128 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



pack, as reserve it for a future opportunity, for in fact my experience of 

 them is equally available, and, as the old proverb saith, " there is no- 

 thing- like the present time." Individually, there are amongst them 

 hounds on which the eye of the sportsman — the real admirer of the 

 animal — would scarcely tire to dwell. Passing over the old hounds — 

 though not forgetting Blue-maid, and Boxer, and Novelty, among the 

 five year olds, — where could we mend Harlequin, Hector, and Heiress, 

 amongst the four year old? or Rally, or Spinster, or that rich-coloured 

 bitch Sempstress — a great favourite wuth Williamson, who I observed 

 often spoke to ♦Seamstress? Then Countess, and Curious, Gamesome 

 and Gypsey, Trimmer and Bilker, not forgetting Susan — among the 

 three year olds ; and Comely and Costly among the two year olds — 

 Rutland and Cleveland blood — perfect beauties of their kind. Here 

 then, surely, I must stop ! Oh no ; I cannot pass over the young 

 Merlin hounds, out of Countess and Lucy, but only wuth this slight 

 notice, as I shall have something to say of them at a more fitting 

 opportunity. 



Collectively — or, in more appropriate language, as a pack — my 

 opinion of these hounds was given in a letter I wrote to Mr. Lambton 

 from Scotland, informing him of my intended visit to him on my return 

 home, and in precisely these words: — '* I think Williamson can show 

 twenty couples of bitches, and ten of dog hounds that it would be very 

 difficult to beat in any kennel in England — of the same standard of 

 course." The opinion, however, of those (competent to give one of 

 course) who have been where I have not been, for the last five years — 

 that is, amongst the crack packs of England — is better worth having 

 than mine ; and it is the opinion of several sportsmen who are able to 

 judge of them, in actual comparison with others, that the Duke of 



