HISTORY OF THE LINLITHGOW 



been drawn of ' Ye Lothians Hounds and their 

 Huntsman ! ' " 



Towards the end of the year 1874 Mr Hope 

 inthnated his resignation. The following letters^ 

 which he received at the time from Colonel An- 

 struther Thomson and Lord Haddington indicate 

 the high estimation in which he was held by these 

 well - known sportsmen, and perhaps tended to 

 induce him to reconsider his decision : — 



Charleton, 6th December [1874]. 



My dear Hope, — I am sorry to hear that you meditate 

 resigning at the end of the season. I hope you won't, for 

 you do more for sport than any master I have seen there, 

 or am likely to see. . . . — Ever yours truly, 



John Anstruther Thomson. 



Tyninghame, Prestonkirk, 

 December 10th, 1874. 



My dear Hope, — I am extremely sorry to hear that you 

 have determined to give up the mastership of the Lothians 

 Hounds, and I only hope that you may still change your 

 mind and go on a " bit " longer. . . . — I remain, Yours 

 very truly, Haddington. 



Eventually Mr Hope did change his mind, for he 

 continued in office until the end of the season of 

 1876, the only alteration in the previous arrange- 

 ment being that the subscription was increased to 

 £1800 — £1700 guaranteed, — and that the Stow 

 country was given up to a great extent. 



^ Letters in the possession of Mr Hope. 



234 



