NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 257 



^* old." This is — a young couple, whose means would allow of their 

 entering into the dissipation of either metropolis, enjoying by preference 

 the endearing familiarities of domestic life, together with the pleasures 

 of the country ; and finding, in themselves, the reciprocal cause of mutual 

 happiness. Depend upon it, reader, they are right. The atmosphere 

 of the one abounds with taint and corruption, in which the heart shrinks 

 and withers like a blighted flower ; whereas in the pure and uncontami- 

 nated tranquillity of the other, it flourishes and continues to expand to 

 delight*. 



After a most agreeable evening, heightened by the exquisite perform- 

 ance of Lady Anstruther on the harp, and a good night's rest, 1 arose 

 the next morning in the anxious expectation'of a day's sport with " merry 

 John" and his pack, as also of another day's experience of the captain 

 in the field, which I assure you, reader, is no small treat. But, alas, 

 politics — accursed politics — absolutely becoming the bane of society, and 

 now even showing its ugly face in the hunting field, would not allow of 

 his being out on this day, nor did I ever again see him with hounds. 



It should, however, be made known, that it was just on the approach 

 of his contest for the county, in which he beat his adversary, Colonel 

 Lindsay, by I believe the largest majority that the annals of Scottish 



* Having had the pleasure of meeting Sir Ralph Anstruther a few months back, 

 at INIr. Dalyell's (his brother-in-law), in Hertfordshire, I was amused and gratified 

 by the following anecdote. " I was much delighted," said Sir Ralph, " with your 

 article on the Horse, in the Encyclopredia Britannica, and, exclusive of the pleasure 

 the perusal of it gave me, I was a great gainer by the purcliase of the volume which 

 contained it, for the following reason : — I was, at that time, making some improve- 

 ment in my old fashioned garden at Balcaskie, and availed myself of some excellent 

 hints on that subject, given in an article on Horticulture, which immediately follows 

 yours on the Horse." 



2 L 



