NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 315 



Tuesday, 30. — Left Dunlug-as at rather an early hour in Mr. Les- 

 lie's gig ; breakfasted at Gask, and proceeded to Keith-hall in another 

 gig left there for the purpose. Found Lord Kintore on his farm, leaning 

 over hurdles, looking at some sheep eating turnips. But I saw 

 something I did not at all like. I saw the clouds clearing" away to the 

 westward, and the evening-star twinkling with more than usual bright- 

 ness. *' A stop to hunting," said I, as I approached him, and I was 

 right; for the next morning there was ice half an inch thick. 



As far as the two houses are concerned, the exchange of the " hunts- 

 man's stall" at Gask for the mansion at Keith-hall is unquestionably a 

 move for the better, for a more comfortable and better found residence 

 than the latter cannot be desired by man. It is situated at a mile distance 

 from the small town of Inverary, one of Lord Kintore's boroughs, in a 

 lawn of somewhere about a hundred acres in extent, on the bank of the 

 river Urie, and commanding a very pleasing view of the town, with its 

 old castle, and the picturesque vale beyond it, considered the most pro- 

 ductive soil in this part of the country, from which circumstance it takes 

 its name. The domain, consisting of about three hundred and fifty 

 acres, is very highly farmed by his lordship ; and it may be sufficient to 

 add, that there is every accommodation about the place for the man of 

 fortune, the sportsman, and the farmer — rather a happy combination I 

 wot. The stables are very good indeed ; and the kennel, though small, 

 is particularly well situated and wholesome, as well as very commodious 

 for the size of it. It was built by his lordship's father for his harriers ; 

 *' but," said he to his son, ** I will make it large enough to hold a small 

 pack of fox-hounds, should you ever be inclined to keep them." Over 

 the door is the following motto from Somerville, — a hint to Joe Grant 

 and his feeder, which, I must say, is most religiously observed by each ; — 



2 s 2 



