COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 297 



contest. If any man is entitled to ask for such an 

 honour, and to receive it with alacrity, that man 

 assuredly is Captain Thomson. There is almost 

 no class of the community to whom we can turn 

 on whom he has not established the highest of claims 

 to consideration. The county gentlemen of the Fife 

 Hunt cannot do less for the gallant Master of the 

 Hounds. The volunteers, and all who sympathise 

 in that great movement, must be proud of that 

 splendid and far-famed corps, the Mounted Rifles 

 of Fife ; and Captain Thomson is not only the head 

 and heart of the corps, but of the movement through- 

 out the county. The farmers of Fife find in Captain 

 Thomson the model landlord, who is beloved by his 

 own tenantry, and who devotes his energies and 

 attention to the improvement of their condition and 

 the welfare of the agricultural classes. But is there 

 any part of the general population that is not familiar 

 with his pleasant face and courteous smile, as he 

 has gone out and in amongst them, interesting 

 himself in all their affairs, encouraging in difficulties, 

 and keeping alive in the breasts of the poor that 

 hereditary love and respect for the classes above 

 them which used to characterise our land ? Nor 

 is Captain Thomson only the kind and indulgent 

 landlord and brilliant sportsman. We know how 

 valuable are his abilities in the conduct of the county 

 business ; how powerful and able is his mind when 

 it interests itself with public affairs ; how, banishing, 

 as it were, by the very tone of his voice, the least 

 approach to the acrimony of party, he nevertheless 



