COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 103 



opinion, with more courage than prudence in not 

 destroying the whole pack. This of itself would be 

 a critical question to deal with at the outset. Then 

 it implies nine months' residence in London out of 

 the twelve, which I should hate, and compulsory 

 and constant attendance on the Treasury Bench. 

 Then as to the hunting", I should hate that worst of 

 all ; and I believe the farmers would gladly see the 

 whole thing abolished. The salary has been raised, 

 and is sufficient. I can't afford to spend a shilling 

 of my own, for I have given up fox-hunting as the 

 easiest economy I could practise. Then Ascot has 

 outgrown itself, and the enclosure is a labour in 

 itself not easily credited. 



" My lady would like the entree at Court, and I 

 should be a P.C., but for all practical purposes I 

 should be a loser. Then there is the recollection of 

 my dear father, and to provoke comparisons with 

 him would be sadly against me — Louis le grand, 

 and Louis le petit ! Don't tell anybody, but write 

 me as soon as you have time, and especially what 

 you think about keeping the hounds after the re- 

 currence of rabies for six months. 



" Frank Goodall is both blind and deaf. 



" Yours affec, 



" ROSSLYN." 



" My Dear Francis, — 



" I have been thinking all day about the 



Master of the Buckhounds, and its pros and cons. 



" An appointment of that sort ought not to be 



