i66 NIM POD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



as Crane and Williamson, on fox-hunting, would prove a treasure 

 to the sporting world indeed, what is the Book of Proverbs, if 

 we look at it as mere human writing, but a collection of such-like 

 valuable materials, although upon a very different subject. De- 

 sirous then of obtaining some of the results of Crane's practical 

 experience of hunting, and everything belonging to hounds, 

 Lord Kintore showed me a few observations of his own, in 

 manuscript, of which he had sent him a copy, with a request that 

 he would make his comments upon them without reserve, but 

 the request was made in vain. I remember being much pleased 

 with the unassuming little preface, by which his lordship intro- 

 duced his remarks to the notice of Crane, and it was, as near as 

 I can recollect, this : "To Thomas Crane from one who has 

 seen and learnt a little, but who has yet a deal to learn from 

 those who have had longer experience than himself. The writer* 

 would feel obliged to Crane, to add his own remarks to the en- 

 closed, on any part of the noble science of fox-hunting." 



The following passage also attracted my notice, and I believe 

 I can give it pretty correctly : " I like a burst of twenty minutes, 

 and I do admire a real hunting run of an hour, at a fair holding 

 pace, when every hound does his share of work ; and then, 

 to find them increasing their pace by degrees your fox sinking 

 before them, and running at last from scent to view. This is a 

 pleasure to be felt, but not to be conceived." I was pleased by 

 the distinction between " liking" and " admiring ;" there is en- 

 thusiasm in the latter, which should be inseparable from fox- 

 hunting ; and no one can doubt Lord Kintore having his full 

 share of that quality, what pursuit soever he may engage in. 



The Fife hounds originally hunted the greater part of the 

 counties of Fife and Forfar, but were turned out of Forfar, in 

 consequence of the splitting of the pack, diminution of subscrip- 

 tion, &c. They, however, found a new country in Perthshire, and 

 in the best part of Fife, in which they have a kennel, at a place 

 called Torryburn. It is called the "West of Fife" country, and 

 affords excellent sport. A short time before I visited Mount 

 Melville, the hounds had been enjoying a succession of diversion 

 in it namely, nine good runs in eleven days ! They had another, 

 a third kennel, at Lord Kinnaird's (at Inchture), but which -has 

 been given up in consequence of their having hunted Forfarshire, 

 since Mr. Dalyell left it. Lord Kinnaird, indeed, who, my readers 

 will remember, undertook the management of the Quorn country 

 for Sir F. Holyoke Goodricke, during part of the first season after 

 the late Sir Harry Goodricke's death, has now a pack of his own, 



* Of course, Crane knew who the writer was. 



