AND STIRLINGSHIEE HUNT 



of the sportsmen connected with the three Scottish 

 packs which he hunted in turn — the Lothian, the 

 Lothians, and the Linlithgow and Stirlingshire. 



In 1868 Sir David Baird was compelled, in 

 consequence of the state of his health, to retire 

 from the management, leaving the entire charge 

 to his colleague. Sir Alexander Kinloch, who con- 

 tinued alone for one season, but at its close inti- 

 mated his resignation, just about the time when, 

 as already stated, Colonel Gillon gave up the 

 Linlithgow and Stirlingshire country. 



To fill satisfactorily the vacancies thus created 

 was no easy matter, and the supporters of both 

 Hunts therefore met in common council,^ believing 

 that in doing so they would best arrive at the 

 most advantageous arrangement possible for the 

 future hunting of the two countries. Within a 

 short time it was decided that, subject to the 

 approval of the landed proprietors and owners of 

 coverts, an endeavour should be made to hunt the 

 entire district with one establishment, in conse- 

 quence of which resolution Atkinson was engaged 

 as huntsman, and the refusal of the Golfhall ken- 

 nels was secured.^ As yet, however, no master 

 had been found, and it was not until after the 

 Earl of Haddington, then Lord Binning, Captain 

 Sandilands, and Colonel M'Barnet of Torridon had 



^ Minute-book, vol. i. p. 5. 



~ These arrangements were made by ]V[r Thomas Drybrough, ^Ir 

 James Turnbull, Mr Ford, Hardengreen, and LIr James Hope, Easter 

 Duddingston. — Mimite-book, vol. i. p. 2. 



215 



