THE PATRIOTIC FOXHUNTER.
PERSONS patriotically inclined, inscover a vast variety of ways in which they may serve their country. Members of Parliament fancy, that by washing down Bael.Amv's veal-pies with port and brandy, aml tushing to vote when the divisioa-bell rings, they esta- blish a fair claim to the nation's gratitude. Ministers of State imagine, that they lay the people under an obligation, absolutely mpayable, by condescending to pocket some thousands per annum, lolling away existence the while, in fashionable and courtly saloons. The Great Unpaid are resolved, that the country shall have the benefit of their Magisterial wisdum and authority, as exhibited in the recent decisions at Montgomery, Chelmsford, and elsewhere. All these parties have prejudice and precedent in their favour, and nobody disputes their claims to patriotism. Within these few days, however, a novel claim to the credit of otas serving country has been put forth, by a gentleman highly dishuguished in his line. Mr. DELMR RAnceiFFE, being on the list of persons front among whom the High Sheriffs of the ensu- ing year are to be selected, pleaded. as a reasonable ground of ex- emption, that he kept a park of foxhounds. And the Judges awl Ministers of State, in Privy Council assembled, laughed at Mr. RADCLIFFE, and refused to admit his excuse. The laughter or course was reported in the newspapers, as " laughter " always is reported ; and Mr. RADCLIFFE, who probably can bear any affliction with more equanimity then that of being the butt of aristecratic ridicule, sent the following grave remonstrance to the Globe.
" Observing in your report of the nomination of Sheriffs, in y ur piper el yesterdav, a mistepresentafon, to the effect that I had prayed to he excused serving as High Sheriff for the county of Hertford 'on the ground of the great expense of keeping foxhounds,' 1 feel it due to myself, and to the respect which 1 owe to the .bee, to big that I may he allowed, through the same medium, to protest against a statement so much at variance with the facts of the case. " lou letter which I took the liberty of addressing to Lord Denman upon the subject. I stated that many years had not elapsed since my property had served ; that I hod hope, if indulged by a suspension of this duty, of being less inconvenienced by its performance at a future period than at present ; adding simply with regard to the exeme, which is described as having afforded 'great laughter 'to the Privy Council, that although well aware that the circumstance el keeping foxhounds could not be itirered in shape of excuse from higher and more important calling,1 could not refrain from mentioning, (with reference to many more eligible persom,) that I had made some private sacrifices for that • thich is generally allowed to be of public advantage to the county. " By such is letter I did not imagine that I had rendered myself fairly liable to the rirlicul which its pervers:on appears to have entai!ed upon me. " I am, Sir, your obedient servant, " 1'. P. Deems RADCLIFFE.
" Nuvernbcr tees."
And we think Mr. RAncierea ought not to be laughed at. He knows that to keep foxhounds is no joke. It would be less ex- pensive to serve the office of Sheriff every year. Resides, are not motive; tube respected ? Mr. RAncreFee delicately intimated to the Privy Council that be made sacrifices for the public good—that be kept hounds for the advantage of the county. And be might have added. that his patriotism was costly to himself, not to the eouotry. Now, which of the noble and learned persons, who re- jected his petition with jeers, could say as much ? According to the °al( . ial account, " there were present the Chaucellor of the Exchequer, the Marquis of Lansdowne, Lord Holland, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Denman, Lord Abinger, Lord Chief Justice Tin- dal, and the .ludges of all the Ccurts of Law." All of these dig- nified persons are paid large sums for their services. Their pub- 1:e-spirit is profitable to themselves ; and the Judges, it must be allowed, corn u hat they receive. The Chancellor of the Excite-
• iner, if he does his duty, has no sinecure. But what return du the Marquis of LANSDOWNE and Lord HOLLAND make for their an- nual thousands ? Mr. RAnc LI FEE Islay aliirm with truth, that his
" " improves the breed of horses, and keeps country gen- tlemen from worse mischief than breaking farmers' hedges and t heir own necks. IV hen the two noble and laughing lords confer gesater advantages on tle ir country, or follow any other pursuit a once tis engrossing. ant QS beneficial to their fellows as Mr. RADceume's, it a ill be time enough for them to ridicule the he- Lest Hothirdshire foxbunter.
But perhaps, after all, Mr. RADCLIFFE'S letter has misled us, awls he fun at the Pr ivy Council Board had a different cause from that to which he ascr;bes it. Fobbing themselves from 3,0001. to 12,000. a year each of public money for the public good, the man must have appeared to such worthies a precious greenhorn who dis- ImrsPd a fortune for the same object. The unmitigated simplicity of the pi4contd squire would be almost inconceivable to the Privy Councillors. It would remind them of Greece and Rome, and all the flue things PLUTARCH and Lyn* tell about the great men who lived after Agamemnon. We can fancy how they must have chuckled. To keep foxhounds for the pleasure of hunting, for personal gratification, they would esteem natural and proper enough; but to lay out thousands on a stable and kennel, that the country might profit thereby, was quite a new idea. And we do think it very unhandsome in the Privy Council, in return for the titillation Mr. Ramses's-es nalivetit produced, to persist in the cruel resolution to unkennel him.
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