Col. Anstruthe7^ Thomsons Mastership. i6y 



longing to either of these sections of the human race is 

 it possible to undertake the management of a pack of 

 hounds with any hope of success. 



A knowledge of mankind, womankind^ and dogkind — 

 command of temper — graciousness of speech — and a 

 thorough knowledge of how to say '^ no ; " coupled with 

 a willingness to say " yes ; ^^ — ample means, united to a 

 good acquaintance with economic principles, are only 

 part of the qualifications necessary to form an ideal 

 M.F.H. No wonder that many of this pattern are not 

 to be found ; but one such sat in his study one February 

 morning of the year 1864, and perused the following 

 letter from an old and dear friend. 



" Wootton Ball. Feb. 26th, 1864. 



'^My dear Jack, — Under the influence of a ripping fifty 

 minutes over grass, up wind, and all just as it ought to be, 

 I write you a line as a feeler about our country. I have only 

 just heard that you have really given up the ^ Fife.^ I 

 know your habits so well that I am quite sure that you 

 will not be happy without a pack of hounds ; and indeed 

 the longer I live the more cause I have to agree with 

 Jorrocks, ^ that all time is wasted that is not spent in 

 hunting.^ Now do you think that you would like this 

 Pytchley country ? We shall have no Master after this 

 season, as Spencer has quite decided to give the hounds 

 up. You know the ^ pros ' and the ' cons ' of the Pytchley 

 as well as I do. It has the best woodlands in the world. 

 You can hunt from August to May, both inclusive as 

 they say. The disadvantage is the crowd on a Wednes- 

 day, which you also know from your experience with the 

 Atherstone does not do half the mischief it appears as if 

 it ought to do. If there is a scent, it is soon disposed of; 



