140 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



who, like the Duke of Buccleuch, has a small and a large pack; and if 

 my recollection serves me, is that of the Duke of Cleveland, who also 

 sorted his pack by the standard, until he reduced his kennel to its pre- 

 sent limited extent. 



"Mr. Williamson,'* said I; **it is my wish to ask you a question, 

 which probably was never put to you before. Do you, or do you not, 

 believe, that the scent of some foxes is stronger or weaker than that of 

 others? Jn other words — do you conceive that all foxes impart a simi- 

 lar degree of scent to hounds, leaving out of the question any particular 

 period of the chase ? " Somewhat to my surprise, he candidly informed 

 me, that the nature of the question T had put to him had never once 

 come under his consideration, and therefore at the moment the subject 

 dropped. This notion — the various degrees of scent, has by some been 

 looked upon as chimerical and visionary, and by others totally disre- 

 garded ; but, although it would be difficult to support it by facts, my ex- 

 perience justifies me in asserting that I believe such to be the case. At 

 all events, natural knowledge being a sort of common to which every 

 person has an equal right, and is at liberty to erect any system he may 

 think proper upon it, according to his own taste, I have availed myself 

 of the right, and have made up my mind on this subject. The pheno- 

 mena of fox-hunting can only be accounted for by such means; and I 

 was glad to find my opinion backed by your correspondent Skim, (in 

 your last May number,) in his practical and judicious remarks on Mr. 

 Grantley Berkeley's system of managing hounds in the kennel and in the 

 field. 



Let me digress for a moment here. Although the phenomenon of scent 

 appears beyond our ken, it is my intention soon to offer my sentiments 



