220 REMINISCENCES OF 



" Cambo, Crail, Scotland, 

 '^January, 1888. 



" My Dear Jack, — 



" On Tuesday evening your absence from 

 the hunt was universally regretted ; who started it I 

 cannot say, but all present took up the cry (like 

 hounds taking up a line on the way to cover). Well, 

 they said to me, ' Will you ask him to become an 

 honorary member?' I said, ' It would hardly come 

 well from me. As you all know, he is one of my 

 dearest friends ; should such a proposition not come 

 from the club ? ' Then they said to Stair, ' Will 

 you write and ask him?' He thought it over and 

 said, ' It is no use paying an empty compliment ; it is 

 a delicate question'. Then he said to me, 'If you 

 will undertake to find out Jack's wishes nothing will 

 give me greater pleasure than to carry out the wishes 

 of the club '. We had a large meeting — eighteen, I 

 think — and the motion of getting you back was 

 unanimous. The question of precedents was gone 

 into ; that is all rio-ht. So now I have done what 

 was put upon me to the best of my ability, and 

 whether you accept or not, I am glad to have had 

 the chance of letting you know the opinion of a very 

 representative meeting of the hunt. Of course if 

 you accept I shall be much more glad. 

 " I am, 

 " Very affectionately yours, 



"Thos. Erskine." 



Present at the dinner : Lord Stair, John Hamilton 

 of Dalzell, Dick Oswald of Auchencruive, Sir G. 



