COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 125 



There was proposed by Sir J. N. L. Chetwode, 

 Bart, and seconded by Captain Inge, that the thanks 

 of the meeting be given to John Anstruther Thom- 

 son, Esq., for the firm and gentlemanly manner in 

 which he has acted in the matter relating- to the dis- 

 puted question between the Quorn and Atherstone 

 Hunt. (Carried unanimously.) 



One evening I was dining at Quorn, and the con- 

 versation turned on a purchase which Mr. Greaves, 

 master of Cottesmore, had made of five couple of 

 hounds of the Badsworth pack for ^500. Sir 

 Richard said, " I should like to get five couple of 

 good ones at the same price ". I said, " I can tell 

 you where you can get a whole pack for the same 

 money. The Fife Hounds are for sale, and the price 

 ^500." He sent Robinson, his kennel huntsman, 

 down to Cupar next day ; he reported favourably, 

 and Sir Richard bought them. Dick Raby came to 

 Quorn with them about the end of the season, and 

 Sir Richard took them out in the forest. They found 

 directly ; there was a good scent, and they ran very 

 hard. Sir Richard said, " Stop them ! These Scotch 

 devils will kill a bitch fox." Dick said, " Beg pardon. 

 Sir Richard, it's a dog fox — I saw him over the ride ". 

 They ran forty minutes and killed him. The hounds 

 must have thought they were again in Fife among the 

 heather and stone walls. Sir Richard said to Colonel 

 Lowther, "Those Fife Hounds are capital hunters". 

 The Colonel replied, " You'll soon cure them of that ". 



At that time Atherstone was a charming country 

 to live in. 



