286 NIMROD'S HUNTING TOUR 



hounds, a " harl " of hounds; and in Durham the farmers say, 

 hounds "call" or "give mouth" when they challenge, or throw 

 their tongue to a scent. When analyzed, however, there will appear 

 hut little difference in all such terms. 



Having mentioned Captain Dundas as one of the conspicuous 

 performers — until the last mile, when nature said "enough" — in 

 our fine run from Foxy hill, and he being also so popiilar a character 

 in the Sedgefield Hunt, I must devote half a page to his history, 

 and I flatter myself the reader w^ill not consider the time mis- 

 employed. 



The Honourable George Dundas, brother to the present Noble 

 Lord of that name, resides at Upleatham in Yorkshire, amidst that 

 host of friends which honest John Burrell inquired after so kindly, 

 and represents the Orkneys in our Senate. He belongs to that 

 profession of which England is so proud, and looks as if he had 

 " weathered the storm." On one occasion his own ship was blown 

 up,* and he had the ill luck to see three thousand brave fellows 

 blown to atoms in the course of a few months from various other 

 disasters. These things, however, are the fate of war, and are 

 set down to the general account. I regret to say, the Hon. Captain 

 is occasionally a severe sufferer by the gout, and perhaps none the 

 better for foreign climates ; but, when tolerably well, no man can 

 enjoy himself more. To the frankness of the sailor he unites the 

 address of the man of fashion and of the world ; it is impossible to 

 imagine a more agreeable companion. I must also style him — 

 although a sailor, and very near-sighted — a capital hand across a 

 country, and very fond of a bit of blood. 



Billy Williamson is the most straight-forward rider of this Hunt, 

 and a very popular character wdierever he goes. He is a second 

 Ajax — fearless and intrepid ; and being six feet high, with great 

 strength, and in the bloom of manhood, he is just the man to get to 

 hounds over a stiff country, on a good horse. There is, however, 



* He once commanded a ninety-gun ship, when she took fire and blew up. 

 He remained on board the last man, when, finding the fire so hot that he could 

 stand it no longer, he took his knife out of his pocket, cut off his trowsers, and 

 pulling off his coat, committed himself to the waves, whence he was picked up, 

 unhurt, by his men. 



