184 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



it is here, and perhaps only here, that people appear towards each other 

 quite without dissimulation and disguise. In addition to my host and 

 hostess, then, there was Mr. Bannerman — brother to Sir Alexander, and 

 maternal uncle to my host — a great and scientiGc agriculturist, and, I 

 have reason to believe, more than usually skilled in the knowledge of 

 our various grasses ; also Mr. Adam Hay of Duddingston-house, near 

 Edinburgh, a partner in Sir William Forbes's bank, and whose lady, 

 who accompanied him, is sister to Mrs. Keith. Here then was a con- 

 trast to the rude scenes of the morning — to the " pelting of the pitiless 

 storm," to which I was exposed for full six hours and more. An excel- 

 lent dinner — every thing comme il faut ; the presence of two of the 

 most splendid women Scotland can produce — second Lady Cunliffes in 

 my eyes; the society of two sportsmen and a farmer; and under the 

 roof of the brother of my friend who invited me to this hospitable land ! 

 There was but one alloy — the pleasure was short-lived. Mr. Bannerman 

 proceeded on the morrow on his journey towards Leamington, in War- 

 wickshire : Mr. Hay left on the Monday, and my visit was restricted by 

 my engagements to only a few days. 



" Non eadem sede morantur 

 Majestas et amor." — Ovid. 



Not having up to this period hunted in the duke's home country— the 

 Dalkeith kennel is within six miles of Chester-hall— I had not seen 

 Captain Keith with hounds ; and he was prevented being at Dunse, 

 during my visit to Lord Elcho, by reason of his stable going wrong. 

 In fact, every horse in it had a screw loose, which is more than usual 

 ill luck, even in the most punishing of our countries. On the authority 

 of Lord Kintore, however, he is a sportsman, and, of all I heard speak 

 of him, a horseman. I believe also I may say the same of Mr. Hay, 



