NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 119 



of which I have already spoken ; just ten miles from Kelso, and 

 a very pretty ride, almost all by Tweed side. On* my arrival 

 there with Mr. Callander, I saw symptoms of a large attendance 

 of sportsmen, which indicated a good opinion of the fixture. The 

 stables were full of hunters which arrived on the previous 

 evening from Dunse, and other places ; and calls for " break- 

 fast" resounded throughout the inn, for those who had arrived 

 from afar. In fact there was note of preparation, not for war, 

 but for business. 



A little after ten o'clock, Major St. Paul arrived with his 

 hounds, which looked in very excellent condition. The same 

 might have been said of a very Englishman-like looking person 

 who accompanied him, in a drab great coat, buttoned up to his 

 chin, but not an inch of the "pink" to be seen, even at the skirts. 

 41 How are you ?" said St. Paul to me ; " How are you ?" said I. 

 " How are you ?" said the other ; " How axzyou?" said I with 

 a familiar nod of my head, in answer to a familiar nod of his 

 head. Now, until he peeled to the pink, I was quite unconscious 

 of whom I was addressing that it was Lord Frederick Fitz- 

 clarence, one of my king's sons ; so, yielding to no man in 

 loyalty, I thought it my duty to ride up to his lordship and 

 explain. But those who know him, will say, I might have saved 

 myself the trouble, for there is not an ounce of starch about Lord 

 Frederick Fitzclarence, who set down my familiarity to its true 

 account the non-recollection of his person, muffled up as it 

 was. 



We drew over a great deal of country, and some fine whin 

 covers, with only a very slight touch of a drag, and I began to 

 think we were in for a blank day, when Lord Frederick got 

 tidings that some main earths were not stopped, through a mis- 

 take in the stoppers, and we consequently trotted away to Lear- 

 mouth Bog. This was in every sense of the word an agreeable 

 move, for the weather was wild and boisterous on the higher 

 ground, and we had now descended into a milder region, as well 

 as a more hunting-like country, and a brilliant day's sport was 

 the happy result. 



It has not been my lot to see a great many foxes found on 

 bogs ; but of this I am certain that when the surrounding 

 ground commands a view of the proceedings, a bog is the place 

 of all others to see "a find" to advantage. In the first place, 

 every hound is at once present to the eye when drawing, there 

 being nothing to cover them ; and the sight of the whole pack 

 perhaps jumping from tussuck to tussuck, in the hope of pouncing 

 upon the villain, is no small treat. Then see them feathering on 

 the scent before he is found as we did this day how beautiful 



