HISTORY OF THE LINLITHGOW 



been asked, but without success, to undertake the 

 management,^ that Mr H. W. Hope of LufFness 

 intimated his willingness to do so. The acceptance 

 of Mr Hope's offer was the beginning of a new 

 era in the history of the hunting of the Lothians, 

 for with it the Lothian Hunt became extinct, 

 never to be resuscitated, while once more the Lin- 

 lithgow and Stirlingshire temporarily ceased to 

 exist, and the white collar, which in the Hunt's 

 infancy had adorned its scarlet, and at this period 

 had "braved the battle and the breeze" without 

 interruption for close on half a century, gave place 

 to the blue of the Lothians Hunt. Mr Hope under- 

 took to hunt the combined countries three days a- 

 week for one season,^ the subscription to be £1800 

 and the master to be relieved of all expenses con- 

 nected with coverts and damages ; and at his 

 suggestion there were formed, in addition to a 

 large general committee,^ a covert and also a 



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



^ Mr Hope's mastership eventually lasted for two seasons. In his 

 second season a fourth day a-week at his discretion was agreed to. — 

 Minute-book, vol. i. p. 31. 



^ The following were named as members of the general committee, 

 Minute-book, vol. i. p. 11 : — 



The Earl of Dalkeith. Mr George Mitchell-Innes of Bangour. 



The Earl of Stair. Major Shairp of Houstoun. 



The Earl of Hopetoun. Mr Macfie of Clermiston. 



Viscount Melville. Major Hamilton of Cathlaw. 



Lord Binning. Colonel Gillon of Wallhouse. 



Lord Schomberg Kerr. Captain Hay-Newton. 



Sir William Bail lie of Polkemmet. Mr Ford, Hardengreen. 



Sir Hew Dalrymple of Lucliie. Mr James Hope, Easter Duddingston. 

 Sir James Gardiner Baird of Saugh- Mr Claud Hamilton, Prestonhall. 



ton-hall. Mr James Craig, Craigesk. 



Sir David Baird of Newbyth. Mr Thomas Drybrough. 



The master, Mr Hope of LuflFness. Mr James Turnbull. 

 Mr Ritchie of Middleton. 



216 



