NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 261 



roebuck hounds have long been discontinued in England. Indeed the last 

 English roe-buck was said to have been killed by ''one Squire Whitfield, 

 of Whitfield, in Northumberland," and I am quite sure all the fox- 

 hunters in Scotland would be very glad to see another " Squire Whit- 

 field " among them, if he could perform a like act. There would then 

 be no occasion for the use of the very unfoxhunting-like rate of " Ware 

 haunch." " Ware hare " is quite enough. 



Sunday the 14th, was passed as that day is usually passed in the 

 houses of country gentlemen, — namely, with that respect which is its 

 due; and at an early hour on the following morning, Sir Ralph 

 Anstruther's carriage was at the door to take himself, myself, and Mr. 

 Dalyell to meet the Forfarshire fox-hounds, of which Mr. Dalyell was 

 at that time the owner, at Gregstone- toll-bar, about seven miles on the 

 Forfar side of Dundee, and nearly thirty from where] we then were 

 The cause, however, of this early start was, the necessity of being at the 

 Dundee ferry at the precise time the steam boat passes the Tay, and we 

 did but just nick it. A good breakfast awaited us at the inn in Dundee, 

 and we proceeded to the place of meeting in post chaises. 



According with my usual practice, on my first appearance with hounds 

 in a country which is new to me, I shall offer some remarks upon For- 

 farshire ; and it is particularly entitled to the notice of sportsmen from 

 the fact of its having been the scene of fox-hunting in very early days. 

 William the Lion, Alexander the Second, and Alexander the Third, all 

 Kings of Scotland, hawked and hunted over it, and the one last named 

 held his court at the palace of Forfar nearly half the yoar, for the pur- 

 pose of sporting over the county. In what stale it then was as to enclo- 

 sures, or agriculture, I am unable to conjecture, but it is now said to 



