THE
LIFE OF A
FOXHOUND.

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.

LONDON
PHILIP ALLAN & CO.
QUALITY COURT, CHANCERY LANE

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 honourablepastime all will agree: ancient in that the foxwas held to be a beast of venery by our Anglo-Saxonancestors, honourable because it is a sportthat has ever been associated with those excellentqualities of manhood which are the prerogative ofour race. That it is a royal pastime is equallyplain: for hunting has been regarded, in all ages,as the chief sport of Kings and Princes. Indeedit is due principally to the encouragement andprotection accorded to it by the Royal House ofEngland that the noble sport of fox-hunting is inso flourishing a condition to-day. And so it isboth fitting and proper, Sir, that this, the fifthedition of a notable contribution to our sportingliterature, should be dedicated to you who upholdso admirably the traditions of British sport.

Your Royal Highness’s
humble, obedient servant,

THE EDITOR.

PREFACE.

Trimbush told his story—the story of hislife—long ago, and a generation of sportsmenhaving, probably, been succeeded by anothersince then, the autobiography of that old andsagacious hound is now presented to the noticeof those who may have been denied the opportunityof profiting either by his sage advice orexperience.

It will be conceded that, whatever egotismtaints his arguments, Trimbush was “ashrewd philosopher, having a why for everywherefore.” He spoke of men and foxes ashe found them; and if occasionally somewhattoo severe upon the commissions and omissionsof the former, he was equally ready, at alltimes, to show his teeth to the latter.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.