NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 215 



Two horses distinguished themselves in this short, but sharp affair, 

 and were in consequence sold. One was a bay horse ridden by a wealthy 

 farmer by the name of Wilkie — the Thomlin of that part of the world — 

 and purchased by Captain Peter Hay, of Mugdrum-house, in Fife, (who 

 went as usual on his celebrated old horse Coroner,) at the now large 

 pi ice of two hundred guineas. The other was a grey, showing a great 

 deal of blood, and who, although sadly over-weighted — but none but the 

 well-bred ones can do it — cleared a ditch and a bank and a wall in great 

 style towards the end of the run. The space covered was afterwards 

 measured by Mr. Wilkie, and found to be twenty- two feet, from hind 

 foot to hind foot. It is true he had a good workman upon his back, of 

 the name of Mountain, formerly groom to Colonel Fotheringham, of 

 whom I have already spoken, as having had Mr. Musters for his guest. 

 Two or three of the field were nibbling at the grey, amongst them Captain 

 P. Flay and Mr. Ramsay ; but declined him on account of his speedy- 

 cutting, as it is termed ; but as I hold that to be no seiious objection to a 

 good hunter, 1 recommended him to Sir David Baird, who purchased 

 him*. 



Mr. Ramsay rode a very clever hunter this day — a chestnut, with a 

 blaze of white down his face — which I was told is his favourite horse, 

 and he certainly appeared perfect. Lord Hopetoun was also splendidly 

 mounted, and rode well to the hounds. I do hope, however, I may live 

 to see the scissors applied to the tails of hunters. What is the object of 

 the switch tail ? Is it to make the hunters under sixteen stone, — about 

 Lord H.'s mark— look like the racer under seven? Its effect is destruc- 



* In a letter I received from a friend, describing a capital bill run of fifty minutes 

 with the Duke of Buccleuch, at the end of last season, it was stated that Captain 

 Peter Hay showed them all the way on this horse, the last quarter of an hour. 



