NIM ROD'S NOR THERN TO UR. 1 13 



towards the end of a severe day, he, for the first time in his life 

 at least he was never given to do so took to refusing his 

 fences, which in old hunters is an almost unerring sign of " cut- 

 ting it " altogether. However, go when he may, he owes his 

 noble master nothing, as he must have given him many a de- 

 lightful ride. 



Wednesday, 26th. Met the duke's hounds at Kelso Bridge, 

 and trotted away to Lempitlan, and found in a very strong whin 

 cover. Here I had an opportunity of seeing this celebrated 

 pack give the lie to the assertion that they are shy of facing 

 thick gorse. Our fox on this day indeed appeared resolved to 

 put them to the proof, for he never broke at all, but died at the 

 end of an hour, during which time almost every hound was at 

 work. I appeal to all who were present if they could expect or 

 desire to see this species of fox-hunting better or more effectually 

 performed ; nor was there a finer or stronger fox than the hunted 

 one ever seen ; and his never attempting to break, showed the 

 strength of the cover. 



I had one of the duke's own horses brought to cover for me 

 this day a fine brown gelding called Don Juan, by Childe 

 Harold, purchased, as Matthew told me, from Colonel Douglas, 

 one of the duke's guardians, during his Grace's minority. I had 

 the pleasure of knowing the colonel, during the seasons he 

 hunted in Oxfordshire, where we esteemed him and I believe 

 he is very generally esteemed a superior judge of a hunter. 

 There are some beautiful points in Don Juan such as length of 

 shoulder and frame, so highly essential in a hunter. 



Our next draw was a noted cover called Haddon Riggs, which 

 produced a fox that stood an hour and forty minutes and beat 

 us by getting into a village. The country was good enclosed 

 throughout, in part strongly and we had every description of 

 chase to show off the working of hounds. In short, it was what 

 is called a fine hunting run, wanting nothing but the finish ; and 

 at times the first burst in particular fast enough for any man, 

 considering the severity of the country. The first check at 

 crossing a road was likewise happily got rid of by Williamson ; 

 and from end to end the run was ridden to, by the few horsemen 

 who were out, in a straightforward and sportsmanlike manner. 

 There was nothing like jealousy, no pressing upon hounds, but 

 every man's object appeared to be the same to see, and not to 

 mar sport. The two Mr. Baillies, Mr. Henry Scott, of Harden, 

 a relation of the duke's, and Captain Spottiswoode were, as 

 usual, where they ought to have been. The duke himself was 

 not out. In the first place the fixture was a long distance from 

 Bow Wood, where he was at that time residing ; and, secondly, 



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