154 REMINISCENCES OF 



The following advertisement appeared soon 

 after : — 



" To be soldhy auction, by Messrs. Tattersall dind 

 Son, at Hyde Park Corner, on Monday, 15th De- 

 cember, 1 85 1, the entire stud of Sir Robert Peel, 

 Bart, who is declining hunting with the Atherstone 

 Hounds in consequence of the unsportsmanlike con- 

 duct and political animosity even in the hunting- 

 field of certain Protectionist farmers. They consist 

 of seven superior hunters and two capital hacks." 



Mr. Dester to Sir R, Peel : — 



" Sir,— 



" I think it well to state directly to yourself 

 in reference to what took place in the hunting-field 

 on the 1 2th November, that my conduct on that 

 occasion was not dictated by political feelings. I 

 disavowed any such motive at the time, and have 

 repeated the same thing on all occasions. I was 

 influenced to act as I did by a strong persuasion 

 that in your letter to your constituents at Tamworth 

 you intended to apply most offensive expressions to 

 all who attended the dinner on the 28th of May. 

 Your language appeared to be directed against all 

 there present without exception or limitation, Mr. 

 Young being only the chief object of attack ; and in 

 the absence of all explanation from yourself, you 

 cannot be surprised that such was and is the uni- 

 versal impression. Under this persuasion I still feel 

 that the retaliation does not exceed the provocation. 

 In order, however, to clear myself from even the 



