102 NIMHOD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



although I cannot call it the sportsman's Vale of Cashmere, as I called 

 Leicestershire, or even the Montpellier of Scotch hunting countries, it 

 struck me, taking it all in all, as being the best country for hounds I saw 

 in Scotland. 



It appears Berwickshire has been hunted beyond the memory of man. 

 In the year 1 740, for example by Mr. Lambsdain, of Blanerne, and coming 

 nearer to present times, and jointly with Roxburghshire, by the late Mr. 

 Baird, father to Sir David Baird,and Mr. Baillie, of Mellerstain, of whom I 

 have already spoken, each of whom hunteditfor many years — the former 

 gentleman, in fact, till his death, when the Duke of Buccleuch and Mr. 

 Ramsay*, each had part of it in addition to their home countries. 



In 1833, Lord Elcho took Berwickshire, and on Mr. Ramsay resign- 

 ing East Lothian, the duke gave that county also up to his lordship 

 who has his kennel at Amisfield, near Haddington, at which place, as 

 I have already stated, his residence is. The exact boundaries of these 

 countries I am not able to fix ; and as I was given to understand there 

 had been some little difference of opinion respecting them, I avail myself 

 of the truism, that " the least said is soonest mended." 



The following are the precise periods of Berwickshire being hunted by 

 Lord Elcho, as likewise of East Lothian. The hounds commence the sea- 

 son with cub-hunting in the former county, and then go back to East 

 Lothian. On the first of November they return to Dunse, and hunt 

 Berwickshire to the 20th of December when they go to their home ken- 

 nel, and hunt East Lothian to the first of February, when they return 



* Mr. Ramsay hunted the Dunse country two months in the year. 



