228 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



The road may be termed the theatre of adventures ; and I have often- 

 times diverted myself with thinking that an amusing episode might have 

 been the result of my having been acquainted with the history of all my 

 fellow passengers, and there were some queer-looking ones amongst 

 them, in this " cruelty-drag." Just, however, as the clock struck nine, 

 — the precise hour of starting — the door opened to add one more to the 

 number, and in stepped a stout but comely person, just in the prime of life, 

 carrying a brown paper parcel in his hand of no inconsiderable size, out 

 of one end of which popped the head of a wooden-horse, and out of the 

 other his tail. " Ah," thought T within myself; " you are some happy 

 man in the full enjoyment of domestic felicity" — (recollecting also at the 

 moment that, about that time ten years, when on one of my tours, 

 I was detected in the self-same act myself, although I was silly enough 

 to feel ashamed of it) — ^' and are returning to your wafe and children in 

 the country, after a w-eek's visit to the Metropolis." Now who should 

 this fond father be, but the aforesaid Sir Ralph Anstruther, to whom I 

 was, immediately on my arrival at the Quay, introduced by Mr. Earle, 

 and who, after a pleasant trip of about twenty miles, was met on the 

 opposite coast by his lady in her poney-phaeton with two beautiful greys, 

 for the purpose of conveying him to Balcaskie. Mr. Earle and myself 

 got into a *' yellow post-chaise," and arrived at Mount Melville by 

 dressing lime — not, however, without a day having been fixed for our 

 all meeting together at Balcaskie. 



It is not necessary for me to say much more of Mr. Whyte Melville, 

 at least of his private history, as from his having been several seasons at 

 Melton Mowbray, he is very well-known to the sporting world. To the 

 fashionable world he cannot be a stranger, for his manners and deport- 



