62 THE HUNTING FIELD 



men are generally intrusted with large sums of money, 

 much of it frequently to be expended in the way of 

 "secret service," and yet we never hear of misappro- 

 priation or squandering lavishment. On the contrary, 

 if they do err, it is generally on the side of keenness 

 for their employer. Many excellent stories are told of 

 Williamson, the Duke of Buccleuch's Huntsman, in 

 the way of bargain-driving for his grace. Williamson 

 is a great economist, but such is his dense Scotch 

 stupidity that he cannot understand, because his 

 master is a rich duke, that he ought to pay double 

 for everything he buys. IMost servants would think 

 it a self-evident proposition, but Wool can't see it. 

 He drives and screws, and screws and drives, just as 

 if he was bargaining for himself. He had a bad fall 

 a few years since, and, riding about shortly after with 

 his arm in a sling, he encountered a bargain-driving 

 opponent. The man asked him how he was : " Wall," 

 said Will, " I'm batter, thank ye ; but I can no get 

 my hand i' my pouch yet." " Gad ! ye never could 

 do that," replied the man, 



The following is shrewd and characteristic : — " I 

 was paying a bill to a farmer for hay," said Williamson 

 to Nimrod, when that gentleman visited the duke's 

 establishment during his Scotch tour, "nearly fifty 

 pounds, and the farmer insisted upon the odd four- 

 pence halfpenny. I gave him it," said he, with 

 pleasure, ''''because it showed I had bought the hay 

 worth the money^ Williamson farmed the Lothian 

 lands during the Duke of Buccleuch's minority, 

 publishing an annual statement of the disbursements, 

 and he is considered a great authority on all points of 

 useful economy. Going to market with ready money 

 and attention to trifles, is, he says, where the great 

 savings are effected. Talking of meal, " I know a 

 gentleman," said he to Nimrod, "w^ho never returns 

 the empty sacks. Was there ever such a thing heard 

 of," continued he, with a strong emphasis on his 



