COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 295 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



FIFE ELECTION. 



1 864, 2nd April. Went to Leicester ; met 

 Edward Leigh and John Bennet and went with 

 them to Melton steeplechase. On the way Frank 

 Goodall and Jim Bailey, Tailby's men, and Jack 

 Goddard and Tom Firr, Quorn men (Clowes, 

 M.F. H.), passed us, as they were to keep the 

 ground. As Tom Firr passed, Bennet said, " That 

 chap's legs are too thick". I think Colonel Owen 

 Williams, ist Life Guards, broke his leg in the 

 preliminary canter, another horse having run against 

 him. After the races Bennet kindly drove me to 

 Sulby, Fred Villiers ; stayed there Sunday. 



On Monday, 4th, out with Pytchley at Brampton 

 Wood, and went down to Scotland by night train. 

 Jack Musters came down to try and buy some of 

 the Fife hounds, and stayed at Dysart. I went 

 out with him next morning at 6 A.M. at Woodside ; 

 found a fox and ran a bit, but had to stop, as I had 

 to go to a Conservative meeting in Cupar. Before 

 going into the meeting I met John Cairns and 

 Peter Ding wall, my tenants, who said, " You will 

 be asked to stand for the county, to oppose Sir 

 Robert Anstruther". 



