COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 155 



most remote suspicion of introducing political con- 

 siderations into the hunting-field, I hereby beg leave 

 to recall my act on that occasion, and I can only say 

 on behalf of myself and brother farmers, that so far 

 as simple politics are concerned, we are as glad to 

 see you or any other Free Trader on our land as a 

 Protectionist. 



" I am, Sir, 



" Your obedient servant, 



"William Dester. 



"Seckington, 6th December, 1851." 



I was truly glad that I was absent when this 

 altercation took place. Had I been present I should 

 have decided against Mr. Dester, for he was wrong 

 to bring into the hunting-field any matter arising 

 from a political dinner. 



I returned from Rome in May, 1852, and went 

 to Bolsover, then to Cheltenham in June, where the 

 Hamilton Grays were staying, and then to Avening 

 to visit the Cholmeleys (she was Mrs. Hamilton 

 Gray's sister). 



1852. — On 25th August I was married at Bol- 

 sover to Maria Agnes Robina, only daughter of the 

 Rev. John Hamilton Gray of Carntyne, Lanark- 

 shire, Rector of Bolsover and Scarcliffe, and Rural 

 Dean of Chesterfield. Mrs. Hamilton Gray was 

 sister to James Johnstone of Alva. We went to 

 Edinburgh and home to Charleton next day, and re- 

 mained there for the rest of the summer. 



We went to Atherstone at the end of September 



