COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 199 



"APPLEBY HALL, ATHEKSTONE, 

 November, 1855. 



" DEAR THOMSON, 



" My best thanks for your letter, received 

 this morning, and the account it contains of your 

 sport and hound list. I am afraid I cannot come 

 to you just at present as my boys come home from 

 school on the nth of December, and I have a house- 

 ful of people next week. I must come the end of 

 January or beginning of February, if I can. It takes 

 me a long time to write a letter I proceed by fits 

 and starts. I am glad your sport has been good. 

 That must have been a good day from the Claydon 

 Woods. They are fine large coverts. How do you 

 like your country ? It is long and narrow, and are 

 the foxes any better than this country ? You are a 

 curious man about your white and black pack. All 

 very well if the hounds happen to divide pretty well 

 that way as to age. I am indifferent as to size, and 

 prefer dogs and bitches mixed ; but if any of your 

 one-year-olds or young ones want going out three 

 days a week, which many will, especially one-year- 

 olds, I suppose he must not go if black, or white as 

 the case may be. All hounds should go out of their 

 turn if they require it. Does Webb ever come out ? 

 Do you know Arthur Venables of Oxford (at the 

 Mitre), an old friend of mine and Mr. Drake's, and a 

 good sportsman ? Do you ever see or know any- 

 thing of Tom Drake, or what he is doing ? I sup- 

 pose you will not come down here ? If you could 

 at any time, Mrs. Moore and I shall be glad to see 



