138 THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



strength with that of the country, and on that com- 

 parison I am obliged to admit that I am unable 

 to do justice to the Buscot Woods. I have been 

 informed that you would not object to assist me to 

 show sport to the gentlemen of that district. Under 

 these circumstances, I am induced to make you the 

 following offer, viz., as regards these coverts of 

 Mr. Bennett's of Faringdon that are in my country ; 

 Mr. Pryse's coverts, and Lord Radnor's, including 

 also all coverts belonging to any other person within 

 that line of country. That you should have my per- 

 mission, with, I believe, the full assent of all the 

 owners, to hunt those coverts alternate weeks (your 

 first week commencing on Monday, Oct. 30th) up to 

 Christmas ; that after Christmas you should have the 

 same permission, the period only being altered to 

 alternate fortnights, up to the end of the week con- 

 cluding with Saturday, March i8th, 1844. 



I think it better that I should state, that if during 

 one of your weeks or fortnights I should run up to 

 that district, I shall not consider myself precluded 

 from drawing any of those coverts for a second fox ; 

 but you may depend upon my having at all times 

 the greatest consideration for your interest, being 

 most anxious for the general sport of the country, 

 knowing that it is the most certain and effective 

 preserver of foxes. 



Yours, &c., &c., 



GiFFORD.* 



* This letter was written at the suggestion of Lord 

 Ducie, who had, on the 18th of March, obtained Mr. 

 Morland's assent to assist Lord Gifford in hunting the 

 country. Mr. Morland was led to suppose that the 

 arrangement would continue so long as Lord Gifford 

 hunted the country ; therefore, anticipating the receipt 

 of this letter, gave notice of his intention to relinquish 

 some country which had been lent him in Oxfordshire. 



