168 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



It is somewhat remarkable that every pack of hounds in this part of 

 Scotland had sport on this said Wednesday, November 26th. The 

 duke's run was an hour and forty minutes ; Major St. Paul had an hour 

 and forty-five minutes, which cost Lord Frederick Fitzclarence a horse ; 

 and Lord Elcho an hour and thirty-five minutes, losing his fox, as we 

 lost ours, in a village, at dark. Now does any gentleman-sportsman or 

 philosopher — in this part of Scotland — keep a meteorological journal ? If 

 so, let me request him to turn to it and give us the result of his this day's 

 observations. It appears to have been a hunting day; for although our 

 scent was at times flashy, I attributed that circumstance more to the 

 country than to the day, and as it was, it was good enough to have killed 

 the best fox that ever wore a brush — I mean by fair hunting, with pace 

 enough to satisfy most men. 



Thursday, November 27th. Mr. Callander and myself were on our 

 hacks just as the day was dawning, having sixteen miles to ride to 

 what I must call a nominal breakfast at Mr. Sprot's, of Riddle, for 

 Peter had taken care to break our fast with a profusion of good things 

 before we started — Still what matters it how often men eat who hunt 

 five times in one week and ride sixteen miles to cover? But to proceed. 

 Critics have decided that a description of sun-set is stale and trite, and 

 can no longer be endured, — although they are obliged to admit, that it 

 is then that nature looks so lovely, and that it is then that her language 

 is so deep and devotional — therefore I must be cautious what I say of 

 sun rise. But all the Longinusses that were ever created cannot make 

 us insensible to the impressions of nature, and were I to live a century 

 longer, I should not forget old Phcebus's appearance on this morning, 

 nor how, after gilding the tops of the mountains above us, he broke 

 through the mist that hung upon the Tweed, and showed us his face in 



