The Duke of Baecleuch's. 437 



thumberland above mentioned — viz._, east of the Till 

 and south of the Tweed as far as Ford and Lowick — 

 which is not only good as a tillage country, but also 

 includes some thousand of acres of old grass. The chief 

 coverts to be drawn by the Duke's hounds will be 

 Riffington and Newbiggin (gorse coverts), and the 

 wooded banks on the east of the Till to Etal and Ford 

 (where the late Lord Fred FitzClarence for many years 

 resided and hunted). At Ford are Lady Waterford's 

 well-preserved coverts. Bury Hill Gorse and Wood 

 End Wood (about 500 to 600 acres, and the only wood 

 of any size in the neutral territory) are both good 

 coverts. 



Some other leading fox preservers, besides those 

 already mentioned, are the Duke of Roxburgh, Sir 

 William Scott of Ancram, Mr. Charles Cunningham, 

 Sir John Majoribanks, Mr. Sprott of Riddell, Mr. 

 David Henderson of Abbotrule, Mr. Robert Oliver, 

 Mr. Baird of Stitchell, Lord Dunglass of Newton Don 

 (now Earl of Home), Lord Haddington (to whom 

 belong the Mellerstane woods). Sir George Douglas, 

 Lord Polwarth, Sir Hugh Campbell, Mr. Paton of 

 Crailing, besides many others. 



Great tracts of land throughout his country belong 

 to the Duke of Buccleugh himself ; and it is needless 

 to say that on these, as on his Grace's other properties 

 in various parts of Great Britain, no effort is spared 

 to secure the wellbeing of the foxes. 



