THE HUNTSMAN 63 



words, " was there ever such a thing heard ^/as a 

 person not returning the empty sacks ? " An amusing 

 circumstance occurred connected with Williamson's 

 ideas of practical economy. Being a true promoter 

 of hunting, and consequently anxious to enlist 

 followers by making it as cheap as possible, he 

 wrote a paper, showing where great savings might 

 be effected in many of the indispensable articles of 

 stable use — clothes, saddles, bridles, physic, etc. and 

 sent it to a London periodical. The cockney sub- 

 editor got hold of it, and most unceremoniously con- 

 demned it, recommending the author, in his notice to 

 correspondents, "to forward a copy of it to the 

 Chancellor of the Exchequer, headed 'Hints for a 

 Budget.'" He doubtless thought his correspondent 

 was some puffing tradesman, instead of the " King of 

 Scotch servants," as Lord Kintore christened William- 

 son. So much for people deciding upon what they 

 don't understand. 



Williamson's situation, perhaps, can hardly be 

 called servitude, but his example is not the less 

 valuable on that account. He receives the duke's 

 money, and every man who accepts the wages of hire 

 enters into an implied contract that he will protect 

 and do the best he can for his employer. Williamson's 

 view of the matter was pithily expressed in the follow- 

 ing observation : — " I found the duke rich," said he, 

 "and I wish to leave him so." 



Scotch servants, we are almost inclined to think, 

 are more faithful in a general way than English ones. 

 Whether there is something about mountainous 

 countries that draws the affections and binds parties 

 in stronger union we know not ; but the same may 

 be observed of the Swiss. Spite of all the contamina- 

 tion of English manners, and the corruption of 

 English gold, the Swiss, as a nation, are eminently 

 faithful. The Scotch, we believe, are kinder — more 

 attentive, at least — to their servants than the English. 



