186 THE NEW FOREST 



SOUTHAMPTON, January 27th, 1784. 



SIR, The keepers and others in the New Forest 

 having represented to His Royal Highness the 

 Duke of Gloucester the great scarcity of foxes at 

 present in the country, he thinks proper to revise 

 some regulations that were agreed to with the 

 Duke of Richmond and Lord Eglinton when they 

 had liberty to bring their hounds in the Forest. 

 He wishes also to add a little to the regulations, 

 as the necessity appears greater at this time. 



As your hounds have occasionally been in the 

 Forest, he commands me to send you a copy of 

 the regulations, and he hopes, as the Forest Hounds 

 will strictly adhere to them, there will be no 

 objection on your part. 



The Lord Warden has given his name to Mr. 

 Gilbert's hounds, and for the future he will look 

 upon them as the established pack of the country, 

 but does not mean to prevent your hounds coming 

 out under the enclosed regulations. I have the 

 honour to be, etc., etc. 



To ME. GROVE. 



The letter is interesting, as it explains the 

 position which the Lord Warden felt himself com- 

 pelled to take up that of having a pack of his 



