326 REMINISCENCES OF 



CHAPTER XVI. 



WILL SHORE AND THE DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH'S HOUNDS. 



I SENT Shore a copy of the Fife newspaper with 

 my biography. He answered : — 



"The Kennels, St. Boswells, N.B., 

 '■'■20th April, 1899. 



"Sir — 



" I beg to thank you for sending me a 

 copy of the Herald with the very interesting article 

 to many, and more so to many who have known the 

 subject of it. 



" My recollection of it, although very young 

 (fifteen), runs back to 1847, when you came to 

 Ramsay of Barnton's to look at a chestnut horse, 

 which I think you bought. And the next time 

 I had the chance was at Drumdrill, shortly after my 

 entering Mr. Balfour's service. This was in stir- 

 ring the roe-deer there with some hounds, after the 

 hunting season was over, and just before entering to 

 the Atherstone the second time. 



" I may be wrong, but I have often heard when 

 at Balbirnie that it was at the Skelpie cover that the 

 'blooding' of Mr. Whyte-Melville and Colonel 

 Thomson happened. But that does not matter 

 now. 



