1 66 THE OLD BERKS HUNT 



but the owners of coverts must be parties to it at 

 least for the purpose of justification, 



Mr. Bartholomew Wroughton, of Woolley 

 Park, also wrote to Mr. Morland as follows : — 



19, Park Street, July 15th, 1845. 

 My Dear Tom, — I walked and talked yesterday 

 with Lord Bathurst and was pleased to find him 

 prepared to settle the hunting affair in a most kind 

 and friendly spirit, and freely acknowledging the 

 right of the Berkshire hunt to all on the east side 

 of the Thames and Cole, and not disposed to cavil 

 at the question of right anywhere else. I therefore 

 am disposed to hope that now that the irritation of 

 last year is in a great measure removed, that you will 

 offer to relinquish the country beyond those rivers. 

 It is clear that this district is a burthen to you, and 

 that the sport of both sides would be benefited by 

 its being hunted by another pack. You will say 

 that you, as a master of hounds, have no right to 

 give away country, but you can state your opinion 

 of what would be a satisfactory settlement of this 

 dispute, and you can express your willingness to 

 hunt the country, so defined, if you receive adequate 

 support. It may occur to you that I, not being a 

 member of the B.H., have no right to meddle in 

 these matters. I find my care for hunting fast 

 diminishing, but my regard for the kind and friendly 

 relations of my neighbours is by no means on the 

 wane, and if I could see this matter settled satis- 

 factorily I should be very happy to join you on your 

 subscription, as well as occasionally in your sport. 

 The gentlemen of the B.H. made a miserable mess 

 in 1832, and they, if left alone, will never get out 

 of it. You having now for some years taken all 

 the labour, and a very undue share of the expense 



