COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 367 



"The Avenue, 



"76 FuLHAM Road, S.W., 



" igth November, 1872. 



" My Dear Captain Thomson, — 



"It reminded me quite of the delightful 

 days when I began and ended my hunting career 

 when the post this morning brought me a letter 

 from you and Captain Percy Williams — the days of 

 which I always shall think back with infinite delight, 

 and shall never cease bragging of having been out 

 with you or of getting a gate slammed on my shins 

 by Percy Hotspur — the days when I ordered a pair 

 of breeches by Hammond, in which moths hunt now 

 instead I in them. Shall you never be any more 

 within reach and have a ' Rocket ' for me ? I shall 

 of course be very glad if Sir Windham Anstruther 

 will call and wishes a copy of your bronze, the only 

 really popular one I ever published. I was obliged 

 lately to raise the price of it to thirty guineas in 

 bronze, because they now charge me exactly double 

 for everything in the German foundry, since the 

 strike system has found its way there, and the late 

 war increased the demand for superior workmen. 

 I was told that out of seventy-four young men who 

 had to join the army from the foundry at Lank- 

 hammer only twenty-nine returned after the un- 

 fortunate time was over ! and I have to try now to 

 get my bronzes done in England. 



" I am full at work on John Bunyan — a ten feet 

 figpjre is more amusing to do than small statuettes, 

 and certainly not so trying to the eyes. 



