COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 369 



"Carlton Park, Rockingham, 

 ''zgth March, 1866. 



" Dear Thomson, — 



" I am very sorry to hear that there is a 

 probability of your giving up the hounds, I am, as 

 you know, badly situated for getting out with the 

 Pytchley, but if things can be so arranged as to 

 induce you to continue the mastership, I shall have 

 much pleasure in giving you a subscription of ^50 a 

 year. The only condition that I should like to 

 attach to this offer is that the Forest Day should be 

 changed from Tuesday to Monday. Tuesday is my 

 magistrate's day at Harborough ; and if this change 

 could not be effected, I could hardly hunt with the 

 Pytchley at all without shirking my duties at the 

 bench. 



" My offer of a subscription is personal to your- 

 self, and I will not pledge myself to your successor. 

 " Believe me, 



" Yours very truly, 



" Geoffrey Palmer. 



" Pray give me a line, in answer, to Senior Uni- 

 versity Club, Suffolk Street, Pall Mall, London." 



"At a meeting of subscribers to Pytchley 



Hounds, held at the George Hotel, Northampton, 



on 4th April, 1866, at 3 p.m.. Earl Spencer in the 



chair, it was agreed that Mr. Thomson's proposal to 



hunt the open country four days a week for ^3,300 



during the open season with a huntsman and two 



whippers-in, and to make arrangements with Mr. 

 vol. l 24 



