32 THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



P,S. The plan I should chalk out for you would 

 be this. To send your hounds to Rycot, and for 

 yourself to make Wytham your Headquarters. 

 There is plenty of the Old Strap at your Service, 

 & it is only ordering King to knock you down some 

 rabbits and game of every Denomination & your 

 table will be well supplied. There are Fish in the 

 River (if you can get them out). Norreys and 

 Willoughby, if you can obtain Slatter's sanction (?) 

 might club with you in Chaise Hire, and return with 

 you to Oxford after the Hunt at Rycot. If this 

 meets your Approbation, give old Kitt a hint to 

 put their little Grass Nags into corn condition, and 

 to ride them regularly about the Manor to make 

 tJiem rather more Sweet-Xy Sober than your Hunts- 

 man. 



Leaving this suggestion to your superior judge- 

 ment, Will, and Pleasure, I remain, most faithfully 

 yours, &c., 



Abingdon. 

 P.S. You will manage the affairs of the boys with 

 Dexterity, and not let them know a word of the 

 matter till the time of journeying to Rycot, or else 

 adieu to all learning. 



N.B. Let me hear from you soon, that I may 

 quicken their Majestys at Wytham. 



(Date about 1790). 



John Loder's huntsman v^^as one John 

 Sweet, and frequent allusions to his want of 

 sobriety occur in this correspondence. Of 

 the two sons mentioned the eldest Montague, 

 Lord Norreys, was the "Son and Heir" 

 alluded to in the first letter. He became 

 the fifth Earl, and was the grandfather of the 



