286 NIMROUS NORTHERN TOUR. 



whippers-in, rode the biggest thorough-bred horse, this day, that 

 I ever saw in my life. 



Friday 8. Became alarmed, and, after the manner of the hare, 

 when she fancies herself near her end, began to think of home. 

 At all events I wished to go to London for advice, but my noble 

 host would not hear of my doing so ; and, ringing the bell at the 

 moment, the family doctor was sent for. By the loss of more 

 blood and suitable medicine I was very greatly relieved, and all 

 apprehensions were removed. 



Saturday, 9. The hounds were to have met at one of their 

 best covers, but were prevented doing so by a heavy fall of 

 snow. 



Sunday, 10. Inspected the stud, in the stables, the boxes, 

 and paddocks ; and, in the latter, witnessed a sight such as I 

 wish I could say was oftener to be witnessed than it is. I saw a 

 lot of old hunters, turned out for the rest of their lives, and en- 

 joying themselves at their ease one of them a fine grey gelding, 

 which his lordship told me he had ridden fourteen seasons, 

 "never having turned him out in the summer," he said, " after 

 reading Nimrod's Letters on Condition of Hunters." This, I 

 repeat, is a most gratifying sight, and it ought to be more com- 

 mon than it is, with persons who can afford the expense. It is a 

 mistake to imagine, that our compassion and care are confined 

 to the miseries and wants of our own species ; and it is by such 

 acts as these that the intentions of nature are fulfilled, in miti- 

 gating the dominion of man over animals which contribute either 

 to his wants or his pleasures. Lord Kelburne told me, he had 

 never sold but one hunter. We had a party at dinner this day, 

 amongst them some officers of the Carabineers, then quartered 

 at Glasgow ; spent a pleasant and jovial evening, which John- 

 son's Boswell says, is "as much as can be made of life." 



Monday, n. The snow was partly gone ; but this not being 

 a hunting day, we rode to Glasgow for the purpose of seeing the 

 manufactory of Mr. Tennant, who had dined at Hawkhead on 

 the preceding day, and is a constant attendant on Lord Kel- 

 burne's hounds. But shall I not be considered to be romancing 

 when I describe the extent of the premises, as well as the opera- 

 tions carried on in them, at this manufactory of sulphuric acid 

 and of soap ? Their magnitude is expressed in a few words : 

 Buildings, covered with glass, extend over ten acres of ground, 

 and a hundred tons of coals are consumed every day throughout 

 the year. We found the exhalations emitted, in some of the 

 apartments we walked through, extremely irritating to our lungs, 

 although Mr. Tennant himself did not appear to be affected by 

 them, and several of the workmen were sitting at dinner in the 



