

NIMRODS NORTHERN TOUR. 29 



In the first-named station, also, as master of hounds, it is scarcely 

 necessary to add, that Lord Elcho is popular to the extreme of 

 popularity itself, inasmuch as his chief objects are, to oblige his 

 field and to show sport. Then his free, unassuming, and con- 

 ciliating manners, happily blended with the carriage and de- 

 portment of the well-bred gentleman, would complete the picture 

 were there not one more feature in it which I cannot allow to 

 remain in the background. I allude to his total abandonment 

 of to say the least of it the unmannerly, and, as far as my 

 experience has led me, nearly useless, practice of "blowing up" 

 (as the term is) his field, for any little indiscretion they may be 

 guilty of. I appeal to all my brother sportsmen who have occa- 

 sionally put themselves in such a situation, whether a gentle 

 and private reproof has not double the force of a loud and public 

 rebuke, although I admit the necessity of exerting authority in 

 a manner void of offence. Those words of caution, "Pray, sir, 

 hold hard," should check any man who wishes to see a run, and 

 all those who do not had much better remain at home. 



But there are other qualifications than gentlemanlike deport- 

 ment and command of temper, essential to excellence in what 

 are termed gentlemen huntsmen, and it is in that capacity that 

 I am now about to speak of Lord Elcho. There is a tempera- 

 ment and a constitution peculiarly adapted to it, and without 

 which excellence is rarely obtained. The one should be ardent, 

 and the other should be strong ; and both are combined in him. 

 Of the truth of this assertion, I shall satisfy my readers in a 

 very few words. When he is not with his hounds he is shooting ; 

 when he is not shooting he is fishing ; and he is one of the best 

 walkers of his day. But I will first mention one day's sport he 

 indulged himself in, which may be called a practical climax. 

 During the time he had his harriers, he killed two hares with 

 good runs with them in the morning ; saw a fox killed, after a 

 good run, with the Duke of Buccleuch's pack at noon ; and then 

 killed nine salmon in the Tweed, before he sat down to dinner ! 

 So much for an ardent temperament, and ditto for a good con- 

 stitution. 



It has been truly said by Dr. Johnson that " those who attain 

 excellence generally spend life in one pursuit, for excellence is 

 not often gained upon easier terms." Now although Lord Elcho 

 has been a sportsman ever since by the course of nature he 

 could have been a sportsman, yet when he came under my ob- 

 servation he had not had more than one year's experience as 

 huntsman to a pack of fox-hounds ; and it would be too much 

 to expect that, even with all the requisite qualifications I have 

 given him, he should prove an absolute exception to this rule. 



