HISTORY OF THE LINLITHGOW 



So both got away, whilst the field stood confused, 

 And doubtless now laugh at the dodges they used. 

 We made a few casts, and we drew a fresh wood, 

 Each hovmd tried his utmost, but all to no good ; 

 As 'twas now getting late, and a long way to home, 

 And my horses' sleek coats were all lathered with foam, 

 I bade them "Good-night," "Good speed," and "Adieu," 

 "Good luck and strong foxes," and "Blank Days " but few: 

 So here let us drink to both master and men. 

 May we soon see the Lothians huntsmen again. 



B. 

 Castlemilk, 7th February 1870. 



Afterwards, Lord Queensberry brought his hounds 

 north to have a day in the Lothians country, but a 

 hard frost set in overnight, and hunting was found 

 to be impossible. 



Mr Hope possesses memorials of his term of office 

 which probably outrival in completeness those of 

 any other master whose reign falls within the scope 

 of this history, — documents of every description, 

 including even the cards intimating the fixtures and 

 lists of the individual hounds taken into the field 

 on each particular hunting day, having been care- 

 fully preserved. Of all these records, not the least 

 interesting is Mr Hope's hunting diary, in two 

 volumes, neatly kept for him by the late Mr Alex- 

 ander Scott who, for many years, was secretary 

 at Hopetoun House and was himself a good sports- 

 man. This, besides chronicling the sport during the 

 seasons of 1869 and 1870, gives many interesting 

 particulars. It shows that — exclusive of cub-hunt- 

 ing, of which there is no record — twelve and a half 



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