258 Captain Anstruther Thonisoyi. 



The last time I saw Charles Payn was at 

 George Beers' funeral ; it was pleasing to hear 

 the warm terms in which he spoke of his old 

 master. He said : " This was a great man 

 in his profession, and I owe a great deal to 

 him. All that man taught me was worth 

 learning ; and everything he told me I found 

 to be correct." 



Captain Anstruther Thomson. 



There could not be a greater wonder in creation 

 than the gallant Captain. Handicapped as he 

 was by weight, it was astonishing to witness his 

 performance over, or rather through, a country ; 

 he was, of course, obliged to creep and squeeze 

 through a good deal, and very wisely guarded 

 his knees for that purpose. No man could hunt 

 a fox with more patience than he, neither did 

 anyone ride better cattle. It was my good luck 

 to see Captain Thomson perform in the Pytchley 

 — and also in the Bicester — country ; the latter, 

 I think, suited him the better. 



In 1866 I saw him to advantage in a run from 

 Preston High Wood. The hounds ran at a great 

 pace up to Canons Ashby, away over the large 

 grass grounds to Eydon. I complimented the 

 Captain on the " little horse " (as I called it) 



