COL. ANSTRUTHER THOMSON 343 



times the number of signatures, desiring me to go 

 on hunting. 



" The Cattle Plague and the Pytchley Hunt. 

 A meeting of farmers and other gentlemen residing 

 within the district of the Pytchley Hunt was held at 

 the George Hotel, on Saturday afternoon, to consider 

 the question of fox-hunting in connection with the 

 cattle plague. J. Topham, Esq., presided, and there 

 was a very large attendance of persons interested 

 in the question. On the motion of Mr. Oldacre, 

 seconded by Mr. Bennett, of Husbands Bosworth, 

 it was unanimously resolved that a requisition should 

 be sent to Captain Anstruther Thomson requesting 

 him to continue fox-hunting until the end of the 

 season, avoiding places where the cattle plague 

 existed. It was also recommended that particular 

 attention should be paid to shutting the gates of 

 fields, so as to prevent cattle from straying. There 

 was no dissentient voice in the meeting ; immedi- 

 ately after which a large number of names were 

 affixed to petitions." 



The following morning at the meet, at Yelvertoft, 

 I informed the assembled field of what had taken 

 place, and requested them to give strict orders as 

 to shutting gates. 



