286 ikin^s of tbe •ffjuntino-fielO 



subscribers, presented the retiring Master with his 

 portrait by Sir Francis Grant, and concluded an 

 eloquent speech by describing Mr Anstruther Thomson 

 as 'one of the finest horsemen, one of the most 

 gallant sportsmen, one of the most kind, urbane, 

 and courteous gentlemen that ever galloped over the 

 grass fields of Northamptonshire.' Tom Firr, his late 

 second whip, then huntsman of the North Warwick- 

 shire, sang, to the tune of ' A fine old Englishman,' a 

 song of his own composition in praise of Captain 

 Anstruther Thomson and his famous wall-eyed hunter 

 Iris, which fairly brought down the house and was 

 received with rapturous cheers. And so, in a blaze of 

 triumph, and amid enthusiastic demonstrations of 

 admiration and gratitude, John Anstruther Thomson 

 took his farewell of the Pytchley. 



Once more, for a single season in 1870, he reappeared 

 in the Midlands to hunt the Atherstone country. Then 

 he retired to Torquay for the sake of his wife's health. 

 In 1872 he returned to Scotland, and from that year till 

 1890 hunted the Fife country, which was so closely 

 associated with his own and his father's name. 



In his sketch of the Colonel's brilliant rule over the 

 Pytchley, Mr Nethercote tells the following anecdote : — 



' Among the numerous canine incidents which have 

 crossed the path of Mr Anstruther Thomson, not the 

 least amusing must have been one which occurred in 

 company with the present writer. Driving together 

 near Buxton, they were encountered by the length and 

 breadth of so unsavoury an odour as was only to be attri- 

 buted to horse-flesh slightly tainted. " Hounds, by Jove ! " 

 exclaimed the ex-M.F.H. "Let us get out and have a 

 look." No sooner said than done. Crossing an orchard. 



