DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70301#0232
206
KIRBY S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.
As the manly sports have been the amusement of Captain
Barclay, so the pursuits of agriculture have been the serious
business of his life. He is well acquainted with every thing
relative to modern husbandry, and the improvement of his
extensive estate has engaged much of his attention. The
example of his father, who raised his rental from 300/. a year
to several thousands, has proved a powerful stimulus to his
ardent mind, and by pursuing the plan of his predecessor,
Captain Barclay has greatly augmented the value of his pro-
perty, which is still increasing, and is expected in a few years
to produce a yearly income of 10,000/. Having brought his
estate under such a system of management, as to require but
little exertion on his part, he entered into the military service
of his country, and obtained a commission in the 23d regiment,
with which, in 1805, he accompanied the expedition sent to
the Continent under Lord Cathcart, for the protection of
Hanover. He was afterwards promoted to a company, but
was not again employed on actual service until the unfortu-
nate expedition to Walcheren, as already mentioned. Since
that period his military services have been limited to the com-
mand of the local militia of his native county, which, prin-
cipally through his exertions has been brought into a high
state of discipline.
Captain Barclay has proved in several matches, that he
possesses the quality of speed in an equal degree with strength
and perseverance. For an account of these, and of his other
pedestrian performances not noticed in this article, such of
our readers as are curious on the subject are referred to the
work of Mr. Thom, to which we are indebted for the follow-
ing particulars relative to his amusements when in the country.
A few years since a pack of fox-hounds was established by
subscription in Kincardineshire, under the auspices of Captain
Barclay. He regularly attended the pack wherever it went,
and was scarcely a day absent from the chase. In summer
the hounds were kept at Ury, but in the hunting season, they
were for weeks stationed at Turriff, in Aberdeenshire, and at
KIRBY S WONDERFUL MUSEUM.
As the manly sports have been the amusement of Captain
Barclay, so the pursuits of agriculture have been the serious
business of his life. He is well acquainted with every thing
relative to modern husbandry, and the improvement of his
extensive estate has engaged much of his attention. The
example of his father, who raised his rental from 300/. a year
to several thousands, has proved a powerful stimulus to his
ardent mind, and by pursuing the plan of his predecessor,
Captain Barclay has greatly augmented the value of his pro-
perty, which is still increasing, and is expected in a few years
to produce a yearly income of 10,000/. Having brought his
estate under such a system of management, as to require but
little exertion on his part, he entered into the military service
of his country, and obtained a commission in the 23d regiment,
with which, in 1805, he accompanied the expedition sent to
the Continent under Lord Cathcart, for the protection of
Hanover. He was afterwards promoted to a company, but
was not again employed on actual service until the unfortu-
nate expedition to Walcheren, as already mentioned. Since
that period his military services have been limited to the com-
mand of the local militia of his native county, which, prin-
cipally through his exertions has been brought into a high
state of discipline.
Captain Barclay has proved in several matches, that he
possesses the quality of speed in an equal degree with strength
and perseverance. For an account of these, and of his other
pedestrian performances not noticed in this article, such of
our readers as are curious on the subject are referred to the
work of Mr. Thom, to which we are indebted for the follow-
ing particulars relative to his amusements when in the country.
A few years since a pack of fox-hounds was established by
subscription in Kincardineshire, under the auspices of Captain
Barclay. He regularly attended the pack wherever it went,
and was scarcely a day absent from the chase. In summer
the hounds were kept at Ury, but in the hunting season, they
were for weeks stationed at Turriff, in Aberdeenshire, and at