NOIROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 177 



applying' to the merits of another neighbouiing pack — " to say, that bar- 

 rincr two or three in Leicestershire, I have seen to-day the quickest and 

 straio-htest thino: from end to end, that I ever saw with hounds in my 

 life." As to the gallant master of the pack, it was allowed by all, that 

 there could be no such happy man as himself, that day, in Northumber- 

 land, neither do I suppose there was, for his hounds had given unbounded 

 satisfaction to a field, and a field chiefly composed of sportsmen. I 

 regret to say that Sir David Baird missed this fine run ; he left us 

 before we descended into the vale, having fixed to look at a horse at 

 Kelso, and to return to Dunse that night. It would have just suited 

 him, and no doubt he would have added one to the happy trio who saw 

 it all. 



We killed him at a place called Tiptoe, above Greaveslead, some miles 

 above the celebrated Twizle-castle. 



Lord Elcho this day rode a horse called Beppo, purchased of those 

 celebrated dealers, Messrs. Elmores, and well known in the neighbour- 

 hood of London, as having distinguished himself in steeple-chases. He 

 is exactly his lordship's sort of horse — w'ell bred, not too big for the 

 cramped fences of Berwickshire, and quite perfect in his work ; but un- 

 fortunately he kicks hounds, therefore he cannot ride him with his own. 

 If I had such a horse, I should be tempted to try an experiment with 

 him. I should keep two or three black and white coloured curs with 

 him in his box, with the hopes of his becoming reconciled to them in 

 time ; and if he killed a few of that description of vermin, society would 

 be benefited by their riddance, for nine cases in ten of hydrophobia have 

 their origin in half-starved curs. Lord Eglinton rode a large thorough- 

 bred horse, whose name I cannot remember, but a truly Leicestershire- 



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