98 NIMIIOD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



and welfare, I feel more interest in than in those of the British yeoman 

 ■ — a character truly said to be " known in no other land," and without 

 whom fox-hunting would he known in no land. 



The Hirsel is the property of the Earl of Home, whom we saw in the 

 cover with his gun, in the use of which I understand he excels. His 

 costume was certainly the costume of the sportsman, and, judging from 

 that, and the sort of dog he had with him, of the working sportsman, and 

 not one of your battue g-entry, who have no claim to that honourable 

 distinction, but who only shoot for fame and name. The Hirsel is 

 renowned in history, being the ground on which the Scottish army 

 camped on crossing the Tweed, in the time of the first Charles ; the 

 daring, but treacherous Montrose — afterwards Lord Graham — being 

 the first to plunge into the stream, and to set his foot upon the English 

 border. 



My engagement this day was to dinner at Dunse-castle, which alone 

 implies the passing of a pleasant evening. Mr. Hay himself was in great 

 force, and we were delighted, ladies and all, by some songs Mr. Camp- 

 bell sang for us in the drawing room, one of which was — " We have seen 

 a run together" — at my request. ** All the sounds that nature utters," 

 says Cooper, the American novelist, " are agreeable, from the gnat's fine 

 treble to the base of the humble-bee," but nothing equals the melody of 

 the human voice. To my ear, at least, the music of " the cornet, the 

 trumpet, the sacbut, the psaltery, and the harp," is but '' harmonious 

 discord" to it ; and next to first-rate colloquial powers, the being able 

 and willing to sing well is the most pleasing accomplishment in our 

 nature. 



