26 HUNTING TOURS. 



gentleman's resignation, Mr. Colville became 

 his successor, making room for Captain 

 Anstnitlier Thomson, who withdrew in 1849 

 in favour of Mr. Wilson, but that gentleman 

 retaining the honours only one year, Captain 

 Thomson resumed the occupation. He had 

 a fine pack of hounds, rather exceeding the 

 average size of the present day, he was withal 

 a sportsman, and the results are patent. In 

 the year 1855, the Bicester country having 

 been temporarily vacated by Mr. Drake, 

 Captain Thomson removed his establishment 

 to hunt it, when Mr. Selby Lowndes, declin- 

 ing the North Warwickshire, brought his 

 hounds to the Witherley kennels, and entered 

 into an engaofement as master of the Ather- 

 stone Hunt. The fame this gentleman had 

 acquired during the lengthened period he 

 hunted the vicinity of Whaddon Chase will 

 ever be pleasingly associated with his name. 

 He had doubtless a very clever pack of 

 hounds, mostly of the female sex, which it 

 was his custom to feed on Indian meal, but 

 what advantages it possesses over oatmeal 

 I have never been able to discover. 



The country only came into the possession 

 of Lord Curzon three seasons before I visited 



