194 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



(indeed Mr. Campbell's prolific imagination made an admirable one for 

 liim on the spot, Vvhich bis Grace appeared to enjoy as much as any of 

 us) ; but he modestly replied that although he knew how to talk to a pack 

 of fox-hounds in the field, he was very unfit to address a body of gentle- 

 men in a dinner-room. " But what should you have done," said Mr. 

 Campbell, " if the chairman had proposed your health?" " Why sir," 

 replied Williamson ; *' taken up my hat, and run out of the room at once." 

 His account to me, however, of all his proceedings on this occasion was 

 most amusing, and I am sure will be considered so by your readers. 

 Pirst — his interview with Mrs. Listen on his arrival in the town before 

 dinner. '* I am highly proud of the honour, madam," said William- 

 son, " of paying a tribute of my respect to Mr. Liston by attending his 

 dinner this day, which I assure you I do at great personal inconvenience, 

 for I must be back again by ten o'clock to-morrow morning, to meet my 

 hounds, full fafty miles from this. But it is a ma-lancholy thing for the 

 country, madam, to think that a gentleman so eminent in his profession 

 as Mr. Liston, and also so fine a sportsman, and so fair a rider, should 

 leave his native toon, and go and live in London. We shall miss him 

 sadly with the hounds." " Perhaps so," replied Mrs. Liston— in perfect 

 good humour — *' hut if it had not been for you and your hounds, Mr. 

 Liston would have been in London sixteen years ago." So much for the 

 charms of fox-hunting, to which not only honours, but wealth itself 

 succumbs. 



**■ But," said T to AVilliamson, ** did no one speak on the subject of 

 fox-hunting, on such an occasion as this — a dinner given to so conspi- 

 cuous a sportsman as Mr. Liston?" " No one," replied he; " but Sir 

 David Baird's speech smelt strongly of the shop. In allusion to the 

 retirement of Lord Grey, and the prospect of a competent successor to his 



