NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 213 



Amongst all the truisms which Beckford published, relating to the 

 science and practice of hunting, there is none more worthy of regard 

 than that which points out the disadvantag-es under whi^ hounds labour 

 in high winds ; stating, emphatically, that " the kennel is the best place 

 for hounds on a windy day." The force of this remark was amply ex- 

 emplified on the morning I am speaking of. Mr. Ramsay's hounds are 

 noted for their steadiness ; but had a person, unaccustomed to hunting, 

 and consequently unequal to making those allowances which accidental 

 circumstances demand; had such a person, I repeat, seen them draw for 

 their first fox this day, and then left them, he would have left them with 

 the impression that they were wildness personified. In short, they were 

 running about in all directions, and would neither come to horn nor 

 holloa ! 



Our first scent was on a disturbed fox which we could not hunt up 

 to, to do any good with, so went to try for another. We found in Cal- 

 der-wood, the most extraordinary, and the most romantic place, save one, 

 that I ever saw a pack of fox-hounds thrown into. In fact it was a 

 place that appeared to me like a forlorn-hope ; but owing to a combination 

 of circumstances, for instance, an improvement in the day, and the 

 exertions of the men, (the activity and science displayed by the first whip- 

 per-in delighted me; he was a perfect Mungo, here, there, and every 

 where, telegraphing with his hand and whip when he could not be heard, 

 and giving the office with his voice when he could,) added to the steady 

 working of the hounds, our fox quitted this wild ravine, and boldly 

 faced the open country. But I shall not soon forget the crossing of this 

 ravine, or the rocky bottomed brook that was roaring in the hollow, or 

 the narrow path by which we gained the opposite side. The scene was 

 really an imposing one. The clatter of the horses' feet among the 

 stones, as they scrambled, as it were, 



