HISTOEY OF THE LINLITHGOW 



earth, but his rider, being providentially thrown 

 over his head, escaped by catching hold of some 

 weeds. Ropes were immediately procured, and 

 a descent was made, in order to explore the 

 cavity, which was found to be eighteen feet 

 perpendicular, and afterwards to extend to the 

 depth of nearly seventy feet in a slanting direction, 

 at the bottom of which the horse was found, alive. 

 The country people instantly volunteered their 

 services, and the entrance to the j^it, caused 

 by the falling of the metals in a stratum of coal, 

 being enlarged, the horse, after eight or nine 

 hours' labour, was brought to the surface unhurt, 

 and travelled eighteen miles the next day.^ 



Mr Baird has been alluded to as "a sportsman 

 of renown," and in this he has probably not been 

 rated too highly. " Mr Baird is a veteran of the 

 old school, and, as a thorough-bred sportsman, and 

 gentleman, is a universal favourite in this part 

 of the world. He is upwards of sixty, and yet, 

 among all the young bloods of the Lothian 

 Hunt, you will see few neater turns - out than 

 Mr Baird on his mare Bounty."^ But under his 

 rule the whole establishment was well turned 

 out, and it would seem that no expense was 

 spared, for the statement on the following page 

 shows that between the years 1815 and 1825, 

 the period during which Linlithgowshire was 

 visited, the annual cost was never less than 

 £1300 per annum, while, in 1818, it amounted 



J 'Sporting Magazine,' July 1823. 2 i^id., June 1824. 



74 



