COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON i8i 



it was raining when we came in last night. I hope 

 the frost is not coming back. I have a fine pro- 

 gramme for the week if it comes off right. 



" Monday. — Cottesmore, Greetham Inn, chestnut 

 mare. 



" Tuesday.— Cottesmore, Tilton, ' Congress '. 



" Wednesday. — Belvoir, Croxton Park, Westley 

 Richard's horse. 



" Thursday. — Cunard, Botteston, Mr. Fernie's 

 horse. (He was at St. Andrews in summer and out 

 cub-hunting a few times.) 



" Friday. — Pytchley, Oxendon, chestnut mare. 



" Saturday. — Fitzwilliam, Lilford, ' Congress '. 



" On Thursday I shall go to Jim Bailey's at 

 Ilston after hunting, and Saturday to R. Arkwright's 

 at Knuston. There are moreover three balls — 

 Leicester, Harborough and Holt — this week. 

 "Your aff. father, 



" J. Anstruther Thomson." 



I got home on Ash Wednesday, 2nd March, 1881. 



7th. — A tremendous fall of snow and tremendous 

 drifts. I tried to ride to kennels ; found men cutting 

 drifts six feet deep at Newburn cross-roads. Sent 

 Jimmy Bell back with my horse and walked on to 

 the strip near Gilston. I walked over the tops of 

 trees and saw a man coming from West Gilston. I 

 met Jack Davis and told him I was going on to the 

 kennels. He said, "If you do you won't get back 

 to-night ; it has taken me all day to get here," so I 

 turned back with him. 



