88 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



an overflow of real delight as that which he experiences when in the act 

 of dismounting from his horse, and congratulating his companions, at the 

 finish of such a glorious run as this. Williamson and his men were ab- 

 solutely in raptures, whilst Lord Archibald Seymour was scarcely him- 

 self. Mr. George Baillie's countenance looked more good humoured 

 than ever; I quite forgot that I lived in France; and Sir David Baird 

 must have fancied himself once more at Melton. But if my pen could 

 become a pencil, I would sketch the group of happy faces, for words 

 here are weak. Among other vagaries, I had in my pocket a small flask 

 of eau de vie, which went from mouth to mouth, without even the cere- 

 mony of a wipe from the coat-sleeve as it passed, but its contents were 

 delicious and refreshing-, for we were all more or less exhausted by the 

 pace, and the severity of the country towards the finish. Add to this 

 the day was warm, with scarcely a breath of wind. 



There is always some anxiety after such a run as this, on a warm day 

 in November, for the fate of the horses that have been ridden in it. I 

 ^m happy to say, 1 heard of none falling victims to that of this day, 

 although I saw two with somewhat of alarming symptoms towards the 

 finish of it. Those that came under my observation, afterwards, were 

 not much the worse. Sir David's horse was only bruised on the point 

 of the shoulder ; Lord Eglinton's was not cut in an acting part, 

 and therefore soon got to work again; I passed Elcho- castle on my road 

 home, looking merely somewhat sombre ; and I was rejoiced to find that, 

 after his gruel at Greenlaw, Lord Elcho's horse trotted home under me 

 as comfortably as if he had not seen a hound. 



I asked Lord Elcho the name and history of this horse. " I call him 

 Inglis," said his lordship, '' because I bought him of an Edinburgh dealer 

 of that name, from whom I have had several good horses. I do not 



