NIMROUS NOR THERN TO UR. i g/ 



foundation of his success is in the kennel. There Lord Kintore 

 could scarcely have failed in one principal qualification viz., the 

 breeding of hounds of high form, from his known correct eye to 

 the good points of all domestic animals, which he has shown 

 practically to the world. From the present limited extent of his 

 pack, much cannot be expected from it as contributing to the 

 general diffusion of good fox-hound blood ; yet from what I have 

 seen of his proceedings, and have gathered from his discourse, 

 I am inclined to think that if his lordship had been for the last 

 fifteen years hunting a four or fi ve-days-a-week country, he would 

 have been a very considerable contributor to this most desirable 

 end. Such I know is the opinion of Mr. Dalyell, Williamson, 

 old Scott, and Walker, and of many other experienced sports- 

 men in his part of the world, whose authority is better than my 

 own. A sight of his small pack, indeed, as when I last saw 

 them, would go very far in confirmation of the opinion I have 

 ventured to give. 



There are peculiarities attending every huntsman's proceedings 

 in and out of kennel, and Lord Kintore is not without his. In 

 the kennel, he is a strict disciplinarian, both as regards hounds 

 and men the consequence of which* is, no man's kennel I ever 

 was in is so clean as his, and no old maid over her tea-table is 

 more particular with Betty that all should be right, than he is 

 with Joe Grant at feeding time. He feeds in lots of five, which 

 makes it nearly an hour's work. The meat for the shy feeders is 

 unusually thick and good, and they have every encouragement 

 given them to fill their bellies. It is then gradually reduced in 

 substance ; and with several of the other sort, he appeared to 

 count the mouthfuls. I must do him the justice to say, I con- 

 sider him a perfect master of condition of hounds. 



On going to or returning from cover, or going from cover to 

 cover, Lord Kintore is likewise a rigid disciplinarian ; more so, 

 indeed, than, until he gave me his reason for it, appeared to me 

 to be necessary. His hounds are kept very close to his horses' 

 heels, and scarcely allowed what may be considered a necessary 

 indulgence. Their making so free with the porridge pots in the 

 cottages, however, renders this sharp discipline necessary ; and 

 Lord Kintore is the last man in the world to deprive a poor 

 family of their dinner. 



His Lordship has another peculiarity. He counts his hounds 

 on his leaving every cover which has not held a fox ; unwilling 

 to trust to their following him away to horn. This, on unlucky 

 -days, and those short ones, is rather a consumer of time ; but 

 we may conclude that he is not of old Scott's opinion, that " it 



