COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 189 



CHAPTER Xni. 



BICESTER. 



Having decided to leave Atherstone country in 

 1855, I thought I would have a try for Cottesmore, 

 as Burrowes was giving up there. I went and 

 stayed with him at Cottesmore Hall. Most of the 

 gentlemen in the country received me favourably, 

 but Lord Wilton went dead against me ; and as he 

 had much influence with the Melton division that 

 made the Melton subscription doubtful. 



Lord Chesterfield and a large party came over 

 from Bretby one day to Gopsall to report on Ather- 

 stone Hounds. Unluckily, being near home and an 

 easy place, we brought out all the hounds that were 

 short of work. There was little scent, lots of foxes, 

 killed one, but did no wonders. So the hounds were 

 evilly reported on and crabbed. However, I got on 

 so far at Cottesmore that I began to take the inven- 

 tory of the furniture in the house. I had also been 

 in correspondence with Sir Henry Peyton about the 

 Bicester country, and I got a letter from him saying 

 they agreed to my terms. 



I succeeded Tom Drake at Bicester, who had to 

 give up, having hurt his back. He lent his hounds 

 to Sir John Trollope, Cottesmore country. 



