58 SAD, TRUE WORDS 



few young hounds himself, generally depending on the 

 Badminton kennels for his entry every season ; and old 

 Philip Payne, with his successor in office, Will Long, 

 were too good judges to part with hounds likely to suit 

 themselves, unless upon some extraordinary occasions, 

 when they might have more clever young hounds come 

 home from their walks than they could put forward. 



Lord Kintore knew that he could never expect weeds — 

 i.e. small houi:ids, without power — although ever so 

 good in the field, to produce anything worthy of observa- 

 tion in the kennel, very appropriately remarking that 

 you could " not obtain perfection from imperfection." 



To his hospitality whilst residing at Wadley House, 

 near Farringdon, there are, no doubt, many still living 

 who can bear testimony, and who probably retain a 

 vivid recollection of the Fox's head, an acquaintance 

 with the contents of which generally afforded more than 

 satisfaction to the most enthusiastic fox-hunter. After 

 leaving England for his ancestral hall in Scotland, we 

 had few opportunities of meeting ; and in the last visit 

 he paid me, I remember, after inspecting the kennels, he 

 placed his hand on my shoulder, and said — " My dear 

 H., we shall never meet again in this world — my days 

 are numbered." 



His forebodings, alas ! proved too true — I saw him 

 indeed no more ! but to this day I lament the untimely 

 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 excellent judge of 

 hounds and hunting, and thoroughly acquainted with 

 those points — either in fox-hound, horse, or cattle kind — 



