230 REMINISCENCES OF 



" Hoping to see you here to-morrow, and that we 

 shall have some sport on Saturday, 

 " I remain, 



" Yours sincerely, 



"J. A. MiDDLETON." 



I gave him my whistle, but he did not use it, so I 

 asked him to send it back. I had it gilt and attached 

 to a gold chain, and gave it to my daughter Rosie for 

 a wedding present. I have seen him sit and blow his 

 horn to get hounds away, and they would jump on 

 the top of the wall and jump back again into the 

 covert when I knew that one sound of my whistle 

 would have brought them all flying out. 



He had a very bad illness and had to give up 

 riding for some time, and after that was really not fit 

 to hunt a pack of hounds. His death was very sad 

 and sudden. He was very popular and liberal, and 

 did a great deal for the benefit and amusement of his 

 neighbours. He instituted the " point-to-point " races 

 and took much interest in the Cupar Cricket Club. 

 In former days he was a first-class cricketer and lawn- 

 tennis player. 



October, 1888. — From the Fife Journal : — 



"Colonel J. Anstruther Thomson, who retired a 

 few months ago from the mastership of the Fife Fox- 

 hounds, was presented at Cupar on Tuesday week 

 with ' Fairy Ring,' a favourite horse of the Colonel's, 

 and with a handsome silver casket bearing the names 

 of 170 subscribers and containing a cheque for 560 

 guineas. 



