80 LORD DTJCIE IN THE HUNTING FIELD. 



indeed no more ! but to this day I lament the un- 

 timely death of one who to me was ever a kind- 

 hearted, true friend and most cheerful companion. 

 Of Lord Ducie, — then the Honourable Henry 

 Moreton, — who succeeded Lord Kintore in part of 

 his country, I can speak from experience as an excel- 

 lent judge of hounds and hunting, and thoroughly 

 acquainted with those points — either in fox-hound, 

 horse, or cattle kind — essential to the perfection of 

 animal structure. I know no huntsman of his 

 time more quick (through his glass, being very 

 shortsighted) to detect, almost at a glance, any 

 imperfections of shape ; and in the field no man 

 knew better what the fox -hound ought to do. He 

 was a quiet, steady, though resolute rider, a supe- 

 rior horseman, and first-rate huntsman ; patient 

 with his hounds in difficulties, and quick with 

 them in chase, when things went well. That he 

 was sometimes hasty with those who interrupted 

 his sport, I am free to admit, as all huntsmen of 

 sanguine temperament are ; and few, indeed, 

 can endure this trial without exhibiting some 

 ebullition of temper ; but I know no man who felt 

 more annoyed afterwards at being betrayed into 

 the expression of severe reprimands to those who 

 had incurred his displeasure than the late Lord 

 Ducie, and in private life none could be more 



