io6 NIMROUS NORTHERN TOUR. 



sportsman, but must now place him before my readers in a very 

 different light as a man of education and of reading, an elder of 

 the Scottish kirk, and a laird of the parish of St. Boswell's, 

 where I am told he possesses a very pretty estate. In the two 

 latter relations I have nothing further to say of him than to ex- 

 press my sincere wish that he may long continue an elder of the 

 Scottish kirk, and a laird of the parish of St. BoswelPs ; and I 

 shall quickly despatch him in the first-named position as a man 

 of education and of reading. I shall deal with him as Homer 

 deals with Helen show him off, in fact, by one single stroke. 

 A matter of history being one day discussed by the cover's side, 

 without any of the field being able to determine it, a reference 

 was made to Williamson, who instantly decided the point. Clar- 

 endon says of some one, that "his education has been good 

 amongst books and men ; J; Williamson, it appears, has partaken 

 of the fruits of the former, if he have not profited by the latter ; 

 but a slender education tells on a strength of intellect like his. 



I must now, however, take leave of the sayings -and doings of 

 this extraordinary man until we meet again in the hunting-field, 

 and I hope he will forgive the length of my notice of him. But 

 I have an apology at hand. By the general voice of the sporting 

 world he holds a pre-eminent place in the rank of huntsmen ; as 

 a faithful servant he is by none excelled ; and he will leave be- 

 hind him the example to other servants of a spotless name. The 

 wisdom of the philosopher then, as well as the morality of the 

 divine, must be contented with this, and I shall stand acquitted 

 of bestowing upon him unmerited praise. For my own part I 

 covet the feelings of such a man. The first of human blessings 

 is to be virtuous, the second to be praised ; and he who enjoys 

 both these distinctions no matter his station has arrived at the 

 summit of all earthly felicity : 



" The first, the greatest bliss on man conferr'd, 



Is in the acts of virtue to excel ; 

 The second, to obtain their high reward, 



The soul-exalting praise of doing well. 

 Who both these lots attains is bless'd indeed, 

 Since fortune here below can give no richer meed." 



I am compelled to follow where my subject leads me, and from 

 huntsman to whipper-in is the next step. Of these indispensable 

 coadjutors in a kennel, of course the Duke of Buccleuch has his 

 quantum and this quantum is two. The first, Hugh Burn, is, 

 in my opinion, a most efficient man in the field ; an excellent 

 horseman ; and, out of the field, a well-conducted, respectable 



