NIMROUS NORTHERN TOUR. <% 



for. Well-bred small hounds must have the advantage of large 

 ones equally well-bred, in very close countries, and amongst 

 hills ; but I have reason to believe that large hounds are gene- 

 rally speaking more sure of their fox than small ones. They are 

 more patient, and not so much given to quit the line of scent* 

 This, I know, is the opinion of Foster, huntsman to Mr. VilleboiSj 

 who, like the Duke of Buccleuch, has a small and a large pack.; 

 and if my recollection serves me, is that of the Duke of Cleve- 

 land, who also sorted his pack by the standard, until he reducec* 

 his kennel to its present limited extent. 



" Mr. Williamson," said I ; "it is my wish to ask you a ques- 

 tion, which probably was never put to you before. Do you, or 

 do you not, believe that the scent of some foxes is stronger or 

 weaker than that of others? In other words do you conceive 

 that all foxes impart a similar degree of scent to hounds, leaving 

 out of the question any particular period of the chase ?" Some- 

 what to my surprise, he candidly informed me, that the nature 

 of the question I had put to him had never once come under his 

 consideration, and therefore at the moment the subject dropped 

 This notion the various degrees of scent, has by some been 

 looked upon as chimerical and visionary, and by others totally 

 disregarded ; but, although it would be difficult to support it by 

 facts, my experience justifies me in asserting that I believe suck 

 to be the case. At all events, natural knowledge being a sort of 

 common to which every person has an equal right, and is at 

 liberty to erect any system he may think proper upon it, accord- 

 ing to his own taste, I have availed myself of the right, and have 

 made up my mind on this subject. The phenomena of fox- 

 hunting can only be accounted for by such means ; and I was 

 glad to find my opinion backed by your correspondent Skim (in 

 your last May number), in his practical and judicious remarks 

 on Mr. Grantley Berkeley's system of managing hounds in the 

 kennel and in the field. 



Let me digress for a moment here. Although the phenomenon 

 of scent appears beyond our ken, it is my intention soon to offer 

 my sentiments on the subject, how much soever I may fail in the 

 bold attempt. I therefore pass over a day or two in my journal 

 to give the result of Williamson's consideration of this material 

 point. The next time I met him in the field he thus addressed 

 me. 



" I awoke at four o'clock," said he, " on the morning after you 

 were at St. BoswelPs, and the first thing that came across my 

 mind was the question you put to me respecting the difference of 

 scent in different foxes, and I have given it a good deal of con- 

 sideration since. I can safely speak to one fact which bear* 



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