378 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



and thirty miles !" Bravo Aberdeenshire, again. These are the sort 

 of men to breed Britons from ; not merely because they are themselves 

 well-bred, and likely to produce sound and healthy stock, but because 

 they are also likely to sustain the manly character of their country, 

 which nearly alone makes them beloved by their countrymen. 



At six o'clock, p. M., the Captain having put on his coaching toggery, 

 and looking all over the coachman — we walked down to Stonehaven, and 

 mounted the box of the renowned Defiance, for Aberdeen, the Captain 

 working over the first stage, and myself the second ; both teams excellent. 

 The next morning I proceeded by the Banff Diligence to Gask, accom- 

 panied by a very pretty female called Harriet — a foxhound bitch, who 

 was going to the Gask kennel '' to see her sweetheart;" the Captain 

 returned home, (although his horses proceeded to Gask), with the 

 intention of following me on Friday, which he did. 



February 12th. I arrived this day at Gask on my second visit to Lord 

 Kintore, and found, among others, a promising young sportsman under 

 his roof— Mr. Dingwall, of Bruckley, in Aberdeenshire, who had just 

 left Oxford, whence his horses had arrived by a steamer, apparently 

 very little the worse for the voyage. Mr. Whyte Melville was expected, 

 but was obliged to postpone his visit. 



The next day was a hunting day, but it proved one of those " inau- 

 spicious days" on which, Somerville tells us in his " Chase," other cares 

 than hunting should employ our precious hours. However, we went to 

 the place of meeting, and the following mem. appears in my book : — 

 " Met at Graigstone. Found in Yonderton-gorse, a very Leicestershire- 

 looking cover. After nearly half an hour he went away, and beat us 



