THE REV. JOHN LODER 25 



and country. He was answered in the follow- 

 ing generous and sporting letter, offering not 

 only the young entry and the coverts, but all 

 the hounds and the "whole tote" to "my 

 brother confederate." 



Rycote, June 19, 1784. 



Dear Sir, — I received your letter, and just before 

 I did so, I had it in my intention to have written 

 to you on the very subject of it. Finding that my 

 Attendance in Parliament and other avocations will 

 not suffer me to follow the pack in the manner I 

 would otherwise do, I have come to the resolution 

 of giving them up entirely, and this being the case, 

 I thought I could not do better than to assign them 

 over to my Brother Confederate, with the expecta- 

 tion that should I hereafter want and call for their 

 Breed, that you will of course furnish me with the 

 Blood again. 



I have therefore directed Kitt to carry over the 

 whole tote to you, old as well as young Hounds, and 

 to say to you from me, that they, as well as the hunt 

 itself, are very much at your service. 



Possibly I may sometimes have a brush with you, 

 but as I have said I mean not to keep any more 

 hounds. Fishing will be my sport principally, and 

 if you will at any Time join your patience with mine 

 upon this occasion, I shall be very glad of your Com- 

 pany. Having helped compleatly to run down the 

 great Fox of the nation, I am content to give up the 

 Sport, and Remain with great Respect, 



Your Friend and Servant, 



Abingdon. 



P.S. — Lady Abingdon unites with me in many 

 thanks for the congratulations you send upon the 

 birth of a son and heir. 



