Col. Anstruther Tko7nsons Maste7'ship. 177 



Xorthamptoushire fences ; and though this took time, his 

 hounds were seldom long without his assistance. His 

 nerve in plunging into a brook, chancing the bottom, 

 and struggling on to the opposite bank, was a sight to 

 watch, rather than a tempting example to follow ; but 

 he never failed in surmounting the difiSculty. 



After five years' good service rendered to the " P.H." 

 Mr. Thomson, to the great regret of both gentlemen and 

 farmers of the Hunt, signified his intention of resigning 

 the Mastership at the close of 1868-9. The reasons he 

 assigned for taking this course were, a growing family all 

 wanting to hunt — a balance at his banker's getting 

 fine by degrees — and the illness of Mrs. Thomson. 



A requisition numerously signed, urging him to revoke 

 his determination, was of no avail ; and the ^' P.H. ^ 

 country again became in need of a Master. Mr. J. A. 

 Craven, of Whilton Lodge, a keen sportsman, and de- 

 votedly fond of hunting, happily came to the rescue ; so 

 the Hunt was scarcely ^^ off with the old love before it 

 was on with a new,^' Before his horses were sent to 

 Tattersall's, Mr. Thomson invited a large party of ladies, 

 members of the hunt, farmers, and others, to a luncheon 

 of inspection. A tent of considerable size was pitched 

 in the little field opposite the Brixworth stables, and 

 never was canvas more tastefully decorated with bits, 

 bridles, brushes, whips, horns, and all the equipment of a 

 hunting-establishment. At little tables scattered here 

 and there, guests of high and low degree met with a 

 hearty welcome from their hospitable host, and had no 

 cause to find fault with a want of abundance in the 

 provisions, or with the quality of the champagne. Ram 

 somewhat marred the parade of the horses, but the 



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