36 THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



the Foxhounds. Your daughter's return (the lost 

 sheep not fleeced of her wool) must make old Hinton 

 alive again. I told Crossdill that she had lost her 

 mate, who answered, " That he was sure he did not 

 kill himself by talking." You recollect we met the 

 gentleman at your house when he was so replete 

 with taciturnity. How delightful instead of the 

 stinking Breezes of the Metropolis to be amongst 

 the Hay-meadows in the sweet meadow fields. . . 

 . . I am glad to find you intend to couple your 

 daughter again, as it would be a grand loss for the 

 community that the Valuable Blood of the Loders 

 should be lost. God grant that she may make an 

 Election congenial with your wishes. Adieu. My 

 best Regards and respects attend your family. Lady 

 Charlotte and Miss Bertie request also to be kindly 

 remembered to all under your hospitable roof & I 

 remain most truly and most unalterably your most 

 faithful & devoted friend, &c., ABINGDON. 



P.S. Let me know when I shall send you half a 

 Buck. My Friend is still frightfully ill, and under 

 the care of the celebrated Dr. Munro. I shall be 

 at Wytham before the Race, and your kennel shall 

 be fumigated and whitewashed in due season. 



Maria Loder had married in 1799 Maxi- 

 milian Western the eldest son of Maximilian 

 Western of Cokethorpe, near Witney, v^hose 

 death is here alluded to. He left no children, 

 and his widows married in 1796 Robert 

 Symonds. 



Mr. Loder w^as now getting old, and he w^as 

 no longer able to take the active part he had 

 been accustomed to take with hounds. Lord 

 Abingdon continued to send his old friend 



