210 NIM ROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



expressed the great gratification he felt in being deputed by the 

 gentlemen of the neighbourhood in which his lordship had now 

 hunted for several seasons, to convey to him the sense of obli- 

 gation that those gentlemen entertained for the kindness and 

 urbanity which had ever distinguished his lordship since he came 

 amongst them ; and, at the same time, to beg his lordship's ac- 

 ceptance of the Piece of Plate now before them, as a mark of 

 respect from those gentlemen, whose representative on" this 

 occasion he (the Chairman) had the honour to be. Lord Kintore 

 returned thanks in the following terms : GENTLKMEN I hardly 

 know how to thank you for this totally uncalled for and most 

 unmerited mark of your friendship towards me. If, during the 

 dull winter months, the fox-hounds have shown you any sport, 

 it has been owing to your own individual exertions in having 

 preserved the foxes, in having cut rides, &c., in your covers, with, 

 I trust and hope I may add, the good-will of the tenantry to boot, 

 that has enabled me to promote your sport. To you both, do I 

 return my hearty thanks. But to you, gentlemen, here present, 

 in particular, I cannot sufficiently express how much I appreciate 

 this kindness, and can only now beg you to accept the humble 

 but grateful thanks of an individual whose soul, from his cradle, 

 has been riveted in the chase, and who will ever hold fast, until 

 the main earth receives him, this distinguished token of your 

 good-will. Gentlemen, I have the honour to drink your good 

 healths, sincerely wishing from my heart that unanimity, good 

 fellowship, and fox-hunting, may long flourish in this northern,, 

 but most hospitable 'Land of Cakes. 1 " 



Tuesday, 23rd. Our first draw this day was a fine gorse, which 

 we supposed we had drawn blank. On the hounds being hoi-- 

 loaed away, however, and nearly all arrived at their huntsman's 

 horse's heels, a field's length from the cover, rather a singular 

 circumstance occurred. One hound, called Druid, stood by 

 himself, with his head turned towards the cover, and his ears 

 erect, as if listening to some sound. " What can that hound be 

 listening to ?" said Lord Kintore to me ; but before I could an- 

 swer the question away he went to cry. The fact was, a couple 

 of hounds were running hard in the wood, having found the fox 

 after the body had left it, and we were very near being indebted 

 to Druid, whom we afterwards christened " The Listener," .for a 

 fine run. We went well away with our fox ; but no sooner had 

 the hounds settled. to him, and were carrying a right good head, 

 than we came to a large morass, and our huntsman ordered 

 them to be stopped. On my mentioning this unlucky event to 

 Williamson, he said, " I differ with his lordship on this point ; I 

 would not have stopped my hounds, and for this reason : foxes 



