KEIR TO FIFE KENNELS. 337 



Law was fixed on for feeder, with this proviso, " if he 

 can be got." Three horses were purchased for 148 

 Is., and one was received as a compliment from 

 Major Thomson, who was one of the first committee, 

 with Sir Charles Halkett, Mr. R. Ferguson, Mr. 

 Gillespie, Mr. Patullo, and Mr. Dalzel. The finan- 

 cial part of the question was grappled with in a most 

 business-like style, as the Secretary was empowered, 

 on the 2nd of November, 1805, to " charge interest 

 upon such subscriptions as remain in arrear from 

 this date." The hounds that were purchased only 

 cost 54 8s., and the drafts were advertised in the 

 Edinburgh papers. All these precautions did not 

 avail, as on March 24th, 1809, there was a 

 debt due to the treasurer of 563 7s., and only a 

 very problematical chance of getting in two years 5 

 arrears of 100 to set against it. The next Sede- 

 runt compared their accounts with those of the East 

 Lothian, and came to the determination to have " a 

 total change of servants." The change was not for 

 the better, and the debt swelled to nearly a couple of 

 hundred more, and affairs became so puzzling that 

 Mr. Rigg offered to keep the hounds for 800 a year. 

 His offer was accepted, and the debt was more than 

 half paid off when the first ten years had expired* 



They were then established for another five years, 

 " no subscription to be received under 25." Gene- 

 ral Wemyss, Mr. Christie of Durie, Mr. Rigg, Cap- 

 tain Hay, and Mr. Moncrieff became the committee 

 of management, and 50 was " supposed to be voted 



