COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 17 



I value it, as a beautiful work of art, painted by so 

 distinguished an artist and so good a sportsman as 

 the President of the Royal Academy, and I am proud 

 to have the privilege of calling him a fellow-country- 

 man and an old friend, I can hardly remember the 

 day when the name of Frank Grant was not familiar 

 to me. I need not tell you I shall value that picture 

 as an heirloom which will descend to my family, but 

 I will tell you what I value more than all— I value 

 your good opinion, and accept your gift as a testimony 

 of that good opinion, and as a mark of your kindness, 

 which so much exceeds my merits. I can only con- 

 clude with the same simple honest words with which 

 I commenced — I thank you. I can only add that I 

 shall always have a pleasing remembrance of the 

 grass fields of Northamptonshire. Wherever I may 

 be I shall have a grateful recollection of your kind- 

 ness, and shall always be ready to join in the cry of 

 " Pytchley for ever".' 



" Captain Thomson rose and said, ' Pytchley for 

 ever '. Those were the last words he addressed to 

 them before he sat down, and more appropriate words 

 he could not use in proposing to them ' The health 

 of Mr. Craven, and success to the Pytchley Hounds'. 

 Although no longer officially connected with the 

 Pytchley Hunt, he would do anything to serve it at 

 any time, and by any means in his power. When 

 he sent in his resignation about this time last year, 

 Mr. Craven took the hounds, and during the short 

 time he had had them he had shown a courage, a 



determination, and a power to endure fatigue which 

 VOL. II. 2 



