144 THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



stating that I shall give up before the next season 

 commences. / Jiave not enough nozv of country to 

 hunt three days a iveek without Buscot, but I should 

 certainly try to do it for both yours and my own 

 sakes, although there might be a scarcity of foxes. 



Yours, &c., 



GiFFORD. 



May 24th, 1844. 

 Dear Lord Gifford, — The boundary I proposed 

 gives me Lord Barrington's coverts and Compton, 

 in addition to Buscot and Coleshill. I am certain I 

 am not asking too much when I require this divi- 

 sion ; indeed, I do not consider myself at liberty to 

 agree to any other division without first consulting 

 the wishes of others. Your hounds were only at 

 Shrivenham twice last year, and one of those days 

 was blank, therefore it cannot be of consequence to 

 you. I have reason to believe more foxes were made 

 away with in the the neighbourhood of Compton than 

 either your hounds or mine killed in that district. 



Yours, &c., 

 Thos. Thornhill Morland. 



Cirencester, May 24th, 1844. 



Dear Morland, — I could not answer your last 

 letter before, as I had some engagements in Devon, 

 which prevented my returning here till yesterday. 



I find that in justice to myself and the country 

 that I cannot agree to your division ; I therefore 

 leave it in the hands of the country. I have written 

 to Dutton on the subject, and shall therefore have 

 nothing more to do with it ; but I shall still consider 

 myself master of the country marked out and given 

 me by Lord Ducie. 



You must well know that for three days a week I 

 have not country enough to hunt, after my arrange- 



