16 REMINISCENCES OF 



we could scarcely scramble into it, and I got into my 

 present house, but, as I had to build most of the 

 house myself, as the house grew larger the balance 

 got less, and now I have a tolerably good house I 

 have no further use for it. The want of a house, 

 however, was not my reason for giving up the hunt. 

 As you all know, Mrs. Thomson had a very severe 

 illness. I felt I could not. with justice to you, or 

 with satisfaction to myself, continue to hunt the 

 Pytchley Hounds. I, therefore, reluctantly sent in 

 my resignation. A few days afterwards a body of 

 gentlemen, amongst whom was our worthy vice- 

 chairman, did me the honour to present me with a 

 requisition, in which they said, " We, the undersigned 

 farmers, graziers, and others, have heard with extreme 

 regret of your intention to give up the mastership of 

 the Pytchley Hounds. We earnestly request you 

 will reconsider your determination, but whatever the 

 result may be, we wish to express the high esteem 

 your undeviating gentlemanly conduct has won from 

 us." I can but say this was one of the greatest 

 compliments I ever received in my life. I do not 

 remember what the number of signatures was, but 

 there were five or six sheets of paper, and one of these 

 contained 1 1 1 signatures. I then heard from our 

 worthy vice-chairman, for the first time, that it was 

 your intention to present me with some other mark 

 of your regard. I never, however, for one moment 

 supposed that it would grow into a thing of such 

 value and magnitude as that magnificent picture you 

 have now presented to me, I need not tell you that 



