MR. THOMAS THORN HILL MORLAND 179 



selves, too, of Mr. P. Egerton Warburton's 

 permission to reprint his late father's lines 

 for the purpose of comparison. On their way 

 to the meet Mr. Lenthall and his brother 

 passed the brother-in-law and horses of Mr. 

 Horrocks, of " long cloth " fame, who then 

 lived, for hunting purposes, at Appleton 

 Manor, which he rented from Mr. Southby. 

 " Are you not coming to Tar Wood ? " they 

 asked. " No," was the reply, " there will be 

 no sport there. We are going to hunt with 

 the Vale at Lechlade." Each party went its 

 way, though destined to meet again that day, 

 under very curious circumstances. What fol- 

 lowed Mr. Lenthall shall tell in his own words, 

 written forty-nine years ago. 



Besselsleigh, Dec. 25th, 1845. 

 Dear Frank, — I will now, after having eaten 

 a good luncheon, fulfil my promise of detailing the 

 account of yesterday's hunt. Monday morning the 

 ground was covered with snow about an inch thick, 

 which, together with a sharp frost underneath, made 

 us almost think that Hill had delayed his visit to 

 Tar Wood till it was too late ; towards the middle 

 of the day, as with you, the wind changed, and we 

 had heavy rain, with a very high wind indeed ; but 

 yesterday that had gone down, and it was a very 

 white frost, which, however, soon gave way under 

 a bright sun. We left father dressing, about nine 

 o'clock (when we started), with the intention of fol- 

 lowing us, and going round by Ensham to meet the 



