NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 75 



of a lady who was so distinguished an ornament to the society in which 

 I myself first moved : 



Be it a weakness— it deserves some praise, 

 We love the play-place of our early days. 



But to return to Dunse and the studs there. Amongst others, as may 

 be supposed, the stables of Mr. Cesser, the Dunse horse-dealer, were 

 not omitted in this morning's lounge. I have seen it in print, that " an 

 honest horse-dealer is a character written in the dust," but I have met 

 with honest horse-dealers before I saw Mr. Cesser of Dunse, whose 

 character stands high as a man of integrity in his business; as a spirited 

 agriculturalist ; as a capital rider to hounds, although nearly big enough 

 to be cut into two ; and as a sportsman. His son met with a bad accident 

 the season before last in the field. The horse of a brother sportsman 

 lashed out his heels and dreadfully fractured his leg, but the fortitude he 

 exhibited called forth the admiration of all who were so unfortunate as 

 to witness it. 



Saturday, 15. — Lord Elcho met at Marchmont-house, the seat of Sir 

 Hume Campbell, Bart., M. P. for Berwickshire, a fine old place, and 

 approached by an avenue upwards of a mile in length. We soon 

 found our fox, and killed him after twenty-five minutes — the pace 

 good throughout. Found again at Chouseley, and had a ringing run 

 of an hour, when the "tod" was killed by a shepherd's dog. Sir 

 Hume was in Ireland at this time, but his Lady's brother. Captain 

 Spottiswoode (1 believe), lately arrived from that country, and a very 

 good man across a country, was out, and Sir Hume arrived very shortly 

 afterwards. 



The first whipper-in, Bob, had a narrow escape this day as the hounds 



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