1 54 NIM 'ROD'S NOR THERN TO UR. 



his, which is strongly fenced and deep. If, however as I said 

 of Stephen Goodhall, when he hunted Sir Thomas Mostyn's pack 

 Scott could hover over his hounds in a balloon, or fly through 

 the air like Pacolet on his wooden horse, no one would doubt the 

 full value of his directing hand. It is hardly fair to pronounce 

 an opinion on the merits of a huntsman, principally from common 

 report ; but the frequent mention I heard made of the one I have 

 been speaking of, in part removes this objection. Scott's long 

 experience, and general knowledge of hounds and hunting, make 

 him often quoted in Scotland as authority ; and, moreover, he 

 has been the theme of many a good joke. In short he is what 

 is called a character, as the following anecdotes will show. 

 Being some distance behind his hounds one day when they were 

 running very hard, Mr. Maxwell (the son of his first master, Sir 

 William) passed him, with the hope of being able to catch them. 

 " It won't do, sir," holloas Scott to him ; " 'tis no use your 

 haggrivating your horse in that manner if you was on a heagle 

 yoii would not catch 'em." On another occasion he missed some 

 hounds after a long run in a wild country, and they were 

 eventually lost. On some one condoling with him upon what 

 most huntsmen would consider rather a serious bereavement, 

 Scott, replied with a smile, " Oh it's nought worth thinking 

 about ; it is a poor consarn that can't afford to lose a hound or 

 two"* Here is philosophy for you, reader ; " rough clad' ; if 

 you like ; but there is nothing like taking things coolly in this 

 world. As Scott's list, however, only gives a sum total of thirty- 

 five couples of working hounds, the consarn cannot afford many 

 such trifling losses in the year. 



On Monday the Qth, by the kind attentions of Mr. James 

 Blackwood, I was enabled to see some of the principal lions of 

 Edinburgh " the modern Athens," as this seat of learning and 

 philosophy is now called ; which certainly sounds better to the 

 car than the " modern Babylon," as our metropolis is designated, 

 chiefly by reason of its great extent. Holyrood Palace (with 

 which most of my readers are, no doubt, so well acquainted, 

 that a description of it would be to them " tedious as a thrice- 

 told tale ") was our first object; from whence we proceeded to 

 the High School, a splendid building on the Calton Hill, and 

 thence to the Register Office, which is out-and-out the most 



* This reminds me of a story .1 heard of " Robert" somebody, 

 formerly huntsman to the Northumberland hounds. A runaway horse 

 dashed with his rider among the pack C{ That's right, sir !" exclaimed 

 Robert, " that's right ride among 'em ! kill a hound or two ! we've 

 plenty mair (more) at home 1" 



