134 THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



BiBURY, Tuesday. 

 Dear Morland, — A little conversation will, as 

 you say, be better than a great deal of writing ; so, as 

 I cannot conveniently leave home this week, I will be 

 at your races on the 30th, where you will be, I con- 

 clude. In the meantime, I will look over attentively 

 all the documents in Cripps' possession. 



Yours, &c., 



Jas. Button. 



BiBURY, Sept. 8th. 



Dear Morland,— On consideration, I should think 

 that the correspondence which has passed between 

 yourself and me, and also that which has passed 

 between yourself and Lords Barrington, Radnor, 

 &c., would always of itself form sufficient evidence 

 that, having taken this opportunity of asserting your 

 claim to the country east of the Tadpole Brook, you 

 are induced to waive it for the present to accom- 

 modate us. Besides, I should think that all existing 

 agreements were just as valid now as they were when 

 first signed, having been made not by yourself and 

 Ducie individually, but by the gentlemen of the 

 country generally. I do not see the mere fact of 

 Lord Gifford having succeeded Lord Ducie renders 

 them one bit less valid than your having succeeded 

 Lord Radnor did some years ago ; if, however, a fresh 

 signing and sealing should be thought necessary, that 

 can only be done at a general meeting. 



I have to apologise for not having written sooner, 

 but circumstances rendered the delay unavoidable. 



Yours, &c., 



James Dutton. 



Sheepstead, Sept. 13th, 1842. 

 Dear Mr. Dutton, — Upon my return I find yours 

 of the 8th. If you think that the correspondence 



