DEER STALKING [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR, — In a
very interesting review in the Spectator of September 19th, on deer-stalking, Millais is quoted as making two state- ments, both very largely true but neither strictly accurate. He says : " The first record of the pursuit of deer by stalking is . . . in 1745." This is far from the case. Only, the first deer-stalkers were poachers. As early as 1424 we read in
the Scottish Acts of Parliament : The Justice clerk salt inquyre of stalkaris that slais dere."
But, Millais goes on, before that the practice of going into the forest to shoot deer for one's self was " neither dignified in a gentleman nor customary." This also cannot be accepted without qualification. As early as about 1460 we have evidence to the contrary from John Russell's Book of Nurture, line 21, edited by F. J. Furnivall for the Early English Text Society. I quote the relevant passage : " Y saw where walked a semely yonge man, that sklendnr was and lene.
His bowe he toke in hand toward the deer° to stalke.
Y prayed hym his shots (shooting) to leve, and softely with me to walks."
If he who wishes consults the context here, he will find that this " slender young man," this early deer-stalker, may have been a misanthrope, but he could hardly be called either a common poacher or a rascal.—I am, Sir, &c., 63 Cluny Gardens, Edinburgh. JAMES B. JOHNSTON.
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