COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 313 



you also know from experience with the Atherstone, 

 and I am sure you will agree with me that a crowd 

 does not do half the harm it appears to do. If there 

 is a scent they are soon disposed of ; and if there is 

 not, you must feel your way at any rate. From 

 what 1 see I think if you were to take our country 

 you would be very well supported, though I am not 

 writing under authority, but only between you and 

 me. We have a capital pack of hounds, although 

 it is the fashion to abuse them. They hunt as well 

 as they run, and there is no doubt about the latter 

 quality. 



" I think you would enjoy the riding over these 

 grass fields as much as the hunting in the deep 

 woodlands on the Kettering side. This is a long 

 stave, and like one of Lord Russell's. 



" Don't tell Mrs. Thomson I am trying to tempt 

 you here or I shall be in disgrace with her ; and, 

 of course, if you did come to us, nobody in Fife 

 would ever speak to me again. I should much like 

 to see you here, but that, I fear, is as much from 

 selfish and ' mahogany ' motives as from my good 

 opinion of your rat-catching qualities. I should like 

 if it could come off. Ever my dear Jack, 

 " Yours very truly, 



" G. J. WHYTE- MELVILLE." 



About the same time that I received George 

 Whyte- Melville's letter, I received one from John 

 Darby saying that if I would take the Pytchley 

 Hounds he would mount me the first season for 



