NIM ROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 287 



midst of them proving the truth of the adage, that " use be- 

 comes second nature." The sulphuric acid is chiefly for expor- 

 tation, and was to be seen in great quantities, in jars, hermeti- 

 cally sealed for the purpose ; and, as a single specimen of the 

 capital expended in the making of it, we were shown one retort, 

 of French manufacture, and holding only seventy gallons, which 

 cost ^1400. It was formed of platina, the only metal which will 

 stand the required heat. 



Tuesday, 19. Met at Houlston Gate, and found in a very fine 

 whin cover on the side of the hill. It was a beautiful find, and 

 the hounds showed themselves to advantage by turning very 

 short back on the scent in the cover, and forcing their fox to fly 

 the country at once. The pace was very good at first, and also 

 at other parts of the run, which lasted three hours : and had his 

 lordship happened to have heard my holloa, as I viewed him, 

 dead beat, at the last, we should no doubt have killed him. This 

 was the most difficult run to ride to- that I ever experienced, 

 owing to the ground being, as it were, checkered, that is, 

 covered with snow in one place and bare in another. We often 

 lost sight of the hounds altogether, when they would otherwise 

 have been plain to be seen ; and in short, at one time, they were 

 invisible to every man in the field, although there was no lack of 

 hard riders, and the country good enough for anything. It was 

 a hard day for horses ; I rode " Scott's horse," who is said never 

 to have fallen at a fence, and indeed I found him perfect. 



There was a gentleman out this day, who rode hard and well, 

 whom I cannot pass over, inasmuch as he pays a compliment to 

 fox-hunting, which no other sport would receive at all events, 

 be entitled to. His name is Eddington ; and having undergone 

 amputation of one of his legs, above the knee, has had it replaced 

 by a cork one, on which he wears as good a boot and spur as 

 need be seen aj: Melton Mowbray. He is a regular attendant on 

 the hounds, and rides hard. 



Wednesday, 13. The hounds met this day, and we drew 

 blank, a good whin cover, called " the Round Cover/ 7 so called 

 because it is circular and enclosed by a high wall. The country 

 about it is good, but high ; and as the day was most tempestu- 

 ous, his lordship trotted away to Hawkhead, where we found, 

 but could do nothing with our fox. 



Thursday, 14. Lord Kelburne and myself this day met a large 

 party at dinner at the house of Mr. Dalglish, a wealthy merchant 

 of Glasgow, and residing in that city. I had this evening, after 

 an excellent dinner and as much claret as we liked, a taste 

 of the punch for which Glasgow is so celebrated, and excellent 

 tipple it is. 



