COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 299 



"Wemyss Hall, Cupar Fife, 

 " Tuesday, 6 p.m. 



" My Dear Wife,— 



" Yesterday I speeched well at St. Andrews, 

 and had a large and good meeting. I then went on 

 to Ferryport, where I speeched badly, and only had 

 a dozen people to talk to. I went and had some 

 tea with Captain Codrington, and went on to New- 

 port, where they had made a mess of the notices, 

 and hardly any one appeared, so I told them I would 

 come back on Thursday. I then rode into Cupar, 

 where I arrived at 9.30. I slept at the Royal 

 Hotel, and this morning had a first-rate meeting, but 

 I was awfully tired. I speeched shorter, but not 

 badly. 



" I have just been to Ceres, where there were 

 few people, and speeched fairly, and have just come 

 up with Major Wemyss. I am going to have some 

 dinner with him, and then go to Dysart with Tom 

 Cartwright. 



"In this country things are pretty well, but I 

 am not very sanguine in the west. I don't know 

 when I shall bring my bones home. John Pye takes 

 this. Ross goes with me, and I want some clean 

 shirts sent to Dysart, and all letters. 



" Yours aff., 



"J. A. T." 



Things in the West appeared on a nearer inspec- 

 tion even less sanguine than I had anticipated. In 

 Dunfermline there were 125 voters against me, and 

 there I decided to retire from the contest and in- 



