AND STIRLINGSHIRE HUNT 



Baird and Mr Hope being deputed to inform the 

 Duke of Buccleuch of this resolution, and to re- 

 quest him to draw a line of boundary between 

 the two Hunts in Mid-Lothian. Sir David and 

 Mr Hope, however, considering that the Duke 

 would probably prefer not to be asked to inter- 

 fere, took upon themselves the responsibility of 

 inviting the late Colonel Anstruther Thomson, 

 then for the third time master of the Ather- 

 stone Hounds, to act as arbiter, and of laying 

 the matter before him. The various points re- 

 ferred to Colonel Thomson may be gathered 

 from his decision, which was couched in the 

 following terms : — 



Decision by Mr Anstruther Thomson. 



The Linlithgow and Stirlingshire and the East Lothian 

 were two distinct Hunts previous to 1869. They were 

 then united under one master, who was bound to hunt 

 the whole of both countries. 



On his resignation (unless the union has existed twenty 

 years) either Hunt is at liberty to make any new arrange- 

 ment for itself. 



According to the rule of Masters of Hounds' Com- 

 mittee at Boodles, twenty years constitutes a right of 

 possession. 



The boundaries of the respective Hunts are the same as 

 they were before the union. 



According to the boundaries marked on Mr Hope's map, 

 part of the old Dalkeith country lies between the Linlithgow 

 and Stirlingshire and East Lothian countries. If this is to 

 be divided, I think Stow and Carfrae Mill should belong to 



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