NLMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR, 149 



moment descending that made it somewhat doubtful if they got thither at 

 all — at least that night. My brother sportsmen, however, will pardon 

 my dwelling a little on the line here, and those who are not sportsmen 

 are aware how the human soul delights to recall its past pleasures; 

 in fact, as Martial says, in his famous epitaph, 



" Hoc est 



Vivere bis, vita posse priore frui." 



Let me then sit a few minutes longer in the arm-chair, waitino- for 

 the fog to clear up, and give one other specimen of my host's sinoular 

 manner of expressing himself: " Allow me to ask you, Mr, Williamson," 

 said I, *' did you ever see a perfect hound?" — " Why," replied he, " I 

 was once asked that question before, and my answer was, one mio-ht 

 just as well expect to find a human being that had never deviated from 

 the moral law, as a fox-hound that would not sometimes do wron(y." 

 I was much amused at this singular but pithy remark, rendered doubly 

 impressive by the forcible manner in which it was delivered, and I could 

 not help thinking it might have served for a comment upon the philo- 

 sophy of Plato. Man is the same now as he was in the days of Solomon ; 

 the impulse of his nature is strong but his morality is weak, and no 

 mortal can repair what Adam destroyed. Thus is it with brutes. He 

 that seeks to extinguish every unruly passion — every vicious propensity , 

 — by an absolute control of their nature, will find himself mistaken, and 

 with the one, as with the other, few have the merit to walk erect in a 

 slippery path. 



" Naturam expellas furc&, tamen usque recurret." 



It is natural to suppose that no man so independent in circumstances 

 as Williamson is known to be, would remain in servitude and hunt a 



