6o THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



His claim is upon such a solid foundation, that he 

 is willing to let it rest upon the opinion of such 

 gentlemen who has the covers in question, and by 

 their decision, as you seem to differ so much from 

 me, he means to abide. He is therefore now (unless 

 you come and settle the business) under the neces- 

 sity of appealing to the gentlemen of the country 

 and they must determine whether it stands to com- 

 mon sense that I could ever have made such an 

 absurd bargain as to give you 300 guineas, &c. for 

 hounds for Mr. Bowes to keep them in Beckett 

 Kennell, without having any country at all. I am 

 ready and wish to meet you before any of the pro- 

 prietors of covers respecting the claim you make. 

 Had you put anything upon paper, which in Mr. 

 Bowes's presence I begged you to do, nothing of 

 this sort could have happened. Mr. Bowes will be 

 glad to settle this difference upon the most amicable 

 terms with you, so that each may be of mutual 

 assistance to one another, but he will never give up 

 his claim as far as Pusey Furze, as it was for that 

 reason alone he bought the hounds. Mr. Bowes 

 hopes to see you as soon as convenient, and I am 



Sir, Your Obedient Servant, 



Barrington Price. 



In the end Mr. Goodlake lent his assist- 

 ance, and the difference was amicably adjusted. 

 Mr. Bowes did not keep the hounds, how- 

 ever, beyond the three years, but exercised 

 his option of reselling them to Mr. Loder. 

 He then interested himself in retaining for 

 Mr. Loder a portion of the Wiltshire country, 

 he had obtained permission to draw, as the 



