28 THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



be ever so good, a country makes them more valu- 

 able in case you want to put them into your pocket. 

 I hope this will find you sound in wind and limb 

 after your Excursions ; We are to have the Devil 

 and all his Works in Port Meadow Tuesday next. 

 Evolutions upon Evolutions, leading to Revolutions 

 upon Revolutions, when the Devil must take the 

 Hindmost. Suppose you come over and peep at 

 them from my Tower. In all Times and all seasons 

 believe 



yrs sincere and devotedly 



Abingdon. 

 (About 1787.) 



This letter is endorsed in the handwriting 

 of Mr. Robert Symonds, " Lord Abingdon's 

 opinion that a country may be disposed of 

 with the hounds." The contrary opinion was 

 held by Beckford, as appears in the following 

 memorandum received at a later date : — 



You ask my opinion on the rights claimed by 

 Foxhunters. I will give it as concisely as I can. 



Three distinct rights are to be considered, Original, 

 Acquired, and by Sufferance. 



Original Right undoubtedly belongs to the pro- 

 prietors of the Covers, &c., where foxes may be sup- 

 posed to lie, but when once a pack of foxhounds is 

 established in a country with the consent of those 

 Proprietors an acquired right is then obtained, of 

 which the said pack cannot afterwards be deprived, 

 unless by an uncommon misconduct on the part of 

 those concerned in the management of the hounds, 

 the Proprietors themselves should think fit to deprive 

 them of it. This is the case of all the old established 

 hunts in the kingdom. 



