COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 337 



"George Hotel, 



"i^th April, 1865. 



" Pytchley Hunt. 



" My Dear Thomson, — 



" At a general meeting held here to-day 

 your proposal to hunt the country five days a week 

 during the ensuing season at ^3,300 was accepted. 

 The committee have also been authorised to purchase 

 hounds from you to the extent of £iog and that 

 ^40 be allowed you to expend in repairs. 



" The following resolution was then carried : 

 ' That Mr. Thomson engage to keep up the com- 

 plement of the pack to sixty couple of efficient old 

 and fifteen couple of efficient young hounds ; and 

 that when he gives up the country he leave a corre- 

 sponding number of hounds as the property of the 

 country, and that the committee shall have the 

 option of purchasing any surplus hounds which may 

 then be in the kennel at the usual draft price ; that Mr. 

 Villiers, Mr. Cust and the chairman (Earl Spencer) 

 communicate this resolution to Mr. Thomson, and 

 carry out any modifications that may be necessary.' 



" This concluding paragraph signifies that should 

 you be unwilling to agree to the last proposal, 

 Spencer, Villiers and Cust have full powers to treat 

 with you on behalf of the committee. 



" Yours ever, 

 " G. J. Whyte-Melville." 



On 17th May, 1865, Payne was presented with 



a testimonial on leaving. Fred Villiers made the 



presentation at the George Hotel. 

 VOL. I. 22 



