NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 375 



they so abound, my heart would be in my mouth in every field I entered. 

 The gentlemen who hunt should subscribe to have them sought for by the 

 earth -stoppers, and staked, which would require being done once in 

 three years, with occasional inspection and repairing at the commence- 

 ment of every season. Iron gratings would be most effectual, but they 

 are liable to be stolen for the material, especially if made of wrought 

 iron. 



Tuesday, 10. Left Burnside with Major Wemyss, and drove the De- 

 fiance to Stonehaven, all but one stage, when my companion took the 

 reins, and showed me that, what I heard of his coachmanship from Lord 

 Kintore and others was true to the letter, for he not only '' drives very 

 well of a gemman," as the old fashioned coachmen used to say, but he would 

 do for the Devonport Mail, and could no doubt bring em out of the Swan 

 with Two Necks, Lad-lane, on a trot.* It was David Troupe's turn to 

 be at work our way, and many a joke passed between us — not forget- 

 ting the captain's hard-pulling grey leader, whose head, perhaps in 

 compliment to me, was this night ''tied back," as David calls being 

 driven with a check rein. On our arrival at Stonehaven, we found Cap- 

 tain Barclay with his dog Dan, in readiness to receive us, and in an hour 

 from that time, we were seated at his dinner table, at Ury, as ready to do 

 justice to his mutton, after our drive, as our host was after his day's 

 work, which consisted ^^ only of a little moderate exercise'^ — namely, 



* This reminds me of an anecdote of a friend of mine, a very good coachman, but 

 as his colour is blacky I shall not name him. He was coming ofl' Epsom Do-rtis on a 

 Derby day, with a slap-up team, helonging to a certain noble lord, when one of his 

 leaders becoming a little hustled in the crowd, at " the corner," a man stepped for- 

 ward and put his hand on the near-side horse's coupling rein. " Leave 'em alone 

 sir,*' exclaimed my friend ; "I can bring 'em out of the Swan with Two Necks, on 

 a trot." Many of my readers will know of whom I am speaking. 



