COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 221 



I used to hunt as much as possible in Fife and 

 return to Edinburgh in the evening. We got back 

 to Charleton about the end of January, 1858. 



The following account of a run appeared in The 

 Field about this time : — 



"31st December, 1857. — Met at Charleton, where 

 a large field had assembled, the day being very fine. 

 Drew Balcarres Craig ; found a fox directly, and 

 after a sharp burst of fifteen minutes, killed in Balneil 

 Den. Tried Belliston, which proved blank. Rode 

 on to Lathockar, where one of the right sort was 

 viewed away running northwards by Gilmerton 

 through Lambieletham cover to Carngour Wood, 

 where he was headed ; back again through Carngour 

 and Brigton. The next four miles were across grass 

 land enclosed by stone walls. The pace was now a 

 rattlinof one. Those who were able to live with the 

 hounds will not soon forget the last day of the year 

 1857. Through Kinaldy Den to Upper Kinaldy, 

 Pitarthy and Upper Carnbee, over Kelly Lav^^ point- 

 ing towards the Free Kirk at Arncroach ; doubled 

 back into the cover at Kettlenaked, but did not tarry 

 long there ; continued eastward past Gordonshall. 

 Here hounds began to run in view through Firth- 

 field to Airdrie, where this game fox was run into in 

 gallant style. Time, one hour and eighteen minutes ; 

 the distance not less than thirteen miles. Mr. 

 Anstruther Thomson as usual had much the best of 

 it for the first few miles, but ' Highlander ' was short 

 of work and too fat for the pace, and Mr. Whyte- 

 Melville, Mr. Hervey, Sir T. Erskine, Mr. Clark 



