142 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



was the result of his examination of the various skulls ? " "A most un- 

 fortunate one," answered Williamson. *' He selected two, one as the 

 best and another as the worst- scenting hounds in the whole pack — 

 naming Heiress as the latter. Now it so happens, that the one he 

 selected as the best is nearly the worst in the kennel ; and a better- 

 nosed bitch than Heiress no man ever holloaed to, or saw." So much 

 then for phrenological developments, as regards the canine race, and for 

 my own part, I have but little faith in them in the human. Of all the 

 parts of the body, the anatomy of the brain is the most complex, and 

 the most able physiologist of the day cannot determine its organs. But 

 this convert to the fanciful theory should have looked for other deve- 

 lopments in fox-hounds than the mere faculty of smelling, and such 

 instinctive faculties; — for the organs of combativeness and destructive- 

 ness; — for those of murder and theft, and other brute feelings. The 

 physiognomist, I should imagine, to have a better chance in a kennel, as 

 all sportsmen allow there is much in the countenance of a dog, and what 

 is called "a thorough fox-hound head,"' is very indicative of goodness. 

 Surely the doctrine of Gall and Spurzheim has lived its little hour. 



One distinguishing feature in the character of Williamson is what is 

 termed good management, in other words, economy in the distribution 

 of expense. " What a Chancellor of the Exchequer he would make ! " 

 we hear one man say. "■ He would be the best poor maw's servant in the 

 world," says another. But Williamson's reason for still adhering to that 

 strict economy, vulgarly called '' close shaving," now he is a rich man's 

 servant, does him no discredit, if not pushed too far. " I found the duke 

 rich," said he to me, "and it is my wish that he should remain rich." 

 Would that this maxim were more generally acted upon than it is; there 

 would be fewer old inheritances in the market ; fewer mortgaged estates ; 



