COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 247 



Season ended ist May, 1862. Hunting days, 

 eighty-five ; blank, two ; stopped by frost, thirteen ; 

 killed twenty-nine and a half brace ; seventeen 

 brace to ground. The best season I have seen 

 in Fife. Jack Wilson went to Lord Yarborough, 

 as second whip ; succeeded by Jack Shepherd. 



Whitsunday. — I bought East Newburn farm ; 

 cost ^4,694 ; valued at £\"]6 per annum. Present 

 rent, ^125 (1892). 



The summer of 1861 was principally devoted to 

 volunteering. 



At the Queen's Birthday Review in Edinburgh, 

 on 1 2th July, the F.M.R. went over in the morning, 

 116 being present; marched straight to the Queen's 

 Park and formed up between the Scots Greys and 

 the artillery. The moment they were in their places 

 the artillery fired a royal salute. Not one of the 

 horses had ever heard a gun before. They were 

 jammed so close together, and were so frightened, 

 that they did little harm, and the smoke hid any 

 imperfections. They marched past very steadily 

 and made a capital charge. 



The first official inspection took place at the New 

 Inn by Major Douglas Jones, inspector for the N.E. 

 District. The kennels of the Fife Hounds were at the 

 New Inn at that time. When drawn up in line, I 

 ordered Turpin to square the horses' tails with a pair 

 of scissors, which had a good effect on their uni- 

 formity of appearance. After this all who joined 

 had their horses' tails of the right length. One 

 young gentleman came to drill on his father's 



