CONTESTED ELECTION DELAYS OUR STAET. 5 



in with a pleasanter and more imseliisli com- 

 panion, or a keener and a braver sportsman, 

 than Lord David Kennedy. 



When we were nearly ready to start, and I 

 was superintending the outfitting of my yacht 

 at Southampton, I was most unexpectedly 

 requested by the Liberal party of a Scottish 

 county to become their candidate in the 

 general election about to take place ; so deem- 

 ing it my duty to sacrifice my amusement to 

 my country's good, I stayed the preparations 

 for sea, and for the ten following days I was 

 engaged in all the excitement of an electoral 

 contest. The result, by a very narrow majority, 

 proved unfortunate for the walruses, although 

 perhaps the cynical reader may be disposed to 

 add, *' fortunate for the constituency," and I 

 was once more at liberty to proceed on my 

 intended voyage. 



After a visit to Guernsey, for the purpose of 

 laying in a supply of cold-repelling fluids, &c., 

 I sent the yacht round to Leith, wliile I 

 travelled north by land, as I am not the least 

 ashamed to confess that I have a strong pre- 

 ference for land travelling, wdien it is practic- 

 able. 



On May 31st the yacht arrived in Leith 



B 3 



