412 NIMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



miles covered, wliich, considering the country ridden over, is sufficient for proving 

 the condition of both horses and men, and such as but few cf eitlier, at the pace 

 gone, can be found to stand. Early in the run his lordship was made a Baptist 

 of in a deeply overflown ditch, and for an instant held rather an awkward situa- 

 ation, nothing being visible but his head and part of his horse ; but fortunately 

 he got extricated, and, sportsmanlike, despised the ducking, and held on to the 

 end ^vithout a dry rag on his back. It is to be hoped that no bad effects will 

 attach to his person, as we are sure this would be regretted by all true fox- 

 hunters." 



No doubt but this was a splendid run. Having viewed the fox away, 

 I was tempted to follow the chase, but at the end of the fourth field was 

 obliged to pull up, and content myself with following it with my eye, 

 to which the nature of the ground was favourable. The pace was 

 capital, the country very severe, being on the ascent, and the ground 

 very deep, but from the head the hounds carried, I was convinced the 

 finish would be good, if the fox would keep above ground. I should 

 have liked Frank Grant to have been present when his lordship entered 

 the drawing-room with the brush of the fox in his hand. His appear- 

 ance, after his having been over head in the water, and well bespattered 

 with mud besides, was quite of the *' varmint order," and would have 

 made a good study for the artist. With the exception of this slip, how- 

 ever, he was, I understood, capitally carried by Collier, and never many 

 yards from their sterns. Harrison, one of the vvhippers-in, rode the 

 biggest thorough-bred horse, this day, that I ever saw in my life. 



Friday 8. — Became alarmed, and, after the manner of the hare, when 

 she fancies herself near her end, began to think of home. At all events 

 I wished to go to London for advice, but my noble host would not hear of 

 my doing so; and, ringing the bell at the moment, the family doctor 



