294 AN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY LAIRD 



agreement with one David Murdoch of Cumnock ' to 

 breed [train] the dog Game to be a setter. He is to 

 have thirty pounds Scots [2, 10s.] in all when the 

 dog is made.' It will be remembered, perhaps, that 

 this is the exact date of the well-known picture at 

 Thoresby Park, representing the Duke of Kingston, with 

 the star of the Garter on his coat, walking up to no less 

 than twelve pointers setting game and backing beauti- 

 fully. This picture is reputed to be the earliest 

 representation of the English pointer. Some years 

 earlier than this, Sir Alexander paid the modest sum of 

 2, 15s. for ' a gun which Mr. Le Blanc recommends,' 

 and 8s. for 'hail shot and gunpowder' for the same. 

 But shooting was a precarious means of supplying the 

 larVier;.' pouting nets' were purchased for the better 

 securing % bi muir- fowl and partridges. Of the two 

 following entries on 28th July 1728, the first records 

 a casualty in the kennel. 



'To Mr. Cutler for visiting my dog GUverpo 

 who I was afraid had got his leg broke 

 by a french beggar a red hair fellow 

 blind of one eye, a notorious cheat and 

 impostor 050 



To expenses at a Court held at Druchtag 

 where I was mobd and insulted by John 

 M'Haffie, John Martin in Chilcarroch and 

 several others and was obliged to raise the 

 Court to have this exemplarlie punished 

 and to get jogs made . . . . 030' 



Jogs, more correctly 'jougs,' were the Scottish equivalent 

 of English stocks, but were made of iron. 



