146 THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



the only way to settle the dispute will be a reference 

 to the owners of coverts in the old country Of 

 course, you are aware of the proposal I have made 

 to Lord Gifford. 



Yours, &c., 

 Thos. Thornhill Morland. 

 The Hon. James Button, 

 Taynton, Burford. 



BiBURY, Saturday. 

 Dear Morland, — I have received your letter and 

 am sorry " my flag of truce " is repudiated. As an 

 interested party in the sport of this country, and 

 with the consent of the gentlemen similarly inter- 

 ested, whom I have consulted, I now write, in my 

 own and their name, to make the offer of this case 

 being referred to masters of hounds, as the only 

 proper and sportsmanlike way of settling a dispute 

 between the sportsmen of each country ; for although 

 in your letter you make use of the term " masters of 

 coverts," I conclude you mean the same thing as 

 myself; for I have yet to learn what owners of coverts 

 have to do with a dispute between two masters of 

 hounds. Of course, the arrangement for the arbitra- 

 tion must be a matter to be settled between us, but 

 my idea is that each should choose one, leaving it 

 to them to choose their own referee. Direct your 

 answer to me at White's Club, 



And believe me, &c., &c., 



James Dutton. 



I02, Gloucester Place, June nth, 1844. 

 Dear Mr. Dutton, — Your letter of Saturday 

 reached me here on Monday, where I have been for 

 some days, and I regret to find that our views 

 respecting the division of the countries are still 

 opposed to each other. Our former correspondence 



