“… I have put off what I intended to write until to-morrow. To this I have been moved, in part by a desire to see the Morning Post before I begin; but, in truth, much more by a desire to go and see a new pointer of Farmer Hoad’s hunt. This, viewed in the abstract, is very bad; but, when it is considered that this exercise gives me health and nerves, and that these produce Registers, the time is not thrown away.…”
“… The Morning Post man labours hard.[6] But it will nought avail him. He must give us a good reason why the Princess does not publish the report and evidence, or he had better hold his tongue.
“I had forgotten the Hats. Get them from the same man:—
(gold-laced)
Single-stick prize, won at Botley, 8th September, 1806. 20 guineas.
And one silver-laced, the same words, only 10 guineas in the centre. The city of Salisbury has advertised that a match will take place there on the 17th instant, ‘similar to that at Botley.’ The hats must be here on Saturday at farthest. They need not be very good. A hat at a guinea will do very well; and as to the lace, I am sure that it need not cost more than about a guinea-and-a-half. However, do the best you can.
“Lord Cochrane is here, hard at work a-shooting, but Mr. Johnstone is not yet arrived.”
“We shall be in town to-morrow night, and I wish you could come to me about 10 o’clock at Col. Johnstone’s in Harley Street.
“A glorious match have we had! A fine day, and a company of people not less than six thousand in number. The whole of the village was full. Stages, in the form of amphitheatres, were erected against the houses, and, perhaps, seats let to the amount of thirty or fifty pounds! Every gentleman round the country was here. The subscription pays the whole of all the expenses, without throwing any more than my single guinea and the price of my dinner upon me. The city of Salisbury will not equal this, take my word for it. There were twenty-three players. The first prize went to Somersetshire, and the second to Wiltshire. But the great contest was between the former county and Hampshire.”