NLMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 303 



of respect from those gentlemen, whose representative on this occasion 

 he (the Chairman) had the honour to be. Lord Kintore returned thanks 

 in the following terms : Gentlemen — I hardly know how to thank 

 you for this totally uncalled for and most unmerited mark of your friend- 

 ship towards me. If, during the dull winter months, the fox-hounds 

 have shown you any sport, it has been owing to your own individual ex- 

 ertions in having preserved the foxes, in having cut rides, &c. in your 

 covers, with, I trust and hope I may add, the good-will of the" tenantry 

 to boot, that has enabled me to promote your sport. To you both, do I 

 return my hearty thanks. But, to you, Gentlemen here present, in 

 particular, I cannot sufficiently express how much I appreciate this kind- 

 ness, and can only now beg you to accept the humble but grateful thanks 

 of an individual whose soul from his cradle has been rivetted in the chase, 

 and who will ever hold fast, until the main earth receives him, this dis- 

 tinguished token of your good-will. Gentlemen, I have the honour to 

 drink your good healths, sincerely wishing from my heart that unani- 

 mity, good fellowship, and fox-hunting, may long flourish in this 

 northern, but most hospitable * Land of Cakes.' " 



Tuesday, 23rd. — Our first draw this day was a fine gorse, which we 

 supposed we had drawn blank. On the hounds being holloaed away, 

 however, and nearly all arrived at their huntsman's horse's heels, a field's 

 length from the cover, rather a singular circumstance occurred. One 

 hound, called Druid, stood by himself, with his head turned towards 

 the cover, and his ears erect, as if listening to some sound. " What 

 can that hound be listening to ?" said Lord Kintore to me ; but before 

 I could answer the question, away he went to cry, The fact was, a 

 couple of hounds were running hard in the wood, having found the fox 

 after the body had left it, and we were very near being indebted to 



