NIMROUS NORTHERN TOUR. 213 



difference of the sexes, the bitches, with few exceptions, leaped 

 down from the benches to welcome us, and fondled us with all 

 their might. I would not have missed this scene for a good 

 deal. The love of the beautiful is an instinct implanted in us by 

 nature, and whether in an elegant young lady, or an elegant fox- 

 hound bitch, it will command our admiration ; and as I saw 

 Agile and Actress * leaping from their beds, with their sterns 

 lashing their sides, I considered that I saw the essence of beauty 

 displayed in the brute race. And indeed if beauty consists of a 

 proportion of parts which please the eye, and a certain composi- 

 tion of colour and figure that cause delight in the beholder 

 (which I believe is no false definition of it), the animals I am 

 speaking of may certainly lay claim to it. This pleasing picture, 

 however, was greatly heightened by the sort of ultra-cleanliness 

 practised in this kennel, each hound being washed from head to 

 stern after every day's hunting, which caused the variegated 

 colours of their skins to be displayed with increased lustre, by 

 the powerful light of the lamps. 



From the kennel we proceeded to the stables, where the stud 

 was likewise to be viewed by the aid of patent lamps. The effect 

 of them was not lost here ; they not only threw an air of cheer- 

 fulness and comfort round the stalls and beds, and set off to 

 advantage the clean condition in which they are kept under the 

 vigilant eye of Willie, but the bloom on the skins of the horses 

 shone with a sort of prismatic brightness, almost beyond what 

 the sun has the power of showing. 



Wednesday, 24. A dies non, in the hunting way. Breakfasted 

 .at ten; head queer, and copper rather hot. Walked round the 

 farm ; looked into the stalls, wherein were about a dozen black 

 stots getting fat upon turnips, and saw the hounds fed. Dined 

 at Hatton Castle, a very fine place, about five miles from Cask, 

 with the Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Duff, the former suffering from a 

 rupture of the tendo Achilles. But my noble friend and myself 

 were like to have been more than quits with our host, on our 

 road to his house, in a Turriff post-chaise. It was very dark when 

 we started, and no lamps to the " yellow." " We shall be upset," 

 said I to Lord K., " for this fellow (the post-boy, driving from 

 the dicky) is nearly blind I am sure." " Never fear him," said 

 his lordship, " he knows the road." However, after various 

 tossings from one side of the carriage to the other, knocking our 

 heads together like Punch and his wife, down we went into a 

 hole, which I subsequently measured two feet four inches deep. 

 But, reader, mind the sang froid with which the fellow spoke of 

 this trifling mistake ! " Where the devil did you get to ?" said 

 * Two beautiful badger-pied bitches, sisters, by Alchymist, out of Gaiety. 



