CHAPTER V. 



THE SQUIRE OF BARNTON. 



1830-1850. 



Had Mr W. R. Ramsay, who, as has been shown, 

 succeeded Mr Hay m the mastership in 1830, not 

 been born the sportsman he was, he could hardly 

 have escaped becoming one in the circumstances 

 which attended his upbringing. In the care of 

 a mother for an only son there would naturally 

 be embraced an endeavour to impart a liking 

 for the sport which the father had loved, and in 

 this, doubtless, she would not be unaided by the 

 father's friends. Possibly it was with the view 

 of developing such a liking that Mr Stirling of 

 Keir presented to Mr George Ramsay's son, 

 whilst the latter was as yet little beyond his 

 cradle-days, the beautiful old hunting-horn,^ a 

 photograph of which has been reproduced.^ The 



1 This horn, which is in the possession of Lord Torphichen, bears 

 the following inscription: "William Ramsay, Esq., of Barn ton, from 

 James Stirling, Esq., of Keir, 1812." 



2 Vide illustration, p. 148. 



112 



