of emulation and imitation. We have royal authority for hunting, and generals who pre day have unkenneled a fox, and the next hunted the enemy in full chase on the prains of glory. That hunting and other field sports promote the vigour of the body is certain; but whether they tend to improve the intellect I shall not attempt to decide, but content myself with giving a brief account of my joining a hunting party some time back. I was invited on that occasion to partake of the hospitalities of Castle Trevor, in the high hunting season. The party consisted of ten sportsmen besides our noble host and a cypher (myself), who took no part in the out-door amusements. I had been repeatedly pressed to make one of the family, before I accepted the kind offer; and I was to have the privilege of passing my time betwixt the literary entertainments of the library and a morning ride on my own pony, with permission to join the ladies in the music-room in the evening, or of only being expected to play one |