288 NIMROUS NORTHERN TOUR. 



Saturday, 16 Met at the Bridge of Weir, and had a blank 

 day. 



Sunday, 17. Lord Kelburne and myself dined at the barracks 

 with the Carabineer officers, several of whom I had not seen 

 since I dined with them in .1829, at Dorchester, and witnessed 

 an amusing scene with poor Jack Hayward,* now defunct, who 

 gave us an excellent imitation of Mr. Musters' finding and killing 

 his fox. We had something to remind us of this day, on our re- 

 turn to Hawkhead. The post-boy was so drunk as to suffer the 

 horses to turn us fairly to the " right about " in the town of Glas- 

 gow. His lordship, however, took, I believe, the best means to 

 insure our safety, which was, to "holloa him forward " all the 

 way, for, said he, " if he goes slow, he will be asleep and tumble 

 off his horse." I must confess I was not sorry to find myself 

 safe at Hawkhead, for we went at an awful pace through the 

 iron gates into the domain, with the river Cart just on our star- 

 board tack. 



The fixture on Monday, 1 8th, was Johnstone Castle, the seat 

 of Mr. Houstone, who had joined our party at Hawkhead, 

 and proved no small addition to it. We were unfortunate in 

 not getting away with a fox, which led us many miles, with a 

 very stale scent, over a capital country, all grass. We found 

 again, in the Hawkhead covers, and went quickly away, but be- 

 ing headed by some persons on the railway, he gave the 

 pack the slip. I lamed a horse of his lordship's this day, called 

 Jock, the only one I injured during my tour. Captain Gerard 

 (brother to Sir John, and who returned with us to Hawkhead) 

 also got an awkward fall, but escaped unhurt. 



Tuesday, 19. I was booked this day by the mail for Carlisle, 

 but his lordship said " no go." The fixture was South-bar, but 

 the morning was so dreadfully wet, that we were very late at 

 cover, and the field small, several of the gentlemen who had sent 

 horses not venturing to turn out. After this preface, I have little 

 to say of the day's sport. We found in a cover called the Big- 

 wood ; I viewed the fox away, and after a short run we lost him 

 at least as was supposed, but he was brought dead to Hawk- 

 head in the evening, Idlled single-handed, I have reason to be- 

 lieve, by Brusher, who did not come away with the pack, but 

 joined it on our road home. We found again at Raskeleigh, but 

 the fox taking a very bad line, we could do nothing with him, and 

 the scent was wretchedly bad. 



Still I have an incident or two to relate. First about half a dozen 



* Veterinary surgeon, and much beloved by the regiment. 



