200 REMINISCENCES OF 



both Mrs. Thomson and yourself and the young 

 ones, but I suppose you are too busy. 



" Now about the Atherstone country. I have been 

 out several times and do not see much to admire (pri- 

 vate). I do not consider Lowndes a huntsman (in- 

 dependent of jumping). He often leaves his hounds 

 behind, and does not look if they are coming after 

 him, and he did not work them half enough cub- 

 hunting, and consequently the riot is tremendous, all 

 breaking away at times. I believe he does not like 

 them punished for running loose. It may possibly 

 be overdone, but the other way is as bad, and cub- 

 hunting is of no use beginning at 1 1.30 in September. 

 Lowndes' hounds are good hunters, and put their 

 noses down, and with a good scent will work quiet ; 

 but if it comes to a doubt about scent, I think both 

 Lowndes and Dickens will find it hard to discriminate 

 between right and wrong. However, I am much 

 obliged to Lowndes for taking the country. If he 

 had not come forward I do not think any one else 

 would. As he will spend some money on them we 

 must do the best we can to help him, and I am sure 

 I will try to do it. 



" Tom Leedham had killed eighteen brace up to 

 last Saturday, and driven every fox out of Bagots 

 Woods. It will be a rare place this spring. I 

 intend to hunt a great deal on that side if I have my 

 health. He is the only man I feel happy with out 

 hunting. I always think he does right, and never 

 see him do a thing without a reason. Of course, 

 there are many cases of even betting, and no man 



