COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 389 



glad to see them a little oftener. Formerly, when 

 Lord Spencer hunted them, he gave Lord Cardigan 

 leave to ask Mr. Fitzwilliam to come occasionally 

 (about once in three weeks) during February and 

 March until the Pytchley came to Bristock, which 

 was a great aid in getting rid of the numerous 

 foxes in my woods, but of course I should not like 

 to ask your consent unless it were perfectly agree- 

 able to you. I only mention it now because last 

 week Mr. Whyte-Melville, who came to see me 

 from Bulwich, told me he thought you would not 

 object. 



" Believe me, 

 " Yours very sincerely, 



" Adeline Cardigan." 



" Milton, Peterborough, 

 " 22nd January, 1869. 



*' Dear Thomson, — 



" I received a letter from Lady Cardigan 

 to-day enclosing one from you to her, in answer to a 

 request she seems to have made that I might be 

 allowed to hunt the Dene woods. Of course, I don't 

 know in what terms the request was made, but the 

 idea did not originate with me, for Lady Cardigan 

 asked me some time ago to go and hunt at Dene, 

 and I was obliged to remind her of the etiquette 

 which M.F.H.'s are expected to show as regards 

 hunting, and that I could not without special per- 

 mission invade a neighbouring country. 



" However, your answer to Lady Cardigan has 

 set the matter at rest to the end of your mastership 



