94 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



shooting in its wildest and most sportsmanlike forms, — his hawks and 

 his game cocks — to all and each of these in their seasons was he most 

 ardently attached." His friend then speaks of his race horses, and in 

 allusion to the St. Leger stakes of 1825, and " the unaccountable posi- 

 tion" of his favourite horse Cleveland, in that race — the said Cleveland 

 having been pulled up at the distance-post — expresses an opinion that 

 the disappointment occasioned by the losses his friend sustained, who 

 had deeply backed his horse, " severely wounded his feelings." No 

 doubt they did, but the *' unaccountableness" of such things no longer 

 exists at Doncaster. 



I must add one other tribute to the memory of this celebrated sports- 

 man. He was the first master of the celebrated Williamson, who may 

 be truly said to swear by him, both as a sportsman and a master, to 

 this day; and be assured, reader, whosoever you may be, there is no 

 better testimony to the good qualities of a gentleman than the good 

 word of his servant. But I was given to understand there was a play- 

 fulness of manner in Mr. Baird — " Cockburn Law in the throat," for 

 example — which won the affections of all men ; and his enthusiasm in 

 the field could not have been lost upon his huntsman. He was a 

 master of fox-hounds for nearly sixty years, and died at an advanced 

 age, most universally regretted in Scotland. 



I feel my blood circulate more freely through my veins when I can 

 honestly extol the virtues as well as the prowess of a sportsman. Nulli 

 secundus is the son and representative of this gentleman,— the present 

 Sir David Baird. 



Of his character as a country gentleman and a useful member of 



