XX PREFATORY MEMOIR. 



Guards, and " on leaving the service," he records, " I sold 

 ' Brown Stout ' to Mr Tait of Milrig, for some time Master 

 of the Fox-hounds in Ayrshire. His price was 100 ; and 

 Mr Tait affirms that he was the best horse he ever had." 



Aquatics were at this time a popular novelty in Scotland, 

 and in these Mr Colquhoun took scarcely a less interest than 

 in field sports. With the " Whistling Swan," a Loch Lomond 

 gig, and a crew which at the last was reduced to a scratch 

 one, he competed at the Helensburgh Eegatta against the 

 " Waterwitch," the champion boat of the Clyde, in a four-mile 

 race, and came in victorious. His own account of the race is : 

 " The agreement was not to ' toss oars ' ; so when the gun fired 

 we bounded off together, our opponents' stroke much the 

 quickest. However, I had taken a hint from the former 

 race, and rowed an even, determined pull, persuaded that 

 our rivals' stroke was too short and quick to last. At this 

 stage my brother ' skiffed ' the water, coming down on my 

 back. He was right again in an instant, but in that moment 

 the Waterwitch jumped past us two boat -lengths. 'Fifty 

 pounds on Glasgow ! ' exclaimed an enthusiastic citizen of the 

 western metropolis. No takers. Both gigs rowed resolutely 

 to the buoy, when our steersman whispered, 'We are close 

 to the other boat ! ' ' Keep inside,' I answered. Our ad- 

 versaries were evidently ' pumped out.' Hurrah for the hills 

 of Glen Luss and Glen Fruin ! The steersman of the Water- 

 witch rather bungled his round of the buoy ; and our lad, fol- 

 lowing my advice skilfully, took the inside place. To save my 

 brother, I backed with all my might, and when both gigs were 

 fairly turned, our bow was level with their mid-oar. ' Give it 

 them home now ! ' shouted the stroke, quickening the time. 

 The bow responded well, and the Whistling Swan shot past 

 the Waterwitch like a Derby winner. The race was then 

 really over. Our plucky opponents, however, struggled bravely 

 for a time, and did not stop till it was absurd to continue 

 longer. We came in nearly a quarter of a mile ahead, amidst 



