LETTERS T9 THE AUTHOR. 117 



and rather a less broken coat. Mr Kerss's, on the con- 

 trary, were of a light fawn colour, with very silky coats 

 and nasty short jaws, with round heads like frogs, very 

 hard and very quarrelsome, and yet not capable from 

 the nature of the coat to stand real cold. The hair 

 was more like a soft flaxen wig. I have had many a 

 hunt both on the English and Scotch Border hills after 

 the foxes with the hounds at Langholm, Old Kyle of 

 Broadlee ; Ballantine, of Shaws ; Eobson, of Kielder, and 

 his brother of Lowshield Green. Old Kyle's favourite 

 hound Bingwood alwa;y s slept in his bed. 1 fear much 

 of this good old Border sport has not gone on of late 

 years as it used to do formerly, for some reason or 

 other. From the photograph you sent me of Dr. Grant, 

 I think he must have been the son of my old friend Dr. 

 Grant, a fine hale sportsman of sixty or so. Twenty years 

 ago he used to hunt with the Duke of Buccleuch's 

 hounds, and was famed for his terriers. You had better 

 let me know when you have another litter of Dandies to 



dispose of. Yours truly, 



J. FRANCIS CUST. 

 MR. ARMSTRONG. 



COPY OF AUTOGRAPH LETTER FROM THE COUNTESS 

 OF DARWENTWATER TO THE AUTHOR. 



The Countess of Darwentwater thanks Mr Armstrong 

 for his poetical lines, and furthermore will remember 

 with grateful recollection the homage he offers to the 

 memory of her chivalrous great grandfather, James, 

 Third Earl of Darwentwater, who died a martyr for his 

 country, his king, and the truth, on the 24th of 



