APPENDIX III. 



lenged at that meeting, when I was asserting a direct claim to 

 them ; whereas, on the contrary, it was recognised by those 

 representing the counties of Linlithgow and Stirling. 



As to a remark that a letter from Mr Dunlop, dated 26th 

 September 1855, was the first intimation Mr Gillon had that 

 the hounds were considered my private property, I can only ex- 

 press my surprise that he should so long have remained ignorant 

 of what had taken place at the meeting of 1850, and of facts 

 which were public to every one. But, after this statement, which 

 I make without fear of contradiction, I decline all reference, 

 as, in the circumstances which I have stated, my right is un- 

 doubted, and does not admit of challenge. 



Considering, therefore, as I have already said, the meeting 

 of May 1850 as final, it is unnecessary to proceed further; but 

 I may quote circumstances which occurred previous to that 

 time, which cannot but be fresh in the recollection of so many, 

 that they might have served to enlighten Mr Gillon, and to show 

 the general feeling on this point. 



Mr Eamsay had never been supported in a pecuniary point of 

 view. The late Earl of Hopetoun's subscription was withdrawn 

 after three or four seasons ; and, until later, when the late ]\Ir 

 Forbes of Callendar subscribed £100 a-year, the whole expense 

 of the establishment — hunting four days a-week, — was defrayed 

 by Mr Ramsay alone. Towards the year 1840, Mr Eamsay 

 felt himself much aggrieved by some of the proprietors in 

 Linlithgowshire. One proprietor, in particular, destroyed foxes 

 and took every means to thwart him and to spoil sport. Con- 

 sequently, in May 1841, ]\lr Eamsay sold off his stud, broke 

 up the establishment completely, and without reference to any 

 one, arranged for the hounds to hunt Forfarshire alone. As the 

 season advanced, a request was made to Mr Eamsay to allow the 

 hounds to hunt for a short time in this country. The correspond- 

 ence was conducted through Major Shairp. Mr Eamsay positively 

 declined to alter his arrangements, and the Fife Hounds were 

 introduced and hunted the country — kenneling at Uphall. 



From these statements, it is quite evident that, had the landed 

 proprietors alluded to by Mr Gillon considered themselves as having 

 property in these hounds, I should not have been allowed quietly 

 to retain them in my possession as in 1850, without hunting the 

 country after 15th March, until such time as it suited my con- 

 venience to call a meeting respecting them ; and that, had the 

 hounds been looked upon as public property, they would at no 



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