416 NTMROD'S NORTHERN TOUR. 



Muster's finding and killing" his fox. We had something to remind us 

 of this day, on our return to Hawkhead. The post boy was so drunk as 

 to suffer the horses to turn us fairly to "the right about" in the 

 town of Glasgow. His lordship, however, took, I believe, the best means 

 to insure our safety, which was, to *' holloa him forward," all the way, 

 for, said he, "if he goes slow, he will be asleep and tumble off his 

 horse." I must confess I was not sorry to find myself safe at Hawk- 

 head, for we went at an awful pace through the iron gates into the 

 domain, with the river Cart just on our starboard tack. 



The fixture on Monday, 18th, was Johnstone-castle, the seat of Mr. 

 Houstone, who had joined our party at Hawkhead, and proved no small 

 addition to it. We were unfortunate in not getting away with a fox, 

 which led us many miles, with a very stale scent, over a capital country, 

 all grass. We found again in the Hawkhead covers, and went quickly 

 away, but being headed by some persons on the railway, he gave the 

 pack the slip. I lamed a horse of his lordship's this day, called Jock, 

 the only one I injured during my tour. Captain Gerard (brother to Sir 

 John, and who returned with us to Hawkhead) also got an awkward fall, 

 but escaped unhurt. 



Tuesday, 19. — I was booked this day by the mail for Carlisle, but his 

 lordship said " no go." The fixture was South-bar, but the morning 

 was so dreadfully wet, that we were very late at cover, and the field 

 small, several of the gentlemen who had sent horses not venturing to 

 turn out. After this preface, I have little to say of the day's sport. We 

 found in a cover called the Big-wood ; I viewed the fox away, and after 

 a short run, we lost him— at least as was supposed, but he was brought 

 dead, to Hawkhead in the evening, killed single-handed, I have reason 

 to believe, by Brusher, who did not come away with the pack, but 



