206 NIM ROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



which I know to be true, because I had it from authority that I 

 can rely upon. When White Stockings (so called from having 

 four white legs up to his knees) was rising five years old, he was 

 sent, with the rest of Lord Kintore's stud, to Grantham, where 

 it was his intention to commence a sort of hunting tour. Find- 

 ing upon his arrival that the Duke of Rutland's hounds were 

 within reach on the morrow, his groom inquired which of the 

 horses should be sent to cover. " Send the young one," said 

 his lordship. "I want to have a taste of him." Now it so 

 happened, that there was a new saddle and a new bridle in the 

 saddle-room, with which Willie bedizened the young one, and 

 which, together with his four white legs, made him so conspicuous 

 an object that Lord Kintore absolutely felt ashamed of him, and 

 kept in the background till the hounds found. But the case was 

 soon reversed. His lordship went off at score with him ; and 

 such was his pace and courage, that he fairly maintained the lead 

 in one of the fastest things of the season till very near the finish ; 

 when, from want of science, or, perhaps, being pumped out by 

 the pace, the young one got a floorer at a rasper, and of course 

 lost his place. But the scene ends not here. " He's down at 

 last, thank God, whoever he may be," exclaims Goosey, the 

 huntsman, in ignorance of whom he was addressing ; and, con- 

 sequently, apprehensive that Lord Kintore would press upon his 

 hounds at the first check that occurred. 



On another occasion Lord Kintore turned schoolmaster. He 

 was riding a four-year colt with Mr. Clarke, then landlord of 

 Barnby Moor Inn, Yorkshire, having been looking at some 

 cattle stock in his neighbourhood, when Mr. Foljambe's hounds 

 were seen coming towards them with their fox. " What's to be 

 done, Clarke ?" said his lordship. " Why, my lord," said Mr. 

 Clarke, " if you will find neck I will find horse ! but the colt you 

 are on never was over a fence in his life." " Then here goes for 

 the first time," exclaimed my lord ; and getting quickly to the 

 hounds, lived with them to the end of the run. He was at that 

 time unknown to Mr. Foljambe ; but as in such moments as 

 these sportsmen are quickly discovered by each other, his lord- 

 ship was soon followed by a note, inviting him to the house of 

 the owner of the hounds, where he remained for another day's 

 hunting. Of Mr. Clarke it may not be amiss to add, that he 

 was one of the best innkeepers in England, and is a first-rate 

 judge of stock of all descriptions. 



Agreeable to my usual custom, I give a short account of what 

 is called the Turriff country, now hunted by Lord Kintore, pre- 

 viously to my speaking of what I saw in it. It has been hunted 

 altogether about fourscore years. First, by " the old Duke of 



