&8 KIMROUS NORTHERN TOUR. 



The first thing that must strike even a casual observer in. 

 perusing the above list, is the pains Williamson has taken in 

 procuring what he has considered the best blood, as in a kennel 

 of forty-nine and a half couples of hounds, only the odd nine and 

 a half couples are got by his own hounds ;* and out of sixty-two 

 brood bitches, twenty-four" only are those of his own breeding. 

 The good effect of this, however, is apparent at the conclusion of 

 the list, where we find all the young hounds (i.e., those of one 

 year old) except four, are out of his own bitches. Contrast this 

 with Mr. Ralph Lambton's list of the same year, and what is the 

 result ? In a kennel containing thirteen couples more hounds, 

 we find that long-established and first-rate sportsman has only 

 used twelve stud hounds, and eight brood bitches, not of his own 

 blood, which leads to the conclusion, that the one Williamson 

 is arriving at perfection in his kennel, and that the other Mr. 

 Lambton has attained it. It will also be observed that 

 Williamson drafts with an unsparing hand, as the Duke of 

 Buccleuch's present pack do not average more than a hound and 

 a half to a litter. 



Of course the stud hounds three couples in all, although 

 only two and a half are in the list did not escape my observa- 

 tion. I considered Warrior, from the Warwickshire, a very 

 coarse hound, although with useful points ; but I hope William- 

 son will be cautious how he breeds from the Beaufort hound, as 

 he possesses, to a great degree, one of the worst defects the form 

 of a hound can possess, namely, the outward direction of the 

 elbow. To my eye, an out-elbowed hound, and a pigeon-toed 

 horse, cannot be reconciled even by their goodness, which 

 indeed, where speed and endurance are wanted, they very rarely 

 possess. The name of the Beaufort hound is Guardian, and I 

 believe he was sent to the duke by Lord Redesdale. 



I may as well at once give my opinion of the Duke of 

 Buccleuch's pack, as reserve it for a future opportunity, for in 

 fact my experience of them is equally available, and, as the old 

 proverb saith, "there is nothing like the present time." Indi- 

 vidually, there are amongst them hounds on which the eye of 

 the sportsman the real admirer of the animal would scarcely 

 tire to dwell. Passing over the old hounds though not forget- 

 ting Bluemaid, and Boxer, and Novelty, among the five year 

 olds where could we mend Harlequin, Hector, and Heiress, 

 amongst the four year olds ? or Rally, or Spinster, or that rich- 

 coloured bitch Sempstress a great favourite with Williamson, 

 who I observed often spoke to .SVaawstress ? Then Countess., 



* Hector, Marker, Highflyer, Marquis, Merlin, and Boxer. 



