39G NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



visit, and then without a prospect of sport ; and, again, I was unable to 

 travel beyond a trot on a pony, from the effects of my late fall. On 

 looking into the list, however, which contains thirty-one couples of 

 hunting- hounds, it is apparent that, if they are not good in the field, the 

 fault does not lie \vith their owner, for he has not only a strong pack for 

 a three-days-a-week country, but it will be seen that he has spared 

 neither trouble nor expense in going to the best kennels, north and south, 

 for his blood- His first huntsman came from the Hatfield pack, to which 

 he was first whipper-in, and was succeeded by John .Arber, who was 

 with him at the period to which I am alluding, but who, I have reason 

 to believe, has left him, from the circumstance of the name of Hall being 

 given as huntsman, in the list of packs printed in the New Sporting 

 Magazine of January last. Hall, who was whipper-in to Mr. Hodgson, 

 in the Holderness country, was Abercairney's first whip when I was in 

 his country, and a very sharp lad second to him — twin brother to another 

 sharp lad who was in the stables. 



When speaking of a man in a professional point of view, he should 

 always be judged according to circumstances, and my experience of 

 Arber in the field is restricted to two days with Mr. Wyndham's hounds, 

 when nothing happened to bring him into any thing like difficulties, 

 and one day with Abercairney's, of which the same may be said. Never- 

 theless, the little 1 saw of him pleased me. He is very neat in his 

 person, looks very well on his horse, and is quiet and respectful in his 

 deportment. His hounds — I am now alluding to Abercairney's — were 

 well under his command, and came, I think, as quickly out of cover as 

 any I ever hunted with in my life. I should say Arber excels in this 

 part of his business. He whistles to them a good deal when drawing, to 

 which I see no objection, provided it answers his end, and it certainly 



