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LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY IN ESSEX.

LEAVES

A HUNTING DIARY

ESSEX

H. BEAUCHAMP YERBURGH

("McADAM")

"And plainly as the field moves off
In a still lengthening line,
Now might 'McAdam' note the names
Destined in print to shine.'

Lay of Matchiiii^ Green, iSSj, by R. \. Bf:VAN.

VOL. 11.

VINTON & COMPANY, LIiMITED,

9. NEW BRIDGE STREET, LUDGATE CIRCUS, E.C.

I goo

CONTENTS.

Chapter I.

PAGE

Barrington Hall — Lady Warwick and her Horses^Goldfinch and
Athboy — A Small Field — How about those Greens ? — Horse-
frith Park — R. Y. Bevan — P. S. Lee — Xmas Greetings — David
Christy, junr. — IMaybelle — David Christy, senr. — There are
worse things than a blank day — Ford Barclay — Snap Shot —
Safety in Numbers — The Cream of the thing — Sheila — George
Hart on the Knight — Quick Wood — Fyfield, 28th December,
1895 — ^- ]• Dunlop on Peggy — The Great Run from Forest
Hall — The Osiers — Keep a bit up your Sleeve — Over the Ford
— The Die is Cast— The Race for Blake Hall — Half the Hounds
— The Pick of the Basket — ^Ir. Bevan Plumps for the Kissing
Gate — Hospitality at Harden Ash — Up-wind to Maries — The
pace ultra — Duck Wood — Mr. Avila holds up his Hat — The
Indications of a Good Run — J. G. Pelly and his hunter Snow-
storm— A Second Run — A Rough Line — A Broken Collar Bone
— After one of Mr. Bury's Foxes — A Fall over Timber — The
Handy Doctor — Moreton — The Surprise Packet — General Sir
Evelyn Wood, V.C. — Vagabond ... ... ... ... ... i

Chapter H.

Hallingbury Place — A Record Season — -Bailey's Skill as a Hunts-
man— The Gilbey Lead — Parndon Woods — Gerald Buxton goes
Home too soon — His Reverence gets his blood up — John Archer
Houblon — A Run in the Fog from Balls Hill Wood — A Clue at
Last — Into the Warren — Not a Soul with Them — Stag v. Fox-
hunting— Mr. Docwra's Timber Jumper — Miss. A. N. Docwra's
" Larry" — Tawney Hall — The Fatter they are the better they
go — A quick thing from Mills's Fagot Stack — " Daylight " —
Mrs. Upton's "Fairyland" — Shrove Tuesday, i8g6 — Rev. G.
Ward Saimders on " Cockie " — The Essex Union — Hutton
Checkers — Mr. Wm. Gardiner and Dr. Carter — Park Hill Wood
— The Point-to-Point Races in i8g6 — The Price and Barclay
Match—" Spitfire "—Mr. T. Milbank's " Sir Frederick "—
"Bright Light" — ^Audley Blyth on "The Actress" — Epping
Long Green — A Day on the Grass — The Gregory-cum-Cook
corner — " Kathleen " — The Key to Deer Park — Follow the
Mate — Charlie Webster — A Trying Run — Theydon Grove —
William Nicholson ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 32

Chapter HI.

William Dalton — James Christy — "Narcissus" — "Comet" — G. H.
Lee — " Rosabelle " - Bob Ward — Mr. Parry — Loftus Ark-
wright — Sam Block — P. Saunders — " Needle Gun " — Washing-

Vlll. CONTENTS

PAGE

ton Single — " IMay ]\Iorn " — Once Too Often— " Stella "" — Tiie
Bycullah Meeting — William Symonds — J. Wilson, \\S. —
" Volunteer " — G. Bell Gripper — " Romeo " — Seymour Caldwell
— "Elevator" — A Big Jump — "Paddy" — Alfred Kemp —
"Killarney"' — "Harlequin" — Blackmore— Edward T. Mashiter,
M.F.H.— " Rylstone "—Mr. and Mrs. Howel J. Price— Mrs.
Neill— Cub Hunting in 1896— Matching Green — Kirby Gate—
A Young Man's Country — Col. and INIrs. F. J. Fane—" Royal
Chieftain"' — "Ruby" — A Gallop over the Grass from Latton
Park — Mr. Stacey to the Front — Mrs. Carter's Escape — Check
but not Checkmate — Getting to the bottom of three horses— Mr.
Bosley takes the Fox from the Hounds — Ridley's Gorse — Mr.
Swire Escapes a Watery Grave — Miss M. Green and her horse
" Comet " — The Advice of the Veteran — Sportsmen All ... 68

Chapter l\.

Suttons — Sir Charles Cunliffe Smith — Anxious Moments — Two
Broken Backs— And the Bay still Leads the Van What Mr.
Vickerman thought of the Nasing Country — Mrs. Mcintosh's
" Maquet " — Mrs. Gerald Buxton on " Phroso " — The Meet of
Mr. Quare's Harriers at Thornwood Common, December 5th,
i8g6 — Canes — Mr. Jerrard comes to Grief — " I'inafore " —
Bobbingworth Windmill — A Good Day in Spite of the Colonel

" King Ebor '' — Save a Jump — Thomas Cowee on " The

Rebel " Running for Barbers — Blood will tell — The Belvoir
Gordon — Seeking a Clue — Ongar Park — L. T. Carr — Our
Young Nimrods — Knightsland Wood — The Bob-tailed Fox gets
away — Lost in the Fog — Miss Ethel M. Jones — Snatched from
the Frost — Tattle Bushes — Nether Hall— Rye House— The
Boy on the Long-tailed Bay — H. W. Horner — Rupert — The
Admiral, Charles Bury— Vicarage Wood— Over the Iron Raihngs
— Barnsleys to Little Laver — Ain"t he a varmint ?

Chapter V.

103

Monkhams — The Romford Election — Mrs. Bennett — Snow-clad
Fields — La Grippe — Joseph — This Side and That — High Easter
— A Bad Start, blame it ! — C. E. Ridley's Gorse — Doneraile —
Walter Ridley — Fly-by-Night— Mrs. H. H. Elder— Sweep —
H. H. Elder — The Miller — Walter Green can't raise a halloa —
One outlet — Stirrup to Stirrup — Four Down — Deer Park —
Tresham Gilbey — Rev. R. L. Scott — Joan— Passingford Bridge
—Rev. J. H. R. Pemberton— The Mottled Horse— W. Patchett,
Q.C — R. C. Lyall — Solomon — How we killed the Colonel's
Fox in the Puckeridge Country — Abridge— J. E. Tabor — R. D.
Hill — Business — Dandy Dick — No ice in the coffee — W. Mait-
land Tower — Bomerang — Yokohama — Arthur Capel-Cure — T.
C. T. Warner — The Axe and Compasses — On Foot — The King
William — Lords Wood— -That's one of 'em, Cramphorn ... 134

Chapter VI.

Thoby Priory— G. Harris (Father and Son) — The Pollard Tree Fox
— In Mark Hall Wood — F. T. Basham — The Quorn Cap at

CONTENTS IX.

PAGE

Thrussington — C. K. Can- Twilight — ]\Irs. Wellesley Pigott —
Col. Cook — Bell House — Lieut. -Col. G. W. Wood— Sequah —
Varnish — Jumping Powder — Edward Ind — Church Wood, Dod-
dinghurst — Pinafore — Kelvedon Hall Woods — Ruth Pounds the
Field — Pick your own Panel — Jenkins — Kelvedon Hall — T. J.
Howard — The Sky Pilot — Man \\'ood — Row Wood — Edward
Wahab's Fantail Team— Hatfield Heath — A Day in the Forest
— A Kill in the Open near Elsenham Hall — Hyde Hall Springs
— Takeley Forest — Running for Down Hall — ^Ir. Stacey sees
it out on one horse — \\'itney Woods — Bevan's Gorse — Coming
away from Screens — The Red Ensign — Berners Wood — Damper
— The Lawn Meet at Greensted House — Navestock Lake —
Galley Hills ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 164

Chapter VH.

Beech Hill Park— The Point to Point Races at Hatfield Heath,
1897 — Major Ricardo and " General Banks " — " Catapult " —
The Annual Meeting, 1897— ^lark Hall Wood — The fortunate
few — S. Chisenhale Marsh and "Wheel of Fortune " — F. Loyd
and "Rosamond" — Cyril Charrington and his hunter "Bull-
finch " — A sharp burst from the Moors — Going towards Shenfield "*
— -Mr. Henry Charrington on "The Swell'' — Bailey hunts the
hounds for the first time in season 1897-98 — Fitz Walters — Mrs.
Crossman's " Ruth " — Douglas Crossman's " Sweetmeat " —
Tyler's X — Guy Gilbey — Warwickshire Brooks — A, Waters —
Mrs. Waters — A. J. Edwards — "Baroness" — Guy and Noel
Edwards — Garnish — Wilson Springs — A gallop at last — Sydney
V. Green — Two favourite hunters — The Annual ^Meeting, 1898
— A. S. Bowlby on " Piccadilly '" — Rev. Austin Oliver — Endon
Oliver — W. Dalton — The Point to Point Races at Stondon,
1898 — To Finish the Season — A worst on record — Writtle Park
— Langleys — Killing Deer in the field ... ... ... ... 200

Chapter VHL

A. B. Giles's " Moonstone" — Cubbing in 1898 — A fast thing with
Mr. Ouare's Harriers — An Indian Summer — jNIoreton — Witney
\\'ood — A land of wire — The Amateurs kill their Fox — Presence
of Mind — A Perilous Position — The Parndon flyers — Sewell's
•' Holloa"— Will Hurrell— Life and Death— High Roothing
Street — Olives — The Ash trees on the Sky Line — Back to the
Thrift — Blue Gates— 18 miles from home — Rev. G. ^^laryon
Wilson and Miss Maryon Wilson — Hunt Breakfasts — The
Wood below Bower Wood— A Stern Chase — Left behind — The
Happy Four— Norwood — Running for Brick Kilns — Taking a
Header— Boxing Day, 1898— Thoby Wood and Priory— Mr.
Baddeley's " ^Magic " — Mr. P. M. Evans's " Katie " — Toujours
Pret— Broken Backs— Barbers— The South Wilts— Good Easter
— Myless Lodge — Jack Turner hunts the hounds — Dorsetshire
doubles... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 232

X. CONTENTS

Chapter IX.

Stonner — Mr. Quare and his Harriers — Epping Forest — How to
recover Hounds — The success of the Suaviter in modo manner —
Epping Town in summer dress — Mr. Quare looks hack upon a
record season — His success at Peterboro" — The annual meeting
at the Green Man, 1899 — The Steeplechases at High Roding
Bury — Theodore Christy on " Schoolmaster " — Season 1899-
1900 — Some changes — Cub hunting — A Lion story — Bay's
Grove — Record sport in November — Fitz Johns — The Trans-
vaal War — Volunteers for the Front — Our Handy Man — A
good run from Galley Hills — Pleshey Mount — Bushetts — The
Lawn Meet at Dudbrook — Imperial Yeomanry — Guy Gold,
PhiHp Gold— Audley Blyth, Rupert Blyth of the D.C.O.—
Sydney Green — Guy Lobb — Gordon Lobb — Godwin St. John
Lobb ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 262

Chapter X.

Hunting from Town — One of the Penalties of it — The Brick Kiln
Fox — Sir Charles Smith and Mr. Thomas Cowee to the front
again — Matching Park — A Memorable Run — Dewley Wood —
Greensted Wood — The Select Few — Dexter has it — The
Annual ^Meeting, 1900 — Lord Rookwood Presides — Mr. Bowlby
Resigns the Mastership — Saving the Blank — See it out, Mr.
Tilling— Another late Find — A Kill in Epping Forest — Little
Laver Mill to Galley Hills— How we did it— Mr. C. Fitch
breaks his collar bone — Where are the Light Weights ? —
George Brown shows the way — F. Green to the rescue — The
Ambulance — Refusers — Short's Method — Through Epping
Town — The last day of the season, 1899-1900 ... ... ... 291

Chapter XL

Thoby Priory — Mr. Vickerman's Diary — Covert Side by Wm. and
Hy. Barraud — " CarloAv " — "Chancellor " — Jim Cassidy— Mr.
Conyers's Eccentricities — His Concern for Mr. Vickerman — The
Pulling " Cognac " — His Jumping Feats — Mr. Vickerman's
Patent Bit — Frederick Beckington — Season 1844-45 — Hunting
Caps — The Great Row Wood Run— Gate Jumping — How to
live to Eighty — Drag Hunting — Falls — Sam Adams's Stag
Hounds — Root Ditches — Conyers INIeets at Laindon Hills — The
Purchase of " Cognac " — i\t the Harboro' Hotel, Melton, Nov.,
1846 — Kirby Gate — Cream Gorse — Mr. Greene of Rolleston —
Lord Strathmore — Sir Richard Sutton — Mr. Finch, M.P. —
Burley-on-the-Hill — Ben Morgan — Old Goosey ... ... ... 313

Chapter XII.

Aswarby Park — The Belvoir, 1846 — WiUiam Goodall — Tom Moody
—For the honour of Essex — A Lincolnshire dyke — Lost in
High Leicestershire — Big v. Little Horses- Singeing v. Clipping
— Sir Richard Sutton — The Punch Bowl — Burrow Hill — An
awkward fence — Colonel Wyndham — The Pytchley at Crick,
1846 — George Payne — Lady Villiers gets the brush — Lord

CONTENTS XI.

PAGE

Strathmore wins the Worcestershire Steeplechase on " The
Switcher" — The Old Club — " Carlow's " cleverness — Dick
Sutton — Captain Coles — A brilHant scurry — Good Champagne
— Billesdon Coplow— Mr. Frere's House— Mr. Surtees— Mr.
Gascoigne — Lord Gardner— Leicestershire men's dislike of
ditches — "Cognac" takes a stiff line of stiles — Lord Forrester
— Ranksborough Gorse— Mr. Parry — Captain Houblon —
Hallingbury Hall — Simpson's discrimination — "Cognac's" leap 336

Chapter XHI.

The General Fast Day, 1847 — John Vickerman Longbourne— Jack
learns a lesson — The Finchley Stag Hounds — Jim Bean — Mr.
Garland — Old Meshech— Hobson's spurt — A twenty mile point
— An eighty mile ride — The Aftermath — Baron Rothschild's
Stag Hounds — " Cognac " bolts— A Disaster— The Quorn at
Six Hills — The dislike of Meltonians for mud — The Chartist
Demonstration — Special Constables — Mr. V. is sworn in — An
unlucky season — The Opening Meet, 1848, at Row Wood — Mr.
Vickerman parts with "Cognac" — A week of Disasters — Mr.
Petre's Harriers — The Blackmore Beagles — West Essex Yeo-
manry— Coventry Steeplechases — " Cognac " falls — The Victim
wins — Riding for the Brush — Abraham Caton's Beagles — The
Puckeridge, 1850 — Eastwick Wood — The Four Men in Pink —
The test of a good run — The Epping Hunt, Easter Monday,
1850— Up ! Up ! Up ! — The Take in the Open — Bridle roads —
" Carlow " draws Mr. V. to Church on his Wedding Day —
Season 1850-51 — A bye day with Conyers — The Great Drought
— Mr. Conyers advertises his meets for the first time — Lord
Petre — Boyton Hall — The Christys — Essex as a Hunting
Country — The choice of six packs within fifteen miles of Black-
more — The hind "Lucy Long" — An Old Park fox^The Miller's
maid — Barking Creek — The End of the Season — Boys at play 356

Chapter XIV.

Season 1851-52 — Hunting in Surrey — A Dry Season — Surrey Fences
— Season 1852-53 — The Red Lion, Duherton— Stag Hunting
on Exmoor — Mr. Carew — Dr. CoUyns — The Castle Hotel,
Lynton — The Surrey Stag Hounds — Arthur Heathcote, M.S.H.
— A Hunt Breakfast at the Durdans — Essex Stag Hounds —
Petres Four — Russian Deer — The Bishop of Waltham — Season
1853-54 — W^ar, Pestilence and Famine — A Gloomy Outlook —
Mr. Henley Greaves, INLF.H. — Messrs. Tattersall — A bad Pur-
chase— Blank Days — Warnings off — The Surrey Deer " Snow-
storm " — Season 1854-55 — Changing Residences — Bagging a
Subscriber — " The Clipper " gets away — Catch him yourself,
then ! — The Spotted Hind — Sir Charles Smith to the front —
Thomas IVIashiter — Old Superstitions — Unlucky Questions —
William Honeywood's Harriers — Boreham House — Mr. Vicker-
man's Summary of Season 1856-57 — A Good Run in 1858 —
James Stallibrass means Mischief — Season 1858-59 — Donate's
Comet — The Great Drought — Dangerous Going... ... 396

Xll. CONTENTS

Chapter XV.

Season 1858-59 — Resignation of Rev. Joseph Arkwright — Mr.
Vickerman succeeds Mr. T. Mashiter as Secretary of the Essex
Stag Hounds— Boynton Hall Woods — A Great Run from Canes
— South Essex Steeplechases— Season 1860-61 — A Memorable
Year — A Mad Gallop — The Sequel — Season 1861-62— Resigna-
tion of Mr. Frederick Petre — He Sells his Hounds— Mr. D.
Scratton Hunts the Essex Union and South Essex Countries —
Season 1862-63 — Mr. Vickerman wins his first Steeplechase —
Season 1863-64 — Mr. Loftus Arkwright succeeds his Father in
the Mastership of the E.H. — College Wood — Season 1864-65 —
Arkwright has a particularly good one— Season 1865-66 — Too
Wet for Stag Hunting — The Collapse of the Grand Stand at
Cheltenham S.C. — Season 1866-67 — Wet and boisterous — Mr.
Frederick Petre Sells his Hounds again — Season 1867-68 —
Stephen Dobson — Dick Christian — ;^20o paid to Mr. Scratton
to abolish capping — Subscribers to the E.H. in 1867-68 — Season
i868-6g — Changes in Masterships — The Fire at Holbrook's —
Season 1869-70— Mr. Arkwright unable to take the Field— Mr.
T. Oftin succeeds Mr. Scratton — Arthur Button Cox — Francis
Barker's Fatal Accident — Season 1875-76 — Mr. Vickerman bids
Farewell to Essex— Sketches in Essex — Hunting in Wales —
How to keep a Hunting Diary — Mr. Vickerman's Secretarial
Experiences — Summing up — Who- Whoop ! ... ... ... 429

Appendix . . ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 465

Barrington Hall

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

CHAPTER I.

Barrington Hall — Lady Wanvick and her Horses — Goldfinch and Athhoy — A
Small Field — Hon' about those Greens ? — Horse frith Park — R. Y. Bevan
— P. S. Lee — Xmas Greetings — David Christy, Jnnr. — MayheUe — David
Chi'isty, Senr. — There are worse things than a blank day — Ford Barclay —
Snap Shot — Safety in Numbers — The Cream of the thing — Sheila — George
Hart on the Knight — Quick Wood —Fy field, I'&th December, 1895 — R. J.
-Dunlop on Peggy — The Great Run from Forest Hall — The Osiers — Keep a bit
up Your Sleeve — Over the Ford — The Die is Cast — The Race for Blake Hall
— Half the Hounds — The Pick of the Basket — Air. Bevan Plumps for the
Kissing Gate — Hospitality at Marden Ash — Up-tmnd to Maries — The pace
ultra — Duck Wood — Mr. A vila holds up his Hat — The Indications of a Good
Run—f. G. Pelly and his hunter Snowstorm — A Second Run — A Rough Line
— A Broken Collar Bone — After one of Mr. Bury's Foxes — A Fall over
Timber — The Handy Doctor — Moreton — The Surprise Packet — General Sir
Evelyn Wood, V.C. — Vagabond.

THE Countess of Warwick made her mark in the hunting
field in Essex as Lady Brooke, and gained experiences
that were of considerable service to her when, to the regret of
all who hunted with the Essex Hounds, she gave up hunting in
her native county, and went to live at Warwick Castle and
ride with the world-famed Warwickshire Hounds.

Lady Warwick and her horses were a match. Look at the
picture of the priceless " Goldfinch," a favourite hunter, for
which she once refused a thousand pounds, or the lovely
" Athboy," and you'll ken the kind of animals she rode. Half
a ton* was a common figure for her to give for a horse, though
she secured " Lord Melbourne," a lop-eared black that I well
remember persuading my brother, R. Yerburgh, to purchase
from Darby, of Rugby, for a trifle below that sum, when the

* According to Captain Tip Top, a ton = ;^i,ooo. — Ed.
> I VOL. n.

2 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

horse was sold by auction at Leicester, and I have heard that
Lady Warwick never regretted the purchase.

Riding- good horses, she made good use of them, and when
hounds ran fast in Essex she was generally seen in the front :
in the words of the late Sir Charles Mordaunt and the
Hon. and Rev. W. R. Verney, authors of the soul-stirring
"Annals of the Warwickshire Hunt," we learn that in 1892
" Lady Warwick is a very strong and bold horsewoman, and
the horse has to go when she puts it at a fence."

The Countess of Warwick's "Goldfinch"

J-'roiii a painting by Lynwopd Palmer

Monday, Blackmore, the gth. — The smallest field on record, not twenty
at the meet, never two score all day. The reason not far to seek. A
dense fog, which showed no signs of lifting at 9 a.m., sent all City men to
town. Willingale had played havoc with the one-horse brigade, and
Blackmore, in this young season, has already acquired an unenviable
notoriety for the paucity of its foxes. Why and wherefore, who knows ?
The place used to swarm with them. Col. Arkwright's covert at Thoby
was once a sure find.

Perfectly sick of the whole thing. Blackmore blank, Lady Grove
tenantless. Col. Disney's coverts unoccupied by a single member of the
vulpine fraternity, Writtle Park a sealed book, for the shooters have not
yet had their say. At 2.15 we bade adieu to the chase, and good night
to all those who had for a moment been betrayed into a gallop by the sight
of a yellow cat at Thoby, and steered our way from Fryerning, several
gates having to be opened and shut before the high road was gained. To
this, and this alone, we owed our salvation, for by the time we had cleared

now ABOUT THOSE GREENS ? 3

the farm buildings and elicited from a man pulping roots the nearest and
shortest cut to Blackmore, hounds could be seen just entering Fryerning
Wood ; and hearing that Horsefrith Park would be taken as a forlorn hope,
we luckily, as the sequel will show, held on, otherwise it would have been
a case of " came out too late on Saturday" and " left too soon on Monday "
— a double-barrel that would effectually have choked us off foxhunting for
a month.

" How about those greens ? " said Jack to the huntsman, as he was
unfastening the straw band that held the gate near Horsefrith Park, point-
ing at the same time to some ver}^ likely-looking cabbages on the opposite
side of the lane, " And a very likely place, too," said Mr. David Christy.
Certainly they were a splendid crop, affording ample covert. But no, it

The Countess of Warwick's "Athboy" by "Ascetic"

J-i-oiH a /'ainting by Lynivood Palmer
Winner 1st J'r/'zes, Kic/imond, Royal Sho-a', Leicester and Peterborough, 1896

was not to be, and so to Horsefrith Park and then home was the order.
Following young Mr. Marriage through his father's farm, we had barely
passed it before we heard Bailey's yack ! yack ! as hounds opened in
covert. " Keep him up," shouted the huntsman, and crack went half-a-
dozen thongs as we galloped the grass field on the Blackmore side. But
this was no Blackmore fox, but a real stout customer, who was not to be
baulked of his line, and Jack was already over the fence under the tree,
screaming his lustiest, as the big dog hounds, fresh as if only just out of
kennel, tore across the first big stubble field. Two fences, as blind as your
hat and as dark as Erebus, and we jumped into and crossed the first of the
six or seven roads and lanes we had to negotiate during the thirty minutes
the gallop lasted over the cream of the country, taking in a lot of sound
grass. Touching Spain's Wood, four miles to that point, they left Screens
Park on the left, and two miles further on lost their fox at Moor Wood,
Roxwell.

4 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Fast at first and slow at the end, it was a most enjoyable gallop, and
amply rewarded all those who had borne the burden and heat of the day —
fourteen all told, saw the finish — Mr. R. Y. Bevan (who, in the absence
of both masters, was in charge for the day), Mr. H. J. Price, Mr. P. S.
Lee, Mr. L. Marriage, junr., Messrs. E. and D. Christy, Mr. Gosling, Mr.
Craig, Mr. Gibson, Messrs. Carr (two), Mr. Hollebone, a gentleman on a
bay, Major and Mrs. Ricardo and Mrs. Upton. During the run it was a
perfect treat to see the keen way in which young Mr. Marriage rode to
hounds on a marvellously clever little bay, and some very funny fences
had to be negotiated, I can assure you, for the gates didn't lie handy when
we crossed the roads and lanes. This is the second time quite recently
that a fox has been found in his father's covert, which is scarce a stone's
throw from the house.

Roland Yorke Bevan

The Poet Laureate of the Hunt and the popular Hunt
Secretary in the year 1897, which office he has held, in con-
junction with Mr. Tyndale White, for many years, is one of the
most popular as he has been in his time one of the hardest
riders with the Essex Hounds. Kind-hearted and generous
to a degree, he has done a good deal for hunting in Essex, and

p. S. LEE AND HIS MARE "GLADYS 5

had he possessed a long enough purse, would have made a
most excellent Master of Hounds, for he has the tact of an
M.P. Mr. Bevan never passes anyone on the way home from
hunting without raising his hat or saying "good night."

Sired by "Fetherlock," Gladys was the best hunter ever
owned by Mr. Lee, and for three seasons 1889 to 1891, she
carried him most brilliantly to the front. No run was too long
for her, no fence too big, and when hounds ran into their fox
whoever else might be missing it was certainly not Mr. Lee
and his mare "Gladys."

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Philip S. Lee and his mare "Gladys"

Christmas Greetings. — We would gladly have deferred these until the
boys come home from school, but the frost set in heartily on Tuesday night
and robbed us all of a great day's sport in the environs of Down Hall.
The roads were like iron, the hedges frosted with silver rime, as we drove
meetwards, confident in the old adage that one day's frost never stopped
hunting. Outside the Green Man, Harlow, were grouped several frozen-
out fox-hunters of such lugubrious mien that we began to think that the

O LEAVES FRO^r A HUNTING DIARY

frost must have done its work. At Hatfield Heath things were more
cheerful, the grass was soft and the hedges beginning to drip, so we
waited with quiet confidence for the appearance of hounds at 12, and
could not believe our ears, when one of the staff rode up with the news
that hounds were not coming. Not coming ! why not ? was echoed on
all sides, but the reason was apparent as we returned to Harlow, for there
the frost remained as bad as ever, though three miles further south the
country was perfectly safe for horse and hounds — and this is the beginning
of our mild winter.

David Christy, Junr., on " Maybelle "

I have never seen a Christy on a bad horse, or known a
Christy who was a bad horseman. Here we have another
portrait of a good man on a good animal (a five-year-old).
Son of Mr. David Christy, of Stanford Hall, about the oldest
follower of the Essex Hounds, he takes after his father in his
love of hounds, but perhaps cares more for stao-hunting- than
his father ever did. He generally has a young 'un on hand,
and " Maybelle " is a specimen of one that he has bred and
made himself By " Chelwood.' by " Rosicrucian," dam a

DAVID CHRISTY

7

hunting- mare, " Maybelle " is a red chestnut with four white
legs: she won many prizes before she was five years old,
beating at the Bath and West of England Show at St. Albans
in 1896 a horse that won first prize, in a class of seventy,
at the Dublin Show. She is an excellent hunter.

Mr Christy may fairly lay claim to having hunted as long as
if not longer than, any present follower of the Essex Hounds.

David Christy, Senr., on " Brian Boru "

Commencing with Conyers fifty-nine years ago, when he was
sixteen years of age, he has hunted ever since. Mr. Christy
says that he never rode a better horse than " Brian Boru," the
subject of this photograph. Purchased in Ireland as a two-
year-old in 1888, he carried his new owner's son Theodore
the following season : when a four-year-old Mr. Christy took
him in hand to be carried safely and well for many a subsequent
season.

LEAVES EROM A HUNTING DIARY

All who read the following lines, describing the first day upon which
the Frost Fiend laid his cruel grip on the land, will recognise the poetic
inspiration that breathes through them as the work of a master-hand -
the hand, indeed, of no other than the Laureate of our Hunt :

There were fifty horsemen vainly waited,

Booted and spurr'd for the fray ;
There were thirty ladies' bright eyes, fated

To be dimm'd with tears that day.

There were eighty nags fast, strong and supple,

Fit to go for very life ;
There were little bitches, twenty couple,

All as keen, sir, as your knife ;

While the orb of day was brightly burning,

Many million miles away ;
Hoary fields to verdure quickly turning,

By his mighty noontide ray ;

And the foxes finding no admission

Back to earth, discern'd a sign.
That foretold a fearful coalition

Skill'd to trace their od'rous line.

There was one small word the master nrutter'd

To our question, " May we go ? "
Low his speech, we scarce caught when he utter'd

That decisive little, " No."

Short the word ! yet prov'd immensely stronger

Than the wish that it denied.
Bidding sportsmen not to tarry longer.

But to humbly homeward ride.

All in vain the south wind gently sighing,

All in vain the sun's mild ray !
For to-day untrod the fields are lying.

And the woods are still to-day 1

Little fire, we know, great matter kindleth,

Many words begets that word,
As the crowd of hapless horsemen dwindleth,

Language loud and deep is heard !

Densely seems the fog once more to darken

All above the blasted Heath !
Naughty words to which 'tis sin to hearken.

On the ground fall thick beneath !

Yet forgiv'n, forgot all such to-morrow ;

Like the frost of yesternight.
Quick shall pass away all thought of sorrow,

In that hour supremely bright

When our eye the welcome vision cheereth ;

Of the flying lady pack.
And our ear their sweetest music heareth,

On the breezes wafted back !

Friday and Saturday hounds were out, but nothing worth repeating at
second hand came of it. A blank day from Daglnham on Monday,
December i6th, is almost a blank page in one's diary, for what can
you write about so uninviting a topic, though the philosophic temperament
may extract a few grains of comfort ? The smell of the woods, the splash

THERE ARE WORSE THINGS THAN A BLANK DAY 9

of the rain, is better far than the fog and smoke of London Town. The
compulsory fast does you no harm either, for we have not yet gone in for
the shooter's lunch. No need for electric baths (which the doctors say
are so good for enlarged hearts) when you have the electric shock of half-a-
dozen false alarms peculiar to any blank day.

Who led the rush at Loughton Shaws, which swept us along with
irresistible force only to find Bailey quietly jogging along in front of his
hounds, everyone trying to look as if he hadn't done it — the wish in every
case the father of the thought that set the machinery in motion. Oh for
the enthusiasm of the Trinity youth''' who voted the two jumps between
Loughton Shaws and the Theydon-road the best thing of the whole day.
I could not agree, but would not deny him. Nay, rather the instinctive
timorousness belonging to middle-age sought other consolation in the
leisuiely march across country, affording as it did such good insight of the
best way in and quickest way out of many a covert to be treasured up for
future use.

Even on a blank day you must jump occasionally, but young Mr. Tyn-
dale White and old Mr. New (nothing disrespectful, you know) managed to
find a useful short cut into Hainault Forest en route to the Colonel's coverts,
and missed the trappy bank with ditch beyond which brought several to
grief on our previous visit. A good many eyed the Colonel's black rails
in a hungry manner when the lock of the gate failed to yield to the blows
from a stirrup iron. Mr. Mugleston went so far as to say that his cob
would do them. Regard for his neck, to say nothing of the rails,
repressed the rising inclination to ask for ocular demonstration, for if, as
Stella says in the play of "Mrs. Ponderbury's Past," "Men are men in
the country," in these days of barbed wire rails are rails, not to be larked
over with impunity when hounds are not running.

Perhaps the best thing of the whole day was the bold bid Mr. C. E.
Green, who in the absence of Mr. Arkwright was in charge, made to save
it. Loughton Shaws blank ; at 3 p.m. he gave the order Weald Coppice.
It didn't come off, but if it had, one, and one lady only, would have been
there to tell the tale. Miss Margaret Green. Luckily blank days are few
and far between in our country, otherwise our hounds would soon become
as wild as hawks.

We are undoubtedly having all our best sport on Wednesdays.

Take Wednesday, December i8th, at Epping Green. What a merry
day it was, probably affording more enjoyment to more people than any
other day this season. I don't think I came across man or woman, boy or
maiden, who had not enjoyed at least one of the three runs which fell to
our share. For they all like a romp on the grass, and we romped on the
grass all day.

So quick did hounds get away with the first fox from Nasing Coppice
that thirty or forty of us were left badly behind, and had not Mr. Ark-
wright been very quick of hearing we might all very easily have shared
the same fate, for the hounds were not in covert a minute before they were
away at the bottom and running like smoke, and then, swinging up hill to
the farm, checked in the corner, and checked again near the farm buildings.
A man on the hill waving his arm in the direction the fox had taken gave
Bailey the cue, and they raced for Deer Park, throwing everyone
hopelessly out who held to the right. Leaving Shatter Bushes behind,
they sunk the hill for the brook, by which time the field were somewhat
spread-eagled, the bungle Mr. Price made at the gate helping to do it.

* Mr. R. Bury.

lO

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Mr. C. E. Green, with a strong lead on the left, and a grey coat on the
right, caught my eye as we splashed through the ford, just beyond which
hounds made a curious loop in a ploughed held, the fox having evidently
run up and down a couple of furrows to see if he could shake off the
dogs.

Not a bit of it, though it gave time for mutual recognition of father and
son. What a fine fencer " Snap Shot " is 1 Out of the lane and up the park
the fast ones were leading, and again the grey-coated one could be seen
in front as he bored his way through a stiff fence into the road, where all,
save Mr. Barclay, who got through with a fall, were hopelessly wedged.

Ford Barclay

This is another of the excellent photographs taken by
Mr. Arthur Bowlby of a good man on a good horse in '98.
Mr. Barclay has ridden this mare for several seasons with the
Essex Hounds, and as he rides at least fifteen stone, and rides
in the first fiight with the keenest feather weights, it says
something" for the mare's pace and stamina. Mr. Barclay has
had one or two nasty falls in his time, but they don't stop
him, and the fence has yet to be made that will do so either,

SAFETY IN NUMBERS II

when there is a screamino' scent and the usual lot have settled
into their usual places. Mr. Barclay has done a lot of big-
game shooting, and has made his mark as a pigeon shot :
he is a welcome gun at a big shoot, as in addition to being a
good shot he is as genial a companion as one could possibly
meet with in camp or at covert side.

" How did you all get through that thick hedge, my dear friends ? " I left
you kicking your heels into your panting steeds, and you didn't seem to
have a jump left between you, and sought an outlet elsewhere, by gap and
gate, and didn't we hammer-and-tongs it, Mr. Oldham, down to the lodge
gates at Copped Hall ? Another check, by all that's tenacious ! Time to
here twenty minutes, Mrs. Price's horse obstinately refusing the double ;
in another five minutes we were in the Warren, and a man was under his
horse as he turned turtle over some rails that led into the Warren, and it
took five men to extricate him. From here the hounds ran clear away
from the whole field, racing their fox through the Forest to ground in the
main earths at Luffmans.

Beech Hill Park— which is the way ? queried the Master of a forest-
born sportsman. Clattering through the stable yard we met the owner,
faultlessly got up, not a speck of mud on his boots. From Obelisk Wood
we trusted to the guidance of Squire Colvin for the short cut to his own
covert, and a certain find. Safety in numbers, you say, or surely Bailey
would have killed one of the Five Foxes in Galley Hills. Were you one of
the lucky few who really got away on terms with hounds when they finally
left Galley Hills, and running through Deer Park, via Nasing Coppice, lost
their fox near Orange Wood ? Or were you one of the many unfortunates,
like myself, who had to ride a ding-dong race with hounds always a field or
two to the good until they divided near Nasing Coppice ? Jumping out of
Epping Long Green, the Master was nearly pulled off his horse, but it was
the shortest cut to hounds in and out of that belt of trees. We all voted
this a jolly gallop, and all save the huntsman were glad that a fox, who
knew such a good fine of country, escaped. Mr. Waters, who had ridden
every yard of the line, viewed the fox not a field ahead when hounds
threw up.

But a little tit-bit, a sparkling bonne bouche, was in reserve for those— and
their name is not legion — who never go home before hounds. Twenty
minutes by the watch and a kill ! The Mate tried to discount it riding
home ; said he could have thvoim a stone as far as hounds van. But when hounds
are out of sight, piercing their way through thick thorn fences which run
up the slopes of grassy hills, you want to be very close to them to know
where they have been. Why, the find in the grey twilight in the last little
spinney on the side of the hill at the rear of the straggling cottages of
Nasing was well worth a sovereign. Which side would he break ? Of
course, we went the wrong one, and hounds were tearing along over the
grass, but swinging left-handed to the Common, and parallel with the road,
down which we all clattered. Running with more dash and devilry than
they had shown all day, you knew hounds meant killing. Close at their fox,
they turned back with him at the Common, and they nearly nabbed him by
the side of the brook.

And now came the cveam of the thing, my boy! Over the brook at all
hazards you were bound to go. The Master was under his horse in the
deep, watery gully that led into it, but with ready help around him, and
better still, clear of his horse, as Mr. Willie Sewell, sliding his clever

12 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

chestnut mare, " Sheila,'" down a precipitous bank, leapt lightly over the
deep, dark pool at the bottom, closely followed by Mr. Bevan, we could
hear the maddening chorus of hounds come tinkling back, as we sped
up the hill and flew the bank at the top, where luckily Jack, who had kept
the right side of the brook, was in evidence, and in time to shout, "'Ware
wire ! " For the light was failing fast, and wire was barely distinguishable
as fence after fence was taken. Down to the plantation at the bottom
of Low Hill hounds forced their fox, and then took a turn to the right.
In vain the Admiral tried the gate as hounds flew up the grassy slope. Near
the top of the hill they hovered for a moment, before swinging themselves
round in a beautiful cast, recovered the line, and tore on over the road,
and close at their fox, dashed into the spinneys at the back of Nasing
House, when for a few seconds we lost sight of them.

The huntsman now came galloping up, and recovering his hounds, made
the ground good beyond the house, some men at work in the gardens
getting a view of the fox stealing through the shrubberies. Bailey laid
the hounds on ; one circle round, one dash into the big kitchen garden
with a 2oft. wall round it, and it was U P for Master Reynard, for
Bailey was off his horse and closed the door in the garden wall, and
only he and his satellites witnessed the execution, the public not being
admitted. But this fox wanted killing, for he had already run up some
tremendous poultry bills and he had had a very good innings since we
ran him, you'll remember, in the early days of cubbing. It was a right
merry finish to a right good day, 'and Mrs. Willie Sewell, the only lady up,
fairly deserved the brush, which the Master gave her.

During the day we were pleased to see Major and Mrs. Carter out, but
were sorry that the military cloak concealed a broken collar-bone. But if
the Major will go jumping railway gates down in Warwickshire, what can
he expect ?

Why weren't you out on Saturday at High Roothing Street ? Ah, my
kind fellow, spare our feelings; we have heard all about it. "The
1 2-mile point." " The best day of the season." And the more we hear
the more sorrowful we feel that such a glorious opportunity was
missed, when the fun of a month was condensed into a day's sport.
Three grand runs they had in King William's land, and if the second
was better than the first, then the third was better than any ; and this
I take it from a man^ who was there, and who is not addicted to
piling on the agony — one who rides hard, and rides straight as the crow
flies, and hasn't a spark of jealousy in him.

But take heart of grace, ye gallant stag hunters ! ye lady bicyclists !
ye harrier thrusters. They did not kill, and three gallant foxes live for
another day.

Monday, North Weald. — A frost postponed meet. December 23rd will
ever be remembered as the flat hat day ; not a single pink coat, not a
single silk hat, not one immaculate pair of breeches — with the exception
of the Master's and the staff's — could be seen. But better than white
breeches, pink coats, and glossy hats were several neat-fitting habits, and
their wearers did not repine at a day in the woods, as they were glad
indeed to have snatched one from the frost. We only saw one dirty coat
all day, young Mr. New's, and he appeared to have had a most crushing
fall (Cape papers do not copy), and only two hot horses, Mr. George Harfs
and Jack's ; but if you try to stop four couples of hounds when they have
cleared the big wood and with a piping hot scent have skimmed the open

' Mr. Newman Gilbey.

GEORGE HART ON "THE KNIGHT

13

for two or three miles, you can warm up the most sluggish quadruped
upon the coldest day.

When ]Mr. Hart first set off in pursuit of these flying couples and Jack,
he imagined he was at the tail of the hunt, for he was leisurely riding
down the road when he spied them. Picture his satisfaction when he
reahsed that he was at the head of affairs, and the field were furlongs
behind ! He certainly looked very happy and cheerful when he came back
to the woods.

After all, the woods were about the best place that day, the bitterly
cold wind hardly softening the frost-bound ground. No one was sorry
when the order was given for home, in spite of gloomy anticipations of no
hunting on the morrow. All our pretty ladies and all our brave chasseurs
must have been agreeably surprised when they came down to breakfast

George Hart on "The Knight"

on Tuesday morning to see ground still free from snow, for the air seemed
pregnant with it, as it rushed in ever-hurrying blasts across the leaden sky
or moaned in the chimney like some unquiet spirit. Had the wind veered
another point or two to the north, we should have had our Christmas Eve
ride in the snow instead of the stinging rain. You couldn't get away from
it at Hatfield Heath, and scant law was given to late comers.

The old gap near Quick Wood had been stiffly done up, and there

H

lf:aves from a hunting diary

wasn't a man in the hunt who would look at it. So single file through the
mud they had to go. By the way hounds ran this fox to ground, we could
tell that, in spite of falling glass and squalls of rain, that there was a fair
scent. And so we turned towards the Down Hall coverts with all the
more assurance. In my lord's gorse we found him, and in five minutes our
fox had fairly embarked on a good country, the first flighters had settled in
their places, the Admiral had fairly demonstrated that there are more ways
than one through a thick fence; the Mate had followed him, and then,
when all was conleiiy de rose, scent failed.

In Matching Park we picked up the gorse fox or his brother, and we
ran him hard and ran him straight to the fagot stack, the Admiral again
being far the quickest in this nice little dart. I don't think I can ever

Quick Wood

recall an occasion when half-a-dozen or so riders so quickly shot off from
and left a big field, for all started fairly together from Matching Park.
Did you view him out of the fagot heap ? If not, let me tell you he was
a very fine fox, and he took us for another very nice little dart over a very
nice little country before he was lost on Mr. James's farm at Magdalen
Laver. Mr. Horner jumped the Weald brook when you thrusters were
looking for the food, and the drop on the landing side was not to be
trifled with. I don't remember ever finding again, but when the hounds
were blown out of the osiers at Harlow Bury the rain was still spitting
down, the easterly wind had lost none of its keenness, and on the following
morning the landscape was white with snow. " A merry Christmas to
you all, and a happy New Year when it comes."

Shall we hunt ? This thought must have been uppermost in the minds
of many as they drove or rode to the meet at Fyfield on Saturday, Decem-
ber 28th, 1895; "ot because of the frost, for although fairly sharp, sharp

FVFIELD, 28th DECEMBER, 1 895

15

enough to dry the roads, encrust the ploughs, cover the ponds with a thin
coating of ice, and freeze all the roadside pools, it was only one night's
visitation of the huntsman's bugbear, but because of the cold, dry, marrow-
piercing fog — a fog with no moisture in it, or it would have rimed on
the hedgerows and trees — for as it wrapped us in its blue embrace it was
freezing hard.

Now, a curious thing about this fog ; the higher the ground the thicker
it became, and on the heights of Epping you could not see across a field,
but as we gradually dropped down to the river's bed at Moreton, hope
dawned upon us, for the fog was thinner and the frost not half so severe ;
but still the hounds w^ere not on, and 12 o'clock, you remarked, would

Fyfield

strike before they put in an appearance. The advent of one of the Hunt
servants at the meet, with the intelligence that hounds were only half-a-
mile behind, soon dispelled this illusion, and with it our last fears, for the
fog was certainly lifting every minute.

It was a holiday gathering, a bumper meet, a representative throng,
most of them legitimate followers of our subscription pack, who fore-
gathered at Fyfield, and among them, bar printer's errors, I can vouch
for the following : — Masters, none ! all will hear with much regret that
Mr. Arkwright was too unwell to be out. However, both our popular
secretaries and Mr. C. E. Green — the latter in charge— Colonel Lockwood,
M.P., and the rest, if you have no objection, off the subscription list that
lies before me, with a few additions ; Mr. Askwith, Mr. Walter Buck-
master, Miss Ida Blyth and the Misses Blyth, Messrs. Ball (3), Mr. F.
Barclay, Mr. Pemberton-Barnes, Mr. Basham, Mr. Brindle, Captain and
Mrs. Bruce, Mr. Borwick and son, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Buxton, the
Misses Buxton (2), Mr. George Brown, Mr. Cairns, Mr. W. S. Carr, Mr.

i6

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARV

Cockett, Mr. Capel-Cure, Mr. Chaffey-Collin, Mr. T. Cowee, Mr. and Mrs.
Weston Crocker, Mr. D. Christy, Mr. Dent, Mr. Nevill Dawson, Mr.
Dunlop, Mr. H. Fowler, Mr. S. Fitch, Mr. Newman Gilbey, Mr. G. Gold,
Mr. F. Green and family, Mr. Green (of Parndon), Mr. Hart, jun., Mr.
Harrison, Messrs. Horner (father and son), Mr. Kortright, Mr. H. E.
Jones, Miss Jones, Mr. F. Jones, Mr. P. S. Lee, Mr. H. W. Lee, Mr.
Milbank, Mr. Sheffield Neave, M.S.H., Mr. W. M. Marter, Mrs. Neill,
Messrs. New (2), Miss Edith Morgan and Miss M. Morgan, Mr. and Mrs.
L. Pelly and daughter, Mr. Nicholson, Mr. A. C. Oldham, Mr. J. G.
Pally, Mr. E. Ouare, Mr. C. E. Ridley, Mr. Price, Captain and Mrs.
Ricardo, Mrs. and Miss Upton, Mr. Usborne, Messrs. W. and G. Sewell,
Mr. D. Cunliffe Smith, Mr. R. Cunliffe Smith, Mr. A. R. Steele and
brother, Mr. Percy Tippler, Messrs. J. and M. Tyndale White, Mr. R. S.
Tilling, Mr. and Mrs. Waters, Major Wilson, General Sir E. Wood, V.C.,
Mr. Waltham.

R. J. Dunlop on "Peggy"

Mr. Dunlop is not the only one who, coming- into Essex
from the Land of Cakes, has developed a love for the manly
sport of fox-huntino-. Mr. Ritchie, of Willingale, was another.
Tis common knowledge that he can hold his own in a quick

THE GREAT FOREST HALL RUN, DEC. 28tH, 1 895

17

thing with fox or staghounds with any native-bred sportsman,
and is hard as nuts, if indifference to falls counts for anything.
Not that he gets many, for " Peggy," from the time he pur-
chased her at my recommendation in 1891 from Mr. Custance,
of Greensted, as a three-year-old, took to hunting as naturally
as most of the stock of Sir Walter Gilbey's famous horse
"Pedometer" have done. Mr. Dunlop has been a very
useful friend to fox-huntino- at Norton Hall.

;;?'>'^''-'— '

./^^-r-

The Osiers, Forest Hall

" Keep a bit up your sleeve," said my friend Smith, " they are going
into their best country in the afternoon after their best fox ; " and he
chortled greatly when he remarked that he had reserved the priceless " Pen "
for the afternoon, with strict injunctions to his Peter Leather " To feed
her carefully and then drop her down from the clouds at a certain covert."
" My dear boy ! Why ! !— (I never swear)— why didn't you tell me sooner ?
Here I am riding " Bellerophon," and that brute of a mare is bemg
reserved for the afternoon. Well, it is too late now. Just send a message
by your man to mine to drop my mare down at the same place, and, by all
that's uncharitable, may we get a good run in the morning ! "

Into the osiers by the slippery bridge, over the river— not at home—
and up the drive towards Witney Wood. Mr. Dunlop, the sporting, hard-
working farmer, of Norton Hall, appeared on the scene with the information
that just two hours previously a big fox had been viewed into a small
spinney in the park.

With Mr. Green's instructions to the huntsman to keep his horn gomg,

VOL. II

i8

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARV

and to the field to keep off the grass in front of the big house, we trooped
past it, and before you had time to pull out your watch or complete the
sentence, you were racing over the grass for a start, the big dogs flying
on in front. In and out of the belt of trees, one more fence, and we crossed
the farm road and swung down the hill for the wood at the bottom. Left-
handed, or right, which was it to be ? in either case the furrows diagonally
if you would reach the wood in time not to be shut out. Round went the
huntsman's horse at the down hill fence parallel to the wood on the right
as Capt. Bruce led over, and immediately afterwards we could see the fox,
a great strapping yellow beggar, come leathering back over the wheat field,
" Let them alone ! " shouted the huntsman, for eight couple of the dogs
were right at his brush. Now it was a case of back, and striking the

WM^^'t^

Forest Hall

farm road a bit lower, almost close to the lodge gates — luckily an up jump,
or we might have gone into the wire (not Mr. Dunlop's) on the opposite
side. It was fairly a case of the last being first, for the road was blocked
up with the late division. To thread your way through these as fast as
you could and gallop on and jump out of the plantation was your only
chance of salvation.

The Captain's bay was again flipping over the fence ; out of the wood,
and the furrows once again had to be taken diagonally as we steered down
the field for the osiers. A little knowledge may be a dangerous thing ; but
it came in uncommonly useful here, for exactly where hounds crossed was
a ford. Lower down many on the right were riding post-haste for the
bridge which we had so recently crossed. Once over the ford the die was
cast, your retreat cut off, for a hundred impatient riders were splashing
through it ; so doubly welcome ! ! the whimper of hounds ! in the planta-

THE RACE FOR BLAKE HALL

19

tion on the other side of the river. Upon your choice of which side of this
plantation you elected to go entirely depended your position in the race for
Blake Hall.

The huntsman went right-handed, and of course the majority followed
him, for wherever he goes he always has a pretty large clientele.
Apparently both contingents were equally well placed, for after leaving the
plantation behind, hounds bore, if anything, right-handed along a boggy
bottom, and then suddenly swung to the left for Ongar, and then came a
delay, which cost so many their place, for the leaders all pulled up to scan
the boggy ditch. I can see the huntsman now as I write, with his horse
held tight by the head peering into its treacherous depths, and I can see
him no more until we reached Blake Hall.

m&m^j- ''Mi^^^^Mj^mimMB&m^^-

Wood near Forest Hall

Mr. Jones, muttering, " he is making his point after all," was quietly
cantering along in the wake of hounds, which just short of the Four Wants
swung to the right and crossed the road below the Dun Cow. No
time to open the black gate ; in and out went Mr. Sheffield Neave, Mr.
Jones, Mr. Gerald Gold, Mr. Howard Fowler, and Major Wilson, and the
few, very few, who were with them, the rustics gleefully pointing out
the line the fox had gone. We had only half the hounds, but they were
the pick of the basket, and none of their little band of followers meant
spoiling their own fun by overriding hounds, as running parallel with the
road for a couple of fields down hill and all plough, they leapt lightly over
the deep drop, and disappeared up the grassy bank on the far side. The
gate opened readily, and it was now a toss-up which side of the river to
go. A hundred yards down the road a bridge, and the fox appeared to be
making for Blake Hall, and in that case was bound to cross (as he did)

20

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

the river at once, or up the bank after hounds, with Mr. Sheffield Neave
and Mr. Jones. It mattered not, for as the right-hand contingent galloped
through the gate — readily swung by the men at the hay-stack (no time to
chuck them a shilling) — and on over the grass with the hounds, those on
the left — led by Mr. Jones — were splashing through a ford over the river,
which they had the good luck to hit off in their stride.

With our forces united we had a clear country before us — a sea of
billowy grass stretching away to Blake Hall, and not a strand of wire to
mar it — and hounds running on at a maddening pace, on past Water End
Farm, they swung a bit to the right, and we reached the ha-ha as hounds
dashed into the policies. Which side ? again became the burning question,

i-^^^t

Full Cry past Blake Hall

for iron rails stretched right and left. Mr. Bevan plumped for the kissing
gate, as a man lifted it off its hinges, and a hundred yards or so to the left,
those who were with hounds, a dozen at the outside, jumped into the drive
by the lodge gates. Here the huntsman luckily caught us as hounds
came to their first check, a welcome respite to those who had had to gallop
to keep with them in this three-mile point, a godsend to those who started
badly. With our numbers considerably augmented, we entered upon the
second phase of this excellent run as we clattered up the drive six abreast
and out by the iron gates. Did we make a loop to the right ? I can't
remember, but can vividly recall Bailey sitting well back over the thorn
fence, with big drop beyond, as hounds ran on below Bovinger Wood, with
Major Wilson close behind him, and Mr. Tyndale White on " Spitfire "
riding his own line well on the right.

Three more grass meadows and we jumped in and out of the road

HOSPITALITY AT MARDEN ASH 2 1

below Bovinger Hall Farm, and still on the grass reached the Bovinger
and Moreton Road, down which many of us had driven that morning, little
recking that in an hour or two's time we should be crossing it with hounds
full cry. Swinging a bit to the right, hounds ran beautifully down to the
brook below Mr. James's Farm, and we splashed through a couple of fords,
and squeezed through a narrow gate. Up hill, on over a couple of fields
of stubble, they suddenly swung to the left and commenced running again
down a succession of long grass meadows that fringed the brook. Those
who jumped it were apparently wrong, for hounds turned, if anything, to
the left. Crossing the road below Magdalen Laver Hall, we dived down
the opposite lane, which was uncommonly deep, and came to a locked gate.
To turn over the fence at the side and jump the next was the work of a
second, and we reached Belgium Springs as hounds dashed into them.

One field beyond they threw up, and Mr. Waltham, taking out his
watch, made it forty-two minutes. I shall always think that we changed
foxes here, for hounds never ran again with the same dash, in fact they
never ran at all. They hunted very prettily to Hobbs' Cross, Hubbards
Hall, Barnsley's, Mark Hall, and Vicarage Wood, but the fire was out, and
only the afterglow remained — an afterglow that will never grow dull for
years to come in the hearts of those whose lucky star was in the ascendant
in this splendid run — one, if not the very nicest, I have ever seen in
Essex.*

Another good Monday, December 30TH, 1895. — I have not told you
of the last one yet ; suffice it to say that in the Thoby Wood country, on
the borders of the Essex Union Hunt, perhaps the smallest field on record
this season (forty at the outside) were present to participate, first in a
run of forty-five minutes, the preliminary twenty very fast, winding up with
a kill in the open, over a very rough, if impaytial, country, for it took toll of
everybody. Five were down at one fence at a very early stage of the pro-
ceedings. In the second run, for the first twenty-five minutes hounds
simply flew (Mr. Waltham showing us all the way), making a good point,
which brought in a lot of grass ; and hunting grandly for another forty
minutes, until the shades of night compelled the huntsman to give it up
some twenty miles from the Kennels.

Lucky were you indeed if you found your legs under the mahogany
at Marden Ash at 5.30 p.m. While tired horses were being cared for, we
were entertained right royally. The two 'Varsity men must have thanked
their good fortune ; at last they had fallen on their feet (I can't say how
many times they had been standing on their heads), or it's little dancing
they would have felt equal to that night, Fm thinking. The hospitable
ownert of Marden Ash doesn't smoke (is that why his iron nerve is unim-
paired ?), but he has a son who does, and a very nice cigar he gave us ;
but it was not the first good turn the bon fils had done us that day, for
when hounds were running their fastest, and some of the hottest thrusters
were cornered by wire, he went for it and, turning with his horse a com-
plete somersault, came up smiling, for the wire was broken and the course
clear. A bird whispered to us that he was riding one of the carriage
horses ; if so, it would account for his previous toss over high timber,
over which Mrs. Upton and our secretary, Mr. Roly Bevan, had flown
like birds.

Towards the end of the run Mr. Dalton's horse gave him what looked

* Mr. W. S. Horner wrote : " I have seen some good runs, but none better than this
Forest Hall one."
t Mr. H. E. Jones.

22 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

liked an ugly fall over some rails and a wide ditch ; but the horse lost nothing
in my estimation in the process, for had he not been carrying his owner
to the front all day ? Another gentleman :f in pink had real bad luck, for his
horse, not content with wedging himself heels up in a very narrow ditch
(costing his owner considerably over a sovereign before he was set up on
all fours), had the ill manners, when hacking home, to come down and
blister his knees. Altogether, bar these contretemps, it was a day full of
incident and pleasure ; in fact, an old-fashioned Monday.

Sandwiched in between this and the day of which I have more to say
presently came Wednesday and Friday. Of the first it may be related
that it was freely described on all sides as having been a disappointing day.
This I can readily credit ; unless you plugged round Parndon Wood three
times with hounds you could have had no idea where they had been, nor
have seen them when they emerged from the breakers sailing over the
smooth waters beyond ; but it was heaven while it lasted, and the two
ladies, Mrs. Arkwright and Miss Jones, were of the lucky few who saw
hounds flying up wind to Maries ; grass every yard of it, and the pace idtra.
The horse that will stand the battering through the deep and muddy rides
of Parndon Woods and Galley Hills must have uncommonly good legs.
You'll not gainsay it if you will pay a visit to your stable after one of
these woodland days and compare with previous experience after a day
in the open. If Wednesday was a bad scenting day, Friday was an excep-
tionally good one, for hounds scored one of the most brilliant runs on
record from Brockleys. Running for one hour and ten minntes in a thick
fog, without the semblance of a chec^, they killed their fox. No wonder that
there were only three besides the huntsman and Jack Turner who saw it,
viz., Mr. Newman Gilbey, Mr. Pemberton Barnes, and Col. Gardiner, the
horses of the two latter being reduced to a trot. Mr. Myfield and another
farmer nicked in just before they killed. As for the rest of the field, they
were either lost in the fog, came down, or their horses were cooked.

Now for Monday ! My Monday ! Your Monday ! the 6th of January,
1896, at Dagenham. We were a very happy little band, I can tell you ;
with a strong leaven of schoolboys and a good sprinkling of some of our
fairest and prettiest ladies ; and we came out to find a fox, and kill a fox,
in spite of all the gloomy prognostications of the croakers. Hunt breakfasts
may be dying out — the reason not far to seek — but the hospitality which
Mr. Sands extends to all comers remains the same as of yore, and for the
second time this season we all gladly accepted what was so freely offered^
and there are worse things, let me tell you, than cherry or orange brandy
when the wind has been steadily blowing from the east for three conse-
cutive days and a dull leaden sky o'er head.

To Dagenham Woods and coverts adjoining in which foxes are known
to exist. They had been seen on the Saturday previous. We shall find
them one of these days when some of the Roothing Skimmers are toasting
their toes at their firesides, or wading through their City accounts. To
make things lively, someone halloaed a hare. If Mr. Barclay had been
out I am afraid that he would have turned green with jealousy when he saw
the keen and brilliant way the bitches ran her. Small blame to them ! for
the huntsman laid them on to the line, in good faith, at the double. But
how about the man who halloaed ? What ought to be done to him ? No,
really, Capt. B., I can't produce it here, though I grant what you said was
very much to the point.

Now, it could not have been less than two miles by the chain to
Dagenham (the scene of the morning's meet), from the point Jack suc-

X Mr. Ford Barclay.

MR. FRED AVILA HOLDS UP HIS HAT 23

ceeded in turning hounds from running hare ; but the day was rapidly
advancing, so the huntsman lost no time in trotting back. As we turned
up the road to Pyrgo Park only those in the front could see the uplifted hat,
or recognise it at once as a genuine signal when they caught sight of the
owner, Mr. Avila. The huntsman, who is nothing if he is not quick, put
his horse into a hand gallop, and those near him followed suit. But how
about the laggards still on the other road ? What were they doing, eh !
Major ?

Just opposite Pyrgo Wood, just five minutes from the time of getting
the information from Mr. Avila, and exactly ten behind the fox, Bailey
laid hounds on the track. No mistake this time. They opened at once,
and smeused through the first fence, a high bullfinch with hairy ditch and

Duck Wood, Dagnams

only one weak spot— the stump of a tree scooped out on the far side, and
with ragged projecting teeth. If your horse didn't jump big and far you
would have lamed him for a certainty and probably have come down a
cropper Mr. Avila, on a valuable young horse, declined with thanks,
as Maior Wilson, Capt. Beresford, and several others took their turn alter
the huntsman, who implored us not to press hounds, for the fox was ten
minutes ahead, and he had been turning up and down the hedgerows hke
a hare It was beautiful to see hounds working it out, and none of the
charm in these preliminary ten minutes would have been lost had fences
been a bit easier, but we had a bold leader in the huntsman, and we
followed him like sheep. ,

Yes right into the dark corner, where there wasn t an outlet ; you
couldn't see over, and you couldn't see through, but hounds were on and
at all risks the huntsman meant to be with them, so taking his horse back.

24 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

he sent him at the thickest place, a trifle lower than the rest, and got over
well — in fact, a good deal better than those who followed him. Capt.
Beresford's horse fell, but he did not part company, and they got up
together, as hounds ran on and over a brook, which we had reached in
our mazy wanderings. Working splendidly, without any assistance from
the huntsman, the bitches hunted out all those twists and turns, those
entwining puzzles, so baffling to hounds, so useful to those who, starting
badly, wanted to nick in with them (the Mate was one). It was time they
did, for the chase was warming up as, minute by minute, hounds were
getting on better terms with their fox, ajid the pace zms becoming faster.

Not touching Curtis Mill Green, although at first running in that
direction, they ran back along the brook, and recrossing it almost at once,
swung up hill towards Mr. French's Farm. To get over the brook one
way was one thing, to get back another. Several of us, including Mr.
Price and Major Glynn, rode a right-hand course of our own rather than
get engulfed, but I think the number of fences to be encountered had some
attraction for two of these gentlemen, one after the other, half-a-dozen
at least, before they could reach the Havering road, which hounds appeared
to be on the point of crossing, when a vigorous halloa towards Stapleford
Hall Farm (on the right side of the brook, too, by all that was lucky!)
indicated the line the fox had gone and the one hounds must take.

One dark hound (a field ahead of the others) was already flinging up
the seed field beyond the brook, never having left the line, and helter-
skelter came the others after her without any assistance from the huntsman,
who could gallop comfortably alongside the hounds on the road until they
crossed just below Mr. Martin's Farm.

What a mistake it is to fumble at a gate when hounds are running.
We had to follow Major Glynn over the drop into the road after all.
Now the fun of the fair began to wax hot and furious, for not only were
there at this point a good number of pursuers on most excellent terms with
hounds, notably Mr. F. Green and Mr. J. Pelly, both on greys. Miss Jones
and Miss Morgan, but hounds were running on ahead at a great pace after
their fox, having forced him at last to give up his labyrinthine twists, and
to set his mask straight for the dark woodlands in the distance. Horses
were blowing freely as they rose the hill, for fence succeeded fence in rapid
succession, and they gained little respite as they swung down from its
crest and were called upon to jump the rough bottom, over which Mr. F.
Green flew like a bird ; another sharp ascent, and we were within a field
of Hainault Forest.

Before turning back the fox set his head for the Colonel's coverts,
crossing the road by Black Bush Farm, and leaving it and the big wood
on the right, and running straight over the grass meadows for Lambourne
End, he took another sharp turn to the right. Not a twist, you note, but
hounds could follow without the semblance of a check, and so up to the
small wood at the back of Bishops Hall, through it, and away over the
grass for Lambourne End church. Through it, I said ; yes, but not by
going over the wire netting. Miss M. Buxton found herself on the wrong
side of the wire, but she took it and the ditch beyond without a thought of
stopping, for it was a case of neck or nothing at the pace hounds were
going. Down the avenue, Mr. New's bay did not seem to be pulling, and
towards the gorse you would, if you were lucky, have turned over the briar
fence with Messrs. G. Sewell, Horner, and Single, and ridden the string of
the bow the hounds were making as they fairly flew round the outskirts of
Apes Grove, towards the Rectory, leaving it on the right and down to
Cranes, and without dwelhng, and as quickly away, Mr. J. Pelly going

THE INDICATION OF A GOOD RUN 25

very strong on his grey in the front as hounds tore along for the big wood.
Breaking at the bottom end, he doubled back, and with hounds close at
him took his last turn, for as he reached the boundary fence of the large
wheat held they had him. Five-and-forty minutes of the best hunting I have
seen for many a day. Nobody moved away from the spot where the
fox was broken up for at least fifteen minutes (the surest indication of a
good run that exists) and pads were selling at about los. each.

This fox was a traveller, and he knew the Colonel's coverts, and made
his point. Draw a line from Pyrgo Wood to Apes Grove, not a bad one,
and a very nice country if you like hairy, scrambling fences, with plenty of
them. A place one of Mr. F. Green's boys went over made me shudder;
it was the return journey by the brook before we reached the Havering
road. I can't think how he managed it ; the animal he was riding must
have been as clever as a cat, but he let him have his head and didn't hang
on by the reins — but even then I expected to see them both roll back
together.

John Gurney Pelly and his hunter, "Snowstorm"

Few better horses than " Snowstorm " ever looked through
a bridle in Essex. None required more care in the bridling, tor
anyone attempting it in the ordinary way would soon have

26 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

found himself on the floor. No ; you had to undo his
bridle and fasten it by the side of his head, and even then with
a stranger he was very tricky, the pecuHarity arising most
probably from the caustic treatment of warts in his ear ; but
when the bridle was safely on he was worth all the care and
attention bestowed upon him, for he stood out, though only
15.2, a hunter anyone would have been glad to have had a day
on, and the best Mr. Pelly ever possessed. Originally the
property of Mr. Brand, Master of the Southdown, he was
purchased by Sir H. Selwin Ibbetson during his Mastership
of the Essex Hunt, and ridden by his huntsman for three
seasons, rarely ever giving him a fall, and confessedly one
of the best horses Bailey ever rode. On Sir Henry
resigning the Mastership of the Essex Hounds in 1886, he
came into Mr. Felly's possession and has been ridden by him
ever since. He is still as game as a pebble and retains
sufficient of his wonderful staying powers and love of fencing
to make him a delightful mount ; what he could do in the
year 1896 Mr. Pelly fully demonstrated in the great Dagenham
run of January 6th.

The order was soon given for Curtis Mill Green ; this made one-horse
men shake their heads and look serious. But what could they do on such
a scenting day ? Certainly not go home, and quite right, for they were
amply rewarded for staying out with twenty-five minutes of the best from
Curtis Mill Green. If the country had been rough before lunch it was
twice as bad after, and tired horses were falling in all directions. I am
afraid that one man* broke his collar bone. Where did you get your
fall, Mr. Maurice,! and yours. Major Glynn, and yours, Capt. Beresford?
The old line from Curtis Mill Green to the Horseshoe wood at Rose Hall,
no better and no rougher ; the huntsman was riding a clinking good horse,
but he only just got over the wide bramble fence near Mr. Miles' off-hand
farm ; it brought Mr. Horner, sen., down, but on the right side.

Without a check hounds went straight down to the river, ran its banks
for 100 yards towards the Navestock coverts, and then dashing in, shook
themselves on the opposite side, and went chiming away over the grass
towards Stanford Rivers. Back for your life ! back to the bridge by the
mill ! and not one of us overtook hounds again before we reached the road
below Mr. Freeman's farm, where luckily they had checked. With one
wave of his cap the huntsman put them on the line, and they streamed
away up the grass for Berwick Wood, and out at the top of the next
covert on the right, where the run virtually came to an end, for coming
out hounds made a most curious backward cast ; and although Bailey took
hold of them and held them on to Knightsland, into which the fox was
viewed by Easterby, he slipped away without his seeing him ; but as we
rode home we passed the men who halloaed him on to Ongar Park, while
further on, near the woods, a man cutting bushes waved his arm showing
where our fox had gained this fastness — a good bold fox and a good bold

* Mr. C. Savill. t Major Maurice Marter.

A GOOD RUN WITH ONE OF MR. CHARLES BURY S FOXES 27

line, and we may hope to run him again this season with ordinary luck.
Mr. Darby, who was having a day with us, said that it reminded him of
old times ; it certainly did me good to see the quiet, resolute way in which
he rode the Cat, his famous bay horse, to the front in this last gallop.

Nasing Common, a run with one of Mr. Charles Bury's foxes over the
grass to the forest marked the morning's proceedings ; with the loop round
the house we did it in thirty-five minutes. It was a pretty find in Mr.
Bury's new plantation on the hill. The huntsman's bare head, the only
clue we had, as we clustered in the road, that they had done so. A
momentary glimpse of the horn to his mouth, facing towards Nasing Bury,
a hint sufficient to stick to the road, and the few who did, including the
Master and Capt. Bruce, cut the point where hounds crossed on as good
terms as the huntsman and young Mr. Bury, the only two near them in
the fields. Then grief and disaster ! A good start, a good nick in, all
thrown away by two or three hounds hanging back in the shrubberies
through which the main body of the pack had slipped unobserved by
Master or huntsman.

We dallied scarce a minute, but in those brief seconds hounds succeeded
in placing a good half-mile to their credit before we were at liberty to set
to work to try and catch them. Those in the meantime who had ridden
right-handed of Nasing Bury House, though not with hounds, were not
delayed, and were flying the fence at the top of the hill, where two gaps
let them out over the drop, and then every gap had a pony in it or a loose
horse, or a refuser, before we turned back to the green lane that led down
to Galley Hills. Mr. Baddeley's horse was going at large, but his boy
was there to catch him — a filial duty methinks he would gladly have
delegated to someone else if the chance had occurred. Jumping out of
the lane we could see those nearest the hounds flying along at a great pace
on the grass, for the brook below Marsh Farm, Mr. Ned Ball with a strong
lead on the right ; so to the road, the gate locked, but as we jumped out on
the left a scatter and crash could be heard on the right, the huntsman was
down under his horse, as he failed to clear the five-barred gate, over which
Mr. Jones had given him a lead. He couldn't move for a few seconds, but
the moment he caught sight of Dr. Love he just got some one to hoist him
up, and away he went again.

Nothing like a doctor handy, and a doctor who means jumping. In the
meantime Master Ned Ball had made such play up Galley Hills' rough
rides that he and Mr. Jones were absolutely the only men with hounds
who had started and ridden to them. Fortunately hounds hung a bit on
the far side of Galley Hills, or surely up those deep, sobbing rides we
should never have caught them. Twang, twang, went the Master's horn
as he laid the hounds on over the broad green lane in the direction of
Warlies, and the huntsman, coming up, held them forward to the grass
beyond Green's Farm ; from here they wanted no assistance, though we
should like to know the name of the dog that, certainly for six fields, had
the fun all to himself, the huntsman and Mr. Harry Sworder riding right
at him, the pack a field behind. One dog is not enough for me nor my
horse ; we both like a lot of bow-wows in front. Not so Mr. Peel ; he
loves a small, if connected, pack. So, while all this fun was going on, he
was gaily sailing away by himself and three doggies in the direction of
Roydon.

Running almost field for field, and yard for yard, as on the last occasion
when we galloped this grass line for the Forest, we had no difficulty in
taking our bearings before we raced over Copped Hall Park and reached
the Warren. Some say our fox went right through the Forest with a few

28 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

couple of hounds, but it is a rare thing to force a fox through it, and into
the open beyond— though we have seen it done, and have the mask of a
fox who was killed in this way many years ago— in Col. Howard's time —
a real three-year-old customer.

Now what about the little spin from Latton Park in the evening over
the steeplechase course ? (i) Very few stayed out for it, the Hertfordshire
contingent having left early for the Hatfield Ball. (2) In spite oi its
untimely ending, the fox getting hurt in a fence (he was best killed), it was
worth all the rest of the day put together. Say what you like, the majority
of us love the pace when hounds fling forward at such a tune over the
grass that gallop your hardest you cannot gain a yard on them. They
didn't do it that night, but went very near it, having scored a good start.
When they left Latton, they made the best of it, and fences had to be
taken flying if you would have seen the fox pulled down just short of
Weald Coppice.

" Who-hoop," at the finish ; each hound in his place,

What more could a sportsman require ?

The huntsman replied, with a smile on his face.

When asked for the time of this wonderful race,
' The pace was too good to inquire.' " Phillpotts Williams.

I am afraid the pace was too good to stop for the man who was dragged
by his horse after he was once clear, with a happy smile on his face — a
smile of thankfulness at happy release from a great danger. Someone was
pulled off at the last fence, a pretty thick bullfinch, which Messrs. W^
Sewell, Mr. Evans, and Captain Bruce pierced in order named. Two
ladies were at the tail of the hounds in this last and rapid burst, Miss
Morgan and No, I mustn't tell you ; but she was riding a lovely little

bay !

Saturday, January nth, at Moreton.— For a week past the probable
draw from this particular fixture had been discussed in all its bearings.
Men talked about it with bated breath going up in the train, and harped
upon it coming down. Two hard riders, almost coming to blows over it,
and eventually lapsing into despair of guessing the conundrum, gave it up,
resolved at all hazards to ride to the meet and see. Personally, my own
impressions may be guessed by the orders given to my second-horse man :
" Leave home at twelve, come to the meet, and follow them up."

It was as well, for the draw took many by surprise : a retrograde
movement of four or five miles in the direction of Chelmsford, from which
so many hailed, having to be executed before the surprise packet was
opened beyond the slippery bridge at Forest Hall. This time the Forest
Hall run did not come off, worse luck ; it is even doubtful whether the fox
we ran from there a fortnight before still lives, for hounds pressed him very
hard at the beginning and end of the run to Belgium Springs.

When we arrived at Screens we discovered for the first time how bad
scent was in covert, and this may easily account for our not having found
before. With a brace of foxes in front of them hounds could scarcely
speak to either, but would probably have killed one if he hadn't taken
refuge in a tree, judging by the pace they raced him across Screens Park.

At Garnish scent was, if anything, worse, and hounds had actually left
the covert when a lynx-eyed sportsman, =■= whom no one would believe until
he had taken his oath to it, swore he had seen a fox cross the ride. The
huntsman came galloping back, hounds tuned up, and away we went in
the direction of Lords and Leaden. No run worth mentioning came of it.

* Mr. T. Simonds.

GENERAL SIR EVELYN WOOD, V.C.

29

but a hang-about fox was brought to book, and the folly of letting go the
reins when you turn head-over-heels was once more fully demonstrated.
Goodness knows where the brown horset would have gone to if it had not
been for the plucky action of a carter some miles from the King William ;
he was cheaply recovered at 5s.

The pleasantest feature, the best omen of the whole day, was the presence
in our midst of that straight rider to hounds, General Sir Evelyn Wood,
V.C, for we were all anxious about our kith and kin across the sea.t

General Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C.

This excellent likeness of the General, as we know him in
the hunting- fields of Essex, was taken early one morning in
'97 in the stable yard of the " King William," just as he was

f Berserker.

J The Transvaal trouble. (It came to a head at last in the autumn of 1899, and alas!
many a cheery and gallant comrade with whom we have been privileged to tide side by side
we shall never see again). — Ed.

;o

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Starting for the "Axe and Compasses," a very favourite meet
of his. Not that any come amiss. Equally at home in the flying
country of the Roothings, with its wide ditches and inter-
minable ploughs, as over the big banking country of which
Doddinghurst is the centre. I have never yet seen a feasible
fence that would stop the General when hounds were running,
although I have seen him go over a good many obstacles that
no no else cared to tackle. Very partial to timber, he always
goes for it, and must have jumped more rails, stiles, and gates
in his time than could be readily counted. The Essex men are
very proud of the General. He is a universal favourite, he
always has a pleasant word and kind smile for each one with

"Vagabond"

whom a day's hunting brings him in touch, be he peasant,
farmer, or squire. Even the Master smiles at the General's
one little failing, an occasional deafness when riding his pulling
horse.

That Sir Evelyn is a thorough believer in the great Duke's
dictum, that the hunting field is the best school in the world
for cavalry officers, goes without saying. That being a non-
smoker and of most temperate habits has enabled him to out-last
all his contemporaries in the hunting field is equally true, even
if it is not so generally known.

"VAGABOND 3 1

"The best horse I ever had or am ever hkely to have," Sir
Evelyn wrote when sending me a photograph of the painting
of his favourite. " He gave me several falls the first time I
rode him, but subsequently carried Lady Wood and myself for
several seasons without a mistake." He omitted to mention,
however, that when he went to the wars he mortgaged him
to his brother, Charles Paofe Wood, who was then acting as
Secretary to the Essex Stag Hounds during Mr, Henry Petre's
Mastership. He writes me: — "As for my brother's 'Vaga-
bond,' he was indeed a scamp and instigated by the d 1 at

times, grassed me more than once. I detested the horse,
feeling he only permitted me to ride him by sufferance. How-
ever, I had to try, and hunting with the Stag Hounds every
Tuesday, I used to rail to Chelmsford, but soon discovered
that ' Vagabond ' refused to go to the meet, but would run
backwards on to the pavement and into the shop windows just
outside the station. My master, Henry Petre, kindly arranged
to do escort, and by his help I used to coax ' Vagabond ' to
the scene of action. Once there he was happy enough.
Timber was his strong point, and he rarely struck a gate or a
stile. When his ungovernable temper took possession of him
he was utterly reckless whither he went or what became of him.
Once he climbed up the steps of Stirling Castle.

" But hold hard ! I have no time. This was written days
ago and interrupted. You must get hold of my old friend,
W. H. White, and oret us tosfether with a shorthand writer,
and we could give you the coltish chronicle by the hour."

Unluckily I was never able to do this, but perhaps a Druid
of the future will be more fortunate ; or better still, Mr. Charles
Paoe Wood and his friend, Mr. W. H. White — better known as
Captain White when he held the Mastership of the Essex
Hounds — may be induced to jointly publish their sporting
reminiscences.

Hallingbury Place

CHAPTER II.

Hallinghuvy Place — A Record Season — Baikys Skill as a Huntsman — The Gilhey
Lead — Pavndon Woods — Gerald Buxton goes Home too soon — His Reverence
gets his blood up— John Archer Houhlon — A Run in the Fog from Balls Hill
Wood — A Clue at Last — Into the Warren — Not a Soul with Them— Stag v.
Fox-hunting — Mr. Doczuras Timber Jumper — Miss A. N. Docivra's ^^ Larry '^
— Tawney Hall — The Fatter they are the better they go — A quick thing from
Mills s Fagot Stack — '^Daylight " — Mrs. Upton s'' Fairyland " — Shrove Tues-
day, 1896 — Rev. G. Ward Saunders on ^^Cockie" — The Essex Union —
Hutton Checkers — Mr. Wni. Gardiner and Dr. Carter — Park Hill Wood —
The Point-to-Point Races in 1896 — The Price and Barclay Match — " Spitjire"
— Mr. T. Mtlbank's ''Sir Frederick" — ''Bright Light" — Audley Blyth on
" The Actress"— Epping Long Green — A Day on the Grass — The Gregory-
cuin-Cook corner — "Kathleen" — The Key to Deer Park — Folloiv the Mate —
Charlie Webster — A Trying Run — Theydoii Grove — William Nicholson.

M

ONDAY last forms another link in the chain of success with which the
huntsman of the Essex Hounds has with such unrivalled skill been
slowly but surely welding round the season now in full swing — a
season that bids fair to beat the record of any that had gone before, as day
rapidly follows day of unequalled sport, for not only are foxes killed (the
surest way of preserving them), but we have runs of great length and bril-
liant bursts (the flashes of a huntsman's inspiration), which, although
surrounded and hampered as he so often is by a hard-riding field, he never
fails to bring off.

Wasn't Monday last a fair sample of all I have stated ? But more
remains to be told. Who could find fault with the run in the morning
from the fagot stack ? The dash and drive of the Essex lady pack was a
treat to witness. How rapidly they shook off all but the hardest and
straightest riders in their first rapid sweep round Garnish Hall, by Theydon
Farm, and back to the stack heap ! How they stuck to their fox when he
was bolted again, and never left him for a second, until they marked him
to ground where he sought refuge in vain, and how beautifully they hunted
up to him and pulled him down in Mr. Avila's wood ! And all, or nearly
all, of this revel took place on the grass, and thirty minutes passed as
rapidly and pleasantly as heart could wish.

BAILEYS SKILL AS A HUNTSMAN 33

From Shalesmore we have another tale to tell, the skill of our huntsman
revealed in another form. No longer on the grass, but cold-scenting plough,
with a falling glass and flashy scent, he brought off a splendid run of one
hour and fifty minutes. Taking us by Sir Charles Smith's coverts, and
Toot Hill, we reached Ongar Park, and here, I venture firmly but respect-
fully to tell the field, we should most probably have spent the rest of our
day, had we not possessed at the head of affairs a very keen Master, served
by an equally keen huntsman. How's that, you ask ? Why, Ongar Park
was full of foxes, who could have rung the changes very comfortably
without leaving its leafy precincts, and frittered away a short January
afternoon, and none of us have been any the wiser, and none of us to say it
was wrong.

What did happen ? Why, I will tell you. A stout bold woodland fox
went away when hounds were ringing round the covert, setting his mask
for a journey over a rough, wild country that every minute would take
hounds further from kennels ; and without a moment's delay, as soon as
he could collect his hounds, the huntsman came flying after him, and we
embarked upon the joUiest hunt of the day — over a grand, if stiff country,
grass freely alternating with ploughed land. Leaving Greensted House on
our left, we crossed the Toot Hill Road, and passing by Berwick Farm,
through Kettlebury Springs, the pack ran most beautifully at a great pace
by the lane down to the river, crossing it near the mill. Into and through
Kelvedon Wood with a rare crash of music, they came away on the top
of their fox as he left the covert, and pushing him through the Menagerie,
he only just managed to shake off his pursuers in the chain of woods which
are bounded by Kelvedon Common. No one could regret that a fox who
had afforded us such sport escaped after as good a hunting run as one could
wish to see, bringing out as it did in such a prominent light the huntsman s
wonderful skill in making his casts; and it sent us all home in the most cheerful
frame of mind, which lost none of its glow from the hearty and generous
welcome so freely given at Marden Ash to tired horse and man.

A day of such vivacity could scarcely fail to be marked by incidents of
varying form and colour. Our secretary's hat was a picture ; Mr. Cowee's
coat a study. But the man who didn't have at least one toss was the
exception rather than the rule on this particular day. I could mention lots
of names, but, as the Professor says in " Cinderella," " Those who live
in glass houses should pull down the blinds."

With hounds and without. What a difference ! but fortunately one
that is hardly felt by the majority of those who make up an average field
and perfectly content three, four or five fields behind hounds, as long as
they can see some pink coats in front of them, go plodding on, jumping the
fences as they come, looking as jolly as sand boys when they turn up at the
checks. Happy mortals ! for without a shadow of a doubt they extract
more honey from the joys of the chase than ever falls to the share of the
minority, who if they are not with hounds, curse their luck and wish
themselves at home. And by being with hounds, I mean in the same field,
or at least never more than one wide of them, right or left. We have said
all this before — n'importe.

Now, the majority of us were very delighted with the brilliant gallop
from Harlow Park ten days ago, on the occasion of the frost-postponed
12 o'clock meet at Thrushes Bush, but the majority of us never saw a yard
of it in the true acceptance of the term. We might have retrieved, as many
of us did, a bad start from Harlow Park, when hounds checked for an
instant in the grass field behind Mr. Lyall's house on Hastingwood
Common ; we might have seen Bailey knock a hole through the high bull-

o VOL, II

34 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

finch, and a dozen of the tail hounds waving their sterns as they eagerly
sought a way through the fence. We might even have caught sight of Mr.
Guy Gilbey liying the stile in perfect form, hands well down, legs tucked
back, as his horse bounded over like a deer ; but if we did these things
and allowed ten seconds, literally ten seconds, to elapse before we followed
him, the huntsman, or those who pierced the fence at the same time, we
might gallop and we might jump, but be with hounds we simply couldn't,
as going in and out of the lane they fairly flew over the grass beyond,
those pastures which always carry a scent to the brook at the bottom.

They tell me that Mr. Guy Gilbey was the first to fly it, and that until
he fell he had the lead of them all, and that when he was down, his cousin
Mr. Newman Gilbey, picked up the piddle and played the tune for the rest to dance
to, as going a cracker, by Wynters Grange, no one could head him until
the hounds threw up near Belgium Springs. " One of the fastest and
sweetest things we have had this season," said Major Wilson and Captain
Bruce, who freely acknowledged the Gilbey lead.

The country was dotted with riders in all directions ; every field had a
man, a lady or boy in it. Didn't we have a capital bird's-eye view of the
whole thing ? having dallied at that Lyall fence for a hat, a brand-new one,
but very dear at the price — the loss of such a run. What is the use of a
second whip if he can't recover your head gear ? Bravo ! Easterby ; you
have earned my eternal gratitude for the deft way you fished out A. J.
White's best, and came through the fence with it.

In and out of the lane and down to the brook ! as we followed Mr. Avila
over and jumped out of the field beyond, didn't we for a moment hug
ourselves with the vain delusion that we had caught hounds at last, as the
huntsman hove in sight and galloped through the corner and flew the fence
out of the rough field behind the Grange. Not a bit of it ; the leaders —
Mr. E. Ball was one of them— were already over the road, and swinging
towards the Springs on the right. The huntsman's horse simply couldn't
go the pace ; but he caught hounds, when he was wanted, on the road
beyond Belgium Springs, where they had checked.

In the meantime those who were behind the huntsman were trying to
keep him in sight, going in and out of Mr. Tucker's lane. Mr. Jones, who
was riding a slow horse, which he had been pushing along at top speed,
came down heavily, and this settled the rest of the gallop, for those who
went after his steed or stayed to see how he fared, Mr. Avila and Mr.
Bevan taking him in charge. Luckily, beyond a severe shaking, he was
none the worse, and pluckily remounting, rode to the end of the run, which
came to a sudden stop at Magdalen Laver Hall — twenty minutes exactly
from the halloa in Harlow Park. Mr. Sands was one of the lucky few who
saw this gallop from start to finish. He always liked a quick thing.

Going back to Latton, we found again at once, a leash being on foot.
Unluckily, hounds settled on to a vixen, who, as she kept ringing round
Harlow Park and Latton, Mr. Arkwright determined to leave, and gave
the order for Parndon Woods, where at 3.30 p.m. the deep sonorous notes
of the big dogs proclaimed a find, one of the prettiest I have ever seen.
As the music increased in volume and force our ranks began to close up.
All were eager for a good start. The Master, on his grey, was guarding
the narrow strip between the wire and the wood, which would permit of
one horseman passing at a time. It was everything, therefore, to be ready
to take your turn.

Patiently we all waited as each second hounds were driving their fox
nearer to the top corner, where a solitary man could be seen — the farmer, if
I mistake not, of the land that surrounds the S.E. side of the woods.

PARNDON WOODS 35

That so wary a fox was headed didn't surprise us. What a scent in covert
as hounds came back on his hne on excellent terms ! In full view of the
lot of us he broke across the ploughed field that divides the woods — a dark
brown wir}' dog fox — a fox that we have run before.

Not a man spoke, not a lady whispered ; merely a hand or two held up,
and the Master's horn came to his lips as the leading hounds broke covert.
Away now in the direction of Latton, and the two gaps to the road were
full to overflowing. Down to the corner of the ploughed field, in the
direction of Netteswell, rode some of the foremost who extricated them-
selves from the woods. The majority did not attempt to nick in with the
hounds until they had left the farm and Rye Hill Common behind. Better
if they had held straight on to Latton with young Mr. Hart and saved

Parndon Wood

their nags. Not a man who cut across those first three or four ploughed
fields reached the Springs outside Latton with hounds.

Messrs. E. Ball and G. Sewell, who turned into the country beyond the
common, were the first to snick them as they raced up the long spinney by
the side of the lane to Latton Priory, and would have held an easy lead
had not hounds thrown up just short of the farm. A capital cast of Bailey's
to the right set us all going again, and hounds ran merrily over the grass
to the Thornwood Common road, where a thick fence confronted us.
" Where can you get over ? " was the cry, and full gallop down the fence
went everyone, headed by Mr. E. Ball, but they wheeled round lihe a lot
of vultures when someone spied a zveak place.

Just a little hover on the wheat before they picked it up again. Crossing
the road below Mr. Nathan's, and over Mr. Symes's grass, a hat up in
the direction of the Forest (Mr. Gerald Buxton's, he was riding home when
the chase came galloping back on his heels) showed, what we had thought
all along, that our fox meant the Forest. Running up towards Wintry

36

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Farm, within a field of it, they turned sharp under the hedge, and crossing
the road, entered the lower Forest. Right cheerily they drove along,
running past the lake, and over the Epping and Ongar road, to Styles'
brickfields. And here local knowledge, which means in many cases
destruction, suggested keep down the road for Coopersale, and get over
the line ; but Mr. E. Ball, who had been going strong all day, jumping
everything as it came and always ready to give a lead, did not hesitate
a second and decided our wavering course as he charged up the bank and
darted over the next fence, closely followed by his Reverence on the grey
and a young lady* who, if we are not very much mistaken, is second to
none in the county in her skill in handling a fresh mount ; it is doubtful
whether the grey cob ever had had a side-saddle on before.

Running in the direction of the Ongar line as hounds turned away
from it towards the Union house, to which our fox seemed inclined to
pay a visit before sampling Mr. Ginger's woods, we had to leave a
very tempting bridge and chance our luck in getting through the woods
with hounds, and emerging safely on the far side. "There is a gate in
the corner," shouted the Mate, who had already reached it from another
field mark, and we rode to his cry and a blind corner. I ought to
have known better, seeing the number of times I have ferreted that bank.
" Back," said the huntsman, while some were strugglmg to get through —
one of the successful ones being a lady,t who was riding a remarkably
clever bay. Back and jump into the covert it was, by which time the
Mate had done a little bit of rail-breaking for us, simplifying the bank out
of the wood, but even then the mighty groan that Cockie gave as he
hoisted the 17-stone avoirdupois up the steep incline might have been
heard in the next parish. But nothing would stop his Reverence now;
his blood was up, and in at the finish he meant to be.

The finish was not far off, the lock of the big gate yielded to Jack's
stirrup iron, while Mr, Willie Sewell in vain kept running his chestnut cob
at the thick fence. " Did you feel sorry for him when he couldn't get
through ? " "I can't say that I did." Now we jumped into the triangular
grass field in which polo ponies are wont to winter, and up to Mr.
S. Fitch's farm and the rails that barred our egress. In vain did the
yokels pull at them, only ceasing their efforts for a moment at Mr. Newman
Gilbey's remonstance. Thinking that he was going to dismount and lend
a hand, we waited hopefully. Not a bit of it ; running his nag at them
with all the will, and the little room he could get, for we all crowded round
him, he tried to jump them. Wicked man! So he would have left us all
in the lurch, would he ? Thank goodness, the chestnut refused, and
leaving them to their fate and the yokels' efforts, we skipped over the bank
to find the Mate very busy with a roped up gate, and three, if not four,
including Miss Morgan and Mr. Cook, waiting patiently for him. What a
time he was to be sure ; at last he succeeded, and then broke on our view
one of the fairest scenes imaginable.

At the bottom of a valley of beautiful grass fields, which to the east
stretched away in one long vista of undulating country, dotted with woods
of fir, beech and oak, and on the west cut by the gorse-clad railway embank-
ment, beyond which, the ground again rising, was clothed with magnificent
elms, Bailey and his hounds, with their pink or dark-coated followers, were
grouped round a sedgy watercourse, where, close at hand, our fox had gone
to ground, having given us forty-five minutes of real enjoyment.

* Miss Georgie Waters. t Mrs. Waters.

JOHN ARCHER HOUBLON 37

The season 1895-1896, which in a short two months will have waned to a
close, will ever be associated in the hearts of hunting men, eh! and hunting
women too (for is it not true that now almost as many ladies as men follow
the pleasures of the chase), ^5 the one, perhaps the only one in which, if they
have not prayed for a frost, they have at least admitted that for a week it would have
been a ivelcome guest. Horses have found no rest whatever, and the open
season has found out many a weak spot in animals hitherto credited with
exceptional soundness. T^Ioderation in all things, says the Preacher, and
moderation in hunting this season has brought its own reward, for the
horses that have not been overdone will not fail to take their turn as the
days lengthen and the work becomes harder. For it is the long days, the
long hours out of the stable, that kill them.

John Archer Houblon

Perhaps there are few families in Essex to whom fox-
hunters in that county are more indebted for the promotion of
their interests in the pastime they enjoy than the Archer
Houblons. The subject of our sketch, whose portrait is given
above, is a descendant of an old Huguenot family, one of
whom fled to England from Flanders in the middle ot the
sixteenth century to escape the persecution of the Duke of

3S

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Alva. Succeedino- to his father's fine estates of Hallinobury

't> "^ / ". V --v-xx...j^.

Place in Essex and Culverthorpe Hall in Lincolnshire in 1831,
during his long lifetime he always evinced the warmest interest
in all that pertained to hunting not only in Essex, but over the
border, for his fine coverts in Takeley Forest were equally
accessible then, as they are now, to the Puckeridge and the
Essex Hounds. It is fairly safe to assume that, as long as
a Houblon reigns at Hallingbury Place, fox-hunting will
flourish and endure in one of the fairest portions of the country
over which the Essex Hounds are privileged to hunt.

Which will you have, my masters ? The run in the fog, as far back
as Monday week — when we met at Epping Long Green, and hounds ran
clean away from the huntsman and many who pride themselves upon never getting left
behind — or the following Wednesday, a Fyfield fixture, "when the field ran
aivay from the hounds ; or shall I devote my energies to the description of a
day in a country which, as a rule, is set apart for Monday's delectation, but
which, in honour of the guests who had danced in "the morn " at Havering
House, was chosen as the venue for Friday, the last day in January ? In
no case will my story be a long one; in any, it might have been better.

Let me start with the Monday, and you must go back to the 27th
January, if you would follow me out. It was a typical scenting day for
Essex — perhaps for any county— an easterly wind, laden with Scotch
mist. The draw, for the fixture, an unusual one, " Nasing Coppice "
generally having the first visit paid to it. Nothing like changing the
method of drawing for a fox from a particular meet ; it brings people up to
the scratch, and offers no premium to those who like to play 'possum, and hang
about covers waiting for hounds to come up. The find was a quick one, as
we clustered at the top of the hill in the road that runs down between the
two woods that rejoice in the name of " Balls Hill Woods." Hounds never
opened, in fact they were hardly in covert, before Jack's keen glance de-
tected a fox stealing off in the direction of the Coppice. It took the
huntsman very little time to jump out of the road, whisk over the next
fence, clear the wood, and lay on his hounds, and the hounds even less to
run clean out of sight.

My word ! how they flung to it on the grass, as they swept down one
field with a will, cleared the fence in the dip, and disappeared through the
one on the rising ground. In blind confidence, pinning our faith on Nasing
Coppice, we all started to ride wide of them, with the exception of Mr.
Peel, who rode in their wake ; but we wheeled sharp to their cry as hounds
bore slightly left-handed, and found Mr. Peel blocking about the only
available spot in the fence, as his horse refused. We had to grope our
way like children in the dark. For wire, barbed wire, flourishes and
grows in rank profusion in these upland pastures, and never ivas there an occa-
sion for more dash and more devilry to he shoivn by those who fain ivould have been
with hounds. For not only were they running on like wildjire, but the mist on
the hill grew thicker, and like dim, fleeting shadows, hounds were rapidly
leaving us. There was little politeness at Mr. Peel's gap : a hasty look to
see if the next man would jump on you was about all I can tell you ; and
the first man that came down had a horse land on each side of him as his
own galloped on in the fog to slip his reins off the post he was hung upon,
and disappear like a phantom in the mist.

Like a bird on the wing the huntsman was now flying on for the

A RUN IN THE FOG 39

coppice, and the leaders rode to keep him in sight, trusting to his instinct,
his woodcraft, his marvellous skill in getting to hounds, to put them all
right. A wave of his arm, as he turned just short of the spring, his ear
having caught the distant chime — that sharp, chirping note of hounds, which
shoiL'cd ho-w they were running on his left ; (and without pulling up to listen
further — it would have been of little use, for the deep, sobbing breath of
galloping horses, which were thundering on behind, would have drowned
any other sound) he steered for the bottom end of Deer Park, striking into
the road that commands Shatter Bushes, looking in vain for pad of hound
as he galloped down the steep, muddy hill, with the wood on the right.
Ah! A clue at last; those galloping colts, with their pointed ears and long,
waving tails. To the Warren for a thousand ! Down hill we surged in a
turbulent stream, which broke and divided as Mr. Ford Barclay turned up
the bank to the left, and the huntsman and Mr. Arkwright held on their
course down the lane.

Mr. Barclay was right. A man was standing at the corner fence of the
first field he jumped into, who shouted, " They have just gone into Spratt's
Hedgerow." Three grass fields, two flying fences, and the scene shifted.
'Twas true that hounds were not in sight, but equally comforting that
those twenty or thirty sportsmen and sportswomen who were riding up
the side of Spratt's Hedgerow knew where they were. And who were
these lucky mortals ? First, Mr. Green, of Todd's Brook. How did he
get there ? I know he was standing next to me when hounds found —
Mr. Waltham, Mr. Avila, Mr. J. Pelly, Mrs. L. Pelly, Mr. Pemberton-
Barnes, Miss Morgan, but of them more anon.

Nothing but a line of gates and sound turf, as without drawing rein we
galloped on for Copped Hall, and, clattering past the house, caught the
foremost of those who had been with hounds at Spratt's Hedgerow,
Mr. Pemberton-Barnes, but who now lost them completely, for while
he was trying to open the iron gates out of the drive to get into the park
on the right, hounds had already swept over it {not a soul luith them) into the
Warren. The Master and the huntsman could now be seen coming up
over the park, by which time Mr. Barnes had succeeded in opening the
iron gates ; but the run was virtually over, for our Chief thought it far too
good a scenting day to waste in the Forest. None, however, had enjoyed
that racing twenty minutes more than Mr. Waltham and Mr. Green of
Todd's Brook, for none had seen more of it. But the lucky ones who
caught any of its spirit, with few exceptions, were those who got away
from Ball Hill with a bad start, or who rode straight up the road to
Mr. Nicholl's farm.

It never rains but it pours, and if you get left behind once in a day, though
it may not necessarily follow, still it need not surprise you if it happens
again. Now I was not astonished, only pained, when I got left behind
(will let you know whom with directly) when hounds got away in the
afternoon on the top of a fox from Galley Hills ; but if any one asserts
that I was not the last man out of Galley Hills 1 shall quarrel with him.
Well, if there are two men in the Hunt to whom I look up, to whose
judgment I always bow, they are the Mate and the Admiral. But can I
ever trust them again ? The one took me up to a corner which he said
was the key to the woods (/ have been looking for that key about tiuenty years) ;
the other, when I had left it, feeling uncomfortable, said, " Go back, they
are drawing down that way." And back I went, when at that moment
hounds were away full cry in the open.

A stern chase is a long one, but this came to an end in a flying ten
minutes over a beautiful grass country, the fox just saving his brush by

40 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

getting to ground upon Mr. Charles Webster's farm, beyond Warlies Park.
It was a real steeplechase all the way, and very few, besides the Master,
Majors Wilson and Ricardo, Mr. Jones and Mr. Ford Barclay, were near
the hounds. There is some fun, after all, in riding a stern chase, as you
overhaul first one and then another. I shall start last from a covert again
if ever I am short of copy and want to ride for it — you don't see all the
fun from the stalls or dress-circle in the hunting-field, I can tell you — a
turn in the pit must be taken occasionally. But I will let you all off
for the present my brave sirs and pretty dames, although I could a tale
unfold if I couldn't invent excuses as to why you were left behind.

It IS one thing for hounds to run away from you, another for you to run aiuay
from them ; and this is exactly what a large proportion of a big field
managed to do on Wednesday, when a fox was found at Man Wood, and
turned back into the covert. Hounds could not own to him, and while the
huntsman was drawing back through the wood, seeking a clue, from some
unexplained reason about 120 people jumped to the conclusion that as he
was out of sight for some time he must have gone to Down Hall, and
started off accordingly. Not finding any signs of hounds, a panic set in, and
men and ivomen rode blindly in all directions. The Mate set off for Row Wood,
but recovered hounds — he told me going to the meet that he did not intend
to let them get out of sight all-day — by the greatest possible good luck just
as they found in the fagot stack near Matching Park. Mr. Newman
Gilbey and three others arrived just in time. A few, when the run was
over — the majority (it is more than my place is worth to mention any
names) went home — having missed nothing more than a hot nineteen minutes
and a kill in the open, as hounds did not find again. Second horses (Mate's
and own) were not of much use at four o'clock — they got into the stream
and swam with the tide.

The gem of Friday's sport was the bright little sparkle with Mr. Harry
Sworder's fox from Shalesmore (have we spelt it right this time ?) — to
ground at Suttons.

The crux of Monday's at North Weald was that owing to frost hounds
never turned up.

Mr. Sheffield Neave's Staghounds.

Extraordinary sport, by hearsay and report, these hounds appear to
have had all through this memorably open season. Runs long and fast
have, in spite of the light going, put rider and steed to the test. So when
the card said Tawney Hall, Saturday, February 8th, we soon decided
which horse of those fit to go to take out. Of course, tlie choice fell upon
the clipper that stands in the stall at the top, for if ever you want a good horse
it is with staghounds in Essex — a horse to whom no sort of country comes
amiss, bank, ditch, or rail. You may start in an open flying country, and
run into the region of high and trappy banks, or you may reverse the medal
on any day in the season. In any case you are safe to have to tackle — that
is, if you want to be with hounds — more curious fences in one good gallop
with staghounds than you would have to jump in a whole week with fox ;
and unless your horse can gallop and stay you had better remain at home.

It is not my intention here to draw comparisons, favourable or other-
wise, between stag hunting and chasing the wily fox ; still less to agree
with one gentleman, =■= however much I may have laughed at him, who
turned up at the meet at Tawney Hall and said, " Fox-hunting be
hanged " — (I am not even sure that his language was not still more

* Mr. Docwra.

MR. E. DOCWRA S TIMBER JUMPER

41

emphatic) — " I call it rat-hunting. Give me stag, the free and open gallop,
the pace, the dash, the excitement of the rapid ride." Quite right, my
friend ; in part correct, for each has its place, and were I a rich man I
should certainly have my one day a week with stag. I say a rich man, for
though those who assert that it takes less out of a horse to have a gallop
with stag than a day with fox hounds, may be quite correct, and I am rather
inclined to agree with them, you certainly run much more risk of laming or
killing a valuable horse ; for you have no time to pick a weak place in a
fence, you must take everything as it comes, the rough and the smooth,
and if you take it in Essex, " Bedad," as the Irishman would say, " it's a
lot of the rough you'll be getting."

Ernest Docwra's Horse "Paddy"

Nothing would persuade Mr. Docwra to let me have a
photograph of himself. Was it because as an amateur photo-
grapher, and a very good one to boot, he knew too much of
the process ? or by reason of an innate modesty which is very
conspicuous by its absence if a line of strong timber confronts
him when mounted on his favourite ^ Mr. Docwra on this
horse has probably jumped more and higher gates not except-
ing the great Sheffield Neave (who is a glutton for timber)
than anyone in our part of the country. My advice to the
tyro is never attempt to follow Mr. Docwra when it comes
to timber-jumping, if he has any regard for sound collar-bones.

We all become attached to a horse that carries us well
and safely with hounds. So that one fall in three seasons

42

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

was hardly likely to loosen the tie of affection which Miss
Docwra feels for her favourite grey, which she fittingly sums up
as " one of the bcstf

Miss A. N. Docwra on "Larry"

Tawney Hall.

How I wish our hunting poet would write a ballad about Tawney Hall,
whose hospitable portals are ever open to those who follow the fox, the stag
or the hare. Beagles and fox terriers are not denied — -are they, Miss
Georgie ? Surely, if ever a sportsman deserved a testimonial from hunting
men, Mr. Harry Sworder is the man. "Bedad," as the Irishman would
again remark, "sure, if he lives long enough, he shall have one, for it's
myself that will be getting it up and sharing it with him. More power to
his honour, and bless him."

Now there was room for us all at the festive board, and bread, cheese
and good beef were done ample justice to, and like giants refreshed, we
sallied out for our ride. You may depend upon it, you don't go any the
worse for that preliminary snack ; you may call it jumping powder, or what
you like, I call it staying power ; but its chief charm, in my mind, is the
friendly feeling, the camavadcvie it engenders. This, then, is another of the
reasons why we like stag hunting.

THE FATTER THEV ARE THE BETTER THEY GO 43

An untried deer, fat as butter — the fatter they are the better they go;
perhaps you didn't know that, my charming young lady — was given the
usual law, and a capital view we fox-hunters got of him (stag-hunters
never look), as, with proud disdain he trod the ling, inhaled the breeze, and
cantering up to the fence, leisurely topped it, and disappeared. As he ran
up the hill by the side of Mr. C. Fitch's plantation, at the top of which,
unknown to us, he had harboured, and here, as we rode to hounds, at a fast
hand-gallop, we came up to him. In full view of the pack he broke covert,
and running through Knightsland (we went through the bridle gate three at
a time), crossed the road to the right of the keeper's lodge, getting on the
grass beyond Berwick Lane. Hounds went a splitter, I can tell you, from
here to the end of the run at Kelvedon Common, running in view all the
way. We could hold hounds, and only just hold them, as they flew by Mr.
Freeman's and raced down to the river, but by the time we had followed
Messrs. Waltham, Sworder and Avila over the ford, they were lost to sight,
to memory dear — in other words, they had gone, flown, vanished into thin
air, our only clue to recovery being a distant halloa, or a solitary hedger
frantically waving his arms as he indicated the line hounds and their quarry
had taken.

Clear of the ford, we galloped on without drawing rein :

"The bay he leaned against the bit and slugged his head above,
But the red mare played with the snaffle bars, as a maiden plays with a glove."

Messrs. Waltham and Sworder leading, and so over the rails into the
Navestock Springs and out over some more, we stretched away for Dud-
brook over clean galloping pastures of soundest turf. Why did we fumble
at that gate out of the second one, Mr. Sworder ? I agree with you that it
lost us the remainder of the gallop, for as it flew open i\Ir. Sheffield
Neave had swung over the rails at the side, and he immediately turned
sharp to the left, his quick ear having caught the sound of hounds running
in that direction. The bullocks galloping towards Xavestock Hall on the
right pointed to a clue, and led to defeat, for true as it might have been, as
we subsequently ascertained it was, that the deer had turned to the right
for the lake, he never soiled, and came back at such a pace, being closely
pressed by hounds, that he was already coming along behind the belt of
trees running down to Mr. Stiell's house at the time we were hesitating
which side to go.

The Master, Mr. Waltham, and i\Ir. Pemberton-Barnes caught hounds
as they swept over the road and the pastures for Bois Hall. Mr. Waltham,
however, pulled up, having vowed before he started only to go for a few
miles, as he wanted his horse for ^Monday; but had he known how very
soon the deer would be taken he would most certainly have held on. The
whole thing must have been over in about thirty minutes ; the end I did
not see ; having got on the road and being hopelessly out of it, I resigned
myself to my fate. Those, however, who had taken an equally bad turn and
who went galloping on after Messrs. Sworder and Avila, came up in time
for the capture.

Now, from Kelvedon Common, Xavestock, to Galley Hill, Waltham
Abbey, is a far cry ; but at 4.30 I found myself riding to harriers in full
chorus in that country, and learnt all about the day's sport they had had
from their meet at IMead Gate, Nasing, in the early morning. A long
day, with plenty of hares and very little scent until the afternoon, the
common verdict. But, by general consent, a very nice little run over the
grass at the close of the proceedings.

Foxhounds at North Weald. — No scent and no sport in the morning

44 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

owing to a fog, but a capital run in the afternoon from Garnish Hall fagot
stack when the fog lifted ; we listened in keen anticipation for the yap-yap
of the terriers, for given a fox we were pretty sure of a gallop on the grass.
A fox, did I say ? There were two, and if one doubled back into the heap of
sticks when the boys yelled at him, the other, a fine yellow fox, went away
with the Essex lady pack at his heels. Sharp up the hill he turned after
we had cleared the farm buildings and flown the first bank. Mr. John
Tyndale White deftly opened the gate into the next field, a ploughed one,
about the only arable one encountered in the next hot ten minutes, in
which men — eh, and women too (there were twenty-three out) — tackled to
work like schoolboys to play, as taking each fence in their stride they flew
from pasture to pasture.

At the top of the hill, to the right of Coopersale Hall by South's house,
there was a momentary falter — nothing more — before hounds were driving
on again in the direction of Stonard's Farm, down to the brook that runs
by the side of the road (the houndavy line, if I am not much mistaken, of the futiive
urban district of Epping). The gate was locked that led to the bridge. Side-
ways Mr. Sworder's black would go, but look at the creep down place and
jump over the bottom he wouldn't until Mrs. Willie Sewell showed him the
way. Jumping out of the road on to grass again there was time to take
stock of those who had been quickest in this quick thing. Ongar and
Epping were going very strong. Major Carter and Mr. Howel Price leading
a considerable contingent on the right. Mr. and Mrs. Willie Sewell,
'faith ! they were riding as well and keenly across the country as they
did in the hold-fast races of the West Essex and Stansted polo sports.
They, and Mr. Frank Ball, with a clear lead of every one on the left, in
about this order they went in and out of Stew Green Lane, and if the
place into it was bad, the one out with the tree stump half way up the
bank was much worse.

Running close up to Mr. Sam Fitch's house they turned sharp to the
right over the Coopersale road. Running through the policies near the
house, up to the fine, the Mate was off" his horse and had the gate off its
hinges in a trice, but hounds turned back past the Vicarage into the Forest.
Through the Forest and Gaynes Park hounds ran like wild fire, and you
had to keep galloping all the time to keep them in touch as they drove on
through the woods for Beachetts. Running the length of that covert, and
on to Shalesmore, where the run was virtually over — a capital forty-five
minutes — our fox went over the river, viewed by the cottagers near the
ford where we crossed, but hounds never got on terms again, in spite of
the huntsman's bold forward cast to Battle's Hall, which was right
after all.

Mr. Sheffield Neave's Staghounds.

Another Saturday, this time at Bobbingworth windmill, the date
February 15th, the country rapidly drying and banks hardening under the
influence of the abnormal February weather. But all the same a perfect
hunting day, with dull grey sky and a snap of east in the wind sufficient
for scent.

Of course Saturday is not the day par excellence for sport with these
hounds ; you must go out on a Tuesday to see them at their best (let me
once more remind you to pick out your horse), but if you go on a Saturday
you may rely on good fun. You are assured of a gallop ; it may not be
straight, but it will cover a point rarely ever touched by foxhounds in a
season or harriers in a lifetime. Saturday is generally chosen for untried
deer, with the certain result that if they will face the upstanding fences

" DAYLIGHT 45

which are associated with the Saturday country, they are reserved for the
honours of a Tuesday meet.

NoAv, the hind that was enlarged in the grass meadows at the back of
Bobbingworth Hall Farm (Mr. George Brown's), with ordinary luck, is
likely to show some very good sport in the future, for not only did she
evince the strongest dislike to being caught, going on again and again
when we thought she would be taken, but she showed no inclination
whatever to run the road, which latter proceeding, however much it
might have enhanced her value according to report in the eyes of a
M.S.H. over the border, would have found no favour with Mr. Sheffield
Neave.

Ten minutes from the time of laying on the pack (ten couples) we were
down at the river below Nether Hall, Moreton, Mr. Tyndale White acting
as pioneer. Crossing it, she came back in full view, hounds close at her,
for the Blake Hall coverts, and, getting down again to the water, below
Water End Farm, crossed and recrossed before finally going away for
Forest Hall. We had been running just twentv minutes when she broke
back from the Osiers for Mr. Gibson's Farm. Crossing the Truant School-
road she shook off the hounds without any difficulty, bringing them to
their noses before we splashed through the river to the right of Water
End. Running past this farm she turned over the road, and in a few
minutes, after diving through the railway arch, we found ourselves in the
lane above Greensted Wood. Leaving this covert left-handed, she pointed
for Kettlebury Springs, but came along the meadows up to the Ongar
cricket ground, Miss Docwra, as she jumped into the road, having a near
shave of coming down — we had now been running fifty-five minutes, and
the four ladies (Mrs. Upton, Mrs. Frank Ball, Miss Jones, and Miss
Docwra) who had started with us were well up.

The cream of the run as regards the riding part of it may be said to
have been over when we reached Ongar Town, for only those who were
super-keen to see the deer taken cared to follow Mr. Sheffield Neave in the
cold-blooded casts he made to accomplish it. But one man,* who had come
all the way from Glasgow, did not mean to be denied. He was riding one
of his father's best horses, and for him gardens, recreation grounds, rivers,
brick walls, and barbed wire had no terrors, and in at the take he meant
to be. No less keen and equally determined was a youngster! who has
developed into one of the keenest sportsmen in County Essex, and for
slipping off his horse to open an obstinate gate he earns the cake. Three
others complete the list, one of them,| the boldest gate-jumper in Essex,
his latest performance in that line being one on the swing, which brought
him and his horse down ; but merely remarking it would do the beggar
good, he gave him a couple more (not on the swing), immediately after-
wards, I should not mind backing my man for a pony, owners up, against
any other timber-smasher in the county.

The honours, however, of the last twenty minutes of this most excellent
run of two hours certainly rested with " Daylight," who from Ongar Town
to Blake Hall unravelled the line and led up to the take.

'* Long may the hound live so priceless in value
To point out the line when the pack are at fault.
With Daylight in front, we need scarcely remind you,
The sun must go down ere he comes to a halt."

There were no lack of spectators or volunteers to assist at the take in the

* Mr. F. Jones. (He volunteered for the front in '99.)
t Mr. John Tyndale White. (He also volunteered for the front in '99.) % ^^^- I^ocwra.

46

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

deep pond behind the house. The local policeman was all there. Mr,
Millbank, on foot, arrived in time, and as for the maids, with their rosy faces
and snowy aprons, they had quite a field-day. Homeward bound we fell in
with Mr. Barclay's harriers, and learnt that they had had a most excellent
day's sport, killing no less than three hares, a bigger field than usual being
attracted by this popular pack to a popular meet, Thornwood Common, all
of whom were most hospitably entertained by that King of Sportsmen, Mr.
George Hart.

Mrs. Upton and her favourite hunter " Fairyland "

Writing in '97, Mrs. Upton says: — "I have hunted
' Fairyland ' for ten seasons (and well may she have added),
I love him ; I am so grateful to him for the many happy days
he has given me, and hope that only death will part us." Not
to have been fond of a horse like " Fairyland " would have
been a confession that something was wanted that 'twere ill
fortune to have been without. The highest rails, the stiffest
banks, who ever saw " Fairyland" turn aside ? Rarely did he
ever make a mistake. I only remember one in the Kelvedon
country, and with his great pace and extraordinary jumping and

SHROVE TUESDAY, '96 47

Staying' powers, steered by one to whom fear was a stranger, it
was no matter for surprise that when hounds ran hard
' Fairyhind " was a guiding star for those who rode to keep the
first flight in view.

Shrove Tuesday.

By far the best item of news to those not in the know : that the Master-
ship of the Essex Hounds is not to change hands. Seeing the number of
countries that are becoming vacant at the end of the season, we may
heartily congratulate ourselves. For under the present regime we have had
undeniably good sport, and it is to be sincerely hoped, in the interest of
fox-hunting in West Essex, that the two Masters who now carry the horn
will continue to do so for many years to come. It behoves their supporters,
however, in different parts of the country to stir themselves before the
advent of another season in the matter of dealing with the barbed wire,
which is slowly but gradually increasing.

Both our chiefs were out on Tuesday, and also Mrs. Bowlby and Mrs.
Arkwright. Mr. R. Lockwood paid a visit to his old country. I am sorry
that he did not have a better day ; he was mounted on a very good horse
belonging to Mr. E. Ball, who with his brother and Mr. Frank Ball were
among those out. But I may as well give you the list, which with the
near approach of the end of the season is not likely to grow any smaller.
We have only two M.P.'s, I believe, who hunt with our hounds. They are
both doing their duty to their constituents and their country. A member,
however, for one of the northern divisions was with us (Mr. Pease), but he
sails under a different flag to our Unionist members. A fair number of
ladies, if not quite so many as usual, lent grace and charm to the gathering
of the clans : The Misses Blyth (three), the Misses Bowlby (two), Mrs.
Bennett, Mrs. Pemberton-Barnes, Mrs. Bruce, Miss C. Buxton, Mrs. Carter,
Miss Colvin, Mrs. Howard Fowler, Mrs. Neill, Miss Peel, Mrs. L. Pelly,
Mrs. Redwood, Mrs. Sewell, Mrs. Waters. Of the sterner sex we noted
the following representatives : General Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., Mr. Avila,
Mr. Baddeley, Mr. Ford Barclay, Mr, Basham, Capt. Bruce, Mr. C. J.
Bury, Mr. Ralph Bury, Major Carter, Mr. S. Caldwell, Mr. P. M. Evans,
Mr. Howard Fowler, Mr. S. Fitch, Mr. N. Gilbey, Mr. C. E. Green,
Mr. Green (of Todd's Brook), Messrs. Gold (two), Mr. Galloway, Mr. D.
Gregory, Mr. Harrison, Mr. G. Hart, Mr. Hart, jun., Mr. W. Horner, Mr.
Duke Horner, Mr. H. W. Lee, Dr. Love, Mr. Loyd, Mr. R. C. Lyall,
Messrs. Lobb (two), Mr. H. J. Miller, Mr. Morris, Tvlr. Patchett, Q.C., Mr.
A. Peel, Mr. J. G. Pelly, Messrs. Sewell (three), Mr. H. Sworder, Mr.
A. R. Steele and brother, Mr. Swire, Mr. R. S. Tilling, Mr. Todhunter,
and Mr. Waltham.

If those not with us would know what took place on this particular day
I may tell them that we rode briskly and hopefully through the dull dry fog,
which an easterly breeze swept over a country which is rapidly becoming
as parched and adust as a March-dried scene, for the country we rode
through is one of our fairest. No barbed wire lurks in sinuous and deadly
coils, and any moment we expected to be away on the top of a Tattle Bush,
Roydon, Pinnacles, Parndon Hall, Weir Hatch, or Mark Hall fox. In a
bunch we found them at Harlow Park, and came away with a good one
over a delightful country, and we skirmished with a broad front over
pasture and plough when the Latton coverts had been left, as we rode
southwards to Epping. But a good fox made the best of a good start, and
leisurely doubling back through the grass helds behind the local Brewery,

48

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

he threaded his way back over the Bury Farm, while the huntsman was
making a forward and fruitless cast through the Lower Forest.

All this between the hours of i and 2 p.m. For two and-a-half-hours
more we rode the country, and while we rode we gradually chilled, for we
never found again, and gladly we galloped home for the fireside, tea, and
hot muffins, his Reverence on the grey having rather the best of the race in
the final spurt across the Plain.

Rev. G. Ward Saunders on "Cockie"

Thi.s good horse, formerly the property of Mr. Arthur C.
Balloch, came into the writer's possession as a gift (he has
never looked in his mouth), when Mr. Balloch left Essex, on
condition that he found him a kind home. The horse, it will be
admitted, looks fairly contented, but is never so happy as he
was when carrying Mr. Saunders on the one or two rare days
he could snatch with hounds from his busy round of work in
a large London suburb.

The Essex Union.
I am almost afraid to conjecture the number of years that have elapsed
smce I last had the pleasure of a day with this noted pack, but methinks

THE ESSEX UNION 49

that it can have been httle short of ten. Saturday last was not an inviting
day to go out hunting with any hounds, still less to embark on a long
journey in a strange country ; but one's curiosity had been excited, and
appetite whetted, by the graphic and glowing accounts of a wonderful
hunting run of three-and-a-half hours' duration, which had taken place a
fortnight previously from one of the coverts, which it was whispered would
probably be drawn on the day in question. So that it only required the
extra inducement that two of the best sportsmen in the Essex Hunt, one of
whom, Mr. Harry Sworder, had played a prominent part in the big run
already alluded to, intended to have another look at them, to settle one's
determination ; a determination which was not to be shaken by a falling
glass and blue mist, a combination so fatal to scent in the Essex country.

What do you know about scent ? Nobody knows anything about scent,
cries the wise man and the still wiser woman ; but will these wiseacres
kindly make a note of the first good scenting day that comes under their
observation under the conditions named ? Do not mistake them, a
tumbling glass and a blue mist.

Thus it was with a keen appreciation of the situation that found
us at 9 a.m. bowling along behind a swift cob for the meet at Hutton
Checkers, some fourteen miles distant. The rain, which at first came down
in a gentle mist, soon commenced falling in right earnest, but it was warm
and it was welcome, for who but the wiseacres could tell but that on the
dry ground every splash might be so much sticking-plaster for the scent to
cling to.

Has not this month of months for hunting been robbed of neavly all its charm in
our Essex connty ? I am not now alluding to the Union county, which is
always very much wetter than our own, owing to the dry state of the
ground and the non-fulfilment of the old adage, " February fill dyke."

Arriving in good time at the meet in company with a member of the
E.U.H., one, who in former days was a first flighter with the E.H., there
was time to take stock of the hounds and have a chat with the huntsman.
The veriest tyro would soon have discovered what a keen lover of hounds
he was as he pointed with pride to several of his favourites, a young hound,
one of the Pytchley " Paradox " strain particularly taking my fancy. A
beautiful bitch, " Saintless " by name, but with one fault, which I need not
point out, would attract notice on any flags ; but for that one fault she
would never have come into a plough country. Taking the i6| couple
of hounds altogether, they looked as they undeniably are, a lot of real
workmen — the dogs, it was a mixed pack, being fine slashing hounds,
capable of putting in a good hard day's work over the stiff clays of the
Essex Union country. Of course they were a bit fine-drawn, but what
pack is not just now ; hounds, like horses and men, have had no rest, and
as Goddard said, they have been right at it since September.

A liberal ten minutes was allowed for tardy arrivals, and a big batch of
late comers took advantage of what is evidently a recognised custom ; and
a meet, which at first was of the smallest dimensions on our first arriving,
was soon swelled into a gathering of a very respectable size, about a
hundred, by the time we moved off" to draw the first covert.

A good many faces of those who had come out, and who were not to be
deterred by the elements, were familiar to me, but my friend kindly pointed
out all the local celebrities, and this enables me to give you the following
list :— The Master, Col. Hornby ; Messrs. Courage (3), Miss Courage, Mr.
Horton, Mr. Kemble (the Father of the Hunt), Capt. Digby Neave, Col.
Wood and Son, Mr. Craig, Mr. Haydon Corser, Capt. Tufnell, Mr. Hesel-
tine, Mr. Helme, Mr. Barclay, Col. Maguire, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Coverdale,

4 VOL. II

MR. GARDINER AND DR. CARTER OF THE ESSEX UNION 5 I

Dr. Carter, Mr. Whitmore, M.H., Mr. Tweed, Mr. Hilton, Mr. Dalton,
Mr. A. Darby, Messrs. Bligh and Gardiner ; several ladies, including
Misses Johnson, Mrs. and Miss Temperley, Miss Garden.

Within a short distance of the meet hounds were thrown into Ingrave
Hall Wood (the property of Capt. Digby Neave, who is one of the
staunchest preservers of foxes and chief pillars of the Essex Union Hunt),
dashing in with ready eagerness at the huntsman's cheer — a cheer with a
beautiful ring about it, as we could hear for ourselves as it came floating
back to us as we plunged into what appeared to be the main ride of the
covert.

Mr. W. Gardiner is one of the best known men with the Union ; a man,
they tell me, who is always there, be it long or be it short, be it slow or
be it fast, with a perfect knowledge of the country and the line of a fox ; a
good horseman, never jumping unless compelled, no wonder that the broad
of his back is a beacon for so many of the followers of the Union Hunt
when the big dogs are away with a slashing scent over the stiff Essex
Union country. Well, it was Mr. Gardiner who dashed up a side ride, and
it was his halloa, methinks, that so shortly brought the huntsman galloping
back up the hock-deep path, as the hounds flew forward to the cry.

Right about turn, and we struggled out of that ride as best we could,
but the pack had cleared the wood two fields to the good before half of us
were able to set to work to try and catch them over about a bit of the
heaviest going I ever came across. It is a well-known field, I believe, and
would be none the worse if it had a year's sun on it without any rain.
Perhaps it was as well for some of us that scent was not holding, and that
hounds got on the lines of the vixen instead of the dog, otherwise we might
never have caught them. With indifferent scent, the field held well in
hand by the Master, after some most patient hound work the vixen was
run to ground in a drain.

In the way of fencing there was very little to diversify the proceedings,
but one ugly bottom towards the end of this little hunt was first flown by a
gentleman on a fine blood-like chestnut, whom I had previously spotted as
a customer in spite of his silvered hair ; and I envied him his nerve, but
did not wonder at it when I was told the profession he belonged to, looking
every inch a soldier. I am afraid that I must disappoint that warlike
section of our race — which has no warmer admirer than myself — perhaps
incur their wrath, by saying that I cannot recall any soldier with silvered
locks who can carry them to the front like Dr. Carter, who, in his prime,
I am assured, with Saunders and Barker, formed one of a trio who could
hold their own against all comers — quite the " Osbaldistons and Rosses "
of the south.

A long draw in your own country without finding is, of all things, the
most wearisome process known to mortal man, unless you can get up a
flirtation, a thing unheard of in the hunting-field. But, in a strange land,
it offers endless charm and variety to a lover of nature as each minute
opens up some fresh view, some lovely vista of charming woodland scenery.
To an eye never tired of gazing on a fresh landscape what can be more
delightful ; for the country we rode through was not flat, and the chains of
woods, of small dimensions, were nearly all begirt with emerald pastures.
But the fairest scene of all was reserved for the last. The wind had risen
slightly, and upon the eminence we stood upon it made itself felt as we
saw hounds thrown into Bottledown Hill Wood to draw it up wmd. It
was getting late, too, close on 4 p.m., but we cared not ; for the picture we
gazed upon had httle of the flatness associated with the county of Essex or
the vaunted Roothings, and to my mind was infinitely more attractive and
more sporting.

PARK HILL WOOD 53

Standing on the road on the top of the hill, we had a fine uninterrupted
view across the beautiful valley of fair pasture, varied with a few arable
fields that stretched down one long gradual slope of some mile in length, to
flow on and then rise in almost imperceptible gradations until lost on the
distant heights of Laindon Hills, and with only one dark wood set in the
heart of the valley, of size sufficient to give horses their wind (if a fox chose
that line) as they galloped parallel with it with hounds driving forward in
maddening chorus. What a perfect line for a run ! Hearts beat high and
expectations rose at the very thought of such a treat e'en while some of our
party wondered — Mr. H. J. Miller was one — whether we should ever get
there, to that distant church clearly discernible as it cut the horizon in the
far distance. Time passed slowly, but surely. Not a whimper. Few,
if any, of the field had gone home, for those who come out with
the Essex Union are a very keen lot. Not a sign, and with some-
thing like a sigh of despair we waited to see the twin covert on the
adjoining hill drawn before bidding farewell to our sporting neighbours.
How patiently the huntsman had drawn the covert, how well the hounds
worked through it ! We could see them coming on in front of him well spread
out. It was a pretty sight, for, as he rode down one of the deep coombes
in the wood, his pink coat was the only vestige of colour against the purple
and russet-brown of the trees.

Now our hopes rose high at the mention of Park Hill Wood, for it was
said to be a certainty, but at this time of year how often the best coverts
disappoint us ! Leaving the road to follow Mr. Helme to a corner of the
wood, we had scarcely reached it before a scream sent the blood boiling
and leaping through our veins. Like Sail a-hoy ! to a shipwrecked mariner,
so is the scream that proclaims a fox afoot to the ardent fox-hunter, when
covert after covert has been called upon in vain, he reaches the last to be
tried, the forlorn hope. Pasture and plough, up hill and down, divided
this covert from the last one drawn, and parallel with both ran the road,
and to this we made as hounds, with the huntsman close to them, went
flying across.

At the bottom of the deep wood hounds were at fault until Goddard
cheered them over the road, and for a few fields they ran and ran well, and
no one w^ould have headed the huntsman had they run on, for he got to
them like lightning, and the fences that we encountered had few weak
places in them, I can inform you. It was a case of first come first served,
and the fairies help you if anyone got down at the only available spot. It
takes a fair fence to put " the Cat " down, but before the end of the run we
saw him in difficulties as his bold rider pushed him along on his own line.
Were we not on the vixen again ? It looked like it (for we knew a brace
of foxes had been seen in Park Wood), as hounds came back, making a
most curious twist up to Little Burstead church, to turn again and carry on
the line for some distance beyond it, where, as the hour was getting late,
with a ride of some eighteen miles before us, we reluctantly had to leave
Goddard to puzzle it out, but scent has to be very bad and the fox very
wary to escape him.

Essex Union men speak most enthusiastically of their Master and their
huntsman ; the oldest of them affirm that they can never recall such a
good season as the one that is so rapidly approaching a close — a truly
great performance, considering the huntsman has been practically half
the time without the assistance of a first whip owing to illness. Another
fortnight, they say, will see the curtain fall in the Union country. So I
am afraid there is little chance of another day with them. We were much
struck by the order that prevailed in the field, by the care exercised to

54 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

avoid riding over seeds and wheat, and pleasurably surprised at the
scarcity of barbed wire, only one strand being encountered throughout
the day ; but that, we must confess, made our blood curdle, for it was a
veritable death-trap, festooned in a hedge at the right height to catch you,
or your horse across the throat.

Last, but not least, we were exceedingly gratified at the hearty welcome
extended to us by the members of the Hunt, the hunt button of a neigh-
bouring pack being sufficient passport in their eyes for a day, or, perhaps,
two, during a season without bringing out your cheque book. Riding
home we passed Thorndon Hall, the seat of Lord Petre, one of the most,
if not the most, beautiful places we have seen in Essex. Everything
about it old and good ; we did not look in vain for the deer browsing
under the magnificent trees that studded the park.

It was over this park, and the stone wall that surrounds it, that the fox
made his way in the memorable run of two weeks previous. Mr. Sworder
pointed out the line he subsequently took to our wistful visions, but he had
been at it all day. There wasn't a covert, scarce a field, certainly not a
brook, which some time or other in this historic run of three-and-a-half
hours, covering some eighteen miles of country, which they had not crossed.
One brook in particular he could vividly recall, having just got over by the
skin of his teeth ; his two immediate followers, first they would and then
they wouldn't, but, suddenly making up their minds, rushed at it together,
cannoned, went in, and by the sounds he heard Kilkenny cats were not in
it (I don't mean the brook). Home at eight, the longest day for many a
week, but, in spite of the rain, ever to be recalled as a very happy one.

The Essex Point-to-Point Races were held on Saturday, March
7th, at Canes, near Harlow, in anything but propitious weather, for rain
fell steadily from start to finish of the proceedings.

There had been some talk at first of having the races in the neighbour-
hood of Coopersale, but difficulties having arisen in obtaining a course,
Mr. George Hart with his usual generosity and kindness, came to the
rescue and allowed the executive to chose a line over his land, which with
his (Mr. Hart's) matured judgment, they were enabled to do so effectually
that it was acknowledged to be about the best one ever selected for a
point-to-point in Essex, not only from a spectacular point of view, but
from the competitors' point of interest as well.

The starting-place, a grass field touching Harlow Road, commanded
a view of nearly the whole of the course, which ran out for about a mile
and a half to a white flag in the distance ; the competitors being only
hidden from view for about a minute as they dipped over a hill near the
turning point. Most of the carriage folk took up their position in this
field, and although they did their best to conceal their identity with
mackintoshes and umbrellas, we managed to distinguish the following,
viz. : —

Driving. — Mr. and Mrs. Bowlby, Col. Lockwood, M.P., Mr. Robert
Lockwood and party, Mr. Fred Green and party, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald
Buxton and party, Mrs. C. Green, the Misses Jones and Miss Fane, Mrs.
Jump and party, Mrs. Howel Price, Mrs. Ricardo, Mr. and Miss Pearson,
Miss Archer Houblon, Mrs. Carter, Mr. Wahab, Mr. and Mrs. Evans,
Mrs. Crocker, Mr. and Mrs. Flint, Mr. E. Pelly, Mrs. N. Gilbey, Mrs.
Nicholson, Mr. and Mrs. Parkes, Miss Savill, Miss Sewell, Mr. H. B.
Yerburgh and party. Miss and Messrs. Lobb, Lord Rookwood, Mrs.
Mackintosh and the Misses Maitland.

Riding. — Mr. and Mrs. Arkwright, Mr. Baddeley, Mr. George Brown,
Mr. W. Buckmaster, Mr. E. Ball, Mr. and Mrs. R. Ball, Mr. Ford

THE POINT-TO-POINT RACES IN '96 55

Barclay, Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, Mr. Basham, Mrs. Bennett, Mr. R. Y.
Bevan, Mr. and :\Iiss Bagot, the Misses Blyth (3), Mr. A. Blyth, Mr. C. J.
Bury, Mr. G. Buxton, the Misses Buxton (3), Messrs. Carr (2), Major
Carter, Messrs. Christy (2), Mr. Cockett, Mr. C. ColHn, Mr. Cook, Mr.
Crocker, Mr. Dalton, Mr. G. Dawson, Mr. N. Dawson, Mr. and Miss
Docwra, Mr. S. Fitch, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Fowler, ]\Ir. G. Gilbey,
Mr. Newman Gilbey, Mr. G. Gold, Miss Gilbey, Mr. C. E. Green, Miss
M. Green, Mr. Green (Todds Brook), Mr. Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. R.
Hill, Mr. George Hart and Sons, Mr. H. W. Horner, Mr. Hull, jun.,
Miss Jones, Mr. P. S. Lee, Mr. H. W. Lee, Mr. R. C. Lyall, Miss Morgan
and Miss M. Morgan, Mr. Morris, Mr. H. J. Miller, Mrs. Neill, Mr. A.
J. New and two sons, Mr. W. Nicholson, Mr. A. C. Oldham, Mr. A.
Peel and Misses Peel, Mr. J. G. Pelly, Mr. and Mrs. L. Pelly, Mr. H. J.
Price, Mr. E. Ouare, Miss Quare, Mrs. Radford, Mr. H. Savill, Mr. C.
Savill, Mr. and Mrs. W. Sewell, Messrs. G. and A. Sewell, Mr. H.
Sworder, Mr. A. R. Steele and Miss Steele, Mr. D. CunUffe Smith, Mr. J.
Swire, Mr. Tabor, Mr. R. S. Tilling, Mr. Tweed, Mr. Tufnell, Mr.
Tower, Mr., Mrs., and Miss Waters, Major and Mrs. Wilson, General
Sir E. Wood, Mr. Waltham, Capt. Cairns, Dr. Love, Miss Colvin, Mr.
Ridley, Mr. Tossetti, J^Ir. Tresham Gilbey, Mr. Avila, Mr. Caldwell, Mr.
A. Bowlby, Mr. Digby ^Nlaitland, Mr. Single, Mr. Willis, Mr. Roddick,
and Mr. Chapman.

No less than fifteen faced the starter in the red-coat welter for the
ten-pound cup and the laurel leaves, but an additional interest was lent
to this race on its becoming known that two of the most stalwart com-
petitors* had a private match on the result, which was to decide the
merit of their steeds and the temper of their own steel. The amount of
the wager varying from one sovereign to a hundred pounds, more likely
the former, but it cost one of the rivals about ;^2o for outfit, what with
racing togs and saddlery, to say nothing of many hours of severe training
to reduce his weight. This, with lenten fare, how^ever, had the desired
result, and he arrived at the post as fit as a fiddle, and going to scale
very few ounces overweight in his ylb. saddle.

" Duchess," a previous winner of this race two years in succession (last
year she was laid by owing to an accident from barbed wire), was made
a hot favourite. Jumping out of the first field — a ploughed one — over a
small drop, she made a nasty peck ; but her rider, Mr. G. Sewell,
recovering her well, held a straight course of his own on the right,
apparently going too far in that direction. On the left Capt. Ricardo on
his grey shot at once to the front, and began cutting out the work, Mr.
Jones and Mr. Price, still more on the left, laying well up, with Mr.
Pemberton-Barnes between them carving out a strong line of his own.
In something like this order they came down to the brook in a line, and
those who were looking on said that it was about as pretty a sight as you
could imagine, this heavy-weight race, as the eight or nine leaders, piercing
the fences abreast, charged down with a rush and an open front at the
brook and took it in their stride, and few indeed hit it off at a small place.

The truth is that those who picked out the course expected the riders
would come at the brook much more on the left, where it was a much
fairer and easier jump. This plan, however, was entirely frustrated by
the orders given by Lord Rookwood at starting to leave a certain pond on
the left instead of on the right, the consequence being that they all came

* M. H. J. Price and Mr. V. Barclay.

56 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

at the brook in its widest place. The widest place, however, when it
comes to be tested with a tape, grows wonderfully and beautifully less,
and jumps of 25ft., i8ft., and any number of odd inches, are reduced to
something considerably under. We have taken the trouble to run the
foot rule over the string, so speak by the book.

" Duchess " appears to have made about the biggest jump, as, taking off
a good yard before it, she landed easily over the i^^ ft. of space bet-ween the
banks, stiff stubs, 3ft. or 4ft. high on the taking off side, necessitating her
taking off so much in front. Mr. Barnes, under a tree, cleared nearly the
same distance, and others were equally good ; but there was one easy place,
over which the reavguavd blobbed in single file, and this place Mr. Hart, with
ready foresight for the spectators' interests, had promptly made up with
long upright bushes, giving it a most hirsute appearance before the next
race was run, the result being that when Mr. Arkwright, who was following
in the tracks previously made, came at it he had suddenly to swerve to
the right, and this consequently jammed a lot of us together and helped
to bring three down.

Beyond the brook was a teazer, both Mr. George Hart and Mr. George
Brown agreeing that it was as stiff a fence as any in the course, a high
narrow bank offering no purchase, with wide ditch beyond, into the plough,
and rather an uphill run at it. Going round the flag for home, Capt.
Ricardo still held a lead, and only lost it after landing over the last fence,
when he was collared by Mr. Jones — rather bad luck for him after cutting
out all the work. Mr. Jones, however, had a near shave of coming down
on the return journey, his horse only just getting over what at first sight
appeared to be a very wide place in the brook, as it was not bushed up
in front, but on measurement was only 12^ ft. from bank to bank and
14-^r ft. as his horse jumped. It was too much, however, for the next comer,
Mr. Howel J. Price, whose horse, taking off a yard too soon, jumped into
the middle, and this probably lost him his match with Mr. Ford Barclay,
for he had to come out on the wrong side and go at it again. However, I
cannot speak positively about this, for Mr. Barclay had made up his mind
to ride a waiting race, and allowing Mr. Price's horse, who had had just
about enough, to stagger over the last fence in front of him, he came along
with a wet sail, winning fairly easily amid great excitement and roars of
" Go it, Price,'" " Go it, Barclay. '' Mr. R. Hill was third, a place that
"Duchess" would easily have held had she not fallen at the last fence, a
most trappy and dangerous one to have at the finish of a long and
punishing course, up hill, out of plough, ditch to you, and a bank well
lined with stubs. With this exception, as I have previously remarked, the
course was admitted to have been a perfect one.

Mr. Jones's win in the heavy-weight was a most popular, if unlooked-
for, event. That a man about 55 years of age, a J. P., late C.C., and
father of a large family, should succeed in cutting down all the young
bloods, with their silk caps, patent boots, and racing tits, was something
to be proud of. Riding a good, generous animal, one that his daughter
generally hunts, bred in Essex, boasting an Essex sire. Sir W. Gilbey's
" Pedometer," and bought at a sale for a mere song, he was heartily con-
gratulated on all sides, and deservedly so. He rode straight, as he always
does, taking his own line, and won in a common canter. Bravo, Jones !
"for you are about the only one of the Old Guard" who rode in the point-
to-points of thirteen or fourteen years ago who can still keep up the tradi-
tions. For it is a curious fact that of those who did compete in those
days there were only two amongst the twenty-eight riders in '96. Mr.
Pemberton-Barnes was alive, but iiad not commenced riding in point-to-

" SPITFIRE 57

points until some began to think about leaving off. " Truly the old order
changeth, giving place to new."

Riding in the second race, in which thirteen started, one or two things
struck one which I should like to jot down. The first observation applies
equally to both races, viz., the nondescript attire of the competitors. How
is it men are allowed to compete in red-coat races in mufti costume, billy-
cock hats, red or yellow silk caps, brown gaiters, or anything ? It is to be
hoped that the executive will make a note for future occasions, and insist
that pink coats must be worn. If you want a light one, a red serge, which
looks orthodox, only weighs a half-pound. Then may I suggest that it seems
very unfair to allow the same man to ride in the Heavy, Light, and
Farmers' race. To start with, a point-to-point in which you are not

" Spitfire "

supposed to know a yard of the country beforehand is robbed of all its
charm when this is allowed, and a man who has been over the course in a
previous race has an obvious advantage over those who have not. Lastly,
may I submit that if the races cannot be run together, it would be far
better to have the light-weight first. It stands to reason they will not
make so many holes in the fences. It was the holes in the fences and the
tracks of the heavy brigade that caused the light-weights to run so much
together. They started off at a great pace, much too fast to last, Mr.
Caldwell making the running with Mr. Arkwright close at hand. Mr.
Caldwell's horse refused at the third or fourth fence, tlie same where
" Spitfire" whipped round. Mr. Arkwright shot to the front and led round
the flag, being passed by Major Carter as he came round it. What order
they ran in afterwards I am unable to say, for with injunctions not to
ride my mount out if there was no chance of winning, and having been
badly thrown out by three men coming down in front of me at the brook, I
merely cantered round over the course, and a very pretty one it was,
certainly about the stiffest I have ever ridden over in a point-to-point.

58 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

The brook was by no means the worst obstacle that was encountered ;
the bank already alluded to, and another very similar to it beyond the
second brook, required a lot of doing — there being no purchase for a
horse's foot, the lot had to be flown. It ivas a course tvhich a Leicestevshive
horse, who had never seen a hank in his life, would have stood a better chance over
than the ordinary Essex hunter. But they were not the ordinary Essex hunters
that ran in this race, but animals that could hold their own in any country
in England. For I have always maintained that a good Essex hunter can
go in any country; and we all know how quite recently, in the cream of the
cream and shire of the shires, some pretty good prices w^ere bidden for
horses that ran in these point-to-point races, but which although they ran
are not good enough to win.

To continue my description of the course after this long digression, a
rail-guarded fence on the way home near the Cottage would not stand
trifling with, but wanted a leap of some 15 feet to land you clear over the
ditch on the far side. The bank out of the Cottage lane before holes were
knocked in the fence on the top of it by the heavies was no trifle, and
ripped up the girths of Mr. Price's horse as he grazed the stifif stakes on
the top of it. The brook on the way home was nothing if you hit it off
where a man waved his cap to show the line. (Who was he, and why
was he allowed to do it ? Mr. Hart was very indignant, and quite right
too. As he says, you don't expect to take your nurses out with you when
you are riding in a point-to-point.) The biggest jump of the whole day
was, unfortunately, attended with fatal results to Mr. Audley Blyth's grey :
his horse, landing on a hard mound, broke its leg, and had to be shot,
after having cleared a carved-out ditch about 20 feet in width— 25 was
actually measured from where he took off" to where he landed.

In the Farmers' Race, in which both classes (heavy and light) ran
together, only eight came to the post, and of these only four passed it on
the homeward journey. Mr. Avila came down three times, and Major Carter,
as he lay on the ground, had a most narrow escape of being jumped on by
Mr. Theodore Christy, who, as usual, won the welter on " Chinaman." Mr.
Arkwright did the regular thing for the third time of asking on Mr.
Milbank's " Sir Frederick," making no less than a total of eight point-to-
POiNTS to his credit— and when he has not been first he has been second —
a good performance. If he goes on at the same rate with luck, by the time
he is Mr. Jones's age he may have added yet another 30 to the total —
unless he retires in order to give someone else a chance.

"Spitfire," the property of Major H. A. Carter, R.A., is a
grey gelding by " Torpedo," by " Gunboat," dam by " Polestar,"
Bred in Ireland in 1887, he won the Essex Hunt Lightweight
Point-to-Point in 1894, the Fox Hunters' Plate, Harlow, United
Hunt Plate, Colchester, the same year, and the Essex Hunt
Club Cup, Harlow, in 1895 ; owner up each time. As game a
little horse as ever looked through a bridle, he was a pretty
warm member with hounds the first time or two the Major rode
him, and no one without his owner's determination (you do not
meet many of them) would have cared to tackle him.

"Sir Frederick" by "Quits," dam by "Zouave." This
half-bred brown gelding, standing 15.2^, by the merest chance

SIR FREDERICK

59

did not join the cab ranks, being purchased by Mr. Milbank,
at St. Martin's Lane, in 1892. ''He came in for some hunting
and chasing instead. That the horse was fairly successful as
a chaser the^'followino- brief record will show :

Sir Frederick" with owner, Mr. Thomas Milbank, up.

1893.

2nd. Farmers' Point-to-Point at Ridden by Mr. A. Tweed.
Stondon.
Farmers' Race at Rundells ... „ Mr. Carroll.

Galleywood „ Mr. Tippler.

1894.
ist. Farmers' Pt.-to-Pt. Easton... Ridden by Mr. H. R. B.

Tweed.

6o

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

2ncl. Roothino- Plate Ridden by Mr. G. Marsh.

,. Farmers' Race Gcilleywood... ,, Mr. H. R. B.

Tweed,

1895.
I St. Farmers' Pt.-to-Pt. Hioh Ridden by Mr. L. Ark-
Roothino-. wright.

,, Farmers' Pt.-to-Pt. at R. A. Ridden by Mr. L. Ark-
Races, North Weald. wright.
And the same year, ridden by Capt. Bruce, ran a dead
heat with "Evokition" for 3rd pkice in Roothing Pkite
at Harlow.

1896.

I St. Planners' Pt.-to-Pt. Rundells Ridden by Mr. Arkwright.

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V J— — fc

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"Bright Light"

This splendid hunter, a grey gelding by "Gaston Light," was
bred in Ireland, where he won many races ; he has also won
several times in England. He was an extraordinary performer
over any country, the best, Mr. Blyth declares, he ever rode.
He won the Essex Union Point-to-Point two years in suc-
cession, and was leading the heavy weights in the Essex Hunt
Point-to-Point at Rundells, in 1896, when he broke his leg.

" THE ACTRESS

6i

This chestnut mare (Irish) by " Play Actor"- — " Buttercup,"
by " Haymaker," was purchased by Mr. Blyth at Dubhn Horse
Show, and steered by him to victory in the Essex Hunt Cup
at the Rundells races in 1896, carrying i2st. y\h., and beating
amongst others "Catapult," "Twilight," "Joan," "Eastern
Lady," and " Spitfire," all winners. She only stood 15. i, and

Audley Blyth* on "The Actress"

was a very hard puller both hunting and chasing. Mr. Blyth,
who is as fond of hunting as any member of the sporting family
to which he belongs, has had his Butter in the Shires, and can
always fill in a bit of spare time with his gun, for he is a keen
shot. His habit of holding his gun in a different way from
most men saved him from having his fingers blown off in
February, 1897 ; the gun burst, and his forearm, though very
badly hurt, was luckily not permanently injured.

* Mr. Audley Blyth joined the Duke of Cambridge's Own, and sailed in the " Dungevan
Castle " on February 17th, 1900. — Ed.

62 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Appended is a full list of the runners, the places of the first three only
being given : —

The Essex Red-Coat Welter Race. Fifteen started.

Mr. H. E. Jones's Colonel ... ... ... ... ... ... Owner i

Capt. Ricardo's General Banks ... ... ... ... ... Owner 2

Mr. R. D. Hill's Waterproof Owner 3

Mr. George Sewell's Duchess ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Mr. F. G. Barclay's Conquest ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Mr. Howel Price's Rafter ... ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Major Carter's Beefeater ... ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Mr. Pemberton Barnes's Bay Boy ... ... ... ... Owner o

Mr. W. Buckmaster's Speculator ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Mr. A. BIyth's Bright Light Owner o

Mr. L. R. Carr's Meteor ... ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Mr. G. Gold's Ploughboy ... ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Mr. G. Gilbey's Ruby ... ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Capt. Tufnell's Pig ... ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Mr. C. K. Carr's Buccaneer ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

The Essex Red-Coat Light-Weight Race. Thirteen started.

Mr. E. S. Bowlby's Catapult ... ... ... Mr. Loftus Arkwright i

Mr. W. Dalton's Cypriot ... ... ... ... ... ... Owner 2

Mr. Hubert BIyth's Pitlockie Mr. W. Buckmaster 3

Mr. R. Y. Bevan's Squire Mr. S. Caldwell o

Mr. W. Tower's Yokohama ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Major Carter's Spitfire ... ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Mr. R. D. Hill's Eastern Lady ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Mr. J. Swire's York ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Mr. A. Tweed's Tap ... ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Capt. Cairn's Priestess ... ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Mr. T. Tabor's Roscoe ... ... ... ... Mr. Tabor, jun. o

Col. Lockwood's Snap-shot ... ... Mr. Beauchamp Yerburgh o

The Farmers' Cup. Eight started. Heavy weights.
Mr. T. Christy's Chinaman ... ... ... ... ... Owner i

Mr. Avila's Marquis ... ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Mr. J. Newman's Conundrum ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Light weights.
Mr. T. Milbank's Sir Frederick ... ... Mr. Loftus Arkwright i

Mr. S. Young's Widow Mr. H. Young 2

Mr. T. Christy's Chequebook Mr. E. Christy 3

Mr. H. Sworder's Crow ... ... ... ... ... ... Owner o

Mr. Avila's Cigarette ... ... ... ... ... Major Carter o

A Day on the Grass.
Riding on with some kindred spirits to the meet at Epping Long Green,
we remarked that we had to go back quite a month to recall a single run
with fox hounds that had had the smallest sparkle or vivacity in it — "the
luck of fox hunting," for we had evidently been ovit on the wrong days.
But one good day will make amends for many indifferent ones, and we shall
always recall with pleasure this day on the grass. Orange Wood used to be
as full of foxes as the pomum aurantium is of pips, but years of late have
found it as bloodless as the boiled fruit itself. No one anticipated a find in
the yellow grove, still less that a brace were in hiding when hounds were
thrown in at 11. 15. One of these broke at the keeper's end, and with the
Master's cry, " Ware wheat ! " ringing in our ears, we galloped the cart track

A DAY ON THE GRASS

63

down hill three abreast to the halloa at the bottom of the wood to find
hounds flinging forward with a good scent on the grass by Chambers Farm,
and the big drop fence, and on to the Cobbin Brook. Fords are not
numerous over this historic stream between the Keeper's house and the
Bury road. But the Mate hit off one on the right, and another native of
these parts, heeding not the naughty swear words of a kindred spirit who
had viewed the fox making tracks by the brookside, plunged through another
on the left, followed by Captain Cairns and one or two more, only to have
to retrace their steps almost immediately, while the right-hand division,
headed by the huntsman, made a wide detour to outflank hounds in their
supposed flight to the Warren.

Epping Long Green

Sans huntsman and first whip, Easterby did fugleman, and laid the
hounds on the line of the fox, who headed in his second point over the
Bury road, retraced his steps to Orange Wood, where, being baffled once
more at the Nasing side, he awaited Bailey's directions, and it need scarcely
be added that he received a notice to go at once. This time he succeeded,
crossed the Bury road, and led us over a very pretty country — over the
land of that good sportsman and friend of hunting, I mean Mr. Kemsley,
who, though a non-hunting man, hasn't a yard of barbed wire on his farm —
and brought us along at a fair pace to Maries Farm. Why did the Mate's
horse whip round en route and block the way ?

Horses were smoking-hot when we drew rein at Maries Wood, for the
day was muggy and warm to a degree, and the country after the recent
heavy rains rode very heavy.

Everyone was on the dart in this little burst, but no one jumped on a
hound, and the huntsman was given a very free hand for his cast, as the
Master held the key to the situation in the narrow bridle-gate at the corner

64

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

of Maries Wood. Copped Hall keepers in luck. A brace (foxes not keepers)
in Orange \Vood, and another in the adjoining covert of Ball Hill, ought to
frank them to the keepers' dinner. Headed by the vociferous shouts of the
tenant of this farm — "Gill's Farm" — the fox broke away on the opposite
side, past the Homestead; and hounds simply flew over the grass to the
Keeper's Lodge, and only those who put on the break as hounds streaked
down the two long, narrow meadows by the side of the spinney, or who
followed immediately those who retraced their steps when the fox doubled
back, could claim to have seen any more of this run, for from this point
there was no time to dwell a moment, no time to open a gate. As hounds

Donald Gregory on "Kathleen"

raced over the pastures by Hunter's Hall fences came thick and fast.
After you, if you please, Miss Buxton, over the blind ditch and rotten tree-
stump on the far side ; and again by leave, after you, over the fence,
out of the stackyard, and a merry race over the next three fields to the
Gregory -nun -Cook corner, for this is where one of them came to grief, I
am told. Certainly the ditch was wide and the landing boggy by that
cottage in Hunters Hall Lane. One after the other and the upstanding
corner one, Mr. Chapman, if you would miss a couple and have the next
after — Jack, Bailey, and Mr. Jones — and find the Heavies, as represented by

DONALD GREGORY 65

Messrs. Howel Price, Barclay, and the Admiral, coming back to you as the
pace began to tell on them. Where was the Mate ? I saw him ahead of
everyone else in the ridge and furrow field by Hunters Hall, but now I
scanned the leading dozen in vain. As they leave Nasing Coppice in the
same field with hounds, the Admiral can be seen driving his generous black
to the front, and, stealing quietly along, note INIajor Carter and Mr. Jones
keeping a bit up their sleeves as running from scent to view (how black
and dirty, he looked so bright and glossy seventeen minutes before), hounds
fairly ran into their fox in the farm yard at Harolds Park. A brilliant
burst that admitted of no shuffling with the fences.

Mr. Gregory takes his day a week, and enjoys it in that
thorough way which only those who work hard can fully appre-
ciate. Fox, stag, or hare, whichever comes handiest, suit him
equally well, for he loves his gallop as much as he does a good
cigar between his teeth, or a good horse between his knees,
and that he generally has the latter he in no small measure
owes to his professional experience, for he has charge of the
veterinary department of one of our largest London Tram
Companies, and can spot a good horse directly he sees him.

Galley Hills.— A brace at least on foot, the first, and the best, away with
too good a start to warrant anyone jumping the hurdles, with bar on top,
en route to Deer Park, but leisure enough for the Admiral to remove it,
and Mr. Newman Gilbey to demolish all that remained to our general
satisfaction. All these years, and you don't know Deer Park yet ! Tuck-
ing your head in, and driving forward in a silk hat, will never extricate you
if you hit it off at the wrong place. The "Open sesame" to this covert
is follow the Mate. He has done the trick every time this season from
whichever side hounds have attacked it. The huntsman may prove a
will-o'-the-wisp, as I shall show^ by-and-by. Right or wrong mattered not,
the fox had gone, and if you ask what became of him, I can only add, don't
know, but can give you a lot of, perhaps, unnecessary information about the
Nasing Coppice customer we found at 4 p.m.

With ranks diminished we reached the muddy corner of this snug
covert, and awaited with the keenest anxiety the result of the last draw for
the day. At least two horsemen were very keen, if their one-shay comrades
were shaky, and there could be little room for doubt to which contingent
they belonged, when, at the first whimper of hounds in covert, the rush
took place at the muddy exit, which admitted of only one at a time going
through. 'Faith, the double-harvel men, if you like XX, got vastly the best
of it. None, however, dreamt that absolutely the first pull, if you'll just
except that chuck of the curb rein near Harolds Park, that they would get
at their horses would be the bridge over the Cobbins brook at Warlies, and
there wasn't time to remove the hanging bush from " Sheila's" tail."'' _ To Deer
Park hounds simply raced, the Mate going for his old corner with a few
others, w^hile those who followed Bailey into the covert, including Mr. C.
E. Green and Major Wilson, had to tread in and out of stubs for some time
before they could strike the comparatively clear space, where even then the
overhanging boughs switched them in the face as they galloped forward
after the huntsman, who, like a 2inll-o'-the-wisp, had disappeared (you cannot
compete with a huntsman in threading a covert).

* Mr. W. Sewell's chesnut mare.
C VOL. II

66 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

As hounds crossed the road below Deer Park he was with them, so
was the Mate, Mr. Barclay, Mr. Peel and his daughter, as without going
into Shatter Bushes hounds flew past it and over a wide ditch at the
bottom, and in a straight line over the next fence rode the leaders, Mr.
Peel and Miss Peel, Mr, Grossman (who was riding a lovely little black
horse, one of his father's breeding, with " Gladiateur's " blood in his veins),
and Mr. Ford Barclay. Those who went for the gate found it locked, Bailey,
didn't they ? but caught hounds at the brook and the bridge, and a very
compact and select little band it was, who, led by Mr. Buxton, clattered
over its wooden rafters. Warlies Park as usual carried a capital scent, and
hounds flung forward at a pace sufficient to show that the Master's grey was
tiring, for as we rose the hill he began to fall back.

Just a hover in the road beyond the park, just a glimpse at the newdy
plastered razor-bank well bushed on the top, just a gleam of a bold black-
and-tan dog with waving stern plunging into the briary depths of the bank
a yard or two beyond, just a sight of " Sheila's" tail, and her rider landing
well over the bushed-up gate, the only tveak place in the fence, into the next
field ; and then we galloped up the road for Mr. Peel^s corner, the worst
of the lot, high, narrow, with drop beyond well covered with strong tree-
roots and briary growth. The bank, without its blind ditch, wanted doing,
and if it was the worst fence that we had met with in the run, not a man
or lady who arrived at that point sheered away from it. Still better, as
far as one could make out, no one fell at it, and fifteen minutes from the
time we had found at Nasing Coppice we concluded that the gallop was
over, as on a former occasion, when the fox gained sanctuary at this very
spot.

Bailey lost his fox here ; he says so himself. Thinking he had gone to
ground, he neglected to make one of his bold forward casts, and lost a
valuable five minutes, only, perhaps, to give us a better hunt, as hounds
worked forward for another twenty-five minutes. Passing by Mr. C.
Webster's farm, another of our good-hearted hunting friends, warm-hearted
and generous to a degree — everyone has a good word for Charlie Webster.
Why certain gentlemen, including the hard-riding parson, got into a kitchen
garden need not be told ; but that he and our popular secretary came out
poorer by 2s. apiece is now a matter of history. Up the steep hill through
Riddens Grove, piloted by Mr. C. E. Green, and cheered by glad note of
hound, we climbed to its rim, and, jumping over the rabbit-burrowed bank,
found that hounds were turning away again from the forest to embark on
the small enclosures behind Copped Hall Green, sink the hill for Spratts
Hedgerow, and cross en route two roads, each of which was a delusion and
snare, O Mate, to entice you away from hounds and the leads of Mr. Harry
Sworder's bold jumping black, as the Cobbins Brook, again spanned by
handy bridge, came to view.

Quite as fast as we could ride to them hounds drove forward up hill by
Mr. Nicholls' plantation, and on to Shatter Bushes, the rails in the corner
the only place for those who went with them. The huntsman and Mr.
Sworder flew them together, Mrs. Sewell and Mr. Green followed without
raising a splinter, but Mrs. Sewell's horse was getting blown, and two
fences further on sat doimi like a dog in a blind ditch to recover his wind, the
first and only time, she tells me, that she has ever got to the bottom of
" Jack." Hounds had now worked close up to their fox, for he was seen to
crawl into Deer Park dead-beat. Running through it, one hound gave
tongue over the Galley Hill green lane, and we almost decided to draw lots
to see who should go forward, for all horses were getting done. The
Huntsman, however, borrowed Jack's horse and got forward, for out of

WILLIAM NICHOLSON 67

his own he couldn't get a kick. In Galley Hills the Master viewed the
beaten fox, but hounds could make nothing of it, much I fear, to Mr.
Peel's chagrin, for I think he would dearly have liked his daughter to have
had the brush, which she had so well earned. Certainly she is one of the
best riders to hounds I have ever seen, and in her skill in crossing a
country reminds me very much of ^vliss Bagot's prowess when she hunted
with us. But good rider as Miss Peel undoubtedly is, she will pardon my
saying that her father is better, and I quite believe what is told of him,
that at one time he was the hardest man in Inland, for at the present moment
— bar Mr. Sheffield Neave — he is the hardest man in Essex, and if you
would know his age you must turn to Debrett, for from his appearance
you would never guess it.

Very few went to the bitter end, though several of us came to the end of the
bitter which Mr. Christie so kindly proffered us as we rode homewards past
his house — Mr. Sworder having to go at a very sober pace on a lame horse,
which, having carried him brilliantly all day, had the misfortune to run a
thorn into his knee. I would mention one lady who never left hounds, and
always had a good place when they ran — Miss Colvin, the sister of the
Squire of Monkhams, whose Galley Hill coverts always harbour a fox.
Mr. P. S. Lee and Mr. Cook were among the very select few who
managed to see it out on one horse apiece.

It is with the keenest regret, and deepest sympathy with those that he
has left behind, that I have to record the almost tragic death, in its appal-
ling suddenness, of a man well known in the hunting field with the Essex
Hounds, IMr. William Nicholson, who, although he had only recently taken
up his residence at Theydon Grove, had lived and hunted in Essex all his
life. Out hunting on Saturday last, and again the following Monday, no
word or hint of any pain or ailment escaped his lips as he rode homewards
with three or four of us that Monday evening (his last ride), and, to all
appearance in perfect health, bid us farewell. The next night he was a
corpse. A man of a shy and retiring disposition, he courted no spurious
popularity, but he earned everyone's respect — for he was a bold and fearless
rider of undaunted courage, a man of his word. In the short time in \\hich
he had liv'ed in Epping, people saw enough of him to realise that they have
lost a good friend. A liberal supporter of all local institutions, one of his
last acts was to send a subscription to a fund being raised for a working
man stricken down by disease.

" But, hush I through the woodland the night- wind is stealing;
The whisper of death passes over the plain ;
The moon in her glory is softly revealing

The fields he may never ride over again." Phillpotts Williams.

A snapshot at William Dalton on "The Clown" jumping a hurdle.

CHAPTER III.

William Dalton — James Chvisty — ^^ Narcissus " — " Comet " — G. H. Lee — '■'■ Rosa-
belle" — Boh Ward — Mr. Parry — Loftus Avkwright — Sam Block — P. Saun-
ders— " Needle Gun " — Washington Single — " May Morn " — Once Too Often
— '' Stella" — The Bycullah Meeting — William Symonds^J. Wilson, V.S.
- — '■^Volunteer'' — G. Bell Grippev — '■'■Romeo''' — Seymour Caldwell — '■'Ele-
vator"— A Big Jump — ^' Paddy" — Alfred Kemp — ^'Killarney" — ^^Harle-
quin"— Blachnorc — Edward T. Mashiter, M.F.H. — '^ Rylstonc" — Mr. and
Mrs. Howel J. Price — Mrs. Neill — Cub Hunting in 1896 — Matching Green
— Kirhy Gate — A Young Man s Country — Col. and Mrs. F.J. Fane — ^^ Royal
Chieftain" — '■'Ruby" — A Gallop over the Grass from Latton Park — Mr.
Stacey to the Front — Mrs. Carter's Escape — Check but not Checkmate — Getting
to the bottom of three horses — Mr. Bosley takes the Fox from the Hounds —
Ridley's Gorse—Mr. Swire Escapes a Watery Grave — Miss M. Green and her
horse " Comet" — The Advice of the Veteran — Sportsmen All.

MR. JAMES CHRISTY, whose portrait is here given, on
one of his favourite hunters, " Narcissus," a chestnut
mare (of which more anon) bred by himself is well known to
all followers of hounds in Essex, whether fox or stag, but
particularly the latter.

Born at Boyton Hall Farm, in 1845, which his father had
held under Lord Petre since 1836, he early imbibed a love
of the chase, for although his father was a very keen
agriculturist, and has, we believe, the credit of being the
first to introduce steam ploughing into Essex, he was at
the same time a keen sportsman, very fond of a day's hunting
or shooting. It will not surprise anyone, therefore, to know
that the staghounds met regularly three times a season
at Boyton Hall during the masterships of Mr. Frederick
Petre and the late Mr. Henry Petre, nor that the subject of
our memoir at a very early age became a keen stag-hunter ;

JAMP:S CHRISTY

69

in fact, he may be said to have been born one. At 18
years of age — to be more precise, in 1863 — Mr. James Christy
began to hunt regularly with the staghounds and was of
considerable assistance to the late Mr. Henry Petre, not only
in the field but in keeping his deer for him at Writtle, where
as a tenant of Lord Petre's he had lived since 1868. A keen
and bold rider to hounds, there are few better judges of a
horse in the county, and numerous are the prizes {over sixty

James Christy on "Narcissus"

besides "high commendations") he has won in the show
ring. "Narcissus" and "Comet," whose portraits are here
given, fairly typify the class of animal Mr. Christy goes
in for. " Narcissus," a chestnut mare by " Ringleader," dam
"Daffodil" by " Mainstone," was bred by Mr. Christy.
Possessing immense power in her back and loins, with good
legs and feet (as all Ringleaders had) she was a very fine

70

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

fencer and very fast, though a little hot and impetuous.
She was sold as a five-year old to Mr. Hames, of Leicester,
who, when he saw her, remarked that although he had no
room for eighteen horses which he had just purchased in
Ireland, he would build another stable rather than lose one
like her. She was afterwards sold for a high price and
went into the North of England.

" Narcissus."
1888, 1st prize as best foal with her dam at the Essex
Show at Ilford.

Comet'

1888, I St prize at Sir T. B. Lennard's Show at Belhus.

1890, I St prize for best two-year old hunter, Sir T. B.
Lennard's Show, Belhus.

1892, 2nd prize for best four-year old class, Essex Show at
Harlow.

1892, 2nd prize in hunting-mare class with foal at foot,
at the Royal Counties Show, Tunbridge Wells.

1892, 2nd prize in hunting-mare class, Suffolk Show.

1893, ^''t prize as 13 stone hunter, Essex Show at
Romford.

1893, 2nd prize as 14 stone hunter, Essex Show at
Romford.

G. HERBERT LEE

71

1893, 2nd prize as 14 stone hunter, Norfolk Show.

1893, 2nd prize as 14 stone hunter, Suffolk Show.

"Comet," a bay gelding-, 16 hands, by " Brilliant," dam by
"Chit Chat," was purchased in Ireland as a four-year old,
and hunted by Mr. Christy for three seasons, when he
was bought by Mr. E. Ball, and carried him brilliantly for
two seasons, coming to an untimely end by eating yew when

G. Herbert Lee on "Rosabella"

out for a summer's run. Up to 15 stone with a lot of
quality, he was clever as a cat and could gallop. Just
before Mr. Ball bought him he was sold to Captain Gordon
Cunard for 300 guineas, but he was spun by his vet. as
having a slight bursular enlargement of the knee which
never affected him.

" Comet,"

At the Suffolk Agricultural Show at Lowestoft, ist prize
for best 14 stone hunter.

']2 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Also champion prize for best hunter in the show.

1890, at the Essex Show held at Chelmsford, ist prize in
14 stone hunter class ; ist prize in 13 stone hunter class.

Also champion for best hunter in the show.

Mr. Lee's experiences date back from the year 1867-68
at a time when Wilson was just giving up the horn to Dobson
and Dick Christian, who, in his capacity as first whip, was
almost as keen and good a rider as his celebrated namesake.
Then Bob Ward's voice was making the Hertfordshire wood-
lands ring with its musical notes, and Mr. Parry, said to
possess the ugliest hunter and best hounds in England, was
holding sway over the Puckeridge country.

Mr. Lee was present — in fact, riding just behind — when the
late Mr. Arkwriorht, walkino- over the ditch leading out of the
covert now belonging to Mr. Gerald Buxton, near Theydon
Green, met with the unfortunate accident from which he never
recovered.

Mr. Lee recollects how, from 1868 to 1872, Mr. Sam Block
used to cut out the work, especially over timber, being ably
seconded by Mr. Ede, a thorough wntleman and trentleman

, I'll 00 o

rider ; while the memory of many a long hack home with his
eldest brother Arthur B. Lee, the celebrated Anthony Trollope
and Mr. Borwick, who had not then become so enamoured of
salmon fishing— yrt;f/7/> est descensus — comes back to him as we
discuss old times. That I cannot reproduce a portrait of Mr.
Lee's well known mare " Polly," is a matter for regret, for she
has a history worth recording. Bought, in 1885, from Mr.
Bristow, the well-known dealer, of Basingstoke, and an "honest

Mil O '

one at that, she was nearly thoroughbred, a quick and clever
fencer that did not know how to refuse : and though a delicate
feeder, she hunted, if occasion required, as often as four times
in eight days. At the end of March, 1886, in a sharp fifteen
minutes from Parndon Woods to Maries, when Lord Charles
Beresford and " Billy White" (who jumped the hand gate out
of Parndon Woods) were going very strong, Mr. Lee had the
misfortune to land on the stump of a tree as he jumped out
of a small paddock near Epping Long Green, and over-
reached his mare so badly that a week later tetanus (then
very prevalent) set in, and for five weeks the mare hung in
slings, being fed on malt wort, raw eggs and milk. Though
the spasms relaxed for a time every thirty-six hours, she
was constantly given up by the veterinary, Mr. W. F. Tegg ;
once the knacker was sent for; but being a sensible man he was
taking a holiday like other good folks on Easter Monday, and

NEEDLE GUN

luckily, as the sequel showed, was unable to come. The mare
lived to carry Mr. Lee two more seasons, but developino;
chronic laminitis, owing- to having been kept so long in slings,
she had to be destroyed. Thoucrh a charmino- hack, she had
no likmg for harness, and on one occasion tried to jump
the park palings at Warlies, with the trap behind her.

Needle Gun (Property of P. Saunders)

Mr. James Christy, Mr. H. E. Jones and Mr. E. Tufnell,
and a host of others, w^ill tell you that this grand thoroughbred,
a brown gelding, by "Gunboat," standing 15.3, was the best
and fastest horse that ever went well with stag hounds in
Essex : and undoubtedly he was in the palmy days when
Mr. Phil Barker, Mr. James Christy and Mr. P. Saunders were
a triumvirate, hard to beat or match. In speaking of his
performances, his owner, Mr. Saunders, is modest, and makes
light of the Dunmow railway gates incident, remarking that
they were low ; jumping on to the line over the rail by the side

74 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

of the first gate, " Needle Gun " broke it, and hitting the other
gate with his knees, he blundered so badly that his owner had
to part company. Mr. Saunders goes on to remark that "in
my day we used not to jump timber in Essex, and any one that
came out and jumped a few of the very low gates found in the
Roothings was put down as a wonder. The best thing about
the horse was his capacity for going through the dirt,* and in
my day there was a lot of steam plough ; after a field or two
of this he could always put himself at the head of affairs." Mr.
Saunders further adds that in his opinion "the staghounds of
fifteen (?) years ago went a great deal faster than they do now
— forty-five to sixty minutes, no stopping them, and about
thirty minutes of it best pace was what they called a ' clinker ; '
and if the days were short few of the horses wanted any more
after forty-five minutes." Before "Needle Gun" had ever seen
a fence, let alone been over one, Mr. P. C. Barker, who
eventually sold the horse to Mr. Saunders, gave ^loo for him,
and got eleven falls the first day he rode him. the horse
showing temper and running through his fences.

Mr. Washington Single is here represented on " May
Morn," one of his three best known hunters with the Essex
Hounds, the others being " Once too Often " and " Stella," of
whom more anon.

" May Morn " won the second jumping prize at the Essex
Agricultural Show, when it was last held at Waltham Abbey,
being ridden on that occasion by Mr. P. Tippler. She was a
nervous mare with the lightest of mouths, and, in fact, was just
the kind of animal on which many a man would have been
turned out of the ring at starting. A delightful mount in a
quick thing, she never made the least fuss or fault at a big
fence, and was away on landing in a style peculiarly her own
that was truly fascinating to witness ; for one possessing so
much quality, she galloped high, consequently was by no means
a fast mare, but she could jump on the shortest notice and go
the shortest way.

"Once too Often," another of Mr. Single's favourites,
was bought at Messrs. TattersalFs out of a stud of the Hon.
Hugh Lowther's, now Lord Lonsdale, by a well-known man on
the borders of the Essex country and returned on the ground
that he was suffering from mud fever and in too weak a
condition to be capable of being hunted. There was no
doubt at the time that the objection would have held good,

* He had the best of shoulders.

WASHINCxTON SINGLE

75

and at the subsequent auction he became Mr. Single's
property; this was in February, 1874. He soon began to
recover from the malady, which entirely disappeared with his
summer's rest. Washing- his leos was avoided, and thus the
disease never reappeared. He was a thoroughbred chestnut,
with beautiful shoulders and the prettiest of blood-like heads ;
being somewhat long and leggy, he was more of a race-horse in
appearance than a cross-country conveyance. He was a
charming hack, once carrying Mr. Single from Blackmore

Washington Single on "May Morn"

High Woods to Tottenham after a hard day's hunting. He
was the first past the post for the first Roothing cup ever run
at Rundells ; this was at a time when every horse running
under G.N.H. rules had to have a certificate lodged at
Messrs. Weatherby's in order to show that they had been
regularly hunted ; this he had been for more than the neces-
sary time with the Essex Hounds, but the certificate not having
been sent in, he was perforce disqualified ; it was, of course,
duly lodged the following week ; he fell at the fence in the dip
of the hill, but Mr. Single did not part company. His next

1^

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

appearance was at a meeting held at Bycullah Park, Enfield,
which lasted two days. The Steeplechase course is now
entirely built over ; at that time the Bycullah meeting" was
quite a little Croydon, and it was here that "Once too Often "
probably ran his best race. Nine faced the starter. " Lucy,"
a mare with a long list of winning brackets to her name, was
made favourite ; her jockey caught hold of the back of the
saddle at every fence; just as Mr. Single was getting on terms

William Symonds

with her (she was leading); "Once too Often" failed to pull
himself together, and coming down heavily at the last fence,
turned a complete somersault, and where he fell he remained
for some minutes, but was only blown and got up uninjured.
The winning jockey was by no means the inexperienced man

WILLIAM SYMONDS ']']

his seat would have indicated, for he afterwards won the
National on " Austerlitz," riding- in precisely the same manner.

We now come to "Stella," the third of Mr. Single's that
possessed a turn of speed. She was a bay by " Cavendish,"
with bad shoulders, hard wearinof legs, slack loins, and had a
nappy temper. She won the Roothing Cup and Towcester
Town Plate in 1883, in the same week after running second in
a race at Sandown Park, which unenviable place she occupied
on three other occasions.

William Symonds, from his earliest days, has been asso-
ciated with the Sport of Kings. Born at Woodford in 1832,
he went regularly with Mr. Vigne during school holidays in
the early forties. 1848 saw him in Leicestershire enjoying
many a day with the Ouorn under Sir R. Sutton, and two
years later following- stag once a fortnight in Norfolk, and
filling up spare time with the West Norfolk Harriers, after-
wards with the Essex and Suffolk, Carrington Nunn's East
Essex, and R. Marriott's, with an occasional day with the
Queen and Mr. Garth's in Berkshire. In 1856 Mr. Symonds
settled at Lambourne, and knew all the Masters of the Essex
Hunt to date. Twenty years later he removed to North
Weald, where he earned the gratitude and goodwill of all who
followed the fortune of hounds in that part of Essex, by the
liberal way he supported hunting whether fox, stag or hare.
Mr. Symonds has prepared the courses and acted as clerk at
all the Rundells meetings ; he has also set out and been flag
pointsman at eleven point-to-point chases in different parts of
the Essex Hunt country. We only wish we could add that
fortune had smiled more kindly on one who, embarking a
large capital in farming operations at a time when things
looked rosy for the agriculturist, had to sit down under a long
lease and high rent and face it out.

We wish we could add the portrait of Mr. J. Wilson, V.S.,
of Enfield, the owner of the good grey on p. "]%, for they were
inseparable and undefeated in the Essex hunting field, until
the gallant animal broke his back. Could do anything but talk,
says his owner, although he alarmed a gentleman to whom
he once lent him, to such an extent as to bring down on
Mr. Wilson's devoted head a severe lecture from the father of
the Centaur, who charged Mr. Wilson with putting his son
upon a horse likely to kill him. Ever afterwards the late
Mr. Andrew Caldecott, mindful of this lecture would say,
"Well! you are on that diabolical horse again."

Mr. Wilson was, however, somewhat accustomed to being

78

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

blown Up in the hunting field ; he says that the colour of his
horse was always against him, and found him out at once if
too near the hounds ; but he further remarks that being blown
up by Sir Henry was a good deal better than being spoken
to pleasantly by some folks. Mr. Wilson recalls, as one of
the best bursts with fox-hounds he ever saw (when he had
the good luck to be mounted on a clinker — Mr. Block's
" Benicia Boy"), was from Weald Coppice to Brick Kilns
pulling the varmint down just short of the covert. That run
took place in the time of the grandsire of the present master.

"Volunteer"

whom Mr. Wilson looked upon as the most finished horseman
he ever knew, taking into consideration the qualities, hands,
seat, judgment, and pluck that make for a perfect rider ; he
goes on to say that the sight of his grandson the present
master, Mr. Loftus Arkwright, coming over the fences in
the Point-to-Point races of 1896, reminded him very much
of his grandfather's style of riding.

Romeo : this grey gelding, by " Lamlash," carried Mr.
George Bell Gripper, who is here represented with him, for
three seasons with the Essex fox and Col. Somerset's stag-
hounds. The horse was an undeniable fencer, with a great
partiality for timber : on one occasion, when in the present
Lord Rook wood's possession, he jumped a high gate in
Havering Park as his huntsman was jogging up to open it.

GEORGE BELL GRIPPER ON " ROMEO "

79

Bred by the Hon. Ralph Nevill, Master of the West Kent
fox hounds, from whom Lord Rookwood purchased him, he
received a good schooHng in hunt stables, for upon Lord
Rookwood, then Sir Henry Selwin Ibbetson, giving up the
Essex Hounds, he was purchased by a Master of Harriers
in Scotland, and in his hands won a race, a thing he had
not succeeded in doing in England, although tried at Harlow,
Ipswich, and Chelmsford with Bailey and Sir Claud de

George Bell Gripper on "Romeo"

Crespigny up, Mr. Gripper states that he was out and out
the best hunter he ever rode, and that he died, as all such
horses should die, in the field.

When sending me a portrait of a favourite hunter, " Paddy,"
which carried him three seasons, Mr. Seymour Caldwell
mentions one of the most extraordinary days he ever had with
the Essex Fox hounds. It seems that when Mr. Green was
Master (the date December 9, '92, the meet at Rad winter),
there had been a week's frost at least, but a slight thaw settintj"

8o

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

in, and there being just a slight chance of hunting, Mr. Green
went to Dunmow with hounds. The roads were coated with
ice and snow, and the country, although rideable, was also
covered with snow. Mr. R. Y. Bevan, Mr. A. J. Edwards,
Mr. Caldwell and the Master, were the only people who trained
to Dunmow, and of these neither Mr. Bevan or Mr. Edwards
could get to the meet on account of the state of the roads. Mr.
Green and Mr. Caldwell managed it somehow. Needless to
add, no one else was there. Drawing Bendish, a rare old fox
went away at once, and in a blinding snowstorm gave them a
splitter to Finchingfield. The best horse, however, which Mr.
Caldwell ever possessed was an Irishman named " Elevator,"

Seymour Caldwell

bought from Mr. Hames, of Leicester. He was a rare bold
jumper, and Mr. Caldwell won the Fox Hunters' Plate with him
from a large field ; sold afterwards to Captain Williams, R. H.A.
Whilst being trained by Adams, of Epsom, he did a record
jump over the open ditch, measured, Mr. Caldwell thinks, at
32 feet. It was on this horse that Mr. Caldwell jumped a very
wide brook between Curtis Mill Green and Colonel Lockwood's.
I know that the horse I was riding, " Black Fox," formerly the
property of Mr. Mosley Leigh, a pretty bold fencer as a rule,
wouldn't face it, but plumped in. Fortunately there was little
water, but a good gravelly bottom, and lots of room for walking
about.

SEYMOUR CALDWELL Ql

Mr. Caldwell is as good between the flags as he is across
country, and has scored a good many wins in Essex, carrying
off the Fox Hunters' Plate in three successive years — first
upon Lady Brooke's " Cheltenham," the next year on his own
horse "Elevator," and then H. Bagot's "Ace of Spades." In
the race of the following year, when riding Mrs. Crossman's
" Ruth " he was beaten by only a head. In '98 and '99 Mr.
Caldwell won the Lightweight Point to Point (there were
eighteen starters in '98) on Mrs. Crossman's " Ruth." Also
in '99 the Essex Hunt Club Cup on the same good animal,
and credited himself with the Stock Exchange Point to Point
on Mr. Bank's "Frisky Jane" in '98. In a previous year he
had won the Rochdale Harrier Point-to-Point on Mr. G. Kemp's
" Greta."

"Paddy"

Mr. Kemp is another of those whose name frequently
occurs in these pages. Until he met with an accident which
stopped him riding across country, he always held a very
prominent part in the good runs that fell to the share of fox
or stag hounds. A fine horseman, he was successful in many
races, and steered his own mare " Killarney " to victory in the
East Essex and Essex Point-to-Point races, held at Thaxted in
1888, when twenty-two started; and in 1889 he piloted " Harle-

6 VOL. n

82

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

quin " to victory for the light weight and Welter Hunt Cup at
Rundells. Mr, Kemp was a regular polo player with the West
Essex Polo Club for many years. A good judge of horse or
pony, he generally managed to pick up some bargains, though
they were not always the easiest animals in the world to ride.
Golf now occupies Mr. Kemp's spare moments, and since his
election in 1898 (the year before this portrait of him on
" Dolly " was taken by Miss G. Waters) as Captain of the
Royal Epping Forest Golf Club at Chingford, with its 500
members, he has found plenty to occupy him in that line.

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BLACKMORE ! At last you have retrieved your name,

For once again your sacred groves do ring

With huntsman's cheer and melody of hounds,

And hearts that once were sad are now aflame '

With joy ; and loudly shall your praises sing

That blank no more, of Woodlands you are King.

Satisfactory very it is to have to record that at least on the last three
occasions when hounds have paid a visit to these noted woodlands they
have found, not one, but several wiry foxes. Monday, March 23rd, was

BLACK MORE

83

no exception, and that on a day when a fitter occupation might have been
gathering primroses or searching for violets. For come the dog days you'll
have it no hotter or steamier, and the straw hat worn by one young lady
would have been quite de rigueuy had not the forecast showery, perhaps
thunder, followed so closely on the warning flashes of summer lightning
that only the eve before had brilliantly illuminated a moonlit sky.

Hoarse till lunchtime, after halloaing that fox over one of the main
rides, my dear Major ! and down on my luck when hounds could not speak
to his trail. By-the-bye, and while it occurs to us, we missed you in the
subsequent run into Brentwood. Were you there, or was the garden too
full for you ?

What were the feelings of the majority shortly afterwards when we
found hounds had slipped us, and gone goodness knows where, wouldn't.

Near Blackmore High Woods

we fear, look well on paper. But there was always consolation to be
gathered, and honey to be sipped in the bare thought of how frightfully
hot they must have found it who had gone pounding after hounds. A bare
half-dozen were with them in that brief journey across the open to Mill
Green — a lady''' on a beautiful thoroughbred black, Mr. C. E. Ridley (you
can't leave Mr. Ridley in Blackmore), Major Wilson and Capt. Tufnell
(he must pardon me if I am wrong, but he looks too young for a major).
Another lady in a light covert coat, which ere long changed its hue from a
muddy fall, went to the point, where, headed and baulked, the fox beat a
retreat back to the Woodlands. That, or another, which was it that
hounds ran hotly and fiercely for twenty minutes in the woods, and lost as
suddenly ?

Mrs. Waters.

84 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Good luck to both ; for we came away a united field to Thoby Wood,
and every one got another chance of a dip in the lucky bag, as, to Mr.
Ridley's halloa I believe, a good fox went away in the direction of
Fryerning. Two fields and we were down at a brook, the leaders pulling
up and scanning it, and an irresistible cry ringing out, " To the left for the
bridge." The length of a grass meadow you had it, and the gate swung
easily to Mr. Hull's hunting crop, to be caught as it swung by Mr. Lee on
the chestnut. Two Mr, Lees out ; which was it that fell ?

And where were the hounds ? Running the brook banks, and parallel
on the far side rode the bridge contingent. Wrong as usual ; for two fields
they rode and rode to find that hounds were leaving them as they turned
sharp back. In or over or back by the bridge, which was it to be ? Mr.
Fitch on the grey went in and out. Mr. Bevan hit off a footbridge, which
his horse cleverly jumped. But most of us had something to be thankful
for that hounds dwelt sufficiently long in Fitz-Walters to give us a chance
of catching them. But there was fun to be had on the journey thither,
even if you missed the treat of seeing Mr. Morris' timber-jumping grey
vaulting iron railings. (Iron railings ! methought these were Roly's copy-
right.) How beautifully Mrs. Howel Price's little bay landed into the
road over hedge, ditch, and drop, I cannot forget. She had ample time to
take a pull at her reins, as the big dogs ran the covert to its extreme limits,
to cross the brook at a spot where two days previously you would have
looked in vain for a ford.

A heavy piece of sown land, and the Master keeping well up the furrows
. was an example to be followed ; and shortly afterwards a bold rapid cast
of the huntsman's up to the verge of Park Wood — a stroke to be admired —
as following up his clue he struck the line of his fox into Canterbury
Springs, where Tally Ho back, and we thought they had nailed him.
Easterby cap up on the grass beyond, hounds came away with a will, and
with a ravishing scent drove forward after their fox — Col. Fane, Capt.
Tufnell, Mr. Howel Price, and Miss Tippler, riding her brother's well-
known skewbald (didn't this horse once belong to Mr. Longbourne ?),
getting away on excellent terms on the right of the covert, the Master
and huntsman and the majority keeping to the left. Over a rough but
sporting country men, and ladies too, sat down to ride ; and, riding as she
always does when hounds run hard, could be seen Miss Morgan in the
front rank ; while the black thoroughbred was carrying her owner to the
finish she meant to see. In and out of roads and lanes, if many fell, no
one turned away from a fence, or ceased riding a second before they had
cleared the High Woods and reached Weald Park. Through that wood
comes to my brain e'en now the fleeting vision of the leaders who were
steering their course on the left over the crumbling bank — Mr. Waltham,
Mr. Sworder, Mr. Bevan, and Jack, and leaving it as they jumped in, Mr.
Ridley's flashing pink, on the right the Master's grey— and the huntsman
I'll swear, too — and up at the park palings, as soon as any, Mr. Price and
Mr. Crossman. By Mr. Arrow's house hounds hung a few seconds, and,
then turning back, ran hard over the grass vale to Brentwood. Up to and
through its very allotments they pushed their fox, and not a yard of wire
to catch you on the grass (the land of a sportsman, I am sure).

Out of his country our fox knew not where to go, and, turning back
near the line, came back into the town and sought in vain to escape in the
garden of a man who is second to none in his love of a good gallop across
a country. The last 220 yards Bailey did on foot, but was so blown when
hounds ran into their fox that until he had had a reviver from Mr.
Lawrence's flask he was unable to handle him. Then on the lawn ensued
a scene which the owner of " the Cat " would have given his Sunday breeches

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86

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

to have witnessed, for a good fox was broken up, and mask and brush were
eagerly claimed. Great was the thirst of those who had ridden through
this fifty minutes' burst from Thoby Woods, but, great as it was, the soda
held out, and it was your own fault if you took your whisky neat. Mrs.
Darby and Dr. Baker were most kind and attentive to every one. No one
saw more of this run, nor saw it better, than the late secretary* of the Essex
Union. It was a pleasure to have him with us again, and a treat to see
him riding in his old form, with an eye on the leading hound — not he my
informant, but our own Secretary, that the Union dogs had travelled a
leetle too fast on the previous Saturday for some of our men who went to
seek fresh fields and pastures new. Was the ground heavy ? No, sir ; it
was a quagmire. With stag on same day the mud flew up like snow as
horses galloped ; the deep going finding the bottom of most horses, and in
the case of the Master, two.

Edward T. Mashiter on his mare " Rylstone "

"Rylstone" bought at Mr. Ashton's (late M.F.H. Essex
Union) sale at Tatts' in '96, is a rare stamp of a weight carrier for

Mr. E. T. Helme (Mashiter).

EDWARD T. MASHITER, M.F.H. 87

the heavy ploughs of the Essex Union country, but 'tis of her
owner I would write. No man is better known in the annals
of the chase in the Essex Union or our country, for Mr. Helme
has always been a devotee of the sport, and held the arduous
post of Secretary to the Essex Union Hounds from 1877 to
1 89 1, during the Masterships of Mr. W. M. White and
Captain Carnegy, and part of the period when Commander
Kemble held the reins. The resignation of Mr. Mashiter, or
Mr. Helme, the name by which he was most familiar to us all,
was received with profound regret, his numerous friends pre-
senting him with a lovely silver candelabra in testimony of the
esteem in which they held him. Since that date, however, on
the resignation of Colonel Hornby of the Mastership of the
Essex Union Hounds at the end of the season '97-98, Mr.
Mashiter was unanimously chosen as Master, and how wise
was the choice was amply demonstrated in the grand season's
sport which the E.H. had in '98-99, Mr. Mashiter's first year of
office. It is an open secret that the interesting chapter devoted
to a brief survey of the Essex Union Hounds in Messrs. Ball
and Gilbey's book, "The Essex Foxhounds," was contributed
by Mr. Mashiter, who is as facile with his pen as he was ever
quick in getting to Hounds and sticking to them when they
meant business in a real ding-dong run.

In bringinf^ to a conclusion my hunting notes for 1895-96, I have little
further to add to that which has been already stated. I would mention,
however, that, at the particular request of Col. Archer Houblon, our hounds
made a special journey into the Takeley Forest country on Wednesday,
March 25th, for the sole purpose of reducing the number of foxes that
abound in that part of the country. It could not have been termed a
brilliant scenting-day, nevertheless Bailey cleverly brought two dog-foxes to
hand, and very nearly accounted for one of another leash found in Hyde
Hall Springs. There should be room for some good and early cub-hunting
in that neighbourhood next season, and a show of foxes that it will pay to
bustle.

Friday at Ashdon calls for no particular mention except (we hardly
expect to hear of another bye day) that it saw the finish of what may be
fairly said to have been a remarkable season ; it will probably stand out
clear and distinct from all others as the most open on record. That it has
been more prolific of good runs than any other cannot so confidently be
asserted ; but sport throughout has been of a good average character, and
on occasions, particularly in the Friday-country, some runs of extraordinary
brilliancy have taken place. It is very satisfactory to know that the season
has passed away without any serious accident in the field to any member of
the Hunt, for, with the exception of one collar bone, we have heard of no
splints being required.

In taking leave of this season we may be permitted to look ahead to the
next, and to prophecy that the outlook is a happy one. No change of
mastership takes place, and with two of the largest landowners in this

88

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

county or the neighbouring one of Hertfordshire at the head of affairs, we
have a guarantee that the interests of the Hunt are in the right hands. Mr.
Bowlby and Mr. Arkwright are in close touch with their own class, without
whose goodwill and co-operation hunting could not exist for a week ; and
are as closely linked by sympathy and experience with all who have to
contend against the gloomy times through which the agricultural com-
munity is passing.

That brighter times may dawn for our best friends the farmers, and
that an early cub-hunting season will follow on the heels of a good harvest,
are thoughts which will find a ready echo in the hearts of Essex sportsmen.

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Howel J. Price

Howe! J. Price can hold his own with the heavy or Ho-ht-
weights either across the Roothings or over the banks of the
Monday country, and is always ready to ride any horse in the
Point-to-Point races. He steered his own horse to victory in the
Welter Point-to-Point, which was run in the Theydon Mount
country in 1899, and ran a dead heat with the same horse in
the Bar Point-to-Point races of the same year. A good shot,
a keen supporter during its most flourishing decade of the
West Essex Polo Club, ancl an enthusiastic golfer, he has

MR. AND MRS. HOWEL T- PRICE

89

the fortunate knack of making friends of all with whom he is
brouo-ht in contact.

Mrs. Howel J. Price is very fortunate in possessing- a very
clever little hunter in the one upon which she is photographed,
for he carries her very safely and well over the trappiest
part of the Monday country in which that charming residence,
Greensted Hall, where she and her husband give such a
hearty welcome to the members of the Essex Hunt, is so
convenientlv situated.

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The Essex Hounds opened the cubbing season of 1896-97 under very
favourable auspices at Beech Hill Park on Monday, September 7th.

Meeting at six o'clock they found a strong litter of cubs and had a very
busy morning, running one to ground in the Forest, and giving three others
a good bustling without killing. Only a few of the old followers of the

90

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Hunt were out, inclu(lin<T: Mr. Edwards, Messrs. F. and C. E. Green, Mr.
Avila, and Mr. H. J. Miller (the latter on foot).

Wednesday, the 9th, found them at Harlow Common at six o'clock, a
strong litter of cubs in Latton Park, and Bailey going home an hour or two
later with his tail down at having failed to kill one on Bush Fair morning,
for, if there is one day in the year upon which he would sooner kill a cub
than any other, it's on the anniversary of this ancient fair. Not many out,
but they included the Master and Mrs. Arkwright, Mr. Seymour Caldwell,
Mr. and Mrs. Crocker, Mrs. Neill, Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. W. Sewell, Mr.
Bevan, Mr. and Miss Steele, Mr. Swire, Messrs. Avila, Basham, Bestall,
and Furze, and Master H. Chisenhale Marsh.

Mrs. Neill on "Dainty"

This beautiful brown mare, by " Dutch Sam" by "Flying-
Dutchman," bred by Rev. Cecil Legarcl, of Cottesbrook, was
bought by Mrs. Neill in Northamptonshire in 1894. Whether
with the Pytchley, Duke of Beaufort's, or Essex Hounds, she
has invariably proved herself a perfect fencer. A great stayer,

CUB HUNTING IN '96 9I

she particularly distino-uished herself in one of the best days of
a good season (March 13th, '96), when hounds ran from near
Thaxted, close to Ashdon, almost into Cambridgeshire, in
thirty-seven minutes ; and in the afternoon of the same day from
Canfield Hart through Hallingbury to Thorley in Herts, in fifty
minutes, carrying her owner right to the front in both runs.
She afterwards hacked home as fresh as paint.

One labours under a disadvantage writing notes on hunting some hun-
dred miles from the scene of operations, with only the music of the sad sea
wave instead of the melodious cry of hounds ringing in your ears ; but facts
are facts, whether they reach one through the medium of the post or by the
more rapid communication of the electric wires. Lord Rookwood, we
believe, was not at home when the first visit this season was paid to the
Down Hall coverts on Saturday last, and the day marked by killing a brace
of Moor Hall cubs after some very pretty hound work.

The six o'clock meet at Abridge on Monday, the 14th, was well attended,
particularly by the rising generation, one of Mr. F. Green's sons obtaining
the mask, which was secured by Bailey out of a very strong litter of cubs
found in Col. Lockwood's coverts.

To the names of those already mentioned as having been duly presented
this season at Bailey's drawing-rooms we may add the gallant Colonel's.
We only recognise one Colonel with the Essex now, and he sine dithio — we
haven't quite forgotten all our Latin — the most popular man in the county.
Mr. Howel J. Price (has he forsaken the golf links ?), Mr. H. Sworder and
his two boys, Miss Waters, Miss Dorothy Sewell, and Mr. Saward, of Patch
Park. The ground should be getting soft enough for taking leps. We
wonder whether any leps have been taken.

"The Best Cub-Hunting Season we have had for Ten or Eleven
Years," we expected to hear from the lips of all those who had been seizing
Time by the forelock, conditioning themselves and their hunters, and enjoy-
ing the sweets of October sports. But, alas ! no such dictum, no such
cheery news has been forthcoming, for in spite of the wet autumn, the
ground reeking with moisture, and a capital show of cubs in most parts of
the country, very few runs worth recording have taken place. We have
only heard of three, and of these none have been in the home, or grass,
country. How is this ? is naturally asked, if not so readily answered. We
would hazard the opinion in all modesty, without consulting any experts,
that it is a question of coverts not being thrown open until they have been
shot through, and that number increases yearly, and with that the difficulty
of finding suitable ground for drilling young hounds naturally follows.

That Bailey has been so successful with this season's entry (141 couples)
is a matter of no small congratulation. Certainly no hounds have ever
appeared in better condition or more fit to go than the eighteen couple of
dog hounds over which we were privileged to cast our eye on the opening
day of the season 1896-97, at the usual trysting-place of Matching, where
from east, west, north and south, the country side had sent its quota in spite
of a steady downpour of rain and a keen, cutting wind from the east.

No account of a Matching Green meet would be complete without some
attempt to index those present, or satisfactory without apology to the many
whose familiar figures escape the speaker's eye. First and foremost the
Masters, Mr. E. S. Bowlby and Mr. Loftus Arkwright — the former just back
from Scotland, where he has had such a successful season among the stags,
grassing on one occasion a fine 14-pointer — Mrs. Bowlby, Mrs. Arkwright,

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MATCHING GREEN, 1 896 93

Lord Rookwood, looking, as Mr. George Hart remarked to me, ten years
younger, and another old master of the Essex who carries his years lightly,
and rides with the nerve of five-and-twenty ; Mr. C. E. Green and his
fidus Achates, Mr. R. Y, Bevan. The list so far official, the remainder
alphabetically.

" For here all are equal — no class legislation,
No privilege hinders ; no family pride ;
In the 'image of war ' show the pluck of the nation ;
Ride, ancient patrician ! democracy, ride."

And before the sun set, ride they could, and did, in the sharp brief scurry
that redeemed the day, from Matching Park to ground anent Belgium
Springs. Mr. Avila, Mr. Frank Ball, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. F. Ball, Mr.
E. A. Ball, Mr. A. S. Bowlby and Miss Bowlby, Mr. W. H. Baddeley and
son, Mr. Ford Barclay, Mr. W. H. Pemberton-Barnes, Mr. Basham, Mr.
Barrow, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Buckmaster, Miss G. and Miss M. Blyth,
Mr. H. A. Blyth and Master Rupert Blyth, Capt. and Mrs. Bruce, Miss M.
Buxton, Mrs. G. Buxton, Major and Mrs. Carter, Mr. E. E. Cockett,
Mr. W. Cook, Mr. and Mrs. Weston Crocker, Rev. L. Capel-Cure, Mr. and
Miss Capel-Cure, Mr. and Mrs. Grossman, Messrs. Carr (2), Mr. Seymour
Caldwell, Mr. Cooper, Mr. G. H. Dawson, Mr. N. Dawson, Mr. Docwra,
Mrs. Howard Fowler, Mr. Foster, Messrs. Furze (2), Mr. S. Fitch, Miss E.
Gilbey, Mr. Guy Gilbey, Mr. Newman Gilbey, Mr. George Hart and son,
Mr. T. Harrison, Mr. J. Harris, Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Hill, Mr. Horner, jun.,
Mr. T. R. Hull, Mr. Howard, Mr. G. Harris, V.S., Mr. H. E. Jones, Mr.
G. H. Lee, Mr. Henry Lawrence, V.S., Dr. Love, Mr. F. E. Loyd, Mr.
R. C. Lyall, Mr. Lowndes, Mr. H Lines, Mr. E. Lobb, Miss E. Morgan,
Miss M. Morgan, Mr. Morris, Mr. Henry Miller and two sons, Mrs. Neill,
Mr. L. Pelly, Miss Pelly, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Price, Mr. Patchett, Q.C.,
Mr. E. Qaare, M.H., Miss Quare, Captain Ricardo, Mrs. Hine, Mr. Cecil
Savill, Mr. Washington Single, Mr. D. Cunliffe Smith, Mrs. R. Cunlifife
Smith, Mr. A. R. Steele and son, Mr. J. Swire, Mr. H. Sworder, Mr.
Scruby, jun., Mr. Usborne, M.P., and the Misses and Mr. Usborne, Mr.
Waters, Mr. T. White, Rev. M. Wilson, Major Wilson, General Sir
Evelyn Wood, V.C.

A late arrival at the meet precludes any attempt at completing a list of
the carriage folk, but there were certainly not so many as usual. Had the
weather held, the meet of '97 would have marked a record in the attendance
of cyclists — and for that reason some of us were cynical enough to welcome
the downpour ; two hunting men were nearly killed last season in our
country by bicyclists, who, in a crowd of horsemen going from covert to
covert are, they must permit me to say, very much out of place both
in regard to their own and their friends' safety. A slight shy, the machine
is over, a foot through the front wheel, horse ruined, machine smashed,
rider killed.

To Man Wood at once, and the shine off your boots and the gloss off
your hats, my brave seigneurs, ere the covert was reached. The two grey
habits * looked neater than ever in the dull atmosphere, and mud proof
apparently, but the black attires showed every splash. A fox in Man Wood,
for we all viewed him, and we all voted that he was big enough to give the
run of the season, but no one (not even the man in the cart who saw him
come out three times) would grant that he had headed him, and blooded the
hounds so close to covert.

" If you cannot find anywhere else come to Down Hall," said my lord.

Mrs. Hine's and Miss Gilbey's.

94 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

and what more regal offer from a keen pheasant shooter, with a house full of
guests and not a shot yet fired in the coverts, would you have had ? And
to Down Hall we went, not before, however, Mr. Porter Mathews' face
had clouded o'er with disappointment at his cubs not at home, and Brick-
kilns and Row- wood of ancient renown had failed at the test.

" Here they come ! " we remarked to a man as the cocks' forward could
be heard in the first covert disturbed. May they rocket higher than ever,
my lord, when your shoot comes off. But hark ! a moment. The big dog
hounds are giving tongue, a fox is afoot, and with a roar they settle to the
scent, and race through the policies and through the avenue covert to mys-
teriously baffle hounds. Did he go treewards ? If not, ask George Dawson
to solve the mystery, and note that he lives for another day ; and, further,
that Down Hall has added another flower to the sweet garland of sport that
clings round its illustrious portals.

To Matching Park rode the thrusters about 2.30 p.m., and home rode
a large contingent from the Chelmsford side, and yet they filled up one ride
and lined another in the famous covert of Matching Park ere the dark red
rover, that was viewed tlirice across its rides, fled the covert to leave half
of us in the lurch ; for, pinning our faith to the fagot stack of last year, we
found our mistake as hounds swung away to the right and the survey of the
country began to be made in sections of twos and threes. Every fence had
someone riding up it, and terrifying you long before you got there. Mr.
C. E. Green was nearly down into the first road, and the Major's " grey had
no room to spare as he went straight out of it. Mr. Cecil Savill was very
handy at a gate, but who the man in pink, afoot in a long narrow meadow
fringed, if not by a brook, by a ditch, that bore close resemblance to one
who asked us to send his horse back, was, we have not the slightest
idea, for

" The pace was too good to inquire,"

but we dubbed him a philosopher, for he was taking it easy, and voted him
a straight rider, to have arrived at that stage of the run dismounted, and his
horse out of sight.

On a fat horse, and with a bad start, you couldn't make much leeway,
but you could enjoy the fun, and know that the embers were not quite
raked out, if you arrived at Belgium Springs in time to see the two pinksf hop
over the gate, and Mr. Wederell vainly endeavouring to open it afterwards
for some of us to squeeze through in single file. Beyond Belgium Springs,
in a deep leafy ditch, hounds marked their fox to ground, and we heard how
young Mr. Tyndale White had shovelled his Galloway to the fore, and how
well Mrs. Arkwright, Mrs. Grossman, Miss Gilbey, Mrs. Hine, and
Mrs. Walter Buckmaster had held their own in this sparkhng gallop.

Wednesday, November 4th. — Blackmore, and a bright, merry morning
in the woods on Monday's horse, and to note a few faces not seen at
Monday's meet. The popular secretary of the Hunt Club, Mr. Tyndale
White, looking uncommonly smart, and just back from his triumphs at
Kirby Gate, where with the Quorn last Monday he was lucky enough to
drop in for one of the best runs they have had for years at their opening
meet. The crowd were quickly choked off by an early brook. " Never
saw one so full in my life," said Mr. White. " Four men on each side of me
as I took my cut at it. But it's on!}' a young man's country,'" he wound up by
saying, " however much you may like it. There are too many collar bones in
the fences:' — Mrs. Mcintosh, Mrs. Waters, Col., Mrs. and Miss Fane,
Mr. Gerald Buxton piloting his sister, Mr. Helme (looking as keen as ever),

Major Wilson. t Mr. Walter Buckmaster was one of them.

COLONEL F. T. FANE

95

Mr. D. Christy on his prize chestnut, Mr. Brindle exercising one of Mr.
Sheffield Neave's big blood ones, young Mr. Marriage, Mr. Raby, Miss
Tippler, Mr. Tilling, Mr. Hepburn. My Monday's horse may have blessed
you, Easterby, if I didn't, when you rolled head over heels in front of me
on the road — the second time, you tell me, that the chestnut has served
you that trick (it looked a good deal more than a bruised knee at the time)
— for at that moment hounds struck the open in the Mill Green direction,
and for all I kenned as I rode steadily homewards after seeing you up,
might have been having the run of the season. It struck me that the field
who meant business would have some leeway to make up, for the majority
of them started two fields to the bad, with hounds out of sight.

Colonel F. J. Fane on "Royal Chieftain"

Colonel Frederick J. Fane on " Royal Chieftain," an Irish
hunter by "Sprig of Shillelagh," a good stamp indeed (look
how he's ribbed ! ) for the Essex country, particularly the
Monday side, with its high banks and blind ditches, where the
Colonel is such a shining light, not only in the art of riding to
hounds over the cramped fences that there abound, but in
always having a fox in his coverts in the Kelvedon country
for himself and his friends to ride after, for which we cannot be

96

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

too grateful. At times, indeed, we should have been very
badly off for the raw material had it not been for the Colonel
and his father, that grand old sportsman, the Rev. F. Fane,
whose portrait will be found on page St,, vol. i.

" Ruby," an Irish cob with plenty of Irish fun in her, by
" Bonny Charley," carries her owner splendidly with hounds.
Mrs. Fane, like her husband, is fond of the chase, and
possesses a charm of manner in the hunting field which, if few
can emulate, all can admire.

Mrs. F. J. Fane on " Ruby "

Nettleswell X. Capital letters ! if you please. Sir ; this year as
last. For have we not had another great day from this fixture? A
day which, if not so good as last year when we ran from Latton Park,
and killed at Matching Hall, will still be remembered as something far
above the average, and on which it will always be a pleasure to look
back upon, and no effort to recall.

As usual on a Wednesday, there was a very representative field out,
well mounted and well attired. We are always glad to see a man on a
young one who doesn't mean business come out in mufti ; it saves a host

A GALLOP OVER THE GRASS FROM LATTON PARK 97

of inquiries of "Where is he?" or "Why wasn't he there?" but it is a
game I have never cared about myself to come out on a raw youngster
with a coat hke a doormat, and miss probably the run of the season.
However, each man to his own taste ; we are not all built the same way.
Certainly if I wanted to school a beginner it would not be on Wednesday
with the Essex Fox Hounds, my friend,* but with Tuesday's harriers
or Saturday's beagles. How many good runs you have lost, and will
you lose, this way ? The following occur to me at time of writing as
having participated in W^ednesday's sport. Doubtless I have missed many,
and of the many I crave pardon for remissness :

Our Master and Mrs. Bowlby, Mrs. Arkwright, Mr. C. E. Green, Mr.
R. Y. Bevan, Mr. Avila, Mrs. F. Ball, Mr. E. A. Ball, Mr. Basham, Mrs.
Bennett, Mr. A. S. Bowlby, Misses Bowlby (2), Miss Blyth, Mr. and Mrs.
Walter Buckmaster, Capt. and Mrs. Bruce, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Buxton,
Miss T. Buxton, Major and Mrs. Carter, Mr. Christie, Mr. E. A. Cockett,
Mr. and Mrs. Weston Crocker, Mr. and Mrs. Grossman, Mr. F. Dent,
Messrs. Furze (2), Mr. S. Fitch, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Fowler, Messrs.
Tresham and Guy Gilbey, Mr. Archie Gold, Mr. Green, of Parndon, Mr.
Gregory, Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Hill, Mr. Horner, jun., Mr. T. R. Hull, Mr.
George Hart and two sons, Mr. J. Harris, Mr. G. Harris, Mr. Howard,
Mr. Jones, Dr. Love, Mr. G. H. Lee, Mr. F. E. Loyd, Mr. R. C. Lyall,
Mr. W, M. Marter, Mrs. Neill, Mr. Archibald Peel and Misses Peel (2),
Miss Pelly, Mr. Phelips, Mr. Radford, Capt. Ricardo, Mrs. Redwood, Rev.
R. L. Scott, Mr. A. R. Steele and son, Mr. Swire, Mr. R. S. Tilling, Mr.
Todhunter, Major W^ilson, Mrs. Waters.

Just as hounds moved off a horse reared up and came over backwards
with his rider in the middle of the road, about as nasty a fall as one can
meet with. Luckily no bones appear to have been broken, and we had a
doctor with us (Dr. Love, of Hoddesdon), who later on in the day was
risking his own and other people's necks by jumping gates.

No sign of a fox before we reached Harlow Park, and then we had
four on foot at once — and four good ones— a brace going Latton- wards,
and one for the open country beyond Hastingwood Common, and the other,
whose fate was sealed, making tracks over Harlow Common for Barnsley's.
Without entering the covert, he crossed the Harlow road and ran very
fast towards Gravel-pit Wood. Leaving that and Bay's Grove on the
right, hounds rattled along over the grass pastures towards Latton, and
taking a turn over the lane, ran into their fox on the edge of Harlow Bush
Common. Mr. R. D. Hill on " Eastern Lady " must have had a rare squeak
for it as he flew the rabbit-burrowed bank just before the kill. There was
little fencing in this gallop unless you happened to be on the right of
hounds, where Mr. Stacey, of Puckeridge renown, on a wonderful grey,
was doing the piloting, for on the left the road from the Clock Tower lay
convenient. All the same, it was a nice merry little hunt, creditable ahke
to huntsman and hounds, and bringing us conveniently to the luncheon
hour, prepared us for the afternoon's treat.

A Gallop over the Grass from Latton Park. — The moment hounds
were in covert they opened, and after a false start in the direction of Harlow
Park, their fox set his mask boldly for Parndon Woods. At that instant a
second horseman was jogging steadily homewards towards Epping, and was
passing Rundell's. Without drawing rein he arrived at the bottom of the
lower Forest as the fox, looking tired then, crossed the road three fields in

* H. E. Jones, who, of late years, was always very fond of riding young ones, and conse-
quently was often out of it.

7 VOL. II

98 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

front of hounds. This will give some idea of the pace we went after leaving
Latton Park for Parndon Woods, towards which point — galloping down a
headland — the young horse* with a coat like a doormat appeared to be
going well, but after Parndon Woods we never saw him again.

Across Rye Hill Common, through the farm, and so to Parndon Woods,
is the usual line. No one knows it better than Bailey, yet he swung open
the gate and took the country to be near his hounds, who at any moment
might have borne to the left, and the grass line to Maries. Running straight
through the top end of the middle wood, hounds woke up the silent glades of
the furthest covert, as full cry they went through it, pointing for Nasing
Common.

" That man at the corner will head him," muttered the huntsman, as he
jumped off his horse to swing open the small hand-gate — Capt. White's, we
call it, for on one occasion, he and Lord Charles Beresford jumped it, as hounds
came away at this point — and down the boggy middle ride, the clay up to
your hocks, we plunged and galloped to meet another band of horsemen,
led by Mr. C. E. Green, w^ho had come straight through the woods, to take
our turn over the single rail out of the boggy corner, for few followed Mr.
]jasham's bold lead to the right of our place, as the " Gone away " came
floating down wind. Taking the line up to Epping Long Green, Bailey
made a grand cast. Giving a good fox credit for a bold line and a good
country, he held them over the lane, and then the fun began, as hounds,
picking it up, ran a cracker straight for Maries, over a delightful grass
country, and fences that you could gallop at. The pace quite good enough
for the Doctor's " Gate,'" after fording the brooklet, and six, if not seven,
accepted his lead : Mrs. Grossman, on her lovely black — few better horses
in the hunt ; Major Wilson on his grey ; Mr. Stacey, in velvet cap, on his
grey ; Mr. Swire on his bay, and threepenny-bits would not have jolted out
between their knees and saddle flaps, for they all sat as tight as wax as they
came over, without the rap of a hoof.

Into Maries for a certainty, and you would have made a mistake, while
left-handed of that covert you could never have retrieved it ere the game
was played out and the Forest won. Down the slope of the grass at hot
pace, a single place in one fence, and no jealousy in Mrs. Walter Buck-
master's good riding, or she would never have let, no, made me, go first ;
and in and out of the lane we rode for Cobbins Brook, and Mr. Walter
Buckmaster hadn t quite forgotten the playing grounds of his boyhood and
the ford under the old oak tree. The horse he was riding was a clinker,
though the martingale bespoke careful handling, and to follow in his tracks
might mean a rude awakening from careless indifference, for a fence that he
could trifle with would extend the ordinary hunter to his fullest capacity ; so
we measured our distance at the next blind hole over which he so lightly
popped, and so towards the Forest, looming dark and purple in the distance,
and to note the hard-riding secretaryf of the Puckeridge Hunt, on his good
chestnut, going as if he had never known w^hat dislocated shoulders meant,
and always with the thrusters in the van, from the bird's-eye view permitted
us, and the velvet cap already alluded to striding along to the front on his
grey, reminding one very much, with his mutton-chop whiskers, of Lord
Lonsdale in his keenness and style of riding, and alongside in close atten-
dance with no jealousy, easily, confidently, airily holding their own, rode the
fairest of the fair, the bravest of the brave, but narrow was the escape of
the gallant " Spitfire's" rider| as she hung balanced on the bank — and deep
was the gratitude Jack earned for his timely aid.

* Mr. H. E. Jones's chestnut. t Mr. Tresham Gilbey. J Mrs. Carter.

MR. C. E. RIDLEY S GORSE IS DRAWN FOR THE FIRST TIME 99

A falter on the plough, a check but no checkmate, a reuniting of the
pieces on the board — wire enquiries from our pink-clad secretary, satis-
factory answers, and so after Mr. Avila and j\Ir. Guy Gilbey over the
razor-banked fences to the Forest to surmise not amiss that the hard-riding
tenant of Theydon Hall Farm was bestriding a clinker which in the
Gaynes Park stables had made her mark. Did you vote ? Did you wish ?
Did you fear the run over as you cantered through the Forest rides and
turned up the Ongar Road for Rough Talleys ? Did you cross the line at
once, or take a return ticket with Bailey down the meadow Ongar- wards ?
Did you hope a good fox would live for another day as they bustled him
over the line in Rough Talleys and threw up in the plough beyond near
the butts, and had you a stern chase to Weald Coppice to find Bailey there
with his hounds, and a beaten fox just in front of them vouched for by Air.
Bosley, of Weald Coppice fame ? Five minutes ahead of hounds when he
was viewed near Canes, Mr. George Hart, hat in air, the clue ; the grass
towards Duck Lane the line, and after you, Mr. Hart, an ex-master's
formula and key to success — as hounds swung over the wide ditch for
Weald Coppice again.

You could hardly have got into that grass field on the right of Weald
Coppice, Capt. Bruce, without your chance and the rails, and you joined
us over a roller of briar-growth, ditch guarded, without hesitation, as down
the stubble for the lower Forest the hounds drove ahead to turn right-
handed across a well-fenced farm, and admit of our hardest welter* trying
his fourth horse over a razor bank as ]Mr. G. Harris, hat m hand, pointed
the line to Weald Coppice for the last time, and Easterby caught the
death-note quicker than anyone as he leapt off his horse and made for the
centre of the wood, Mr. Bosley taking the fox from the hounds. One
hour and thirty minutes had this fox stood up, and the last forty-five had
been hound work every minute of it, from the time Rough Talleys was
left. Let me make my peace with the bicyclists, for a prettier picture than
that which greeted me as I rode meetwards on the memorable \\'ednesday,
November nth, I have no wish to gaze on: up the gentle incline he
trundled the pair of wheels, while she deftly arranged the neat straw which,
in the act of dismounting, had tilted half an inch.

Of Saturday's fog and rain, and a Pleshey and splashy meet, I have
little to tell you. A Saturday throng, a bumper gathering, Mr. Ridley
out to see his new gorse, the future covert of the hunt, drawn for the first
time — a great absence of scent — a great if not greater desideratum than
the animal itself if you want to have sport, as true to-day as in the years
gone by when Cecil penned his records of the chase.

Mr. Pemberton-Barnes, you will be delighted to hear, we found a rare
litter in Bower Wood, on Monday, November i6th, a litter which, although
never routed in the cub-hunting season, showed a knowledge of the country
which could only have been acquired in many a midnight foray ; and,
further, a proper regard for their own safety and the feelings of the Hunt
to prevent their keeping any of us waiting, for a brace went off at once,
and a pretty start it was, and to see it and the Essex Hounds at work for
the first time this season came Mr. F. Green and Miss AL Green, and Miss
AL Glyn and Miss Jones. Right through the Bower Wood and by Bower
House was the line selected to the well laurelled paths that surround
Havering-atte-Bower, whose hospitable owner we sadly learnt was too
unwell to be with us, but who nevertheless would not allow the day to

* Mr. C. E. Green got to the bottom of his own horses and finished up on a kennel horse.

lOO LEAVES FROiM A HUNTING DIARY

pass without her servants dispensing cakes and ales as of yore from the
terraced lawn. In vain did Bailey dismount to assist his hounds as they
ran their fox in the shrubberies ; in vain did they drive him out and hunt
him back through the Bower Wood, for he managed without any difficvilty
to shake off his pursuers

By Bedfords and Pyrgo Park to seek for another, Mr. Hussey on our
tracks with ready kodak. Mr. F. Green tells me that he is about the best
amateur photographer he knows, and that the views he has taken of the
Romford Golf Links for Messrs. Vertue and Co.'s coming publication,
" British Golf Links," edited by Horace Hutchinson, are simple superb.
Mr. F. Green is a capital raconteur, and the time passed pleasantly enough
in his company while the hounds were run through Pyrgo Wood before
trying Mrs. Mcintosh's gorse. Not finding, we sauntered leisurely to the
scenes of the great pheasant shoot of last week, the talk of the country-side
— 1,500 head in two days — and plenty of them left too, for they went
rocketing over our heads as the hounds were thrown into Broom Wood,
and no old cocks minus their tail feathers to prove that the colonel's friends
had not held straight. Mr. Tyndale White, Mr. H. J. Price, and Mr.
Loftus W. Arkwright were three of the colonel's neighbours who shared
in the sport, and after all this a capital show of foxes in the big wood, a
pheasant-fed customer fairly laughing at hounds as he stretched himself
out for a circle in the sunlight and a dash in the forest. 'Faith, it was a
quick thing at starting, and no one caught the Major on his chestnut as
he took his own line when the covert was left, and that without plunging
down the boggy ride after the huntsman and his following. Hounds had
lots of room, but they wanted their huntsman, Mr, Barclay tells me, when
they threw up at their first check after the circle back by Broom Wood.

" And where, oh, where, was he ?

With coat tails pinn'd by his horse's hoof,
And muddy, as muddy, could be."

'Twas but a little bank that brought him down, but there he remained
till rescued by Mr. Green. Nor heeded he the warning cry of "'Ware
rabbit holes," as he put his roan at a bank from which half-a-dozen of us
had turned away, to get over safely, while we were blocked, of course, by
a man on a light chestnut coming down. But nearly every fence was
horse-embracing, and devoutly thankful not to have stubbed a good
animal in this mazy dance, we reached the Forest and left it again at the
bottom end on good terms, but with scent as catchy as the lane was narrow,
out of which your qnandam chestnut, Mr. Tilling, was not allowed to
refuse, but with the huntsman had to rejoin the road contingent who lost
hounds behind Knowles Hill. To Loughton Shaws ere the sun had set,
in the hope of a gallop over the grass, finished a day which, if marked by
no good run, it would have been hard to have beaten for sauntering and
picnicking in foggy November.

There was no great rush to follow the huntsman into the deep rides of
Galley Hill Woods on Wednesday, the i8th, when we met at Nasing
Common, though a few hardy spirits plunged with him through the miry
glades to see hounds drag up and unkennel their fox, drive him in one
short circle through the upper woods, and kill him all too soon as he made a
flying leap into a pond close to the covert. After this, away with Bailey
for a mile gallop to see him lay his hounds on at Obelisk Wood, with
another Galley Hill fox gone with five minutes' law. A line to the Copped
Hall march was marked, not before hounds had divided and Mr. Swire had
been rescued from all but a watery grave, his horse having rolled back with

MR. SWIRE IS RESCUED FROM A WATERY GRAVE

lOI

him into a tributary of the Cobbin brook, five men, led by Mr. Marter,
being told off for the rescue.

A daughter of Mr. Frederick Green, of Hainault Lodge,
Miss M. Green now hunts more than her father, inheriting all
his keenness and enthusiasm for the chase. No day is too
long for her, no fence too big. Free from all jealousy in riding,
never in the way, never asking for girths to be tightened nor
gates to be opened, she is one of a class of hunting ladies whom
hunting men welcome in their midst, and whom they are proud
to follow.

Miss Margaret Green on "Comet"

At hot pace for Deer Park, across the lane and the big grass fields into
Galley Hills, and to make it good on the Monkhams side before slipping
back, and away with catchy scent to Copped Hall again, and a shooting
veto against further exploration of its preserves.

"To Nasing Coppice and a certain find," said the Master, and for the
prettiest bit of hunting in the day. I like these evening hunts. What did
a well-known correspondent of the Field say last week ? May I quote his

I02 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

words, although the first few sentences are more appHcable to a Leicester-
shire field than an Essex gathering, for I must give credit to Essex
sportsmen for sticking to it as long as their horses have got any go in
them.

" It always puzzles me why sportsmen with plenty of horseflesh under them do not stop out
to see the ^nA—Jinis coronal opus ! There may be a good deal of honest pleasure and hearty
enjoyment in the beginning or the middle of a day, but for real satisfaction commend me to the
finish. If you have to stumble out on an old broken-winded gee that has to do his turn three
days afterwards, I can understand going home ; but with a fresh young horse that has not to
hunt again, perhaps, for a week, come on, my young friends, and see the finish, you will have
your boots off in time for the soup at eight o'clock. I can tell you from past experience, of
which I have had a fair amount, that it will not be those brilliant five-and-twenty minutes,
however oft repeated, which will linger in your memories as you sit years after by the solitary
fire and smoke your solitary pipe at the decaying ashes, but the long, good runs, when you
persevered on, even though yourself and horse were somewhat tired, when you saw the fox
killed in the gloaming, and came home with the hounds with a pad in your pocket to be set up
to remind you long afterwards of the good old days. Forsitaii lure olini meininisse JiivabiL"

We set off in the rain by Hunter's Hall, and from the bottom end came
the Whip's scream of "a- w-a-y," and over the common to round the covert
we sped down hill, Mr. Peel on his martingaled roan making great play, to
fight our way up again by Harold's Park, as the pack turned up hill and
threw up beyond the avenue.

To the Coppice again with Bailey and the hounds, once more to hear
the " Gone away " from the lower end and the twang of the horn, and to
catch sight of hounds (if you dallied not in the muddy lane. Brother Ned)
as we swung back the heavy gate, driving through the mist over the
common towards Parndon Woods, the fastest bit of the day, no fences and
up wind, we had to ride to see it turning, with the Master, Mr. Steele, Mr.
Green, Mr. Fowler, Mr. Caldwell, and others into the fields before crossing
the road for Parndon Woods. A good fox, for they held the line straight
through, and the steam from the horses hung in the boughs of the trees
as we plunged through the dripping rides, to reach Latton and hear the
last wail of the horn, before turning homewards in the warm rain that still
came down in ceaseless patter on the decaying leaves, with Mr. Tilling, Mr.
Fitch, and the parson on the old grey horse — sportsmen all ; for they had
seen it out on one horse apiece, and the smile on their faces was good to
look upon — as good as the music of the big dogs as they smeused through
the straggling fences below Fern Hill.

Buttons

CHAPTER IV.

Siittons — Sir Charles Cniiliffe Smith — Anxious Moments — Two Broken Backs —
And the Bay still Leads the Van -What Mr. Vickerman thought of the
Nasing Country — Mrs. Mcintosh's '' Maqnet" — Mrs. Gerald Buxton on
" Phroso " — The Meet of Mr. Quare's Harriers at Thornwood Common,
December ^th, i8g6 — Canes — Mr. Jerrard comes to Grief — ''Pinafore'' —
Bohhingmorth Windmill — A Good Day in spite of the Colonel — ''King Ehor "
— Save a Jump — Thomas Cowee on " The Rebel " — Running for Barbers —
Blood will tell — The Belvoir Gordon — Seeking a Cine — Ongar Park — L. T.
Carr — Our Young Nimrods— Knightsland Wood — The Bob-tailed Fox gets
away — Lost in the Fog — Miss Ethel M. Jones — Snatched from the Frost —
Tattle Bushes — Nether Hall — Rye House — The Boy on the Long-tailed Bay
— H. W. Horner — Rupert — The Admiral, Charles Bury — Vicarage Wood —
Over the iron railings — Barnsleys to Little Laver — Ain't he a varmint !

SIR Charles's name is frequently mentioned in Mr. Vicker-
man's diary. He no longer rides across country, leaving
that to his son, whose portrait will be found on another page.
Owning, as he does, a large tract of land w ith several important
coverts, in the heart of the Monday country, he exercises a
great deal of influence over the sport enjoyed in that district ; he
has also been from time to time as occasion arose, a very
liberal subscriber to the Hunt funds.

Wind N.E., meet Fyfield ; given a sound horse in your stable, not to
be missed for a dukedom.

Not past the Truant Schools, for the Osiers we rode on Wednesday, nor
yet through the picturesque village, but along the Beauchamp Roding road
to Mr. Caton's mustard for an outlyer, and he was there. A fierce
scramble at the black gate out of the road, a man fishing for a stirrup iron
pulled out in the crush. Hounds hovering for a moment up the hedgerow,
and then the field, swooping down like eagles on their prey, was the fleeting

I04 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

vision vouchsafed us as hounds set to work to run up wind at a pace which
robbed the blindest ditch of its terrors, and gave a zest to the variety of
fences which had to be tackled, and brought out the capacity of every
horse that was ridden.

What roads or lanes we crossed I know not, but 'twas fairly early in the
run, Mr. Tweed, when you pushed open the gate for Bailey, and the next
field when you lay on your back, after coming over your horse's head when
he pitched heavily as he landed over the high switch fence. To pull up to
make sure you were all right was the work of a second — to take one's
bearings (as the River Roding lay almost fronting us) a delay that paid.
That neat, grey-coated figure,^ pressing his heels into his good black by the
old elm tree as he urged him into the ford, must be a native ; must, too,
have caught that faint halloa beyond the stream, or old Mr. Horner, Mr.
Tyndale White, and his son on the good little grey, would hardly have
followed him so quickly.

It was provoking certainly, but bound to come ere we reached the road.
Nigh to Berner's Wood the fox had had about enough at the pace up wind,
and in the ploughed field in which Mr. Seymour Caldwell viewed him
turned back. Hounds went over the road without flinging themselves in
that wide circle which is such a pretty feature of hare hunting, and the line
was not recovered until Bailey, river delayed, came up and made it good,
to Berner's Wood, but only the afterglow remained, for whether in covert
or down wind in the open — note it down ! — with wind N.E. there was
hardly a trace of scent. It is a mistake to get into a lane. It is a mistake
to ride cunning on a road has hitherto been my experience in the Roothing
country, for you invariably find hounds turning away from you, and when
you set off across country on your own account, and get landed in one of
the deep ditches, who is to let your friends know you are missing ? For-
tunately, last Wednesday we rode the road in squadron. We had an
officer with us, a K.D.G. ; he took the country early on his charger, and
was all right, and we hardened our hearts to follow the pink on the chestnut
who lives not loo miles from Epping, when in went one of the horses" into
a desperately blind ditch. Some anxious moments were passed by the
onlookers ere the rider, who was tightly held by her habit, was released ;
safety or not, it clung to the pommel. Fortunately for her, the poor
animal's legs were wedged, so she escaped.

Rejoining hounds as they were thrown into Nor Wood, we heard that
they had held a line into Screens, and found in Witney Wood without being
able to run. In Brick Kilns and Man Wood foxes were plentiful, but
scent no better.

For change of scene we went to Lankester Springs and got away on
such good terms that a right merry burst ensued to Hatfield Grange almost
into Mr. Weston Crocker's larder, which Mr. Roly Bevan, having ridden
his own line on the left of the brook, was the first to reach. Taking it over
the Hatfield-road we had a very pretty hunt over a nerve-trying country
to Hatfield Heath, six ladies (two from Epping) seeing it out, and never
shirking a fence.

One could see little but the points of one's horse's ears as riding home
one went stumbling over the newly metalled roads, but we chuckled with
satisfaction at the masterly way Crawley had handled that hay truss shot

' Mr. Seymour Caldwell.

2 Mrs. L. Felly's; its back was broken and it had to be shot. A horse belonging to Mi
Edwards, which came out of the same stable in the morning, met with a similar fate.

SIR CHARLES CUNLIFFE SMITH

105

out of the loft at the inn on the Heath, and recalled with satisfaction the
glow of the fire on the cheerful faces of half-a-dozen out of the twenty-two
who had stayed for the end and the hospitable entertainment that followed.

" And the bay still leads the van,
They may follow as they can,
And the d— 1 take the hindmost is the cry."

We shall have few colder days this season, when 'tis possible to hunt,
than last Saturday, November 28th, 1896. The Kennels the meet— and no
time lost gettmg to work, hounds having a start of the field such as a
master of hounds must dearly love, when they came away from Moor Hall
and we raced for the gate at the top of the park to catch them— no one
fancymg the cut direct, the iron palings, although we have heard of horses
and know them too, Mr. Morris, that fancy that style of obstruction

Sir Charles Cunliffe Smith

Believe me, it was a chance thrown away. Any thruster— and there were
just a few on the thrust— who had chosen to get clear of the mad rush, and
quietly selected his own line, and the iron fencing, might have had a lead
of the lot, and caught hounds quicker than anyone, always supposing it
came off all right, and he hadn't broken his own or his horse's neck.
Don't forget it next time. However, there it was, and it was the gate we
went for, and the gate some missed, as they were carried beyond it in the

I06 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

wild stampede. If you got through with the first half-dozen you might
have noted that no one could catch the huntsman and Mr. Seymour
Caldwell, who was riding a clinker (Mr. Guy Gilbey's bay), before Heathen
Wood was reached. You might further have observed that hounds turned
back at Heathen Wood for Moor Hall, first crossing the brook, and going
for Sheering Street. It was a case of the last being first, for the front
rank rode for the bridge and the road, and away from hounds, while the
rear guard had the choice of a ford over the brook, a cut at the brook, or
a coast down the brook, according to age, discretion, or valour. Valour *
(can we say discretion ?) had a cut at it in more than one instance : but it
was the last day in the world to be riding about in boots full of water,
even though whisky inside them, and a dose for the rider, was available
on the spot.

Safely back in Moor Hall we recovered hounds, and lost the fox. No,
not even up a tree could they find him.

Brevity being the soul of wit, the best description j of the gallop, over-
heard during the day, may be accepted as follows : " I galloped there a
mile behind (there, being Heathen Wood), and I galloped back a mile
behind (back, being Moor Hall)." And on one of the two journeys most,
if not all, of us, who have any regard for veracity would have to confess
to its accuracy. But it warmed us all the same, and we expected a great
run from Harlow Park, and we got it not ; neither at Latton, nor Parndon,
for scent there was none. So foxes and those who like riding in Bailey's
pocket every cast he makes had it all their own way. Yes, all their own
way ; yet, before the shades of night had fallen, they were giving him lots
of room in the run that, commencing at Mr. Todhunter's spinney, went on
for two hours before it was wound up below Monkhams at the bottom of
Galley Hills ; and how he came to have such a free hand, tire all the
horses out, and succeeded in satisfying the most ardent pursuers, is here
briefly and truthfully set down.

As already remarked, it was with the fox — a good one, too (you won't
walk so leisurely out of Parndon Woods, my bucks, the next time it is
drawn) — from Mr. Todhunter's spinney that he did the trick. It was the
first six or seven fences that straggled the field out, and brought at least
one man X — not a light one — to mother earth, as we raced for Broadley
Common. We don't often meet there now, but just fifty-one years ago a
great run came off over the country we were so shortly to cross (of which
more anon) from this particular fixture ; and it was the gallop across
Nasing Common that took the buck and kick out of most of the nags ere
they had cleared the Coppice and raced to Deer Park.

What a boon to hunting men a well drained track across this quagmire,
if freed from ant hills, would be. That all escaped them without a spill
was astonishing, for we crossed them diagonally. In the great run already
alluded to they brought to grief the only man, the second whip, who got
away with hounds from Parndon Woods, and there were only three out of
a big field (think of that as compared with to-day ! ) who succeeded in
crossing them fast enough to get away with hounds as, leaving the coppice
behind, they ran at a great pace to Copped Hall, and making a sweep,
came back by Epping Church to Parndon Woods in the hour. The
wTiter§ of the run, who was well in it, and had had some experiences in
Leicestershire, remarks that the country they crossed after leaving the

* Mr. Nevill Dawson got in. t Mr. Gerald Buxton's version.

% Mr. Howard Fowler on his bay. § Mr. C. R. Vickerman.

WHAT MR. VICKERMAN THOUGHT OF THE NASING COUNTRY I07

coppice reminded him very much of that fox-hunter's elysium, and what
a treat it was to get a variety of fencing, and to feel his good horse
bounding over the stiff fences and crashing through the bullfinches.
None of that on Saturday ; but if we did not change at Deer
Park we certainly ran very much slower. Leaving Galley Hills and
Monkhams behind, hounds pointed straight for Waltham Abbey, and on
the top of tlie next hill it lay at our feet a fair picture, indeed a welcome
one to that old sportsman, Mr. George Herbert Lee. No fear of being
lost, and when the Master with keen sight got a view of the fox, and the
huntsman clapped his hounds forward on the line, and some began to fall
back, hug the road, and save their nags, Mr. Lee, who was riding his
famous chestnut, might have been seen going stronger than ever as,
running within two fields of the town, we turned back to climb up the
hill towards Monkhams to see hounds stopped in the valley below. For
at 4.15 it would have been a little too dark to have disturbed Galley Hills,
though it was not too late for Mrs. Bowlby and several other ladies,* who
were some twenty miles from home, to witness the finish. Back in the
cutting blast that froze as it blew, bringing a frost which stopped all
hunting on Monday at Swallows Cross.

Mrs. Macintosh's horse "Maquet"

" Maquet," a dark bay mare standing i6 hands, by
" Rackrent " by " Haymaker " dam by " Delight," a favourite
hunter of Mrs. Mcintosh, Havering Park, Havering-atte-
Bower, is as good as she looks. Bred by G. White, of
Westmeath, Ireland, and purchased from Mr. James Christy,

* The Miss Blyths were twenty-two miles from home.

loS

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

of Writtle, she carried off the first prize for hunters, up to
not less than 14 St., at Champion Lodge ; and at the Essex
Agricultural Show, held at Harlow, in 1892, she was adjudged
the best hunter in the show. Since that time Mrs. Mcintosh
has not shown her, but has hunted her regularly and found
her a delightful mount.

Mrs. Gerald Buxton on " Phroso "

Mrs. Gerald Buxton on " Phroso" is another of those who
are able to share the pleasures of Fox-hunting with a partner
equally fond of it. She has inherited all the love of the sport
which runs in the Pease family, and is sister to Mr. A. E.
Pease, who wrote the " History of the Cleveland Hounds " and
other sporting books, and of Mr. J. A. Pease. Both brothers
have won the House of Commons Point-to-Point. " Phroso," the
animal upon which she is depicted, is a fair type of the class of
horse which, with perfect seat and good hands, she rides with
so much judgment and discretion with hounds.

IIO LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

" Ah ! give me a sportsman, in him you will find
A sweet combination of merits combined,
A friendship the same to the end."

Phili.i'Otts Williams.

No one in Essex offers you a heartier welcome when hounds meet at
his house than Mr. George Hart. There is no meet in the county I hke
better than one at Canes, whether it be with fox, stag, or hare. Little
fear, then, of refusing the following invitation, which reached me by hand
on the vSaturday —

Mr. Quake's Harriers,
to-day,
Thorn wood Common,
Canes, 1 1 o'clock.

Saturday, December i^th, 1896.

And to the meet we went. A deluge of rain had fallen in the night,
accompanied by a violent gale from S.S.E., which at Brighton had swept
away the old chain pier, but beyond flooding the fields with water, turning
the ditches into brooks, and the brooks into rivers, there was little local
evidence of its force ; but we were glad to crowd into the stackyard to
escape the remaining squalls, while Mr. Jerrard seized the opportunity of
taking a group of the Master and his hounds.

v\t the meet, in addition to the Master, his daughters, Mr. Costerton,
Mr. George Hart and his two sons, we had the pleasure of noticing Mrs.
Bowlby and the three Miss Bowlbys, who ride so well, Mrs. Gerald
Buxton, Miss T. Buxton, Mrs. W. Sewell and Miss Dorothy Sewell, Miss
Steele, Mrs. Redwood, Mr. Horner, Mr. Harrison, Mr. P. M. Evans, Mr.
Radford, Mr. Howard, Mr. Avila, Mr. A. Sewell, Mr. Walter Jerrard,
Master R. Willis ; on wheels. Miss Madeline Yerburgh and Miss Mildred
Stokes.

Mr. Quare has a very efficient first lieutenant in Mr. Costerton, who,
although he has only one arm, goes like a bird, and is always with the
hounds, which he loves. Maiden is no whit behind him in keenness and
capacity, and is a workman across country, and must be a very reliable
man at home if the excellent condition of the hounds is any criterion of
what can be done by care and attention. But there is an old adage, " Good
masters make good servants " ; so we are not surprised to hear of the
excellent sport Mr. Quare is having with his pack, and the hearty welcome
which is extended to him on every side, and which on a very recent
occasion was further marked by his being made the recipient, at the hands
of one of the Masters of the Essex Fox Hounds (Mr. E. S. Bowlby),
of a beautiful silver horn, subscribed for and given by some of the many
admirers of the able way in which he hunted his beagles in the past, and
the brilliant manner in which he now sustains the traditions of the historic
pack so long and so memorably connected with the names of the late Mr.
Henry Vigne and the present Master of the Puckeridge Hounds (Mr. E.
Barclay). Mr. Hart had no intention of allowing us to spend a morning
in the forest, for in the three grass fields near Duck-lane (fields which
provided the late Mr. Vigne with hares that afforded him some of his most
brilliant runs) he had a shrewd suspicion we should find, and he was
right.

A hare jumping up in view in Barn field, hounds settled to run hard ;
the Secretary''- of the Essex Stag Hounds, together with Mr. Avila and Mr.
Evans, getting to work at once as they charged the rails beyond the ditch
in the first fence. Mr. Costerton, Mr. Howard on his grey (another good

* Mr. Harrison.

CANES I I I

sportsman with the use of only one arm), following him closely, as without
checking, hounds ran at a great pace straight for Rundell's, over a delightful
line of country, throwing up in the field beyond it near the Hastingwood
Common road ; getting another view of their hare, they coursed up to her
and fairly pulled her down in the open.

When we reached the road after this sharp burst and brilliant finish,
and began trotting off in the direction of Canes, and the hand of the dial
pointed to the suggestive hour of one, we made a pretty good guess at
what was in store for us. The capacious crevvyards and stables held all
our horses, hounds were kennelled, and the hospitable board was soon
relieved of its tempting viands, and we drank Mr. Hart's health, and
wished him good luck for many a year to come in beverages as varied as
they were pleasant and refreshing.

Mr. Jerrard, sen., now joined us on a horse lent him by our host, and
Mrs. Waters arrived in time to see another hare found, but scent was as
bad in the afternoon as it had been good in the morning. However, Mr.
Avila and ]\Ir. Evans wouldn't look at a gate, and kept popping over the
fences, leading us all on, until at last there was a fearful splash, and looking
back, only the head of Mr. Jerrard's black horse could be seen gazing on
the greensward out of a flooded ditch, while his rider held on manfully to
the reins. Thank goodness, he's all right, we ejaculated, as we thought of
the photographs uncompleted, and the views that had to be taken, but we
sighed for a kodak as he gave that last tug which landed the black once
more on terra firma. Mr. Jerrard, his son, Mr. A. Sewell, and young Mr.
Hart were the only ones — can we confess it ? may we make an excuse ?
(mine, the first day's hunting for a horse* very much out of condition) —
who stuck to the Master and his staff to the end.

On the same day those out with the fox hounds at High Easter had a
capital day's sport, running almost to Felstead. During the run a lady t
who rides ver}' straight with our hounds had a most providential escape
from being killed in one of those terrible ditches that abound in the
Roothings. How ladies have the nerve to face them has always astonished
me. They ought never to attempt to cross our Roothing country unless
they are riding a perfect hunter (he cannot be too well bred) that can jump
big at the shortest notice. Nor should they forget that there is safety in
pace and a good take-off with a fair landing ; but what business have I to
suggest anything to those accomplished horsewomen who put us poor
mortals to the blush when it comes to the question of riding across a
difficult country. No ! rather let me relate what happened on Saturday,
and let us take a lesson from the calm courage and self-possession displayed
by the rider as she lay under her horse at the bottom of the ditch with only
her chin out of the water, and completely hidden from the sight of those
who rushed to her rescue. All credit to those plucky fellows who, regard-
less of consequences — one man % was kicked — seized the horse's hind legs
with their arms and pulled him back along the ditch off the rider. It took
twenty minutes to extricate the animal.

The run from Sir Charles Smith's coverts, on Monday, December 7th,
was out and out the best thing of the season '96-97 up to that date. A
numerous company assembled at Bobbingworth Windmill, among them
Col. Lockwood, M.P., at the sight of whom the huntsman directly
exclaimed, " We shall have a bad day now ! " Why he should have asso-
ciated unlucky days with the Colonel's too rare appearance in the hunting

Pinafore, own sister to Midshipmite. t Mrs. Crocker. \ Captain Bruce.

I I 2

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

fields of late years is still a matter of conjecture. But there were others
besides the Colonel, including both Masters, Mr. E. S. Bowlby, Mr. Ark-
wright, Mr. Avila, Mr. F. Ball, Mr. E. A. Ball, Mr. Ford Barclay (hardly
recovered from his recent accident through his horse swerving against a tree
as he jumped, and to take anotlier roll before this day was over), Mr.
Baddeley, jun., Mr. Barron, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Gerald Buxton, Mr. R. Y.
Bevan, Captain and Mrs. Bruce, Mr. David Christy, Capt. the Hon. W. D.
Cairns, Mr, W. S. Carr, Mr. T. Cowee (out for about the first time this
season), Mr. A. W. Craig, Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Crossman, Mr. G. H.
Dawson, Mr. A. J. Edwards, Mrs. Fane, Capt. Glynn, Mr. C. E. Green,
Mr. Giles, Mrs. Heseltine, Miss Jones (riding her father's big chestnut, a

Bobbingworth Mill

youngster) Mr. G. H. Lee, Mrs. Mcintosh, Miss Morgan, Mrs. Neill, Mr.
H. J. Price, Mr. Patchett, Q.C., Mr. Radford, Capt. Ricardo Mrs. W. H.
Sewell on " Jack," Mr. H. Sworder, Mr. D. Cunliffe Smith, Mr. Washington
Single, Mr. Tyndale White, Mr. J. Tyndale White, Mr. Waltham, and Sir
Evelyn Wood, V.C.

How many of these saw the run 'twould be impossible for me to relate.
Doubtless most of them, to their own satisfaction, for when we pulled the
fox down at Gaynes Park, the majority were there, so I shall only take
liberties Vv'ith the few names that came under my personal notice in
attempting to describe the actual line of country traversed by hounds,
which if measured straight on the map between the points touched, covers
ten miles, and to assume at least twelve in the ^^ min. to Gaynes
Park Woods would be no exaggeration. Breaking at the end of the big
wood, he made for Ten Acres, and, doubling back almost immediately, Mr.
Green, Mr. Tyndale White, jun., Mr. Single, Mr. Bevan, Mr. Avila, and

AN OLD FASHIONED MONDAY II3

several more of us galloped straight through the wood, and came out with
hounds, who now made for the Ice House covert, hanging there a moment
and picking it up on the far side of the brook running down to the wood.
There was a jam and a squeeze at the narrow hand-gate at the bottom.

At the fence beyond it. Captain Bruce was off his thoroughbred
bay (which in the morning scurry had come down in a road, cutting its
knee) to pick up the huntsman's cap. Hounds were now swinging down
the ploughed field towards Knightsland, and there was no difficulty riding
abreast of them. In and out of the Toot Hill road it was a toss up which
side of Knightsland to go. Mr. Arkwright and the majority went left,
Capt. Bruce went for the gate at the bottom of the field, on the right, while
a few, including Mr. Bevan, Mv. F. Barclay, and JMrs. W. H. Sewell,
jumped into the wood. Getting out of it was not an easy matter, for a
deep sort of gully had to be walked down, and with only six feet run at the
fence beyond it, between some broken-off rails and a tree, required a bold
and clever horse. ]\Irs. Sewell's " Jack " was equal to it, and hounds were
flinging forward over the grass in front of us to Berwick Lane, which Capt.
Bruce and Miss Morgan had reached with them, and already they were
threading the thick, overhanging briary fence beyond it. The Captain
could not find a place, and it was a case of left or right to seek one. Fifty
yards to the right there was an outlet, but the wrong side of the brook,
fordable, as was soon proved, although it brought the black down, but did
not delay "Jack," or the thoroughbred bay, as they turned sharp over it, and
in the next field caught hounds who, instead of running, as many expected,
for Ongar Park, a very usual line, made for the small covert Northlands,
rented by Father Stubbings. Coming away from, it, hounds fairly flew down
the big stubble fields for Mr. Sworder's little covert. j\Ir. Avila — who was
riding his little blood bay, by " King Ebor," with the hunter instinct
inherited from its dam, " Baroness," the well-known brown mare that ]\Ir.
A. J. Edwards rode for so many years in Essex- — leading over the briary
bank, and we turned to Beachetts Avithout drawing rein, Mr. Tyndale
White remarking, as he swung open the big gate and galloped down the ride
past the keeper's house, " This is an old-fashioned -Monday."

A moment's silence, and we knew that hounds were away in the open
again, and a beautiful sight it was as we jumped out of the covert at the
]\Iount end, over the crumbling bank and drop. Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C.,
and Mr. G. H. Lee being two of the first out, to see the hounds streaming
over the grass to Shalesmore, already a large body of followers with
them : gate-openers most of them, thank goodness, for back swung the gate
as the huntsmen and those who had gone with hounds through the wood
galloped on without checking their stride, and turned sharp to the left for
the next fence up-hill, Mr. Ned Ball on his bay having an early cut at it
on the right of everyone. \\'ith the rise of the ground against us to the
next fence by the small spinney, and "Save a jump," cried the huntsman as
he and Mr. C. E. Green flew the fence, while we fumbled at a sticky gate.
" Anywhere you like at my rails," cried Mr. Sworder, as he sailed away on
his good black, going straight for his own stables, and we raced the bullocks
for the next open gateway, and swung down the hill for Tawney Hall, with
hounds tearing away on our left. The only refusal, iMr. Harry Sworder, of
the day, on your good black, as you went at the thickest part of the fence,
and your stable yard and a line of gates not a hundred yards to the right,
but you had him over, and were in and out of the next road, near the
Schools, quicker than anyone. The hounds were a bit tailed out now by
the pace, and a sharp turn here, the fox w^as headed, they overshot it,
and to work out the double the huntsman's aid was required. Over

114

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

the grass again at score, and over the bank, and over the hne, for another
sharp turn has caused hounds to over-run it, and made the Master use some
naughty cuss words. Words which CoL Lockwood, in his witty speech on
the occasion of presenting Mr. C. E. Green with the big brass pot, as he
styled it, at the Holborn Restaurant the following week, declared that he
never heard on the County Cricket Ground. Oh dear, no ! If anyone
missed an easy catch, it was, "So sorry!'' — " Oh, that's all right ! don't
apologise," from Mr. Owen or Mr. Kortright. All the same. Captain Bruce,
Mr. Grossman, and two or three more of us, didn't succeed in looking as
innocent as we ouerht to have done.

Thomas Cowee on " The Rebel "

Away again for Shalesmore, Mr. Avila cutting a corner. Nothing like
a farmer for going a short cut over a bit of wheat ; he knows the price of
it. Down the side of Shalesmore hounds tore along, and those who were
nearest to them suflered for it, as half-way down hounds turned through the
covert. Those who had selected the middle ride had a rare pull over the
next two or three heavy fields, up-hill every yard. Hounds feathered a bit
as they came away. Giving them plenty of room, Mr. E. Ball, Mr. Cross-
man, and Mr. Carr set to work to catch them again, as they ran very
keenly when they got on the grass. " Can you get out of this ?" asked the
huntsman, as we jumped out of the Mount road. " Yes," we shouted, as

RUNNING FOR BARBERS

I I

Mr. Harry Sworder returned the like answer at the same instant to Mr.
Arkwright and Mr. Tyndale White. He had been relying upon a weak
place in the thick fence with the double ditch which had to be reckoned
with, for a few days previously harriers had been that way, and a gap was
discovered ; but now as he scanned it there was no gap to be seen, and too
late he discovered a thick oak rail high up in the fence. Neck or nothing,
as he felt the black meant having it. Did the horse know ? Mr. Sworder
thinks that he must have done, for he kneed it, and swept it far into the
next field, for it was only laid in the hedge. On the left of that Mrs. Sewell
was gallantly tackling it on the good little " Jack," and got through with a
struggle. Many began to think the going heavy across Hill Hall Park, and
when hounds, without the semblance of a check, went straight through
Bush Wood and the next covert, and bore down the hill for Barbers, Mr.
Ned Ball was not the only one who found his horse had had enough, as he

Running for Barbers

slugged his head on the bit. The light weights and those who had a bit of
blood under them shot to the front, Mr. Avila and Mr. Sworder leading all
the way to Barbers, and though some of the fences required jumping,
horses' blood was up, and they would turn or jump just where you asked
them, provided they were not done. Was Mr. Carr's getting pumped as it
fell with him out of the lane into the field near Barbers ? The huntsman's
horse slipped round, and Mrs, Sewell gave him a lead through the brook
into Barbers. With hounds to the far side ere they left it, for they were
running in covert ; out they came right under our feet, and swept down the
wood side. Don't say we over-ride hounds, for we waited there for them,
many of us, and the smile on the huntsman's face as he watched his
favourites dashing and fiinging across the open, before he jumped out
of the wood, one that ought to have been kodaked. The leading

Il6 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

hound's name came readily to his Hps as we asked him the question.
" ' Belvoir,' by the ' Belvoir Gordon,' a rare one to drive along." For the
brook we all rode, and again did Mrs. Sewell give the huntsman a lead, as
his horse cut it. A field beyond we had a view of our hunted fox. Mr.
Basham will vouch for this, as he saw him come over the road dead beat,
and hounds hit off his line up the grass fields to Gaynes Park. Ten
minutes in the woods finished him, and some of the youthful members of
Mr. Chisenhale Marsh's family, who were out on foot, were duly blooded.
Methought the jovial expression on George Dawson's face, who was riding
his good little grey, betokened that he, at least, was one of those who had
enjoyed this run to the full.

A good horse, bought from Mr. H. E. Jones, carrying a
good man in every sense of the word. Mr. Thomas Co wee's
figure was at one time a very familiar as it was a very welcome
one with the Essex Fox Hounds, for he was a thorough sports-
man. Alas ! the last few seasons his health has only permitted
him to appear at rare intervals, where as an exponent of the
art of crossing a country on a well-bred little 'un he had few,
if any, equals (see portrait, page 114).

I have done it at last ! Done what ? my dear friend. Taken to cycling,
driving a motor, or floating a company ? Oh dear, no ! Nothing half so
exciting. I have left home late, made a guess at the country to be drawn,
chanced the run of the season coming off in the morning, and without dis-
turbing a covert hit the hounds off to the tick for their initial find, and this
feat was accomplished this season for the first time on Monday last, though
attempted before.

The Egyptian Sphinx is not more silent or discreet on the question of
the afternoon draw than the present Hunt staff, and the variations in it are
as problematical as the weather. No, not quite that ; for the certainty of a
wet day in this month of December, 1896, is hardly a subject for a wager.

A choice of two courses — the Colonel's coverts and Loughton Shaws, or
Curtis Mill Green and Sir Charles's " Osiers." Impossible to try both with
any success, and to hit off the wrong one — chagrin and disappointment,
with a certain attack of malaise.

No need to bore you with the reasons that induced me to put all my
eggs in one basket, and stake everything on Curtis Mill Green and the
" Osiers," but will merely state that be-mackintoshed and covert-coated, in a
heavy storm of rain, I set off on my solitary and speculative ride at twelve
o'clock. The heavy clouds were driving up before a keen easterly wind,
disclosing here and there a gleam of blue that mocked the rain showers as
ihey came down to swell the glancing rivulets that fringed every road, while
anon a brilliant rainbow lighting up a dense bank of black clouds bespoke
fairer things, and the whole landscape was brought into the clearest focus,
so that the scene of the third act in last Monday's exciting drama was
vividly presented to us as we swung back the latched gate in the bridle
road to Tawney Hall, and let the good little bay go up to his bridle, without
hurrying him. Never hurry when you are on the look-out for hounds. Pull
up, if you like, on arising knoll and scan the horizon. If your horse is keen
he will listen too, and catch the faintest note of horse or hound long ere it
strikes your duller sense.

In the stable-yard at Tawney Hall no sign of life except the rattle of

SEEKING A CLUE II7

watchdog's chain and his warning bark ; the dial must be pointing to one,
and my Knight of the Velvet Cap must have left the castle. Beyond the
house, what a landscape offered itself! The floods were out, and no ford
between Passingford Mill and the neighbouring village of Abridge would
be of any avail should hounds cross Roden's yellow flood. The clouds
were now gradually dispersing, though a dull grey mist seemed to be creep-
ing up in their wake, and the rain-soaked overcoat was making itself felt,
as we knocked at the closed door of the blacksmith's forge at Passingford
Bridge and left it in his charge.

No signs of the chase at present ; the busy hay-binder at the stack near
the Osiers opining they would be too wet to hold a fox, and the Green in scarce
better plight. No hurry, if we can reach the covert before hounds have left it.
Keeping well on the right, up the track used by the cottagers to their homes
(for there are several cottages in this wild spot, equally methinks free
from the jurisdiction of the school-board officer and sanitary inspector), we
accosted one of the natives, a civil-spoken fellow, who told of a fox lately
seen, and the line he usually took (this in reserve for future use), and knew
that hounds were expected that day. We plunged up to the girths as we
rode on through a stream that divides the two coverts, and so up the muddy
lane towards Pyrgo Wood, where, as we gained its outskirts, we saw a
vision. Did it bring delight ? Did it give encouragement ? It should have
done, but did not, for the covert-coated fair equestrian was trotting rapidly
in the Navestock direction, the last in which we should have looked for sign
of hounds. Following in her tracks for a few hundred yards — she was
going much too rapidly to be overtaken — I could see nothing, but encoun-
tered first a man, from his speech an undoubted Irishman, from his nose,
an explorer of fences, for it was cut in a manner that would have aroused
the envy of half our thrusters at the end of a quick thing in the Roothings.
He was anxious to impart information, and equally ready for a guerdon for
what little he had to dispose of, though it was not worth a kopeck. Lower
down, roadmen three, civil and anxious to put me right, but no clue beyond
the lady and two or three horsemen who had been inquiring for hounds in
that direction, and no sight of them near the coverts on the hill usually
drawn at a Dagenham meet. Back at a trot towards the big wood, for it
was turning chilly, after the slow ride up the sloppy lanes from the green —
to turn in at the farmyard near it and accost the man cutting mangolds,
and to be misled against my better judgment. " Oh, yes," he said, " hounds
have done this wood ; they have gone clean away ; they were running hard
below Havering before dinner."

It now being near two, with scant prospect of falling in with hounds, I
turned homewards, intending to take the green on my way. Luckily, seeing a
man at work improving a grass field, I rode up and accosted him, eliciting the
following reply : " Well, if they 'ave been in that 'ere wood, they muss 'ave
been uncommon still, for I 'aven' 'eard 'em." So now to return to my man
with the mangold knife, and at the same instant to catch sight of a cloud of
horsemen approaching Pyrgo Wood, and to reach the corner the moment
the hounds were thrown in. The wind swept keenly round the covert.
There were, however, but few seconds to wait, for a ringing halloa on the
far side sent a joyous thrill through every nerve and fibre in my body. (I
was on the right horse.) Down the woodside came a few horsemen, gal-
loping towards us. They had mistaken the halloa, and the bay shied well
into the field as he met them. Mr. Tyndale White, jun., was one, and
when I saw him again he was so plastered with mud as to be hardly recog-
nisable. The majority of his companions, however, who had taken their
stand at the far corner of the grass field had turned back into the plough.

Il8 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

And what a plough it was ! No wonder Mr. Price had a good following as
he trotted the headland. No wonder few were really riding in wake of
hounds across it, but were hugging the sides and making tracks for the
grass, for the going was heavy and fences stiff in the line hounds were
taking. Just time to catch sight of Mr. Waltham plunging through the first
wood, followed by Miss M. Morgan, and to get clear of the ruck — and it
struck me that there was a ruck and ample occupation for the secretaries on
a blank day — and reach the road below Bower House, with hounds and
their very few attendants a long way off on our left, and to find ourselves in
good company — if pink cloth counts for anything — up to Bower House, to
turn in opposite to it, pull up, and hear the maddening chorus of hounds in
the wood at our feet, and Easterby's wild cheer as he viewed them away.

" A good turn," said Mr. L. Pelly, as we pressed on through the farm-
yard, with Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C, Miss M. Morgan, Mr. Waltham,
Easterby, and half-a-dozen more, and struck the road at the same moment
hounds crossed it into the park, with something left in our horses and
something to be thankful for that we had caught them fairly at last, and
with no intention of leaving them again while a kick or a jump was left in
our nags, ^^■hat a pace they went over the park ! How quickly Mr.
Waltham swung open the first iron gate, yet how long he seemed.
" Bellows to mend ?" we asked the huntsman as he overtook us in the next
grass field, and " bellows to mend it was," he replied, for he, at any rate,
had come the line. Up and down hill from Pyrgo Wood, and the best of the
fun was nearly over, though the water flew up as horses were sent along
over the fields fringing the brook and Hogg Hill. Mr. F. Green's stately
residence was within easy distance as hounds drew up after this sparkling
seventeen minutes, and there was time to note a few of those who had
enjoyed it— Mrs. Bowlby, Mrs. Mcintosh, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Grossman,
Miss Fane, Miss Morgan, Miss E. Jones, Miss M. Morgan, General Sir
Evelyn Wood, V.C, Colonel Lockwood, M.P., Colonel Fane, Major
Wilson, Mr. F. Green, Mr. E. T. Helme, Mr. Tyndale White, Mr. Ford
Barclay, Mr. D. Cunliffe-Smith, Mr. H. J. Price, Mr. R. Y. Bevan.

Ongar Park.

Methinks any schoolboy or young lady who attended the
meet of the Essex Foxhounds at North Weald on Monday,
January 4th, in the year of i^Tace 1S97 (and there was a merry
band of them), will, when he or she has grown up, cherish
a very tender regard for the noted woodland of Ongar Park,
from which such a famous run took place on this memorable
occasion.

Few large coverts within the confines of the Essex Hunt
offer greater difficulties, whether to the tyro or the old stager,
for getting away on good terms with hounds ; and many a man,
unless steeped as deep in the mysteries of woodcraft as a Hart,
a Sworder, or a Waltham, has been left behind in many a
famous run to gnash his teeth and bewail his fate. Let a good
fox take but one turn round this extensive covert ; let him, as
he is nearly safe to do, put up a comrade which, may be, a few
of the tail hounds will set to work to hunt noisily and vigorously

ONGAR PARK

J 19

on their own account, confusing you with the two Hnes, the two
choruses with which the woods are now echoinsf. Let our first
friend, the good fox, break at short notice on the Toot Hill side,
or in the Blake Hall direction, when you have been pinning
your faith on his making for Gaynes Park or the Beachetts, and
you will be more than lucky if you see anything of the hounds
again before the run is over.

But on Monday last everything worked propitiously, except
(and there is always an exception to everything, however good
it may be) to a few who, relying upon a day in the woods, had

Leonard Thomas Carr

ridden up late, or saved their horses for a better meet. Two
minutes, nay one, and the lady on the rich dark-coated thorough-
bred, who shot across the muddy lane that divides the Gaynes
Park preserves from the Ongar Park woods would have been
too late, for at that moment a distant " Halloa" came floating-
back on the breeze, far down the dark wood, as having ridden
with one or two more leisurely, and unsplashed, up the muddy
lane, we followed her down the broad middle ride of the
covert, to turn off with the late Master at the first chance on
the right, for hounds appeared to be making for the Toot
Hill side, although the force of the tide still set with a strong

I 20 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

current up the middle ride, down which the huntsman and his
numerous followers had dashed.

Scarcely had we reached the end of the ride before another
" Halloa," this time far away near Toot Hill, could be heard,
and the sight of a few red-coats, already coming away from the
wood, warned us that there was not a moment to be lost. Not
staying to listen to the voice of the charmer, charm he never
so wisely, up hill and down dale, on the hard resounding road,
we raced for the point where the huntsman, with vigorous
notes on his horn, was drawing his hounds together from the
covert, while the Master held the eao-er crowd in check which,
the moment he released his hold, burst like a torrent, and
swept over the road in hot pursuit, as the hounds struck the
line on the good scenting ground that spreads away from Ongar
Park to Knightsland, Shalesmore, and Beachetts.

Each man for himself and the hounds for us all, was the
cry, as bearing at first to the right men took their fences at
the gallop, and in less than a minute they were racing for the
brook at the bottom of these meadows. Mr. Green was in
luck, hitting off the same place where he and Major Wilson on
his grey left us all behind in the fog last year, and was followed
over that 10 ft. plank by Mr. Newman Gilbey on his new
purchase, the good black. On the right of these, for a place
he liked better, Mr. Gerald Buxton mia^ht have been seen
fanning along with a large following, while coasting down
it in blank despair rode a crowd who were lucky if they extri-
cated themselves in time to Q-et through the ford and hand eate
on the left before all the fun was over ; while without knowino-
of Its existence Mr. Edwards, Mrs. Carter, Mr. John Tyndale
White, Mr. Cockett, Mr, Ford Barclay, and one or two more,
struck it without drawing rein. Hounds still favoured those on
the left, for they swung right across them under Northlands,
and raced hard for Knightsland. In and out of the briery
lane with Messrs. Edwards and Barclay at the double, over
the half-concealed ditches — the next drop fence in your stride,
and in and out of the corner of Knightsland, or a swish through
the bullfinch after Mr. White's reel-ribboned grey, would have
landed you in time to see hounds at their first check, and
without their huntsman. The fox, a crood one, had orone on,
and with forces somewhat augmented, Mr. Tyndale White
on his roan swung open the gate into the road below Knights-
land, as the line led on over some terribly heavy ploughed land.
Just time to catch sight of Mr. Seymour Caldwell jumping
a wide ditch into a narrow grass meadow, and to hear the

OUR YOUNG NIMRODS

121

crash of the g-ate which Mrs. Carter, gallantly charg-ing-, carried
away as her horse slipped up at it, and to thank our buttons we
hadn't to come into the road over the high bank which the
Master, the huntsman and Captain Bruce tackled just below
Stanford Hall Farm, and we were cruising up the road for the
bridge over the brook, Mrs. Arkwright being one of the first
to jump out over the quickset hedge as she followed the
Master's lead. In a few minutes we had run up to Kettlebury
Springs after twenty to twenty-five of the best, and before we

''^Ani/:

Knightsland Wood

left them there was time to take stock and note some of the
bold young Nimrods, and youthful and fair Dianas who had
ridden over this rough country. Guy Edwards and his brother
Noel, who later on in the day took a toss which in no way
disconcerted him, Charlie Green and his big brother, Vivian,
and Eustace Pelly, Harold Marsh, Maurice White * (he'll soon
be going into tails) and a boy on a long-tailed bay. Miss
Steele, Miss Georgie Waters, and Miss Dorothy Sewell and
many more unknown to me, but not forgetting a boy with
a big pair of spurs and a very small pony.f

He got a commission in '99, and sailed for the Cape.

+ Tom Carr's son.

122

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Shortly after leaving- Kettlebury Springs, as we were riding;
in the direction of Greensted, after threading a narrow planta-
tion where the first whip had a difference of opinion with his
horse about jumping out of it, and just after Bailey had dis-
mounted to open a gate (near a wire-guarded fence), and Mrs.
Carter's chestnut had landed her over one, this time without
touching it, out of a muddy lane a fox — not a uob-tailfd one

Miss Georgie Waters on Gipsy

— jumped up in view, and hounds fairly raced him into Green-
sted Wood. From this point we embarked upon a first-class
hunting run, slow but sure, travelling forward all the time over
a good country via Dewley Wood over the Ongar road by
Bobbingworth Hall Farm, Mr. Milbank giving us a cheery
greeting as we rode through his yard. Running nearly to
Moreton we held away for the Lavers, and ran up to our fox
— a bob-tailed one — (where did we change ?) in Belgium
Springs. A turn or two round the covert, one good ring in
the open, and he just saved his bob-tail by getting to ground
in the identical burrow that baulked us of a good gallop on the
opening day of the season from Matching Park.

One hour and forty minutes we had been on the move.
The time is correct, for the Major checked it, and many one

THE BOB-TAILED FOX GETS AWAY 1 23

horse men and those who, like Mrs. and Miss Fane, had long
distances to ride home, left while they were trying to dig
the fox out, few of us being sorry that they did not succeed
in doing so until hounds had left the scene of action — and
he whisked his bob-tail as he scampered off quite ready for
another spin before the boys go back to school.

The next draw was Mr. R. C. Lyall's cellar, and we filled
the drive as we waited our turn for his excellent sherry and
Christmas cakes. We were not expected at Harlow Park.
With drains unstopped and the earths open we were lucky
in having a nice little hunt by Parndon Woods to Nasing
Common, the field gradually dwindling away by twos and
threes until vou miofht have counted them on one hand. As
the horn played " Dulce domum " the mist crept up from
the southard, wrapping everything and everyone in its chilly
embrace.

" Ongar Park in the Fog " would have formed a fitting headline for the
notes of last Monday's sport from North Weald. For be it known that we
met there again, hardly having disturbed a twig of the draw on the previous
occasion. Yes ; and in a dripping fog we mustered, and were greatly sur-
prised to find that in spite of its density they meant hunting.

Hounds were punctual and Masters too. Not that this calls for any
special comment, for they are never otherwise, a very great addition to the
pleasure of hunting with any pack of hounds, you'll all readily grant : and
when hounds were thrown into covert there was a steady determination
evinced not to lose sight either of them or their huntsman. A fox broke
over the same ride as Monday last, but without going for the open, was
viewed again towards the Gaynes Park end ere the huntsman laid on his
hounds. There I saw them feathering for an instant, the huntsman in their
midst, among the tree stubs ; the muddy ride filled up immediately, as
people pressed down it, for hounds had begun to race for Beachetts. With
horses galloping behind and in front of you it was impossible to hear any-
thing, and the fog blotted out all vision beyond 150 yards in the wood and
300 in the open, but still as we reached the wood the cry was the same,
" They have gone for the Beachetts."

Only those who lost not a second here by galloping round the covert, or
plunged through the middle ride, almost up to the horses' girths, without
slackening rein, were with hounds as they cleared the wood and came away
for Shalesmore ; and in that select band, they tell me, might have been seen
Mr. Tyndale White, Mr. and Mrs. Grossman, Miss Jones, Gol. Fane, Mr.
Avila, Mr. Bevan, and Major Wilson, at least they were with hounds when
they left Shalesmore, to which they fairly flew. The line delightful, nearly
all grass — most of you know it — and the pace good enough for the rails and
ditch beyond, just below Shalesmore, thought Mr. White and Mr. Avila as
they jumped them stirrup to stirrup. The Major, too, voted the pace ultra
till the bay put him down in the road. Up the heavy field of Mr. Sworder's
hounds swung, crossing the brook, where it wanted doing, and with a
piping scent flew on to Mr. C. Fitch's, Spinney Hagmore (what a name !),
and here they dished the lot.

124 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

" How trifling a cause will oft lose us a run !
From the find to the finish how few see the fun !
A mischance, it is call'd, when we come to a halt ;
I ne'er heard of one who confess'd it a fault ;
Yet we're all of us tailors in turn — "

sang Egerton Warburton.

Now comes the interesting question — only to be answered by those who
fairly got away with liounds — whether it is more provoking to be left
behind in the middle of a rim, having successfully overcome the principal
difficulty of getting away from a big woodland in a fog, and having fairly
held hounds for 15 minutes in the open at best pace, or not to have got
away at all ? It is a question that will frequently crop up when you hunt
in a fog, since for one that gets away with hounds five will be left behind,
and the most trifling impediment to your progress out of the common run,
such as an awkward brook, a locked gate, a wired gap (we put such cer-
tainties as canals and railways out of the question), and those who have got
away, will join the nomad band of discontented explorers, and scientific
enquirers oi have you seen the hounds ? and to them, and to those who have
not seen a yard of the run, will come home some very searching questions.
A good many ifs ; the " If" this time with a very big I for those who did
get away. If I had only jumped in and out of that plantation (Hagmore)
with hounds I should have been all right, and so you would. But if you
hoped, nay, almost relied on seeing hounds again as you rounded the
spinney, you made a mistake such as Hervey Foster never would have
perpetrated, for if he once got away with hounds in a fog he glued himself
on to them. But up to here it must have been a rare nice gallop, and little
question in my mind, since half a loaf is better than no bread, that it were
better to have ridden up to that point to the music of hotmds, as their
phantom forms flitted through the mist, than not to have started at all,
and only to have caught the faint chime of hounds coming back unattended
into Beachetts, and to mark them divide, as 5! couple struck the country
beyond the woods towards Coopersale, and ran on to Gaynes Park.

A fox even may lag behind too long in a fog, especially if he makes no
allowance for the fact that the further he goes the warmer his jacket
becomes. 'Twas a pretty sight when hounds hit on the drag of a crafty,
dodging, stay-at-home-if-possible customer, near the gravel pits just as we
were en route for Weald Coppice. 'Twas cheering to gallop through the
woods to their babbling chorus as they spelt out every yard of twisting line
through the Forest into Gaynes Park, and crossing the muddy lane, got on
better terms with him in Ongar Park. 'Twas better galloping in the open
towards North Weald station than whirling through it in the Ongar
express ; but 'twas maddening to lose hounds for the second time in the fog
as they turned back over the line beyond North Weald and swept back to
the big woods — not a soul near them except Jack, who had not crossed the
line, and only a porter on the metals to confirm the intelligence as we
galloped under the bridge beyond Ongar Park Farm. At the top end of
the woods many fresh prints of horses' feet going in the direction of Toot
Hill made us again think hounds were having a stinger in the open. If so,
little chance of catching them ; so home through the woods past the grin-
ning keepers. Quite a bevy of them — quite a chorus of " Never saw
hounds streaking along so fast in my life," " Gone at least twenty minutes."
" Must have nearly reached Whitechapel by this time," chimed in that
veteran Wright. " Only one with them, couldn't say who, for he swept
by like a spectre horseman."

Up with your coat collars, Messrs. Swire and Smith, and home for T,

MISS ETHEL M. TONES

125

since neither hounds nor huntsman you'll see again this day — and yet,
hark a moment. Is not that a whip calling hounds together ! No mis-
taking that " Ku-up along, hounds." Some hounds, at any rate, are near,
and at the bottom of the wood we met Jack returning with the full muster,
which he had succeeded in stopping at Gaynes Park: but no huntsman,
and we left Messrs. Ball, Green, Bevan, and the Master going to look for
him as we rode homewards, with a deeper veneration than ever for Ongar
Park, and a weightier sense of the difficulties of riding to hounds in a fog.

Miss Ethel M. Jones

Miss Jones's name occurs a good many times in these
pages. It could hardly be otherwise where any attempt is made
to give the names of the leaders in the runs that are herein
described. Miss Jones is one of those ladies whose presence
in the hunting field is ever welcomed by the keenest and most
enthusiastic follower of the hound and horn, for she always
rides her own line. In her early days with the Essex Hounds
she used to follow her father ; now, in 1899, if I am not much
mistaken, her father is very glad if he can follow her, as he

126

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

knows that his place will then be a good one when hounds

Snatched from the Frost.

And so it looks as I pen these lines on Wednesday evening (January
2oth, '97), after as good a day's hunting as one could wish for. Were we
not stopped last Saturday ; and on Monday the country was white with
snow, which thawed too slowly on Tuesday to make any but those as
sanguine as the young Haileyburian hope to be out on the morrow.

With a dull leaden sky and searching east wind, freezing as it blew, and
roads covered in many places with frozen snow, on Wednesday morning
even my sanguine Peter Leather doubted hounds going, or if they did, not

Tattle Bushes

before twelve. Many others relied upon a late meet, and taking it easy,
did not arrive in time to see hounds thrown into the first covert, Tattle
Bushes. I know no prettier covert than Tattle Bushes (the Punch Bowl
of the Hunt) from which to see a fox go away. Standing as it does on an
emmence from which the grass pastures slope sharply down to the vale
below, it commands a lovely view over the Lea Valley far away into Hert-
fordshire, the dome of Haileybury College being a conspicuous landmark
m the far distance, while nestling at your feet is the historic building
" Nether Hall," at one time supposed to have been connected with Rye
House by a subterranean passage.

The moment hounds were thrown in there was a crash of music from
the big dogs. " A fox ! " said Mr. James Green, of Todd's Brook. Scarce
were the words out of his mouth before a scream from the bottom end

THE RUN FROM TATTLE BUSHES, JANUARY 20, 97 12/

warned us that there was not a moment to lose, and those on the wrong
side of the fence at once turned back with Dr. Love and the boy on the
long-tailed bay for the gate, and down hill we slathered and slid over the
slippery grass as horses snatched at their reins, hounds running straight
for Nether Hall. Just under it they turned, and taking us over several
deep holding fields, began to scale the hill for Roydon Park.

A lucky turn for some of the late arrivals we had come at best pace,
and you could take no pull at your reins as you galloped through the
plantation. The Master, Major Carter, Mr. N. Gilbey, Mr. H. Jones,
Mr. C. E. Green, and Mr. Howard Fowler going up and out of the rough
field beyond as quick as anyone, and so nearly up to Roydon Station. One
more turn, and leaving Tattle Bushes behind, our fox set his mask for a
country that is probably better known to the present Master of the

The boy on the long-tailed bay

Puckeridge, Mr. E. Barclay, than anyone else, for many a hustling he has
given a long-tailed one from the low-lying meadows (for which we were
making), driving them to the sanctuary of the Galley Hill coverts. Alas !
that this fair grass country should be so spoilt with wire, and very little
time elapsed after crossing the road below Nether Hall before we found
ourselves in its meshes, and hounds running on alone and unattended.
Mr. Avila led one band for some distance, jumping each fence in fear and
trepidation, while Mr. Charles Green, having tackled a fence wired each
side, carved out a line across country on his own account, while Bailey,
who had been thrown behind by his horse refusing one of the wide marsh
ditches, made off towards Galley Hills with the majority of the field after
him. It was not long, however, before Mr. Avila and those that were
following his bold lead, including Miss M. Buxton, Mr. Ford Barclay,
Mr. Newman Gilbey, Mr. Giles, and the boy on the long-tailed bay, were

128

LEAVES FROM A HUNTINCi DIARY

driven back by the wire to the canal path, where intelHgence was gleaned
that hounds were running close at their fox along its margin. We wanted
a native guide badly, for the further we rode the canal side the further we
were riding from any known coverts, and remoter every moment became
our chances of seeing hounds again, should they after all have gone for
Galley Hills. However, once having made up your mind, stick to it ; so
a dozen of us followed, not Mr. Avila in his second essay over the meadows,
but held on until we had definite news of hounds.

^^^^P||»; . _

A. ' '2E^^^B

-J

P^^^^*m flPf^ ^*HIt'

H. W. Horner on "Rupert"

Mr. Horner, like his father, is very fond of hunting. A hard
rider without any jealousy, he much prefers his own line to
gap shoving, and although he only keeps one horse, he manages
to get as much real enjoyment out of that one as some men do
out of twenty. The chestnut gelding on which he here figures
is by "Reveller," dam by " Randolph," and although his owner
is a welter weight, he rarely ever comes down.

THE ADMIRAL

1 29

Galloping down a deep lane in places up to your girths for about half a
mile, we had hounds in view running ahead. At the end of the lane
a locked gate yielded to the united efforts of three individuals, and then we
breathed again, for we had recovered hounds, even if they had lost their
fox. Mr. Charles Green coming up, and no huntsman in sight, he pro-
ceeded to cast them, Major Wilson turning them to him as he whistled
them softly. Just at the critical moment of waving them on, his horse
went head over heels into a bog, and by the time he had picked himself up,
recovered the hounds and charged a great hairy fence, which his bay horse
did most beautifully, Bailey and his following could be seen in the distance

• The Admiral "

coming towards us. Making nothing of it, he held the hounds up to
Mr. Bury's plantation on the hill, where the hunted fox had evidently
taken refuge, for out he came with a comrade ; but sticking to their old
friend, hounds pushed him round in a circle up hill again, " The Admiral "
making daylight through some binders on the top of a bank about twelve
feet high. The good black, scrambling up its side, crashed into and
through the binders at a stand, while Mr. Duke Horner and the boy,
having looked admiringly on, thankfully followed. There was absolutely
no other outlet for those on that side of hounds as they ran for Mr. Charles
Bury's policies. Two or three circles round them, three attempts to save

O VOL. II

I30

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

himself by getting to ground, and the old grey customer had to pay the
penalty exacted from all chicken robbers. Even the sherry and cake so
freely offered and plentifully partaken of hardly served to warm us as the
keen blast blew right through one after the hot gallop.

Better known in the Essex hunting held under the above
title, Mr, E. Pelly is a real customer across country, and runs
Bailey close in the art of boring through a thick place. In
fact, the thicker the fence the better he and his black like it ;
they rarely part company, and may always be seen in the front.
"The Admiral's" early life was spent at sea (hence the sobri-
guef), and if you would learn how in 1 898 he chanced to have a
box of the choicest Manilla cheroots which had come into his
possession twenty years previous to the late Spanish-American
war, you must go to the fountain head. All I can say here is
that they were uncommonly good, and that the flavour was not
lost as he recited the story that accounted for their possession.

Charles Bury

The late Mr. Charles Bury lived on the Hertfordshire side
of the Essex country, but this never deterred him during the

CHARLES BURY

I^I

many seasons he hunted with the E.H. from attending any of
their most distant meets in the Saturday country. He thought
nothing of hacking out twenty miles, hunting ah day, and
coming back the same distance ; and if he generally stuck
to the road he made no attempt to disguise the fact, and
would as soon have thought of jumping a fence during
the twenty years I knew him as the late Mr. Henry Vigne.
Yet like Mr. Vigne he dearly loved hunting, dearly loved to
talk over a good run. He did all in his power to encourage
and foster the sport, and though at times inclined to take a

Vicarage Wood

pessimistic view of affairs venatic, and think the country as far
as hunting was concerned was going to the dogs, yet he did all
in his power to arrest the evil day. Succeeding to an estate
through which ran miles of wire (not barbed — it was not
invented then) he had it all removed, and his "stick heap"
was one of the surest finds in the county. Many a good run
have we had from that, and many a good glass of brown sherry
did we quaff at his hospitable doors before proceeding to evict
one of his foxes ; generally three in the Stick Heap then as
there are now, when his son reigns in his stead at St. Leonards
— a son who, having imbibed all his father's love of hunting,

132 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

holds with it an undergraduate's partiality for jumping, and goes
very straight. There were few more popular men in the
county of Essex than the late Charles Bury, few harder
workers in all matters connected with county administration.
It was a rare thing for him to have a single day free from
some committee meeting or other, either at Waltham Abbey,
Epping or Chelmsford — " He died in harness T

Back at a trot for the Parndon Hall country, where we were joined by
Mr. and Miss Peel, Captain and Mrs. Bruce, and Dr. Grubb. With fresh
horses they were prepared for anything. To start with, the little steeple-
chase from Mark Hall to Weir Hatches, where the cut direct over the
Vicarage iron railings was pointed out for one section by Dr. Love, nor
dwelt he to see if there were any rash followers' necks to mend. Better,

Major W , if you had gone through the plantation with Mr. Peel,

Mr. Howard, and Mr. Newman Gilbey. After this, as a forlorn hope, to
Barnsleys in the icy wind.

Barnsleys ? where do you generally get to from there ? queried Sir
Evelyn Wood, as the day was drawing in, and a train to town had to be
caught. In the olden days — some call them the golden days — from
Barnsleys to the Lavers was a very usual line, came the rejoinder, and on
one occasion we reached Forest Hall. Little did we dream what was in
store for us, or few of those who had a kick left in their nags would have
gone home. 3.15, we found him (and so cold were my fingers that it was
with the greatest difficulty I could restore the ticker to my waistcoat
pocket), and to Harlow Park we ran him, barely touching the line on the
first ploughed field. They quickened up a bit as they struck the grass,
and kept us moving to Harlow Park, Mr. Gerald Buxton's horse giving him
a nasty roll by galloping into a boggy hole near the covert, and a bold
young sportsman riding Mr. Dent's horse, who had gone particularly well
in the morning, took his own line and a purler into the lane en route.

The rnusic in Harlow Park might have been heard at Canes as hounds
drove their fox with a will round the covert, and forced him at 3.30 back
over the common at hot pace for Barnsleys. Through the middle ride with
Mr. Bevan and a few more we could see hounds running back and break on
the Harlow side and hunt steadily by themselves (the huntsman was back
in covert) over the pastures to Hubbard's Hall. There seemed to be a fair
number of people with us at this point, but they fell off gradually as hounds,
taking a line over the Harlow Road, ran over a capital country close to
Thrushes Bush, by which time the field was fairly select, two ladies only
riding to hounds, Mrs. Bruce on her favourite chestnut Roy, and Miss Peel
on the well-known grey. Threading a small spinney, hounds ran steadily on
over the snow-covered plough for Matching Park, which you would have
staked your last shilling the fox meant entering, taking us over ditch after
ditch, one blinder than usual nearly bringing Mr. Peel to grief. For some
time it was a case of up and down with him and his horse, but the clever
animal, clinging to the edge of the ditch like a fly to a ceiling, pulled
through it all right, and as we turned for an easier fence, Mr. Newman
Gilbey remarked to me, "Ain't he a varmint P " And as he meant, " Isn't
he a customer across a country ? " I heartily endorsed it. We all know
that none of the old members of the Hunt can touch him for dash and
quickness, and few indeed of the young ones either. Sir Evelyn Wood is

THE BAKERS DOZEN 133

another wonder, but unluckily he missed this gallop, which was over a
country he shines in.

Running close up to the Faggot Stacks, Mr. Giles, as he charged a bank
into a grass field, thought it about time to come down, but picking himself
up, got over wxU at the second attempt. The grass rode better than the
plough, and we slipped away nicely over the next two or three fields, and
leaving High Laver Hall on the right forty minutes from the time of leaving
Harlow Park, Bailey had to throw up the sponge at Little Laver Mill. It
was getting dark, and the rapidly hardening plough made the jumping very
tricky. INIr. Dent, of Harlow, getting a fall over the last fence, made the
baker's dozen who saw the finish. The Master, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. A. Peel
and Miss Peel, Mr. E. Pelly on his good black — the only one, I believe,
who on one horse had seen the whole day out, and seen it out, too, in his
usual place — Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. Grossman on his wife's good black,
Mr. Bevan on his new grey purchased from ]\Iaj or Green, and which carried
him like a bird after emerging from the first ditch, Mr. Newman Gilbey,
Captain and Mrs. Bruce and Mr. Giles. Roads were like glass hacking
home, and for two long weeks the severe frost that set in stopped hunting
altogether.

Monkhams

CHAPTER V.

Monkhams — The Romford Election — Mrs. Bennett — Snow-clad Fields— La Grippe
— Joseph — This Side and That — High Easter — A Bad Start, blame it ! —
C. E. Ridley's Gorse — Doneraile — Walter Ridley — Fly-by-Night — Mrs. H.
H. Elder — Sweep — H. H. Elder — The Miller — Walter Green can't raise a
halloa — One outlet — Stirrup to Stirrup — Four down — Deer Park — Tresham
Gilbey—Rev. R. L. Scott — Joan — Passing ford Bridge— Rev. J. H. R.
Pemberton — The Mottled Horse — W. Patchett, Q.C. — R. C. Lyall — Solomon
— How we killed the ColoneVs Fox in the Pnckeridge Country — Abridge —
/. E. Tabor — R. D. Hill — Business — Dandy Dick — No ice in the coffee —
W. Maitland Tower — Boinerang — Yokohama — Arthur Capel-Cure — T. C. T.
Warner — The Axe and Compasses — On Foot — The King William — Lords
Wvod — Thafs one of 'em, Cramphorn.

NASING Common on the card used to be the bete noir of hunting men
in the winter months, for it generally meant a frost. In this season,
however, of 1896-97, Passingford Bridge has acquired an unenviable
reputation. Twice already has it been put down for a Monday's meet and
each time frost has stopped proceedings. Let us hope that at the next at-
tempt we shall have better luck. No one thought it fit for hunting : no, not
even the youngest and most enthusiastic of a band of brothers, all of them
very fond of the game, whom we overtook near Tawney Hall, as, in company
with our secretary (Mr. Bevan) and the hunt staff, we jogged towards the
meet. Mr. Sworder had not mounted his good black, but although he
came on afterwards he did not alter his opinion that any attempt to ride
across country (at least, over fences) with the bone still in the ground
would be a very risky proceeding — a conviction that was shared equally by
the dozen or so who had ventured to the meet ; the practicability of killing
a fox (although the tempting bait of a crisp five-pound Bank of England
note was not lacking), without jumping a fence, not appearing feasible to
the huntsman in the Passingford Bridge country. Mrs. Bennett, Miss M.
Buxton, Miss Jones, Mr. D. Cunliffe-Smith, Mr. Swire, Mr. Gregory, Mr.

MRS. BENNETT

135

Washington-Single, and Mr. Gordon Lobb were among those who rode to
the meet and back for exercise, none of them vohmteermg to go on to
Romford to assist the candidates for ParUamentary honours. And what a
narrow squeak the successful candidate had ! To come down from 1,827
to 125 will remove, as Mr. Carlton Roberts observed, the dangers of over-
confidence created by four-figure majorities ; and we may add, whether
Tory or Radical, for we recognise no politics in the huntmg field.

Mrs. Bennett on "My Treasure"

Mrs. Bennett is rather proud, and justly so, of her Htde
mare ''My Treasure," on which she is here depicted, since she
bred, broke and made the mare herself into as clever a little
hunter as you shall meet with in a day's march, e'en though it
retains some of the impatience of youth— sire " Knappgelt.'' dam
" La Mascotte " (the latter carried Mrs. Bennett most brilliandy
with the Essex Hounds for twelve seasons). Perfect^ hands and
perfect seat, Mrs. Bennett yields the palm to no one in the ease
and grace with which she 'negotiates the intricate fences of the
Essex Country.

136 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

There was little appearance on Wednesday, February 3rd, of being able
to hunt, when the blinds were drawn up and the curtains thrown back, and
the announcement was made that the snow was lying thick on the ground,
but — a gleam of hope, just enough to make one forswear for once in a way
a cup of tea before getting up — it was thawing fast. And so it was, and so
it might do for twenty-four hours before the snow-clad fields in the neigh-
bourhood of Epping would resume their wonted hue ; but all the same, it
was not a bad chance for conditioning horses, and hearing that hounds
would be at Hatfield Heath, some eleven miles off, at 12, we left home at
that hour on the chance of falling in with them, and, as luck would have it,
arrived at Down Hall, the Matching side, to the tick, as hounds were being
blown out without having found. Whether it was this, or whether it was
the damp, heavy atmosphere, or the deep state of the ground, I cannot say,
but it struck me that the riders seemed to be taking their pleasure very
sadly. There seemed to be no life or go in the whole thing. Jack, the first
whip, was laid up, and there only appeared to be half-a-dozen cheerful
people at the outside. Mr. Jones was one of them, and a lady, on a very
smart cob, in spite of the mud in her eye, another ; but I think several of
them wore a dismal, lugubrious — that's the word, pronounced loo-goo-bre-us,
L., liigiibi'is, from lugeve, to mourn — expression, because neither Mr. Charles
Ernest Green nor Mr. Roland Yorke Bevan were out, and many were the
tender inquiries later on, as we stood in the middle ride of Matching Park,
as to whether grippe — the grippe, or the la grippe, as Max O'Rell would
say — had claimed either of them as a victim. We could not make it out;
just Mr. Green's field, too, thirty-five all told.

But to Man Wood let me take you, after having pulled "Joseph" back a
bit {vide " Rusticus Expectans " letters in the Field, he is always doing
something funny with "Joseph" — and "Joseph" is a horse, mind you), so as
not to interfere in any way with those who were on the ride and thirsting for
a gallop. At Man Wood they found instantev — not that it appeared to
interest Mr. Quare, Mr. L. Pelly, and two or three more who were County
Councilling, urban districting, or some such parochial frivolling.

At Man Wood, corner side, down its icy, snowy and muddy lane we
struggled, to find hounds away towards Row Wood, but inclined to come
for Down Hall, and doing so right across our bows as we reached the
road, flesh and blood (vide Hall Caine's new work in the Windsor) could
not resist it, and bidding my faithful Peter Leather take it easy, "Joseph "
hopped lightly out of the road (it was a bad place) and joined the riding
brigade. With a field's start of any of them, of course hounds threw up,
which gave me ample opportunity for gratifying the foremost pioneer's
(Mr. Jones') curiosity as to how I had arrived there, and further ample
leisure, when hounds did pick up the line, to note the gallant way in which
the Major-'' (there was only one out) charged the snow-choked ditch, and to
go last, yes, positively last (Mr. L. Pelly tried hard for the honor) over
the gap the huntsman had found, while it made my flesh creep and hair
stand on end to see the reckless way another man charged a fearful place,
rather than wait to see "Joseph" perform. And so we reached Down Hall's
outskirts, and eventually the Hall itself, where his lordship, on foot,
informed me that we had brought the fox back which had left his preserves
for Man Wood in the morning, and his keen ear was the first to catch
the cry of hounds running again in the open for the Shrubs ; so down hill
we galloped and splashed our way o'er the flooded meadows at the
bottom to find, in truth, that they were running, but without a yard of

* Major Carter.

THIS SIDE AND THAT

^2>7

scent. What could you expect ? Not finding again brought a very
unsatisfactory fox-hunting, but very useful condiiioning day for horses and
hounds, to an end. On Epping Plain the snow still lay thick as homeward
bound we passed it 4.45 p.m.

This Side and That.

The glorious uncertainty of fox-hunting has often been spoken about,
and as freely commented on, but never more clearly demonstrated than
in the case of the Essex Hounds on Saturday and Monday last.

" On Saturday, February 6th, hounds were running all day, and
during the greater part of it running hard."

" On Monday, with the exception of ten minutes in the woods, they
never ran at all."

It was disappointing, as there were several out, including Mr. E.
Helme, Major Paget, Captain Du Cane, who rarely pay us a visit, and we

High Easter

wished that they had seen the dog hounds of the Essex pack at their
best.

Would that I had been out at High Easter on Saturday, and so wished
a good many more who wandered about at North Weald on Monday
between 11 and 12 waiting, for the eight degrees of frost delayed hounds,
and listened to the glowing accounts of some of the fortunate few who had
seen the great day through on one horse apiece, and of others who had
found two horses hardly sufficient. There was no great point made by
hounds, and no kill took place, but we believe that it is only a huntsman
who looks upon a kill as the hall-mark of a sterling run.

Mr. C. E. Ridley said it was the best day that he had had for years.
Mr. Ridley has hunted longer than most in the Roothings, and knows
what a good run means.

138

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Captain Du Cane : The best day he had had since he left Essex.
(Did not hear where he had been hunting since he used to show us all the
way over the Roothings.)

Mr. Jones : The best he had seen this season. We quite believe it
also, that the Colonel was a wee bit tucked up next day, for we fancy he
was not out on the previous Wednesday.

Mr. Douglas Crossman : The best day he had seen in Essex, and he
has hunted two seasons, rarely, if ever, missing a Saturday. What a
clinking good horse his bay must be, for he rode him through the whole of
the day, and he finished up quite fresh, and ate his corn Hke a man on
Sunday ; and any horse I\Ir. Crossman rides has to go in the first half-
dozen of the very first flight.

''■'^^^^^Mm^s-'

C. E. Ridley's Gorse

Mr. Tilling and Mr. Fitch both saw it out on one horse apiece, and it
is more than probable that the honours of the first run from Garnetts to
Dunmow High Woods belong to them, for arriving late at the meet after
a seventeen-mile drive they were told as they neared Garnetts that they
had found and were running, but not the fox, which passed close to Master
Sam's feet. Giving a ringing view halloa, hounds came to the cry, and
settled down for a real steady hunt, at pace fast enough and direction
sufficiently straight to tempt a reverend gentleman well known in these
parts to have a cut at a yawner, Mr. Sam pulling aside to let him go, and
afterwards implored him to get off, when, going slap in, he looked like
having his horse on the top of him.

In a subsequent run from Canfield Thrift they went much faster, Mr.
Sam not being the only one who reaHsed that a bad start, blame it, from
the wrong side of the covert could not be made up. Running to High

C. E. RIDLEY

139

Roothing Bury, the}' left off at Poplars, and only thirty at the finish at the
outside. No horse appears to have died in the field — a not infrequent
occurrence in old days, when a great day followed after a long frost — a
circumstance, to say the least of it, that reflects great credit on those who
have charge of their masters' studs that they managed to turn them out so
fit. I have already remarked that many of us would have given a good
deal to have been out. One enthusiast assured me on such a day he would
rather have screwed up a horse than have missed it ; but without going so
far as that, we would have tackled the twenty miles to the first covert to
be drawn had we known. Yes, had we known, or did we know, how many
good runs would you miss ? But, believe me, like everything else in this
world, they would pall on you after a time if you could always ensure them,
and the glorious uncertainty of fox-hunting would be robbed of half its
charm.

C. E. Ridley on " Doneraile "

Mr. Ridley's name appears a good many times in Messrs.
Ball and Gilbey's " History of the Essex Foxhounds," and this
is natural, for 'twould be as impossible to write a history of the
Essex Hounds without mentioning Mr, Ridley's name as
'twould be to leave him behind in a good run across his native

140

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Roothings. No one knows that country better than he does ;
few in it do more to promote the welfare of foxhunting than
he and his brother Walter, whose portrait is here given.
Equally open-handed and generous to a degree when it
comes to the question of getting up a subscription for some
agriculturist who has met with misfortunes, a Ridley's name
will generally be found at the head of the list. Mr. C. E.
Ridley has planted a gorse covert in a favoured part of the
country, which will be known to future generations as Ridley's
Gorse. A sketch of it will be found on p. 138.

Walter Ridley on "Fly by Night"

I have given you this side — the gold, if you Hke it, of the medal. Will
you glance at the other, silver or dross, call it which you will, that stamps
itself on your memory as Monday's experience ?

Do you think that the day began well, waiting some sixty minutes on a
rather raw morning, with a blue mist circling in and out of the hedgerows,
at a fixture which, for its plain surroundings, stands unrivalled in the trysts
chosen for the meeting of the Clans (I have certainly no longing for a
sketch or a photograph of a North Weald meet).

MRS. H. H. ELDER I4I

Into the woods by another route. I Hke these (lodgements ; makes
people come to the meet — to find at once by the Butts " a leash." Hounds
running on our right, the huntsman galloping parallel with us ; a halloa
on the left ; half-a-dozen couple of hounds crossing our ride in full cry ; the
Master, Mr, Arkwright, muttering "they are on another fox"; and then for
ten minutes ensued a stampede worthy of a panic-stricken crowd in Chicago.
Men rode wildly in all directions, no face wore a smile, and ^' Atva citra
sedet post omnes eqnites." Pulling up I watched the game go on, thinking
hounds must come back. Not so, thought " Peter," (that's my other horse,
you must ken, vide friend Rusticus again). " Where are the hounds ? " said
an ex-Master and a gallant Captain. I felt quite flattered as I pointed out
the line, and a company of fifty charged down that ride straight for the
polo ground ; while on the left, waiting for hounds that never came, and

Mrs. H. H. Elder on "Sweep"

eventually riding round by another track, came another squad of horsemen,
led by one who, I thought, was never left behind in the woods. Tell it not,
nor publish it abroad, that Harry Sworder was thus belated. After
waiting as long as most, or as long as " Peter " would stand it, I trotted along
after H. S., and came out near the polo ground, saw the slope from Gaynes
Park House to the far coverts covered with skirmishers, spotted an
ex-Master intently listening in the middle of the park, noted beyond the
line of trees the bob of various hats ; and, avoiding the hill, rode for them,
to overtake them near Coopersale Bridge, and to find that after all it was
the Master and his following whom I had credited with hounds. Light
cavalry galloping up from the Ongar Road, videttes flying forward to
Coopersale, everyone asking and no one knowing — where were the hounds ?
Back by instinct to the Big Woods, and to catch the gleam of a scarlet
coat * nigh Rough Talleys, to breathe hopefully and learn contentedly that

* The huntsman's.

142

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

no one with him he had stopped hounds when they crossed the railway.
Would Lord Willoughby, or any of your crack amateurs, have done it ? I
fancy not, but you might have found out the sequel of the morning
catastrophe, next morning, or perchance at Harlow Park in the afternoon,
whither the fox was bound.

H. H. Elder on "The Miller"

So we were thankful, but all the same it was stroke No. i of bad luck —
for there was a scent in the covert in the morning, and hounds had run
well, and run with a will. More cheerfully for the Beachetts, and stroke
No. 2 of more than ill-fortune befell us, for Walter Green — he of the
crutches, who is noted far and wide for his halloaing powers — in fact, could
give Baker a stone and a beating, who loves halloaing for the sake of
halloaing as dearly as he loves hunting for the sake of hunting, and who
always forsakes his last, for a day with hounds when they come to the Big
Woods — as usual viewed a fox for us stealing away over a good grass
country for Barbers, gave one expiring effort, the one we heard, and not
another note could he raise, his cold rendering him as mute as a draft

H. H. ELDER ON "THE MILLER I43

hound from the noted Bark Hall Beagles. Bailey galloped to the cry at
the brickfield end of Beachetts, listened for ten seconds for another halloa
that never came, then, taking the hounds back into Ongar Park, we had
time to eat our luncheon and forget our sorrows. Found another fox, but
could not run him, ill-luck still dodging our footsteps, and so to coverts
numerous without result, and as a climax to the whole thing with a brace
in front of us at Kettlebury Springs, hounds could acknowledge neither.
Anyone who religiously wades through these notes will, I fancy, admit
that he has gazed on this side and that of fox hunting ; but to real lovers
of the game both sides of the medal have a gleam and lustre of their own,
which

"While the wind shall blow sweet through the woodlands,
A blank day shall never tarnish or dim."

H. H. Elder on " The Miller " — "that right well grinds his
corn," sang Mr. Bevan in his poem of Matching Green. At
that time Mr. Elder was in the full swing of his enjoyment of
the pleasures of hunting. His caviaraderie and good fellow-
ship in the hunting field we all know well. No more cheerful
companion ever accompanied one to a meet or hacked home
with you after a long day ; and Mr. Elder was fond of a long-
day, and generally had a bit left in his horse at the finish. He
was a good judge of a horse, and owned many a well-bred
one in his time. " The Pearl," a thoroughbred chestnut mare,
too hot for hunting, which I purchased from him, was one of
the best harness mares I ever sat behind.

Mrs. H. H. Elder was photographed on "The Sweep"
simply, she says, for the sake of the animal's portrait. Her
numerous friends, however, will be very glad that she was taken
with her favourite hunter, an animal formerly the property of
Mr. Bevan, and very well known in the hunting field. After
leaving Stondon Place in 1885, Mrs. Elder gave up hunting ;
her first essay with the E.H. having been in 1873, of which she
retains a memento in the shape of a pad mounted as a paper
knife, given to her by Mr. Walmsley, bearing the following
inscription : —

" Essex Hunt, 31 March, 1873, Theydon Grove, 2 hrs. 25 min.

On this occasion she was riding her husband's favourite mare
" Kitty."

In Essex " a Leicestershire rush " is occasionally seen. The holloa
away from Orange Wood was the signal for one on Wednesday, February
loth. There had been a bumper gathering at Epping Long green, which
soon overflowed to the bottom of the slope of the first grass field on the
south side of the covert, while the bitch pack drove their fox round the
wood and forced him out at the top end. "One outlet" and one only, the
fifty yards of high thorn fence with drop beyond 'twixt plantation and
covert with two possible places in it, and 150 racing for them who went
out first I can't say, but know that three of us went over in a wedge, the

144 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

lady first, as her horse swerved across Mr. E. l^all's big chestnut and we
landed at her lieels stirrup to stirrup. The Master leading up the covert
side and a few fields further on with the crowd shaken off, a promising run
nipped in the bud, not however, before four eager thrusters ■■'- at least had
kissed mother earth, as clear of the throng they steered for the rough fence!
at the bottom of the first ploughed field from the wood.

The day was as balmy as May, but the country never rode deeper,
" Sooner be on the plough," said a man who two seasons back had sworn
by the Pytchley grass, but he was right ; for, given the rain, our ploughs
always ride lighter than the turf ; and so men and their fairer sisters were
not disposed to take too much out of their horses when they came to the
deep hilly covert of Galley Hill. At the Waltham end hounds found at
once. Plain sailing at first, we held them to the top by the green ride on
the right, but had to take to the wood rides as they turned sharp back (one
fox breaking at our feet for Monkhams), but they were on another. For
an instant we waited at the corner, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Buxton and Mr.
Cook being a trio that got through as quickly as most with Mr. Walter
Buckmaster, the Master, huntsman, Mr. Avila, Major Wilson, Mr.
Horner, and many more, and round the covert they galloped to turn in
and climb to the top through the deep poached rides and emerge at the
Deer Park end, where they found a large number who had kept out of
the woods, staking their little all on a dart from this point for the Copped
Hall country.

Few of those who had won their way through the woods had strength
of mind to resist their contagious example and make another attempt to
get away. The Master, however, and Major Wilson, ever on the alert,
could have been spotted quietly working back and none too soon, for they
only gained the bottom end of the covert just in time to find hounds away
in front of them up the lane past Monkhams in and out of the spinney at
the top, and who were the half dozen out of the large field who had done
the trick and reaped the reward of seeing hounds away over the open and
the big holding woods left behind ? Two names you have had, here are
the others. The Admiral, Mr. Avila and Mr. G. H. Lee and the hunts-
man, and this little band had it all to themselves as hounds making a
circle ran fast over the grass vale crossing the road below Broomstick
Hall, where Bailey came to grief, and reached Obelisk Wood checking a
minute. Mr. Tresham Gilbey was the first to come up on his grey ; by
riding the arc of the bow hounds had travelled Mr. Sworder, Mr. and Mrs.
Douglas Grossman, and a few more caught them as hounds came away
from the wood.

Running the brook banks for some distance hounds turned up the hill
and the spinneys at Cobbin End, when a fox (Mr. Sworder thought the
hunted one) showing himself for an instant tempted many of us to dwell
instead of following the Master, Captain Kortright and Bailey through the
wood, and there was no catching them before we reached Shatter Bushes.
Galloping through or round this covert we hung a moment at the bottom
just long enough to allow us to contemplate the rails. Dr. Love's selection,
and see Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., gallantly fly them, and the guest of the
day, the Hon. Frances Wolseley, daughter of the Commander-in-Chief, get
over well after an obstinate refusal ; she held a place for the rest of the run
right in the van, as crossing the brook again we ran straight over Warlies

* Capt. Bruce and Mr. W. Buckmaster, two of them.

t The same, though now cut down and bare of leaf, mentioned in the Australian's run, p. 39,
vol. i. — Ed.

lO

VOL. II

146

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Park, Mr. Jones's chestnut, a young'un I think, fencing most stickily.
Into the road we had to thank Mr. Carr for crash of timber and the lead
out over the high bank (Mr. A. Peel's), we had it last year; to ground it
should have been to-day, as then, to put finish appropriate to this good
gallop of forty-five minutes on the grass, for it was good if you were in

Tresham Gilbey

luck and saw it properly. 'Twas bad, very bad, if you didn't, and we were
not surprised to hear Mr. Buckmaster say as he lit a weed that it was the
third he had to keep his spirits up. But so it has and always will be
with many a fox-hunting run — good, bad, or indifferent, according to the

MR. TRESHAM GILBEY 1 47

spectacles through which you view it. Deer Park, then Nasing Coppice,
where a brace came away. One fox bolted back, causing Mr. Jones to
hang with his chestnut at the narrow gateway until we felt we should
like to have shoved him through, as the pack were flying on after the dog
fox.

Headed below Deer Park, Bailey got on him again, and hounds ran
beautifully down to Milwall's Plantation and back to Shatter Bushes, and
hunted slowly on to Galley Hills, Avhere after a lot of " 'ware wheat,"
Puckeridge, Mr. Bevan, Mr. Ball, and the majority of the field, thought
it was all up ; not so the huntsman, for hounds never left the line through
the covert and came away the Monkham's end, the Major of course with
them, the Master, Mr. A. J. Edwards, Mr. Lee, and the Admiral, and at
slow pace ran to Warlies Park, and worked it back to Nasing Coppice
after running one hour and a-half ; Mrs. Waters, Mrs. Bennett, Miss Blyth,
Messrs. G. Gold, Ball, Sworder, Tilling, Fitch, and A. J. Edwards, seeing
it out. Also present during the day were Mr. and Mrs. Bowlby, Mr.
Tyndale White, Mr. A. S. Bowlby, Mr. Baddeley, Mrs. F. Ball, Mr. Ford
Barclay, Mr. G. Brown, Miss Blyth, Mrs. W. Buckmaster, Mr. Brindle,
Mr. Victor Buxton, Mr. Pemberton-Barnes, M.F.H., Mr. Cockett, Mr.
R. B. Colvin, Mr. W. Craig, Mr. Weston Crocker, Mr. W. R. Dent (and
oh ! such a muddy coat ere set of sun), Mr. F. Dent, Mr. J. Green, Mr.
Gregory, Mr. Newman Gilbey, Mr. T. H. Harrison, ^Ir. Harris, Mr. G.
Harris, Mr, Loyd, Mr. R. C. Lyall, Mr. H. W. Lee, Mrs. Mcintosh, Miss
Morgan, Mrs. Neill, Messrs. J. and E. Pelly, Mr. and Mrs. L. Pelly, Mr.
Radford, Major Ricardo, Rev. R. Scott, Messrs. W. and A. Sewell, Mr.
D. Cunliffe-Smith, Mr. and Miss Steele, 'SI. H. Sworder, Mr. Tosetti, Mr.
J. Todhunter.

Secretary of the Puckeridge Hounds, the moving spirit in
the well-known Stansted Polo Club and Editor of Daily's
]\Ia(;azine, Mr. Tresham Gilbey nev^er finds time hang heavily
upon his hands. Like his brother Guy, he is very keen indeed
about hunting and polo, and is a very quick man to hounds.
Precluded from riding pulling horses, owing to having dis-
located both shoulders on more than one occasion, it has always
been a mystery to me how he manages to play polo in the way
he does, and also carry off so many prizes at polo gymkhanas,
as from unfortunate personal experience polo seems to me of
all games the one most calculated to cause a repetition of the
accident : a remark that Mr. Miller, of Rugby fame, would
probably endorse.

Rev. R. L. Scott is very fond of his chestnut mare " Joan,"
as well he may be. Standing i6 hands if an inch, she is a rare
stamp of an Essex hunter, and though like some other members
of her sex, has a touch of the devil in her, she is a rare one for
her manger. Mr. C. E. Green must have been very sorry when
he parted with this anitnal. Purchased from Darby, she carried
Mr. Green's first whip (Cockayne) one season, and has carried
Mr. Scott ever since. On one occasion, Mr. Scott relates,
thanks to Cockayne's tuition, she made her way through a very

148

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

thick fence near Pinnacles, which neither Lord Rookwood's,
Major Tait's, or Mr. Tyndale White's horses would face.
We should like to see Mr. Scott out a little oftener than we do,
for he makes few days and short hours.

Rev. R. Leslie Scott on "Joan

'Twas like old days to find a leash in Sir Charles Smith's osiers at the
first time of asking on Monday, February 15th. One went over the river for
Tawney, another hung back, and a third went best pace to Curtis Mill
Green, so that Mr. Waltham, Mr. Drummond Smith, Mr. Patchett, Q.C.,
Mr. Tyser, and a few more who, extra cunning, thought of securing a good
start on the north bank of the stream, were left behind, and " sarved 'em
right," for 'twas impossible to thread the narrow lane betwixt carriages and
horses with be-ribboned tails in time to see hounds enter the Green. A fox
out at the bottom end for the Navestock country was not pursued, and
every vestige of the chase (even Mr. Tyser had taken my advice and ridden
back for the Green), with the exception of a few carriages, had been
swallowed up in the depths of this wild straggling covert, when, a sadder

REV. T. H. R. PEMBERTON PUTS IN AN APPEARANCE

149

and maybe a wiser man, I retraced my steps towards Albyns, not expecting
to see homids again until after lunch. I had played my stake and lost, and
"Jenkins" — that's my other horse — was proportionately disgusted, and
wouldn't stand still a second to listen to the halloa that came floating back
through the mist across Albyns Park. To turn in at the lodge gate and
gallop at best pace across it "Jenkins" was nothing loth, and then looming
out through the mist, pressing frantically forward, the chase swept past,
Mr. C. E. Ridley on his grey, in company with a well known foUower of
the Essex Union, being landmark enough to make for ; but they were all
behind, for the leaders were already gathered in the road near the Osiers,
through which the huntsman was casting.

Joining the throng, trying hard to appear as if I had been with them the
whole time, one learnt that they had had quite a nice spin, Mr. D. Christy,

^ X^

Passingford Bridge

jun., anxiously inquiring whether I had been ill lately, as I looked so bad
(so heavy about the eyes, his expression I think); but he quite understood
it when the situation was explained, for a keen fox-hunter quite appreciates
the sensations that you go through when hounds have disappeared — those
of the angler who has lost his salmon, or the cricketer who has made his O.
But his cheerful society, a trot back to the Green, and the sight of a figure,
one of the most welcome in the Hunt, on a mottled horse, his first appear-
ance at the covert side for two years, was so soothing, the crash of music,
as the big dogs opened out on the drag of a fox, so exhilarating, that all
traces of the late disappointment had vanished ere out through the blue
mist o'er the bonnie green fields, Mr. Cockett shoving open a gate out of a
lane on the west side of the covert, we sped after the big dogs which were
lashing forward at best pace over as rough a line as you shall pick, search

ISO

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

you the country through if no more sporting one you shall find. A small
band we started and a small band we kept, and if one man couldn't find a
way through a rough fence another did, and to have dropped the clue for a
second would have been fatal, for you could never have seen hounds two
fields ahead. We had to ride at them and with them, Mr. Seymour
Caldwell leading on the right, with Mr. Cockett and Mr. Lee in his tracks
flipping over a stiff stile without hesitation. Mr. Harry Sworder, the
huntsman, Mr. Avila, Henry John Miller, his son Jack, Mr. G. Lobb, and

William Patchett, Q.C.

Mr. Cook all in a bunch on the left, for through some fences there was only
one way, and quick was the word, as turned aside for a moment by wire we
dropped over the blind ditch into the lane under Stapleford Hall, swung
round it and just as hearts beat high and expectation ot a great run was on
the point of realisation, our fox nipped through a hole in a barn wall, but
for this ten minutes of the very best we were grateful. Horses were
lathering freely, men were hot, and the reaction came as we rapidly cooled,
while an hour was spent in vain trying to dislodge this artful dodger.

R. C. LVALL

I ^I

W. Patchett, O.C., belongs to the old school — looks, in fact,
as if he had stepped out of some old picture ; but no keener or
better sportsman, in the truest sense of the word, ever followed
hounds in Essex. In his early days Mr. Patchett was a reoular
attendant at the meets of the Queen's Staghounds. In his
later years we find him organising the 1897 Bar Point-to-Point
races, with great success, in the Epping district of the Essex
country.

R. C. Lyall

Mr. Lyall succeeded to the estate of his uncle, Mr. Bawtree
who was well known as a keen, hard rider with the Essex
Hounds up to the end of his life. Mr. Lyall now lives in that
charming hunting-box which his uncle formerly occupied.

He farms a bit of his own land, and shoots most of his own
rabbits ; he loves hunting, but I honestly believe that he likes
golf better. He can play a very pawky game at both, for
eiven a run lonQ- enough and stiff enouo-h, and he is as

152

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

certain to be one of the odd twenty to be found at the finish
as he is to be dormy one if you take him on for a round of
eighteen holes on the Epping, Harlow or Eltham Golf Links.

Few of those huntino- with the Essex Hounds the last few
years who have not at some time or other been partakers of
Mr. Lyall's hospitality.

Solomon

They say that a roan horse with black points is generally a
good one ; certain it is that the roan horse here depicted, a
favourite hunter of Mr. R. Cunliffe-Smith's, conformed to
the rule, in spite of his having a temper of his own ; for
six seasons he carried his owner without mistake or refusal.
He was a brilliant timber jumper, and I well recollect Mr.
Cunliffe-Smith pounding the whole of the Essex field over a
high gate ofT the green at Galley Hill on one occasion.

How WE Killed the Colonel's Fox in the Piickcridge Country.

Few of the morning field who had met at Passingford Bridge on
Monday, February 15th, and had seen a leash of foxes dispersed from Sir
Charles Smith's Osiers, and a leash put out of Curtis Mill Green (one of
which had given a very pretty ten minutes to Stapleford Hall), had turned
homewards before we reached Colonel Lockwood's coverts about 2 p.m.
The following were certainly there : — the Master, Mr. Arkwright, sans
secretaries, Mr. Avila, Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Ball (Frank riding his new horse

IN THE PUCKERIDGE COUNTRY

15.

for the second time), Mr. Barron, Mr. Brown (of Ditchleys), Mrs. Bennett,
Mr. S. Caldwell, Miss M. and T. Buxton, Mr. W. S. Carr, Mr. and Mrs.
Grossman, Mr. Cockett, Mr. Cook, Mr. D. Christy, jun., Major and Mrs.
Carter, Mr. R. B. Colvin (Lady Gwendoline Colvin had left), Mr. A. J.
Edwards, Mr. P. M. Evans, Colonel and Miss Fane, Mr. C. E. Green, Mr.
Arthur Green, Miss M. Green, Major Glynn, Mr. Gregory, Mr, and Miss
HoUebone, Mr. W. S. Horner, Miss Jones, Captain Kortright, Mr. G. H.
Lee, Mr. H. W. Lee, Mr. G. Lobb, Miss Morgan, Mr. H. J. Miller and
his son Jack, Mrs. Neill, Mr. H. J. Price, Mr. J. G. Pelly, Mr. and Mrs. L.
Pelly, Mr. A. Pelly, Rev. Pemberton (first appearance for two years), Major
Ricardo, Mr. C. E. Ridley, Mrs. Radford, Mr. A. Radford, Miss Radford,

Abridge

Mr. Roddick, Miss Owen Roberts, Mr. W. Sewell, Miss Dorothy Sewell,
Mr. A, Sewell, Mr. H. Sworder (" on Pinafore),'^ Mr. D. Cunliffe-Smith, Mr.
R. Cunhffe-Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Tyser, Mrs. Waters, Mr. J. T. White,
Major and Mrs. Wilson, Mr. Waltham, Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C.

When keeper West bolted a brace from the earths in the Big Wood,
one was chopped after being headed back and coursed by a sheep dog, and
the other, forced best pace through the covert near Black Bush Farm, came
right across our bows over the grass. Mr. Price's " Bessie " obstinately
refusing the high bramble-covered bank, Mr. Waltham's lead and place
found most favour. Running on at best pace, they crossed the lane through
some small spinneys. Mr. Waltham out first and opening the black gate,
and so past the house to the gorse below. Captain Kortright on his black
dropping into the road, Bailey, Mr. Sewell and a few more riding the
wheat and joining us lower down. A loop towards Mr. Randall's farm and
back over the road across some very heavy land, Mr. Grossman well to the

'54

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

front, hounds hunting beautifully down to Gravel Lane below Tumour's,
which could not be reached without tackling Mr. Grossman's rails or the
corner Mr, Caldwell found for the huntsman. Nearly every horse that
followed made a blunder, as the rotten bank gave way ; and so over the
heavy rushy field and through Tumour's, where we had a beautiful piece of
hound work as they ran the length of the long plantation beyond it and
held a line through Chigwell, Mr. G. E. Green dropping into Pudding Lane
with the huntsman and giving him a lead out over the high bank and deep
drop on to the grass beyond, with hounds running for Roll's Park. "Left,"
cried Mr. Waltham, and left it was, Mr. Green coming down and blocking
the way, while as we rose the hill we could spy no way through the black
bullfinch until Mr. Caldwell came to the rescue on Mr. Sands' good little
black, and so to the rails on Mrs. Philby's ground, Bailey trying to pull
one down, Mr. Caldwell lowering two others and recovering himself well
after he had discovered the outlet.

Miss Majorie Sewell on "Vanity."

Miss Winifred Sewell on " Coco '

Next a glimpse of two or three hounds at the white gate near the road,
a pedestrian with news of the fox just in front, the huntsman coming to the
holloa and hitting it off nearly opposite the Grammar School, crossing Mr.
Savill's farm and picking our way for some fifteen minutes over a very
intricate country the fox was pulled down eventually after some very
patient hunting in Mr. Puckeridge's grounds, within easy distance of Clay-
bury, the asylum in old days for Rolls Park foxes. It was jolly riding over
this old line, one which we had often ridden before barbed wire was in-
vented, if it was sad to reflect that this large slice of the Essex country was
virtually lost to us.

_ The huntsman presented the brush to Miss Dorothy Sewell, who, in
spite of being pulled off at a high bullfinch, rode every yard of the line.

MISS DOROTHY SEWELL

155

In her love for riding- and hunting, the young lady who
looks so much at home in this picture, on the good-looking six-
year-old brown horse, " Hotspur,' takes after her father and
mother, whose portraits are given on pp. 398 and 401, vol. i.
xAlthough at the time this photograph was taken, in January,
1900, Miss Dorothy Sewell had not seen fifteen summers, yet
she was as much at home on the back of the keen buck-
jumping '' Hotspur," by " Hesper," as she used to be upon
the well-known polo ponies, "Vanity" and "Coco," whose
portraits, with those of her younger sisters, are given upon the
opposite page.

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Miss Dorothy Penrose Sc'well on "Hotspur"

Thanks to her father's careful tuition, Miss Dorothy Sewell
can now steer her own line safely and well across any part of
the Essex countrv. She never orets in anv one's wav, or
attempts to ride in the huntsman's pocket.

Her young sisters bid fair to be equally good in the saddle.

156

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

The polo pony " Vanity," who carries Miss Marjorie Sewell,
was one of the best known polo ponies in the West Essex Polo
Club, and we believe the only West Essex polo pony that ever
succeeded in winning" one of the much coveted trophies at the
Stansted Polo Club Gymkhana.

Mrs. Sewell has several valuable trophies she has carried
off there and at other Polo Gymkhanas with "Vanity." "Coco,"
another of Mr. Sewell's polo ponies, s now as happy carrying
Mr. Sewell's youngest daughter with harriers as he used to be
in taking part in the galloping game.

J. E. Tabor

My biographical notice of Mr. Tabor is necessarily short,
as he only turns up at some of the most distant meets of the
Essex Hounds, and 1 have seen very little of him. But that
little — not so very little either- — has generally been the broad of
his back, a beacon good enough for anyone in a splitter across
the Roothings. I believe that Mr. Tabor scales more than Mr.

REGINALD DUKE HILL

157

C. E. Green, but he rides quicker horses. How he manages
to pick them up has always astonished me quite as much as
the marvellous ease with which he can always maintain a lead in
a quick thing- across the Roothings.

Reginald Duke Hill on "Business"

This picture of " Business," by " Torpedo," dam by
" Osric," a flyer from the " Ouorn Countrie," who won the
Fox Hunters' Plate at Harlow in 1895— photographed, as one
can easily tell, by the fashionable Meltonian double-breasted
swallow tail (are they warm with leathers ?), in the year '96—
would, if Mr. Hill's wish and mine too could have been
carried out, have been excluded for a photo of his noted bay,
"Dandy Dick": but unfortunately the portrait of the latter
was too faded to permit of reproduction. " Dandy Dick "

I5S

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

had a history, and a reputation for timber. Mr. Hill, without
any previous knowledge of the horse, picked him up very
cheaply at Tatt's and rode him for many seasons ; and in the
best run he affirms he has ever had, viz., on Christmas Eve,
1887, of which an account is given in the " Essex Fox
Hounds," and of which Mr. Hill possesses a memento in the

William Maitland Tower on " Bomerang "

shape of a pad, and an amusing recollection of Bailey's remark
to him, that he would have a capital appetite for his Christmas
pudding. Miss Bagot bought " Dandy Dick " when Mr. Hill
parted with him, and her brother relates that on one occasion,
after a Hunt breakfast with the Meynell, the horse carried
him over six gates in succession— and there had been no ice
in the coffee.

YOKOHAMA

159

A good hunter, and in '96 had done first charger with the
3rd Hussars for four years, for his owner, Mr. Tower, who hke
his brother-in-law, Mr. R. D. Hill, is a first fiighter. It is a
case of in or over with him.

Upon the loth December, '96. the day on which he very
kindly took the trouble to be photographed for this book, and
when he was riding, not "Boomerang," but "Yokohama," it
was a case of in, for he went a plumper into the brook that runs
below Bullock Wood, near Earls Colne, in the East Essex
country, but in company with four others. Managing to get his
horse out on the right side, as bad luck would have it, the
bridle came off " Yokohama," w^ho, galloping round the field,
took the brook back by himself. Mr. Tower returning, suc-
ceeded in catching the horse, and sending him at the brook
again with a will, landed handsomely over, the only one of a
large field who succeeded in doing so, with the exception of
Mr. R. D. Hill, who was riding his '' Fancy Mare."

Arthur Capel-Cure

Arthur Capel-Cure, alas ! has joined the majority, cut off in
his prime. He gave up hunting when he took to the Stock
Exchange. He was always very candid about his prowess in
the hunting field, which is more than can be said of everyone.

i6o

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

He used to call himself a " Hard Funker," but all the same
he made his chestnuts go the shortest way across country, and
could handle a whip and wind a tandem horn as well as most
men.

Thomas Courtenay Theydon Warner

Thomas Courtenay Theydon Warner is another instance of
the frequency with which when a man takes to politics he
o-ives up hunting. The House having an awkward habit of
sitting during the best and greater part of the hunting season
may in some measure account for this, combined with wider
interests and wider pursuits and his place in a circle where
something besides hunting forms the staple of conversation,
Mr. Warner, however, retains his love of shooting" and takes
a deep interest in anything- that concerns the welfare of Essex,
of which he was High Sheriff in 1891. He was returned as
member for North Somerset in 1892 in the Liberal interest.

bd

II

VOL. II.

l62

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

On Foot.
" The Axe and Compasses " on a Saturday means a full house, means a
great day or a bad one, by shift of the vane. Let it point E., then saddle
the best horse in your stable ; shift to the west, with blue haze and a drip
on the hedgerow, keep on your shooting boots. " Gone for Dobbs " as we
drove up to the meet, but "are due at Lords and Leaden at midday"
greeted our ears. So this accounted for the extra bustle and excitement in
the yard of the " King William," as numerous second horses had been sent
on there to await events. It must have been close upon one o'clock when,
in company with a keeper and three or four farm hands, we took our station
at a corner of Lords Wood, into which hounds had that very instant been

McAdam T. Christy A. Waters C. E. Green

En route to the "Axe and Compasses," November 21, 1896

thrown. The mist had grown denser, and the drip of it from the trees on
the dead leaves beneath the only sound save for the heavy breathing of
one of the men, and the occasional ring of the huntsman's cheer, that broke
the dead silence, for to see a fox, a real wild fox, break cover with hounds
at his brush had these men patiently waited the hour or more.

The huntsman's voice rang out clearer and more distinct — they were
coming nearer, and like the rush of a salmon down stream ; a single black-
and-tan hound dashed full speed through the covert, and next moment a
single piping note proclaimed the find, and the other hounds flew to the
cry. Tally-ho back ! from Easterby, and jumping leisurely out of the
covert, and crossing a corner of a ploughed field, before re-entering the
wood we had a capital view of a fox's cunning dodges, as hounds rather
overshot the mark. However bad scent might have been out of covert,
there was no want of it in, and they drove him down to the bottom end with
a will. Baker's quick ear catching the return note, and with the remark, " It
is the same hound leading," the fox broke view again, this time at a much

THAT S ONE OF 'eM CRAMPHORN 163

faster pace. He was being hustled, and he knew it. A minute afterwards
there was dead silence, not even a smothered growl, but we knew they had
got him, and the huntsman's face wore a cheerful expression, reflected in
the keepers, as he said, *' That's one of 'em, Cvamphovn.'" " Killed in covert,"
said Mr. Quare (we met him on the homeward journey — he, too, had had
an indifferent day in the Forest) ; that's a pity, but a fox at Lords could be
very well spared, though had he taken a ticket for Man Wood he might
have saved his brush.

Wednesday, February 17th, Hatfield Town, was another of those days
which, marked by an almost entire absence of scent, have been so common
to this season of '96-'97 in all countries. It was satisfactory, very, that so
many foxes were found ; a splendid one going away from Row Wood,
where I and "Joseph" fell in with the Hunt and learnt that in the morning,
just for ten minutes, hounds had fairly raced, and that the Admiral for a
few fields had had all the fun to himself. Finding a fox in the open — nay,
a brace — on the plough, we finished up the day in the Forest,

Thoby Priory

CHAPTER VI.

Thoby Priory — G. Harris (Father and Son) — The Pollard Tree Fox — In Mark
Hall Wood — F. T. Basham — The Qnorn Cap at Thrussington — C. K. Carr
— Twilight — Mrs. Wellesley Pigott — Col. Cook — Bell House — Lieut. -Col.
G. W. Wood — Seqnah — Varnish — Jumping Powder — Edward Ind — Church
Wood, Doddinghurst — Pinafore — Kelvedon Hall Woods — Ruth Pounds the
Field — Pick your own Panel — Jenkins — Kelvedon Hall — T. J . Hoivard —
The Sky Pilot — Man Wood — Roiv Wood — Edward WahaVs Fantail Team —
Hatjield Heath — A Day in the Forest — A Kill in the Open near Elsenham
Hall — Hyde Hall Springs — Takeley Forest — Running for Down Hall — Mr.
Stacey sees it out on one horse — -Witney Woods — Bevan's Gorse — Coming away
from Screens — The Red Ensign — Berners Wood — Damper — The Lawn meet at
Greensted House — Navestock Lake — Galley Hills.

NO collection of portraits of those who have taken part in or
conduced to the sport of the Essex Hounds during the last
forty years would be complete without the accompanying sketch
of the late Mr. G. Harris, V.S., of Sawbridgeworth, and that
of his son (see page 167) ; the kennel horses have been their
special charge for nearly half a century, and well indeed have
they been looked after. It has always been well known
through the Essex country that a horse that passed the
Harris's was a very sound animal.

The present Mr. Harris has a wonderful knack with a horse,
and I have seen him carry out some funny operations without
even the aid of a twitch. He is a regular follower of the
hounds, but has too much regard for the noble animal to ever
override him or run the risk of breaking his back over unjump-

GEORGE HARRIS

165

able places ; but, all the same, he will give you a better account
of a good line from Takeley Poorest or a gallop in the Roothings
when the last obsequies of the chase are being performed by
Bailey than most of those who have bucketed their horses, as
he knows every yard of the country.

George Harris

" A Bye Day in February 1897," or, How we Killed Mr. Todhunier's

Pollard Tree Fox.

Our hounds had met by invitation at Finchingfield, in the Essex
country, on Thursday, February i8th, and at short notice a Bye Day in the
home country was arranged. The Kennels at eleven. A south-west wind,
falling glass, and blue mist all against scent apparently ; but you can never
tell, said old Mr. Horner, as we jogged on to the meet together. Not more
than twenty there, another ten putting in an appearance before the day
was over: Mr. Loftus Arkv/right, Mrs. Bowlby, Colonel Jeffreys, Mrs. Neill,
Miss T. Buxton, Major and Mrs. Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Grossman, Mr. and
Mrs. F. Ball, Mrs. Waters, Mr. W. and Miss D. Sewell, Messrs. Basham,
Horner, Price, Steele, A. S. Bowlby, Ford Barclay, Swire, Dr. Grubb.

1 66

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Found at once in Mark Hall. Short, sharp and decisive. Mr. Ford
Barclay fairly earned the brush, for he was first up when the lady pack
pulled their fox down in the park within the five minutes.

For Parndon Woods next, and en route " the Pollard Tree," in which for
years a noted old fox had taken refuge. Would he be at home ? Not till
the baiUff came up could they mark the spot, the single tree in the grass
meadows near the farm. " There he is !" shouted Mr. Sewell, as the old
grey customer came bundhng down, and with only a field start of hounds
and a scent on the grass he had to make tracks for it. Fences came thick
and fast, two roads and a lane being crossed in point-to-point fashion (Mr.
Grossman on his bay, closely followed by his wife on her wonderful pony,
cutting out the work on the left) ere we struck across Harlow Common and
reached Latton Covert in nine glowing minutes. All were dehghted with

A Ride in Mark Hall Wood

this sparkling gallop. In Latton Park we changed, and by the time we
were away from Harlow Park for a nice little hunt by Weald Coppice and
Rough Talleys, Captain and Mrs. Bruce, Mr. H. J. Miller, and young Mr.
Hart had joined our ranks. It was close on 3 p.m. before we reached
Parndon Woods, and several, including Mr, and Mrs. Grossman, Mrs.
Waters, Mr. Price, Mr. Miller, had left us.

With what lightning speed a hound dashes through a covert when it
first gets a view of a fox, Mrs. Bruce had ocular proof at the top end of the
middle wood. Back through both and out towards Netteswell, half-a-dozen
fields brought hounds to their noses at the identical Pollard Tree we had
already driven a fox from in the morning ; but he was on and over the
plough by Fern Hills to Latton, where, finding no comrade to assist him as
he ran the circuit of the covert, he slipped out at the back of the " Sun and

MR. HARRIS VIEWS THE POLLARD TREE FOX

167

Whalebone," and we had to sHp along on the road to catch hounds on the
common. Hitting it off on the meadows beyond, they hunted prettily over
the grass, no one following Mr. Arkwright over the stiff stile and footbridge
into the lane, most of them preferring to chance the bank and blind ditch.
Two more leps, and at the corner of Bay's Grove it was a case of facing
the up jump, over the stakey fence into the plough beyond or being left
behind. All our little band took it ; we had still six ladies with us, Mrs.
Bowlby, Mrs. Neill, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Bruce, Miss T. Buxton and Miss D.
Sewell, and some eight or nine men, including Mr. J. Green, of Parndon,
who had just joined us. Hitting it off under the hedge, they turned sharp
to the right, where the long furrows ran up to it, a beautiful piece of hound

George Harris, Junr.

work. Leaving Mr. Coleman's farm behind, they ran on through the Fir
Plantation, and so to Passmore's and over the brook beyond, Easterby's
horse having a narrow escape, as one of its hind legs went through a hole
on the bridge up to its hock.

How short our fox was running only those who were there and marked
how the little ladies worked out each labyrinthine twist could fully appre-
ciate. Running by Brockles Farm, he was viewed over the road near
Parndon Woods which he was too hot to enter, our informant, Mr. G.
Harris, who had been with us all day, but towards the latter part of it had
done a little macadamising on his own account. Beyond Fern Hills the
pace began to quicken ; as the fox took his last turn, he tried in vain to
find refuge in the barn near the old Pollard Tree. Exactly one hour and

1 68

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

twenty-five minutes we had been at him, and it was one
bits of hound work I have ever seen, and one of Bai
successes, for hounds never ran three consecutive fields
puzzle it out. As the Master remarked to me, " Had
more people out, he would never have killed his fox."
Neill (on her favourite cob). Miss T. Buxton, Major
Captain and Mrs. Bruce, Colonel Jeffreys, Mr. Basham,
J. Swire, were in at the death.

of the most patient
ley's most brilliant
without having to
there been twenty
Mrs. Bowlby, Mrs.
and Mrs. Wilson,
Mr. J. Green, Mr.

F. T. Basham

This Is not the horse mentioned above, but the portrait of
a good hunter taken a good many years later, when Mr.
Basham was Hving at Hubbards Hall, within earshot of the
kennels and a stone's throw of the Harlow Golf Links, of which
Mr. Basham is hon. sec. Surrounded by genial neighbours and
good shooting, Mr. Basham has a very good time of it, and
as he knows wheat from turnips and barley from clover, and
still better when hounds are running and when they are not,
he never gets rated by the Master. He rarely goes home

C. K. CARR ON TWILIGHT 1 69

before the hounds, and if your way is his, it will be your own
fault if you or your horse g'o home fasting'.

Saturday, the 20th, a Pleshey meet quite sustained its reputation for
being the centre of some very staunch fox preserves, no less than three
brace being chased on the land of the Tufnells, to the satisfaction of a
Saturday field.

Monday, however, at Kelvedon must form my piece de resistance for this
week. Never, perhaps, has a Kelvedon meet been more numerously or
more fashionably attended. On wheels, in carriages, on horseback, they
gathered in shoals. 'Twould have been interesting to have known how
much a guinea cap would have realised at Kelvedon Common. Somewhat
more, methinks, than the paltry £j 7s. which, at the Thrussington meet of
the Quern on February 15th, marked a new era in the history of that noted
Hunt.

i

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C. K. Carr on "Twilight"

This horse, ridden by Mr. Carr, won the Roothing- Plate at
Harlow in '95. He is a brown gelding by "Bellerophon."
" Flirt," however, on whom Mr, Carr won the Fox Hunters'
Plate at Harlow in '96, was his favourite hunter. Mr. Carr is
as fond of hunting as racing, and shares with his brothers the
reputation of being a very straight rider across country.

170

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

May I attempt a few names, giving precedence of course to the 34
matrons and maids who, in beautifully fitting habits, graced the tryst ? I
must ask our gallant secretary to make a complete list ere the season
wanes of the brave fair who hunt with the premier pack in Essex. They
number at least 100, and 40 years ago you could have counted them on the
fingers of one hand. Truly times have changed, and changed for the
better, for what a charm their presence lends to the pastime of hunting ;
nay, not hunting, but riding through woodland scenes, and skimming o'er
the pastures and intervening fences. What other sport in which the
sterner sex delights lends itself to such mutual enjoyment ? — shooting,
fishing, cricket, football — name them not, but fall back, if you like, in fair
weather on tennis or cycling.

Mrs. Wellesley Pigott on "The Saint"

To Mrs. Pigott I am indebted for the above excellent
portrait of herself and her horse "The Saint," which carried
her so brilliantly (for Mrs. Pioott is a finished horsewoman)
with the Essex Hounds for three seasons ending 1896-97.
I have to thank her also for the photograph of Pilgrim's House,
near Brentwood (see p. 386, Vol. I.), where the famous Colonel

LIEUT.-COL. G. WILDING WOOD ON " SE( )UAH "

171

Cook, who during his Mastership of the Essex Hounds, in 1808,
had his kennels, and where his huntsman Hved. It was then
called Bell House. There is still a bell on the roof marked
with the date 1808. Since then the house has been considerably
enlarged. The photograph only shows the back part, and the
original kitchen used for cooking the hounds' food, the hook from
which the pots hung over the big open iire-place being there till
quite recently. Of the Kennels themselves but little remains,
and that little is now used for a laundry and potting sheds.

Lieut-Col. G. Wilding Wood on " Sequah

This horse was purchased by the Colonel in the autumn of
1 89 1 at Abergavenny, a well-bred horse by " Bookworm," by
" Hermit." He has carried him as well as a man could wish to
be carried, and for five seasons never ""ave him a fall. But the
Colonel's favourite was "Varnish," whose portrait will be found
on the next page.

Purchased in '75 from Edward Eawrence, of South \\ eald,

172

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

he had been badly broken down by his former owner, Mr.
Gilling, hunting with the Whaddon Chase. A very resolute
horse, and very fond of hounds, Colonel Wood never found the
Essex Union country heavy when mounted on him, so well
was he balanced. It was freezing- hard on December 29,
1885. when Colonel Wood rode him for the last time with the
Stag Hounds at their Thoby meet, when they ran by Willingale
to Down Hall. Pulling up at White Roothing the old horse
had only two sound legs, but he had gone over all the Roothing

Varnish

ditches without a mistake, as well as he did in Carnegy's two
great runs, the Houndon run 1881, and the Rook Wood run
26th February, 1881.

Col. Wood recalls a very amusing episode at Bishop's Hall,
in General Mark Wood's time. 'Twas in the afternoon, and
while the coverts were being drawn, refreshments were
handed round, sherry, &c. At length one of the refreshed

EDWARD IND

17.

discovered that his sherry was brandy, which had been going
the round ; not a soul had mentioned it. Suddenly there was
a holloa. The Colonel never saw such a stampede before.
Everyone took the first horse he could lay his hands on, and
for ten or fifteen minutes he never saw men ride so hard.
Mr. Ind and the Colonel had a hearty laugh over it on their
way home.

Edward Ind

To anyone who shall peruse Mr. VIckerman's narrative

it will be evident that Mr. Ind was a great enthusiast.

Of a cheery, genial presence, with a kind smile and ready

ofreetino- for the risino- o-eneration, he was much missed

. 11 1 •

when he ceased to come out. The last time I can recall hmi

was during a run that took us past Coombe Lodge ; he

stood at his lodofe sfates and waved hounds on to the line

which they had momentarily lost.

174

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

To proceed: Mrs. Waters, Mrs. Ball, Mrs. Heseltine, Mrs. Upton,
Mrs. Fraser-Tytler, Mrs. Grossman, Mrs. Tyser, Mrs. Fane, Mrs. Blyth,
Mrs. Mackintosh, Mrs. Radford, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Pigott, Mrs. R. Cun-
liffe-Smith, ]\Irs. Fulcher, Mrs. Neill, Miss Jones, Miss Johnson, Miss
Garden, Misses Usborne (2), Misses Walmsiey (2), Miss Buxton, Miss
Woodhouse, Misses Brown (2), Misses Morgan (2), Miss Hollebone, Miss
M. Green, Miss Ind, Miss Fane, and a young lady in a brown covert coat.

Mr. Bevan in charge, in the absence of both Masters, quite equal to the
task, and doing it very well (securing the huntsman, especially in the early
part of the day, when he held his field in the lane near Waterworks Wood,
ample room and liberal law), Mr. Tyndale- White, Mr. Avila, Mr. E. Ball,

Church Wood, Doddinghurst

Mr. Ford Barclay, Mr. Baddeley, Messrs. Carr (2), Mr. D. Christy, jun.,
Mr. Cook, Mr. Craig, Mr. D. Grossman, Mr. Gapel-Gure, Mr. Dalton,
Mr. A. J. Edwards, Col. Fane, Major Glynn, Mr. Gregory, Mr. E. Helme,
Gapt. Kortright, Mr. Hull and son, Messrs. Lobb (2), Mr. G. H. Lee,
Mr. R. G. Lyall, Mr. Miles (Beacon Hill), Mr. H. J. Miller, Mr. Marriage,
jun. (Horsefrith Park), Mr. Patchett, Rev. Pemberton, Mr. H. J. Price,
Mr. J. Pelly, Mr. L. Pelly, Mr. Radford, Major Ricardo, Mr. Raby,
Mr. C. E. Ridley, Gapt. Tufnell, Mr. H. Sworder, Mr. Sargeaunt, Mr.
Single, Mr. A. J. Tweed, Mr. T. Usborne, M.P., his son, the future M.P.,
Mr. J. T. White, Mr. Waltham, Col. Wood, General Sir E. Wood, V.C.,
and many more, including the smartest man I have seen with hounds this
season, if the neatest of tops and most immaculate of coats and glossiest of
hats count for anything.

Monday was a hard day for horses and hounds. It could not have been
otherwise, for from 11.30 to 3.30 they were on the move over land that

CHURCH WOOD, DODDINGHURST

175

will require the drying wind of March ere it is fit for tillage, and in an
atmosphere as soft and warm as a day in June. With a little luck we
might have had a great day, for up wind there was a scent, but the foxes
had it in the changes they secured as they threaded the numerous coverts.
At the same time no one went home discontented, everyone seemed
cheerful and gay, and where men's voices are heard in morning trains it
was voted " good."

It would be quite impossible for me to describe the interesting route by
which we reached Blackmore High Woods, with their open earths, from
Church Wood, Doddinghurst. If I can readily picture the clever way
Mr. Tyndale W^hite's roan walked down the ditch side and hopped the
plank at the bottom, and recall how much I maligned Mr. Hull in

Church Wood, Doddinghurst, from the road

supposing that there was a yard of wire within a mile of Jericho. Near
this Mr. Sworder (on the chestnut thoroughbred "Pinafore," own sister to
" Midshipmite") gave a specimen of his horsemanship as he landed her over
first the rails, then the bank, and after clearing the wide ditch into the
road would have no denial, as he took her straight out of it, up a bank
like the side of a house : Captain Kortright jumped at the same time, and
i\Iiss Jones recalled a narrow escape from charging the wire netting over
which the huntsman had led.

To those who were not with hounds we appeared to have travelled
fast over a good line of country. Mr. Edwards was one, having, unluckily,
had a nasty fall at the second fence, smashing his glasses and hurting his
neck : also he got up so completely encased in mud that Mr. Avila, who stayed
behind to render assistance, had to have recourse to a handy pond to
make him presentable.

176

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

1,30 p.m. found us all en route for the Kelvedon Hall country, with a
certainty of a find in the coverts of that good sportsman and excellent
friend to hunting, Mr. Jones. Not one, but a brace ; and while Bailey and
the majority of the pack were going away towards Bois Hall with the old
customer, Mr. Waltham was away to the Menagerie after another, with
three couple of hounds, and Mr. Usborne, M.P., shortly afterwards
asking him, " where's Bailey ? "

Yes, where's Bailey ? That's the question I wanted to know, as having
just changed "Jenkins" for "Joseph," I heard the distant halloa! and caught
the sound of hounds full cry over the rise of the ground beyond Beacon
Hill. Full cry up the slope the leaders were already rising the crest, Sir

Kelvedon Hall Woods

Evelyn in the van, and my friend on the mottled horse, hat in hand,
screaming himself hoarse as he cheered them on to the line. Through
the chain of woods what better hunting could you have had ? Were they
going ? Were they chiming along as they crossed the road ? You would
have said so if you had been on the spot to see the huntsman charge,
but charge in vain, at the bank out of it with rails on top, and Mr. Avila,
on the famous " Gaynes Park," trying, like the ostrich, to hide his head in
the bank ; while coolly, quietly, deftly handling her black thoroughbred,
Mrs. Grossman shot out from the gaping throng, and amid the scarce
concealed plaudits of the onlookers topped it most beautifully, just
touching the bank, and then hopping the rails. In the meantime Mr.
Grossman was busy with a chained gate, and I was being urged a little
further on to hurry up at a drop fence, over which two or three had
flown some unnecessary yards ; but the apology came at once, " I ought

RUTH POUNDS THE FIELD

177

to have taken my own place ; " and so Lindsay Gordon says, " Let every
man pick his own panel," and if you follow another you must allow him
to get over the fence in his own way, nor rush it till he is clear. Shortly
after, in attempting another bank into a road, which no one else would
look at, Mrs. Grossman's black came down. Ghanging at a gorse covert,
we ran back at a great pace to Ghurch Wood, and had to circle it at the
gallop as hounds went away, which afforded me the opportunity of forgiving
"Jenkins" for dropping his hind legs in the morning at a certain fence on
the right of the covert, which, in the afternoon journey, brought Mr.
Ghristy and Mr. J. T. White down at the same time.

7^/,':;,.

^"■'i^-

-^iiP"

Kelvedon Hall

At 3.30 Bailey might have been seen exploring an empty house in
search of his fox. Six different opinions might have been learnt at the
same time and place as to his exact whereabouts, and if by then you hadn't
developed a thirst which only a whisky and soda, or a beaker of sparkhng
(I nearly said lager) would adequately quench, you must have been made
of more ethereal matter than the three mortals who, at Mr. Miles', of
Beacon Hill, stayed to quaff the sparkling nectar.

Mr. Howard, who lives at Matching Hall, and commenced
hunting with the Essex Hounds in 1877, farms a large number
of acres in the very centre of our best fox preserves. Until
deprived of the use of one of his arms through a gun accident
in 1893, he was known as one of the best horsemen (in the
way of riding any sort of horse) in our country, for he had
splendid hands, and being able to make a horse take off at the
right place, rarely came down. He gets across country now in

12

VOL. II

178

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

a marvellous manner, and can beat half of those who come out,
who, if they have two hands to Mr. Howard's one, have not
got Mr. Howard's head-piece. That he is a staunch preserver
of foxes and good all-round sportsman goes without saying.

Shrove Tuesday.

And missed the pancakes ; really after a hard day's hunting you would
require the effrontery of an ostrich to face them.

Shrove Tuesday's sport might have been worse, a great deal worse ;
might have been better, decidedly better.

We had to thank the bright sun and warm morning for liberal law at
"Little Laver Mill ; " otherwise, Mr. Radford, you and your son would not
have been the only late arrivals.

T. J. Howard

Did we find at Brick Kilns ? No.

Did we find at Man Wood ? Yes.

Go up top, Master Radford, and keep there until I ask you the next
question.

Did you get away from Man Wood when they did find ? Not the first
time; that's nothing, everyone did, even "the Captin." But when they
slipped out on the Brick Kiln side, with the Ongar Brigade at their
heels ? No.

THE SKY PILOT

179

I thought not. Go down bottom, Master Arthur, of " Smalley Hall,"
Co. Derby, and make room for your betters, for there were only five who
did the trick, Mr. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Grossman, Mr. G. H. Lee, and the
huntsman, and for the brief, fierce, hot scurry to the stick heaps at
Matching Green, they were the guiding stars that enabled a scattered and
bewildered crowd to overtake hounds again. 'Faith ! had they run to High
Laver, Moreton, and Blake Hall at the same pace we should have com-
menced keeping Lent a day too soon. That reminds me of a good answer
of the General's to a Sky pilot on the day in question. " Not hunting in
Lent, my dear sir ? Hire a bad horse that can't go a little bit, and come
out regularly. What better penance could you have ? " Quite right, but
he would have to be a very bad 'un if the General could not extract some
fun out of him.

Man Wood

But I must take you back to the Fagot Sticks, where, if you were wise,
you ate your sandwiches. If you were truthful, you would have answered
like i\Ir. Howard, of Matching Hall, when asked if he got away with
them. Yes. At least, they were somewhere about here when I left INIan
Wood.

Now, when that fox did come away from the stick heap — or, rather,
with a strict regard for veracity, when that stick heap came away from the
fox, for bundle by bundle it was pitchforked aside — he was foolish enough
to swim a pond, emerging like a drowned rat. I gave him three fields, but
in three fields he had brought hounds to their noses, and in as many more
had spreadeagled the field as he circled round below Brick Kilns, returning
to Man Wood up the sandy lane. Sandy ! The mud and water was flying
about as we splashed our way through in a fashion that I have never seen
equalled in all the years I have ridden this desperate ride. The Hunt

i8o

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

ought to clear all the mud off, lay a good foundation of clinkers and ashes,
having well drained it, then returf or clear-sand the floor.

Bow-wow through the first wood. Hounds hung in the second until, in
answer to a ploughman's signal, the huntsman laid the pack on in Chaffey's
meadow. Mr. Collin was with us to-day, but not in mood Cedrician, nor
would anyone take up the gauntlet, or go within 200 yards of the spot
where he threw it down in his Curtian leap in the great evening run from
Hatfield town. What all the young bloods were up to, missing so fair a
chance of wiping out their defeat, puzzles me, for hounds went straight
down the long mead, straight over the yawning gulf— not a soul followed,
but ignominiously they turned away and sheered off for the Farm on the
left, two fields away from hounds.

Row Wood

From the road to Row Wood no one complained of the pace; Mr. Swire,
Capt. Bruce, and Mr. C. E. Ridley were going very strong on the left,
particularly Mr. Swire, who was jumping everything as it came, nor stayed
to open a single gate for anyone by Row Wood side. Nor would the
General allow the last one to be swung aside until he had his leap. The
lady who was close behind him, and who had been going most brilliantly in
this burst, had followed his lead ere the " open sesame,"' the coppers we
always carry, had been fished out of the waistcoat pocket, and we walked
through in safety, and in a few minutes saw the stick-heap fox handsomely
rolled over in a grass field close to the covert. Two dear little girls with
fair golden hair were up at the finish, but all the same I should have
fastened the brush to the bridle of Georgie Dawson's grey had I been
Master. Never have I seen him look more cheerful and gay, with face like

EDWARD WAHAB

i8i

a full moon and as rosy as the setting sun. He had enjoyed this hunt as
much as anyone across the playing grounds of his youth, and seen it better
than most. It really was a nice little burst, and "Joseph" pleased me
immensely.

Back now to Down Hall, Matching Park, and ne'er a fox until a chorus
of halloas beyond Heathen Wood set the machinery in motion. Up went
the hounds' heads, and wrong went the majority of the thrusters, and all the
Baileyites who forded the brook as the fox recrossed it ; and with hounds at
his brush, and half-a-dozen people with hounds, including Mrs. W. Buck-
master, Mr. Gerald Buxton and his Reverence, he was run into the Moor
Hall coverts. Mr. Arkwright — determined to have sport and to give Mr.
Chaffey Collin another chance on his third horse — pushed on to Barnsley's
without avail, and the hollow tree was of no use to Mr. Harrison, who,
after a rattling good run with the stag, had jumped on his hack just to see
what we were doing. Never have I known the springs in " Jenkins' " hind
legs so non-elastic, for that extra four stone on his back made all the
difference in the hack home.

Edward Wahab's Fantail Team

Tandem or unicorn, it matters not which, Mr. Wahab
handles the ribbons with a master's hand, and his famihar
figure is rarely absent from a good polo match or favourite
meet. Debarred by an accident from taking that vigorous part
in the pursuit of the fox, to which his heart prompts him, he
manages to extract a good deal of pleasure from driving all
sorts in the frequent driving tours which he takes through the
beautiful wooded scenery of England ; a pleasure which is
greatly enhanced by the society of his wife, who generally
accompanies him on his holiday excursions.

A KILL IN THE OPEN NEAR ELSENHAM HALL

l8'

A Day in the Forest.

And a right good one to boot (Wednesday, February 24th). The meet
Hatfield Heath. The field by no means a large one, but of the right
quality. Several caps besides Mr. Stacey's. Several ladies besides Mrs.
Bowlby and Mrs. Arkwright, Mrs. W. Buckmaster and Mrs. Grossman.
'Twas so long since I had had a day in the forest that it seemed almost
tevva incognita. We must have travelled fairly well, after breaking in the
direction of Canfield Hart, to have killed our fox in thirty-three minutes,
fairly in the open too, in the green fields beyond Elsenham Hall, the last
four at steeplechase pace, Bailey delighted at having scored one point in
the return rubber.'' ^Ir. Harrison seemed very much at home in this

Hyde Hall Springs

country, but lost a lot of time with Mr. Grossman at some iron railings.
(Mr. G. was riding a new one from the Meynell country.) Mr. Weston
Grocker was going very strong, and Mr. Jones on his young chestnut was
all there, as also was Captain Gairns as he walked about at the bottom of
the first ditch we had to negotiate when we came away from the forest.
" Peter " wanted to jump the lot.

Another spin from Bassingbourne of short duration, and a capital
gallop afterwards with a fox I viewed for them from the forest. Running out
into the Puckeridge country very smartly at starting, Mr. Tyndale White
and Mr. Buckmaster settled down in the front directly the galloping began.
Headed back, hounds ran ver}' fast over the park, scattering the deer and

* The Puckeridge on their last visit (February 9th) to the neutral Takeley coverts killed two
foxes in the Essex country after splendid runs.

MR. STACEY SEES IT OUT ON ONE HORSE

185

swimming the lake and, disappearing through the wire fencing, gave the
huntsman and most of us a stern chase ere we caught them half-way to
Barrington Park. Jim Cockayne (huntsman to the Puckeridge) padded
him up the lane, and they ran on to the hollow tree in the park from
which neither smoke nor the gymnastic efforts of Jack, Air. Buckmaster
and one or two more could dislodge him. Nearly all but the two horsemen
now went home, missing quite the run of the day with a rare-hit/'- and of
those who were left, including ]\Ir. G. Harris and Mr. Grossman, a good
many thought that hounds would nail the rare-hit in covert. Not so, how-
ever, for crossing the heath road, they struck the good scenting ground

Running for Down Hall

that lies beyond and ran very fast towards Down Hall. Mr. Buckmaster
on " Success," riding as I like to see a man ride, parallel with the leading
hounds and half a field wide of them taking his own line, and not sneaking
along after Bailey. Checking for half a minute above Lancaster Springs,
they crossed the brook and ran straight for Hatfield Grange. Where, oh !
where was Mr. Crocker ? Bang across his straw ring and out over the
road. Mr. A. Bowlby coming to grief near here, they pushed their fox along
for Row Wood without touching it, losing him a mile or so beyond White
Roothing at 5 p.m., only ten being up at the finish — viz., Mr. Arkwright,
Mr. and Mrs. W. Buckmaster, Mr. A. S. Bowlby, Mr. Basham, Mr. Rupert
Blyth (right to the front on Mr. Arkwright's old grey), IMr. Gosling (hung
up at last fence, but kicked himself clear), Mr. Newman Gilbey, Mr. Stacey,
who went like a workman, riding one horse all day (a well-bred little

* Bailey had finished drawing the Springs when a single hound spoke. Someone said,
"Rabbit."

i86

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

chestnut), never in a hurry, but turning with hounds and without pressing
them, always with them ; and Mr. Todhunter, just back from New Zealand
with its stiff timber fences, and making a recent purchase from Aldridge's
into quite a clever hunter, as it had not forgotten its four falls the first day
he rode him. He seemed to fancy " Norton," the New Zealand horse,
which he had known from a yearling for the G.N.

There is nothing easier in the world than to make copy out of a day's
hunting. I don't say readable copy, but copy of some sort. Even if the
sport be "nil," or of the most moderate character, whatever hunting cor-
respondents may affirm to the contrary, or reiterate that without straw
bricks cannot be made. But if the day is " a good one," then the hunting
scribe has only to protect himself against the exuberance of his own ver-

Witney Woods

bosity, and with standing martingale or Ransom bit or " Bucephalus" nose-
band, take care that his quill doesn't run away with him. Perhaps, how-
ever, the printer's joy, the editor's ideal and reader's patience is best
consulted when medium sport takes place, and medium sport forms the
burden of my song, if you would have me sing of last Saturday's play, when
we met at Fyfield on Alarch 6th.

To start with, when large flakes of snow, driven before a N.W. breeze,
commenced falling shortly after the breakfast hour, with rising glass and
forecast favourable, we had strong hopes of a great day, and although Mr.
Quare's noted harriers were to meet close at hand in a grand country, we
would not have missed the chance of trying to see it for a king's ransom.
Our views were confirmed on arriving at the meet, when Mr. Seymour
Caldwell, in the neatest of grey suits and gaudiest of ties, rode up on a bike

MR. R. Y. BEVAN's GORSE IS DRAWN FOR THE FIRST TIME 1 87

and said, "A rare day for hunting, this." How we should hke to have
seen him on some other hack. At Fyfield we heard that ^Ir. C. E. Green
had met with an accident when hunting with the Bicester that would keep
him, it was feared, out of the saddle for some time. Bad luck, this, at the
end of the season. Also that Major Carter, thanks to a friend who had
broken his collar-bone, had dropped in for the loan of fifteen hunters in a
good grass country. We fancy the ]Major will enjoy himself, and the
horses too, for they will be ridden straight and ridden fairly. Unfortunate
that " Spitfire" was hovs de combat, and Mrs. Carter reduced to wheels.

Saturday would not have been uneventful had we nothing further to
record than that Mr. R. Y. Bevan's new gorse at Willingale (there was a
good deal of barley about it) was drawn for the first time. That it lies
quiet and is well looked after, the hare jumping up proved. Pity that the

Coming away from Screens

hounds ate her, Mr. Quare ! and that Mr. Percy Whitaker, Master of the
Essex and Suffolk, should have witnessed such riot. Previous to this we
had drawn Witney Wood without finding — a very common occurrence,
for I believe I am right in stating that not a single fox has been found in
the Forest Hall coverts this season, and I had received practical proof and
demonstration of what red ribbon means in a horse's tail, as through stirrup
leather and boot the shoe left its mark. But the same animal had a much
better innings with a friend of mine a few days previously, for, having fairly
pinned him in a corner, he had him on the leg three times before he would
let him out, and for some time so benumbed with pain was the limb that
my friend hardly knew whether it belonged to him or the doctor.

Now there is red ribbon and red ribbon, and to the majority of those
who hunt it means " Kick if you touch me." That's all right, but when

Io5 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

for pure fun and general light-heartedness an animal turns itself sideways
to make sure of the mark, it ought at least to carry the red, white and blue.
Personally I feel convinced that, although the ribbon is neat, and may be
fashionable, the card in the hat is far more easily seen, and when one sports
the red and another wears the card, you are apt, while looking for the one,
to receive a reminder of the other, all of which remarks go to show that it
is easy to write about what you feel. But perhaps I have no right to say a
word or hazard an opinion, since my friends all remind me the roan mare
always carried the red ensign (the first, I think, in Essex).

N.B. — She never kicked anyone, as luck would have it.

I spent a maiivais quart d'henve shortly after Mr. Bevan's hare had been
slain and eaten, trotting along the road between Spain's Wood, Willingale,

Berners Wood

and the Witney covert, for the hounds had slipped the majority of the
field — not all, as I had at first imagined, for as we clustered in the narrow
lane under the covert, and the first roar of hound music had subsided,
" Hare again " was freely ejaculated. Minute by minute went by, and
only those who were far back on the road had any notion that hounds were
away with a fox ; but the five minutes' start he had of them he made good
use of, and saved his brush in Witney Wood. Mr, Harry Sworder was one
of the lucky ones who got away, Mr. H. E. Jones and Mr. Giles two more.
How "Joseph " pulled down that road, and with what a dash " Dan Gingell "
came flying down it, only a pen of a Rusticus could do adequate justice to.
The scene now shifts to the muddy lane en route to Screens. As to
avoid it, Mr. Newman Gilbey put his horse at a bank covered with stakes,
the horse slipping, was soon struggling in the middle of them, but mar-
vellous to note, came off without a scratch, as having landed his rider in the
field, he came back into the lane.

THE LAWN MEET AT GREENSTED HOUSE 1 89

In Screens a brace; most of us away with a good start, Mr. C. E.
Ridley opening the gate into the road near the Park ; young Mr. White
hopping over the rail, and hounds swinging away to the right and parallel
with the road. Everyone mad keen to be with them. Back at speed
towards Screens, leaving it on the right. So to the lane below it, " the
captain " opening the gate, the Master flicking in and out of the lane at the
same moment, hounds swinging under the next fence right across our front,
Mr. Whitaker sending Mr. Edwards's chestnut at the stiff fence out of the
plough in his own line. A merry hunt through Berners Wood — Mr. Sworder
on " Pinafore " leading on the left. Miss M. Morgan smashing the stile as
she followed Mr. Waters through the covert, the " General " hopping over
another as they came away from it ; Mr. Docwra landing over the gate (not
yours, Mr. P. Gold, that came later on) into the road, Mr. J. Marriage and
Mr. P. M. Evans hacking quietly down it, hounds crossing the same below
Garnish, and running fast over the plough, Mr. Jones on " The Colonel "
taking the lead directly the band began to play, and keeping it to the stack
yard at Good Easter, where the gallop came to an end — is all I can present
to you from my point of view. The hour, nigh 3 p.m., one-horse men
mostly going home, missing nothing much thereby beyond a pretty bit of
hunting, thanks to " Damper," who must have had cold: I never heard such
a note. Slow, but fast enough for the occasion, from High Roothing to
Canfield Hart, Mr. Sam Fitch taking a bath en voitte, having just volunteered
that the grey had never yet grassed him, whatever he might have done to
his son. Few left at the finish, and only two ladies, Mrs. Buckmaster and
Mrs. Bruce. Fifteen miles home for some of us, and the stars well out and
the moon well up ere we won it.

The Lawn Meet at Greensted House.
on Monday (March 8th, '97) was very fashionably attended, and was
marked by a day's sport far above the average.

It was a happy thought of Mr. and Mrs. Grossman's inviting the non-
hunting as well as hunting farmers to share in the hospitalities, which were
freely accepted by all the hunting fraternity who gathered at this pretty
spot : honoured for the first time in the annals of the Essex Hunt with a
lawn meet. " The Millbanks," Mr. Mumford, Mr. G. Hart, Mr. Christy,
Mr. J. Green, Mr. Dunlop, Mr. Avila, Mr. Waltham. Both Masters and
their wives, both Secretaries, the Hunt was well represented. Mr. and
Mrs. Gerald Buxton, Mr. A. S. Bowlby, Captain and Mrs. Bruce, Mr.
Barron, Mr. F. Ball, Mr. Carr, Mr. R. B. Colvin, Mr. Cowee, Mr. A. J.
Edwards, Mr. Giles, Mr. Loyd, Mrs. Mcintosh, Miss Morgan, Mrs. Neill,
Mr. H. J. Price, Mr. A. Radford, Major Ricardo, Mr. J. Sands, Mr. D.
Cunhffe-Smith, Mr. J. Swire, Mrs. Waters, Mr. J. Tyndale White, Major
Wilson, General Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C. ; on wheels Mr. and Mrs. Jump.

It was simply a perfect day for hunting, bright, and with breeze scarce
sufficient to turn the vane to the east.

In Kettlebury Springs Mr. Christy had a fox for us, and a lawn kill
followed a lawn meet, for they nailed him in Ongar Town in Mr. C. Smith's
garden at Land View House, only one maid out of three making a bolt of it
when the worry took place. By Stanford Hall brook side and over Mr.
Grossman's shooting preserves we reached Ongar Park, and in the heart of
the covert found at once. There was a great scent, and the bitches drove
their fox from end to end, forced him out in the open towards "the Fiddlers,"
and brought him back across the Park with a swing and up to the Gravel
Pits. Hounds hovered for a second near the line, and then tore away
across the meadows for Rough Talleys. Both gates locked, and no outlet

190

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

until the Master made one through the hairy fence, by which time hounds
had secured such a lead that neither he nor any of his following caught
them until they checked at the extreme end of Ongar Park ; Mr. Price,
Mr. Hilliard, and one other who had turned back at once for the butts,
being the only three with them as they raced back through the woods as if
glued to their fox.

Hesitating on the railway line until some of us were almost lost, we
galloped down the Weald Road on the chance of hounds coming out on the
Harlow side, the Secretary" on his grey and a man on a bay making rare
play down it.

" Had you judg'd of these two by the trim of their pace,
At Bib'ry you'd thought they'd been riding a race."

^^^^m7^~W^^

Navestock Lake

But this saved their bacon, for they only just gained the outskirts of the
Great Woods as hounds came away on the grass, and then followed the
best part of the run, for from here to Knightsland hounds simply flew.
There was little time to note anything. I could see Captain Bruce on his
favourite horse " Tinker " slapping along after hounds which were well over
the brook before he and the huntsman got to it. Caught a jovial smile on
Mr. Loyd's face as he lep'd out of the Toot Hill Road with hounds, heard
Mr. W^altham holloaing at me to come into the lane and save the brook,
and shortly afterwards found myself exploring it and coming out the right
side, hounds tearing up the meadows beyond, and crossing Mr. Waltham's
lane, up which Mr. Sands and Colonel Fane were as quick as anyone. At
slower pace they ran the plough to Sir Charles Smith's woods, and hung a
moment beyond Berwick Wood. " That's it," said Mr. R. B. Colvin, as

* Mr. R. Y. Bevan.

o

192

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

half-a-dozen hounds feathered on the Hne, and away they swung again
over the grass by Mr. Freeman's, and down to the river and to its brinks
rode the huntsman and nearly all the field ; Mr. Bevan, Mrs. Bowlby,
Mrs. G. Buxton, General Wood, Mr. Avila, Mr. Barron, and half-a-dozen
more going for the ford on the left, and catching hounds in the Navestock
plantation.

Beautifully, without any assistance, hounds took it through and up to
the lake, and ran its margin down the big pasture, where Mr. Tyndale
White joined us, and in the road near Navestock Hall the huntsman and
his following, who had had a stern chase round by Shonks Mill, got up to
hounds ; running behind Mr. Steill's house, they crossed the road and raced
away for Navestock, slipping nearly all the field, but coming back bang
through the middle of them towards Dudbrook, where this good run of one
hour and thirty minutes (fifty of it in the open) practically came to an end.
How well Mrs. Bowlby, Mrs. Arkwright, Mrs. Buxton and Mrs. Grossman
(who was riding Mr. Giles's pony) went through this run, all those who
were up at the finish will bear me witness.

Galley Hills

Galley Hills.

Quite one of the jolliest days I ever remember was Wednesday, March
loth, from these noted coverts of that staunch preserver of foxes and
ex-master of hounds, Mr. R. Beale Colvin, and so said a great many more
who are fond of hunting (hound work), galloping and jumping, and, 'faith,
before sun had set they had had their fill. The pity of it, hounds did
not kill, but the Galley Hill Foxes take as much killing as the Parndon
veterans (for one of which I once offered £1 to the huntsman if he could
handle within a certain period). I now renew this offer for a Galley Hill

A. C. BALLOCH ON

COCKIE

19.

Fox (must be a dog), killed fair and square in the open (any time) or in the
woods after not less than one hour's chase ; no lifting in either case, and
before the end of the present season.

" Can't stand Galley Hills," round and round I heard (not sorrowfully,
oh ! dear no) from more than one follower of our hounds previous to this
meet, so the muster at Epping Green was smaller than usual, but included
a good sprinkling of ladies (though we missed Mrs. Bowlby), Mrs. Ark-
wright, Lady Gwendoline Colvin, Mrs. Gerald Buxton, Miss Buxtons (2),
Mrs. F. Ball, Miss M. Green, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. Grossman, Mrs. Waters,
Miss D. Sewell, Miss Pelly. The men were more numerous — will it be so
in ten years' time ? The Master, ]\Ir. Arkwright, Secretary, Mr. Tyndale
White, Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., and his son. Admiral Hastings, ^Ir. Avila,
Mr. F. Ball, ^Ir. G. Buxton, Mr. R. B. Colvin, Mr. D. Grossman, Mr.
Cook, Mr. A. J. Edwards, Mr. N. Gilbey, Mr. J. Green and son, ^Ir. W. S.
Horner, Mr. H. E. Jones, Mr. G. H. Lee, Messrs. E. and J. Pelly, ^Ir. A.
Peel, ^Ir. Harris, Major Ricardo, Mr. H. Sworder, and his cousin on
" Jenkins," Messrs. W. and A. Sewell, Mr. J. T. White, Mr. Tosetti,
Mr. Simonds.

A. C. Balloch on "Cockie"

This horse, formerly the property of Mrs. Arkwright, and
known by the name of " Snowstorm," carried Mr. and Mrs.
Balloch for five seasons with the Essex Hounds. Needless to
add that he carried them to the front ; for the horse not only
knew his business, but the riders theirs ; Mrs. Balloch, who
was more often seen on the horse than her husband, being a
particularly fine horsewoman.

We have no more trying country within the boundaries of our Hunt in
a wet season than the Galley Hill environs. The grass rides infinitely
13 VOL. n

194

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

worse than the plough, and without you possess a horse of great stamina
and exceptional soundness, you can never see a day through properly.
I have known more horses cooked and lamed in this neighbourhood than
any other. Not only is the going heavy, but the hills are steep, the rides
deep, and the fences many of them stiff drops — the very ones to try the
back sinews and lame a valuable horse. I write from experience.
" Therefore avoid Galley Hills when the water fills every hoof mark and
swishes up from every headland," and if you can discover a boot im-
pervious to the moisture of Galley Hills, take out a patent and your fortune
is made.

Richard Francis Ball

Richard Francis Ball will be known to posterity as the
joint author, with Mr. Tresham Gilbey, of "The History of
the Essex Foxhounds." He is known to those who follow
the fortunes of that pack as a very keen rider, and very fond
of a horse that can gallop. He is very fortunate in possessing'
a wife as fond of hunting as himself, thus doubling the joy he
extracts from the game.

Mrs. R. F. Ball is one of those charming ladies whom
hunting men welcome in their midst, for keen as she is, she is

A DAY IN THE GALLEY HILL COUNTRY

195

always ready to accept a lead, never gets in the way, and the
only man I have heard of who ever lost a run through her
— "'twas in the Dagnam Country" — was Richard Francis
himself, who at that time would have lost twenty runs if he
could have been of any assistance to one who M-as to be-
come his partner for life. Needless to say that no happier
couple ever come out with the Essex ; each take their own
line, but Mrs. Frank generally has two days to her husband's
one.

Mrs R. F. Ball

" Griggs "

A falling glass, rather a strong flashy breeze from the S.W., and a
bright sun hardly seemed favourable for a scent, so I very nearly reserved
" Joseph '■' for Saturday. 'Twas lucky I didn't, as the sequel will show. In
Deer Park a real traveller was away at the north-east corner almost before
hounds were in covert, and for fifteen minutes streaked away at a pace
that I have never seen beaten. Past Harolds Farm they were round and
tearing over the grass meadows for the Coppice ere half the field had
emerged through the muddy cow-yard. Nothing like riding the crest of
the hill when hounds are running for the Coppice, but 'tis imperative, if

196 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

you would arrive there with them, not to part company with your horse,
Mr. Rickett, but you asked a big question, even of one that boasts a
" Pedometer " for a sire, when you sent her at that thick bullfinch after
Mr. Jones and several more had indicated the gap. The mare can gallop,
for she reached the Coppice as soon as anyone. Mr. Arkwright, on
"Catapult," with a clear lead of those who had ridden the slope of the fields
with hounds, came striding up to the narrow handgate, closely followed by
the huntsman, and without dwelling a second, threaded their way through
the bushes by Nasing Coppice, and struck the dip of the green-lane beyond
as Jack's scream of " Awa-a-y " was heard! How the deuce did he get
there ? But Jack knows a thing or two, and glad we were to see him
back in the saddle again, and back in the place into which he always
drops when a travelling fox is in front of hounds with a burning scent.

What a race there was for that sound headland that runs the whole
length of the Common, dipping up and down in gentle undulations like
the billowy swell on the broad Atlantic as, 300 yards below us over the ant
hills packed in a wedge like a flight of duck, the pack skimmed over this
good scenting ground at such a pace that no horse that has yet been foaled
could have lived in their wake for three miles. The Master was riding a
good one in " Catapult," the huntsman was on a clipper, Mr. Avila steering
a mare that can go, Mr. Jones astride the galloping " Princess," and yet,
although the hounds covered a lot more ground, they had the best of the
race until the fencing began. The leaders, the names I have given, with
the addition of Mr. Arkwright, Mr. Tyndale White, Mr. and Mrs. Cross-
man, reached the Parndon Road with hounds, and jumped out of it two
abreast, and in much the same order galloped the woodland inside the
wire that runs past the first wood, and caught a glimpse of black and white
as hounds flashed into the second, and, as luck would have it, changed
foxes in the third, coming to a check at the bottom end towards Netteswell.
'Twas a grand burst, and if there was little fencing there was a narrow
escape to record, as, taking the boundary fence of the Common on to Mr.
Ralph Palmer's land, that veteran, Mr. Archibald Peel, who never turns
aside for anything, went crashing through it, carrying its murderous coils
round his horse's legs into the field beyond, and emerging, viiyahile didu,
unscathed — the second time on this same estate that he has had such a
narrow escape. The pace was too good for any but the best horses. I
always fancied that "Joseph" could gallop. I know that he can stay ; but at
the end of the Common Mrs. Crossman,on her pony, shot past "Joe" as if
he was standing still. The pony ought to be called " The Little Wonder,"
and should be worth 300 guineas for polo.

The cry of hounds had driven a leash of foxes from the Parndon strong-
holds, so over Nasing Common for Galley Hills we wended our way,
turning up the muddy lane just beyond the Toll Gates, which is one of the
deepest morasses it has ever been my misfortune to flounder through, and
belongs, I believe, to the Corporation of London, by whom it was pur-
chased for the delectation of the citizens of London Town. It soon bids
fair to become impassable. With Jack's " Tally ho ! back," at the Monk-
hams end of Galley Hills, of the fox Mr. Grossman had just previously
viewed over the ride, and which hounds simply could not own, came a
vigorous " Gone away " over the Monkhams Lane, proclaiming the flight
of another, and after him went Bailey with lightning speed. In and out of
the lane, Mr. Jones nearly knocking the Hon. Secretary over, and "Joseph"
taking all advantage of the collision, another fence, and the water was
flying like the spray from the bows of an Atlantic liner as the field galloped
up the lane for Monkhams, Mr. Sworder on the left of it, hounds swinging

RINGING THE CHANGES

197

to him at the top of the hill, Mrs. Bennett hesitating for a second to jump
out, Mrs. Ball well up, and the Master taking a bank with some awful
rabbit holes in it, and a big drop^" Joseph " followed him — ere hounds turned
again towards Monkhams, and two lines were indicated, one up the
park, and the other towards Warhes. Too late the huntsman clapped
forward at the gallop on the last one over a good line of country,
but beyond Obelisk Wood nothing came of it — except the fun at the
brook. Miss M, Buxton's chestnut not being the only horse that nearly
came down.

Evolution "

" Evolution," the property of Mr. Alfred Poole, of Chelms-
ford, winner of many prizes in the show ring at Waltham
Abbey, Harlow, Woodbridge, and Colchester.

Again to Galley Hills, and this time for a change, and to mark the
uncertainty of a fox's line, hounds came away without their huntsman.
Leaving Deer Park on the left, they ran beautifully over the big pastures
for Shatter Bushes, Mr. Tyndale White taking a nasty toss over some
timber as they rounded the cover, and without dwelling a second, went
slap through it, crossed the gravel lane (the fox only a field in front of
hounds), and over the holding pastures, where many being reduced to a
trot unfortunately missed one of the prettiest parts of the run, for there
was no chance whatever of making up any lost ground at the pace hounds
were going. Just touching the further corner of Deer Park, they were
away over Galley Hill Green, and with a piping hot scent were flinging
over the big pastures beyond as fast as we could get to them, the youngest
of the Hunt staff boldly making a hole in the done-up fence into the lane,
the Admiral further simphfying it, and "Catapult" not touching a stick.

198 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

'Twas bad luck that our fox was headed, from the good hne he was taking
for Nasing Bury, back into the Big Woods. How beautifully hounds stuck
to his line, drove him from end to end, and forced him out at the Monkham
side, only those with them could tell, and when on the crest of Monkhams
Hill at the back of the Hall, we came to a check, the Master exclaimed,
" Is this the field ? "

" Ilei mihi, qualis erat ! Quantum mutatus ab illo,
Ilectore, qui redit exuvias indutus Achilli."

There were only six with hounds, the Master, " The Admiral," Mr. F. Ball,
Mr. H. Sworder, and Mr. Todhunter, whose face was covered with blood,
for he had had a nasty fall swinging down the hill for the valley below.
The Brothers Sewell came trotting up, and when we took to the country
beyond — Mr. Beale Colvin dropped from the clouds into his usual place in
the van — and again we started on the old line, a right good one of varied
fencing, towards Obelisk Wood.

Checking in the road for a second that runs up to Galley Hills, we were
joined by several who had missed the hunt through the wood. Mr. C. E.
Ridley, Mr. N. Gilbey, and Mr. Grossman, the latter, with quick eye,
detecting a single hound running forward over the grass for the brook.
There was the fence out of the road, the gap newly done up, and too
thorny even for the Admiral's black, but he found us something lower
down. The huntsman popped through between some stumps, and Mr.
Sworder's black, after hanging fire, followed suit, while as for " Joseph,"
after a dozen had gone, he became impatient and cut in in front of a lady,
and was just in time to splash through the ford, after the huntsman and
the Admiral, and drop into Honey Lane after the Master, when a man
with a bill-hook in his hand said, " No use going there ; it is all wire."
So away went nearly everyone up the lane, but at the bottom of the wired
fence there was a gate, and opposite to it another, and all in line of hounds,
and one fence only, before we jumped into the top end of Warlies Park,
over which hounds ran without a falter, leaving the house on the right.

In the park men were halloaing, saying the fox had doubled back, and
although they were running with great dash, Easterby wanted to stop them
— they would have taken some turning. Running straight for Copped Hall
Green, there was Crawley in the road saying they were running heel, as
hounds dashed over the road into the park, but Crawley's fox and
Easterby's fox could not have been the same. My own impression is that
both were wrong, for when Bailey once more laid the hounds on after they
had been turned, not on the line, mind you, of the fox viewed nearly a
mile back over the park, but on Crawley's fox, they never ran with the
same dash, and so said Mr, C. E. Ridley ; and, having lost a shoe, he, with
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ball, gave up at Claveringbury Farm. Hoping to
pick up the hunted fox, or rather one of them, for we must have had
several in front of us during the day, the huntsman carefully searched
Galley Hills. Keeping back in one of the rides to try and get a view, for
I was as anxious to kill as he was, I heard " gone-away " once more, and
galloping round the Monkhams end saw hounds running most beautifully
over the grass for Hollyfield Hall. A most sparkling little burst of fifteen
minutes over the marshes, ending near Galley Hills — few, very few indeed,
being left to see it— the Master, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. R. B. Colvin, Mr. G.
Buxton, Mr. Grossman, Mr. Todhunter, Mr. Newman Gilbey, and Dr.
Love. I mustn't forget the doctor, for I never lost sight of him after the
mare (why didn't I stick to " Joseph," he was not a bit done ?) had trodden
on my ribs or parted with him until when the game was all over he had
pronounced them intact. A friend in need is a friend indeed, and of all

BOAR HUNTINCx 199

friends you have only to require his services to appreciate that none can
compare with "the doctor." The following extracts are from a letter
from a keen fox-hunting cousin of Dr. Love's who was then enjoying some
good sport in France. It was dated " Hotel Continental," March loth : — •

" I have been very lucky seeing sport here. Yesterday we ran an eight-year-old wild boar
for two-and-a-quarter hours with Prince de Joinville's hounds. Twice the boar swam a broad
river, and once took to a lake, where we headed him, and saw 35 hounds (out of 40) follow
him. One tackled him and was badly wounded. The Duke of Chartres tried two rifle shots
at him as he came out without effect. Charging the hounds he wounded several, but in
another half hour was brought to bay in a wood, stood two more shots and got away again, to
be finally shot in a stream. All the wounded dogs had to be attended to before they 'broke
up ' the boar with the usual ceremonies. Cor de chasse music, skinning, making believe alive
to hounds, &c., took an hour. The liveries are like old Watteau pictures, and I never saw
such magnificent weight-carrying hunters, Dublin show winners, &c. The woods here are
very intricate, but lots of fine sound gallops, much used by the Chantilly Race Stud. You can
gallop for five miles in a straight line. On Saturday saw a fine stag shot in lake after an hour's
run with Duke de Grammont, and on Thursday one killed in open at Forest of Hallate (Count
de Vallon's), after a gallop of two-and-a-quarter hours, mostly through open forest, the huntsman
having to stop and go for a fresh horse. Saw everything — deer trotting, beat before pack, at
bay, held by hounds, and finished by Master (who gave me a foot) with dagger sword. Have
also seen others taken by Duke of Chartres' pack.'

Beech Hill Park

CHAPTER VII.

Beech Hill Park — The Point to Point Races at Hatfield Heath, 1897 — Major
Ricavdo and ^^ General Banks" — '^ Catapult" — The Annual Meeting, 1897 —
Mark Hall Wood — The fortunate few — S. Chisenhale Marsh and " Wheel of
Fortune" — F. Loyd and '^Rosamond" — Cyril Charrington and his hunter
" Bullfinch "—A Sharp burst from the Moors — Going toivards Shenfield — ■
My. Henry Charrington on " The Swell " — Bailey hunts the hounds for the
first time in season 1897-98 — Fitz Walters — Mrs. Grossman's "Ruth" —
Douglas Grossman's "Sweetmeat" — Tyler's X — Guy Gilbey — Wavzvickshire
Brooks — A. Waters — Mrs. Waters — A.J. Edwards— " Baroness" — Guy and
Noel Edwards — Garnish — Wilson Springs — A gallop at last — Sydney V.
Green — Two favourite hunters — The Annual Meeting, 1898 — A. S. Bowlhy
on "Piccadilly" — Rev. Austin Oliver — Endon Oliver — W. Dalton — The
Point to Point Races at Stondon, 1898 — To Finish the Season — A teorst
on record — Writtlc Park — Langleys — Killing Deer in the field.

THE Point-to-Point races were not postponed after all, though the day
before all sorts of rumours were flying about that they would be, the
ground being simply in a terrible condition. But postponement might
have done no good, for who could tell whether the ground would be any
drier in a week's time, and, if it were, in would go the barley, for now it
is weeks behind time. So perhaps it was as well that they were not put
ofif, though it would have been difficult to have held them under more
adverse conditions, a morning sun only tempting people out to their
destruction, for the races were run in pitiless rain storms. That many an
owner would not run his horse, notably Mr. W. Buckmaster his " Success,"
which was very much fancied, was not surprising : but that no serious
casualties to horses or riders occurred is certainly worthy of comment, for
falls were numerous, as horses reeling from exhaustion simply staggered
into the winning field or fell helpless and inert ere they reached it. " The
farmers won't go tumbling about," said an onlooker, and ere the words
were out of his mouth three were down in a row. That " Sir Frederick,"
Mr. Milbank's horse, should add another to his numerous victories, shows

MA TOR RICARDO WINS ON " GENERAL BANKS

!OI

what a wonder he is. Yes, Mr. Avila, you never made a greater mistake
when you missed him.

" Catapult," romping home — pulling, 111 trouble you — shows that
through dirt she has no rival. Mr. Arkwright's second win on her was
a very popular event. Have you ever noticed how " Catapult " is built ?
If not, have a look at her. Mark her wide chest, extraordinary deep girth,
short back, and muscular quarters, and get hold of one like her if you can.
Through deep plough she gallops with as much ease as most horses can
go on the grass. Had the going been light, she couldn't have gone the
pace — and some other horse would have won. They tell me — I was not
there — that the ditches were enormous, and that the fences were of the
most blood-curdling description— real rough, straggling old places that
you could neither see over nor through. ^lajor Ricardo on that grand
horse, " General Banks," won a well-deserved victory in the heavyweight.
He has had a good many flutters, and gone very near the mark more than
once, so at last perseverance and pluck have been crowned with success.
'Sly heartiest and best congratulations to you. Major !

Major Ricardo and "General Banks"

"General Banks," a grey gelding- by " Baron Farnley," is a
good specimen of a weight-carrying hunter with a good turn of
speed. In 1893 ^^ ^^'^n the heavy weight Divisional Point to

202 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Point at Aldershot, also the Staff College Point to Point,
repeating the latter performance in 1894, when he became the
property of his present owner, who, in four Point to Point races
in Essex heavy-weight class, placed him each time, viz., third in
the Essex Welter and Royal Artillery races in 1895, ^^^^^ ^
very good second after cutting out most of the work in the
Welter of 1896 ; finally winning a well deserved victory
when the going- was desperately heavy at Hatfield Heath in
1897.

They tell me that the spectators who were not a-horseback could see
little of the races. Carriages were not allowed to enter a single field on
account of the state of the ground, and those who arrived on bicycles, as
did three adventurous spirits, were simply soaked to the skin : as the
General's son shook his coat you could hear the water squabbing about
inside ; and with a nine-mile ride to the station, no change, and a journey
to town, 'tis surprising that we have not heard of an inquest. But low
shoes and coloured stockings — green, yellow, or blue ! Oh ! ye gods !
fancy facing the mud in such a costume. You saw it from your carriage,
my lady, I think. Indeed, the mud was up to their knees, and tell me
that they were not bicyclists ! There were some chic costumes, dear Madge,
in the morning. There were some draggled-looking habiliments ere sun
had set, and in rain and mud, and mud and rain, the Point-to-Point of 1897
at Hatfield Heath had become a matter of history.

The Annual Meeting, March 2oth, 1897.

Would have been there on wheels if the doctor would have allowed it,
and the Accidental Assurance Railway Passengers — good office — (couldn't
be otherwise, since our " Hon. Secretary" is one of the Directors) con-
tinued their weekly payments. But my heart was there, and my best
wishes for the fulfilment of the universal desire throughout the Hunt that
the connecting links which each year bind Mr. Bowlby and Mr. Arkwright
closer and closer to all sections of the hunting community should not be
severed. All came right ; all as we wished it, and, while other hunts are
at their wits' end to find a Master (for who will undertake the task in the
present day, even if they carry the horn, for their own pleasure ?), we are
fortunate enough to have to record no change in masters or staff. This
alone will make the annual meeting of 1897 the most important event of the
season. In many years we have been accustomed to a great day's sport to
further emphasise the yearly gathering of the Clans. Everything seemed
propitious for it on Saturday when the huge cavalcade moved off from the
Kennels. ('Twould have been a grand chance for a Jubilee gift to the
R.A.B.A.)

A good scenting day, the ground moist enough in all conscience, a good
country before them, and any number of foxes about, and yet throughout
the day luck was against all but a fortunate few who, come what may,
rarely if ever go home before the hounds. For the sunny day had doubtless
tempted foxes into the open, and Mark Hall, Barnsley's, Latton, Harlow
Park, Parndon Woods, Nasing Coppice, and Deer Park— regular foxland
— up to Galley Hills were all drawn blank, and not before they reached
the last-named covert did they find a fox, and he without any bouquet de
Reynard. Weary and tired, horses and riders, all the huge field, had

THE FORTUNATE FEW 203

dwindled down to about five-and-twenty, when, about 4 p.m., the order
was given for an advance on " Tattle Bushes." Here they found a fox
at once ; that there was a ravishing scent was apparent the moment hounds
came away at the top end and Nasing side of the covert. The huntsman
inside the wood could never get to the head of affairs before Pinnacles
was reached, after traversing a most intricate country. Running close up
to JNIerryweather's Farm, the fox doubled back, and running close to
Roydon, a lot of hounds were left behind, and a good many of their
followers too, through high banks, narrow lanes, and a deep bog.

When hounds are going the pace there is no time to bring a stirrup
iron into action on an obstinate lock sufficiently quick to make up for
lost time, and catch the beauties fleeting on in front. Better, my friend
(you rubbed that twenty-five minutes in going home), had you quickly
followed ^lessrs. Evans and Sewell over the two fences, for they and three

Mark Hall Wood

others — lucky mortals — were the only ones with hounds to Pinnacles.
Here, however, most of them got up — the Roydon road proving a good
friend to the rearguard — and running the meadows for Parndon Church,
pulled their fox down under its shadows, and sent a merry little band
home in a very contented frame of mind. A few of their names if you will
— Messrs. Ball, Gregory, Fitch, Sewell (2), Evans, Tilling, Dawson,
Weston Crocker, F. Green, one of the ?^Iasters, ]\Ir. Arkwright, one of
the Secretaries, iNIr. Bevan.

"Wheel of Fortune" was a favourite polo pony of Mr.
Marsh's during perhaps the brightest period of the existence of
the West Essex Polo Club. If lovers of polo in the western
borders of Essex were much indebted to Mr. Marsh tor
placing his beautiful ground at Gaynes Park at their disposal.

204

LEAVES EROM A HUNTING DIARY

lovers of huntinL!;" are under a still deeper obligation to him for
the liberal way in which he has always preserved toxes.

It is a o-Qod omen for the future that his son is as keen
about hunting" as ever his father was about polo.

S. Chisenhale Marsh and -'Wheel of Fortune"

Frederick Loyd, taken on his favourite hunter, a chestnut
mare by " Wakefield."' One of the best animals he ever
owned, she has been carrying- him well with the Essex since
I.S85, the year he purchased her at Deacon's V.W.H. Reposi-
tory, Swindon, at which time she was but a halt-broken
four-year-old.

Bred by John Robson, jun., of Belfast, she was v.h.c. at
Dublin Horse Show in 1S85, and in the same year made her
first acquaintance with the ditches of Essex, going bang into
three the first day she was out. She fell, on an average, once
or twice every time Mr. Loyd rode her for the first three

FREDERICK LOVD ON " ROSAMOND " 205

weeks, but made handsome amends for these shortcomings by
her subsequent behaviour, for Mr. Loyd only recalls one fall
durino- the twelve to thirteen seasons he has ridden her since,
and that through a rabbit-hole on a bank. The worst one to
break he ever owned, Mr. Loyd was well repaid for all the
trouble he took with this young 'un, and exercised very good
judgment when he bought her in the ring.

Frederick Loyd on " Rosamond "

"Bullfinch," a bay with black points, standing i6 hands,
came from Simmer, of Market Harborough, and carried Mr.
Charrington well in his undergraduate days with the Fitz-
william and Cambridgeshire, and with the Essex Hounds in
the early nineties. When I look at this portrait I am sadly
reminded once again of the uncertainty of life. Only on the

206

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

30th October, '96, had I met Mr. Charrington out with Mr.
Ouare's Harriers at Roydon, riding a very good-looking grey
pony, formerly the property of the late Mrs. Arkwright, and
apparently in the heyday of health and vigour. On November
1st he sent me the above photograph. It came back from the
engravers on December 3rd, and showing it to my wife she
made the remark, "Charrington? I saw the death of a Mr.

Cyril Norman Charrington and his favourite hunter "Bullfinch"

Charrington in the S/a/idard yesterday." Not until I had seen
the ill news myself could I believe that it was the same with
whom I had parted only a month previously. Known to me
as a good sportsman and a kind-hearted and genial friend in
the hunting field, it seems inexpressibly sad that death in the
shape of typhoid fever should have claimed for his own one so
young. He was only 30.

My notes for season 1897- 1898 ^^^ ^^^ and far between. My first
gallop Avith fox-hounds was on Monday, January 24th. Hounds had met
at Dagenham in the morning ; riding out late I came across them near

A SHARP BURST FROM THE MOORS

20:

Bentley Mill, and saw hounds thrown into the Moors, where they found
and went away at once. The short cut to hounds over a crumbling bank,
out of the road we were all standing in, was soon found by Mr. Waltham,
Messrs. Tyndale White (father and son) and Mr. Sheffield Neave accepting
his lead at once. Galloping down the side of the wood, as they jumped
into the road, they could see the heavy brigade charging down it.

" A rare scent " said Mr. Green, as with united forces we took to the
country again ; no time, in fact, to pick or choose a fence as hounds raced
along in the direction of Dagenham — Harry Sworder on his grey and young
John White the two leaders. After going for some half-a-dozen fields
we were confronted by a wire fence, the only weak spot in it, a stiff stile.
All, with the exception of Mr. R. Bevan, who got over well on his grey,
turned aside over a fence to the right and another to the left, and then had

-r^.

-^'^^»^

-^T„.

'f^m^&m^k^^

Going towards Shenfield

the brook in front of them ; some rails into the ploughed field just before
we came to the brook bringing a man down and further delaying those of
us who had got behind. A lady's hat coming off gave me personally plenty
of opportunity for scanning the brook, but not for catching hounds until
they checked in the next covert.

Directly hounds left it we encountered another very funny fence. Two
feasible spots; one by a tree was indicated by Mr. Sworder, the other, a
stiff stile, by Mr. G. H, Lee, who was riding the silver-maned horse he
had recently purchased from Mr. R. B. Colvin. Without the slightest
check hounds flew along to Navestock Heath, very few anywhere near
them, except Mr. Ford Barclay, Mr. D. Grossman, Mr. Sworder and
Mr. Bevan. Running over Navestock Heath, we lost this fox near the
Kelvedon coverts below Bois Hall. Subsequently in Navestock we
picked up another, a very poor specimen of the wild fox, and killed him
on the far side of the Park.

208

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

This horse has not been a bad servant to a man who not
only Hkes to ^l;-o, but does go, very straight across country for
he has carried him with hounds since 1891. the year he rode
him in the Point-to- Point at High Roding Bury. Mr. H. Char-
rington has taken up his quarters in the Meynell country, much
to the disappointment of his Essex friends, for such men as he
can ill be spared from our midst.

Henry Charrington on "The Swell"

Saturday, January 29th 1898. Biked over to a meet of Mr. Quare's
Harriers at Nasing Common ; met R. B. Colvin going to have his first
golf lesson at the hands of the Rev. T. W. Goddard, the Hon. Secretary
of the Nasing Golf Club.

Lady Gwendoline Colvin, Mr. Gerald Buxton on his grey, Mr.
Patchett, Q.C., Mr. W. H. Sewell on "Jack, " Miss Dorothy Sewell on
her Arab, Mr. G. H. Lee on his chestnut, J. Felly on " Snowstorm,"

BAILEY HUNTS HOUNDS FIRST TIME IN SEASON 1 897-98 209

were among the few out to enjoy a moderate day's sport. Biked home
again," WilHam leading old " Berserker " back.

Wednesday, February 2nd, 1898. After luncheon I rode out with
William in the direction of Galley Hills, and met E. Cockett hacking
home. He said that hounds had had a very good and quick thing up-wind
in the morning from Copped Hall to ground in the Forest. Riding on,
we came in for a very pretty sight. Hounds had left Galley Hills (by the
time we reached the covert) with a fox in the direction of Nasing Bury, and
this fox was being holloaed back into covert (Galley Hills) just as hounds
could be descried, some mile away running in the valley, and a very
pretty sight it was to witness. At first they hardly appeared larger than
guinea pigs on a billiard table, but gradually they took larger shape, and

Fitz Walters

at the same time we could hear their musical notes, and could mark the
leading riders in close attendance (hounds occasionally getting a field to
the good).

In direct fine with them, a lady and a man in pink leading. Straight for
the fence in front of her rode the ladyf and landed safely over. The manj
in pink turned away, and was some time before he could find an easy place
in the next fence. A great many people were waiting in the road below,
and as the big phalanx came charging up the hill I recognised that
Bailey u/as hunting the hounds himself {the first time this season of 1897-98 he had
been able to do so). Bailey lost his fox in Galley Hills. As he had some
difficulty mounting his second horse Mr. Bevan, who in the absence of

14

* The ground must have been pretty dry and hard. — Ed.
t Mrs. Douglas Grossman on " Ruth." % Mr. R. Y. Bevan.

VOL. 11

2IO

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

both Masters through indisposition was in charge, not wishing to overdo
him, gave the order for home — to the disappointment of none of us, for it
was really too windy and too cold to enjoy hunting. When hounds ran
up to his coverts Mr. Colvin sans hat was leading the van. Mr. and Miss
Peel, Mrs. Grossman, Mr. H. Sworder, Mr. Waltham, Mr. Baddeley and
Miss Morgan stayed to the end, and Mrs. Wythes made her first
appearance, I believe, with the Essex Hounds. As I rode by the bridle

path through Clavering Bury Farm I saw old V ,§ who had so recently

warned the Hunt off his land and wired his fences in every direction,

Mrs. Douglas Grossman on "Ruth"

prowling about behind a hedge with his gun, doubtless intending to give
Reynolds a warm salute should he venture near him.

From the diary extract of the same day I see that the ground was
drying up rapidly and note that so far the season had been an extra-
ordinary one for its mildness and dryness. Sport since January ist had
been very good ; up to Christmas it had been most indifferent, having been

S I must have maligned Mr. V. in this journal entry, as subsequently I interviewed Mr. V.
and got him to promise to remove his wire. — Ed.

DOUGLAS GROSSMAN ON " SWEETMEAT

21 I

too dry for hunting, and the lack of Bailey's assistance made matters
worse.

By "Jannock," out of "Candy" ; " Candy," by " Candidate"
by "Gladiateur." This brilliant, well-bred hunter, more at home
in the flying than the banking- part of the Essex country, gave
Mr. Crossman his first fall at a Blackmore meet the very day
that he was photographed. " Sweetmeat " always carried
Mr. Crossman in the very first flight with as much ease as his

Douglas Crossman on "Sweetmeat"

wife's beautiful black mare " Ruth," whose portrait is given on
the opposite page, carries her graceful owner to the front.
Mrs. Crossman commenced riding " Ruth " as a four-year-old
when she was living in the Meynell country, where the mare
gained a great reputation, and was considered by some good
judges to be one of the best hunters in the Midlands. Mrs.
Crossman refused ^200 for her as a five-year-old. The mount

II The opening meet in November at Matching Green had to be postponed owing to the
dry state of the ground. — Ed.

212

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

would not have been dear at double the figure when Mrs.
Grossman had completed her education, for she has since
carried Mrs, Grossman seven seasons, and has never averaged
less than twenty-five days in each. Mrs. Grossman rarely goes
home before the hounds. This mare in 189S had the honour
of beating all the best horses in the Essex Hunt over the
stiffest and biggest country (in the Stondon district) ever
chosen for a point-to-point race in Essex. The race was run
in a wet fog, and nearing home the mare, ably ridden by Mr.
Seymour Galdwell, cleared four strands of naked wire. Mr.
Caldwell was leading at the time, and his cry of " ware wire ! "
as he tipped the high strands, did not exhilarate his pursuers,
and he ran home hands down. In 1899, "Ruth," in spite of
extra weight, repeated her triumph of 1898, coming in an
easy first, steered by Mr. Galdwell (the ground was as hard
as iron), and in the same year won the Essex Hunt Glub Gup.

Tyler's X

Wednesday, February i6th. Tylers X. The following out : Sir
Evelyn Wood, V.C, Mr. and the Misses Peel (two), Miss T. Buxton, L.
Arkwright, Arthur Bowlby and his three sisters (Mr. and Mrs. Bowlby had
gone to Mentone), A. J. Edwards, Tyndale White, John White, R. Y.
Bevan, T. Gilbey, Guy Gilbey, P. Gold, G. H. Lee, H. Horner, Ford
Barclay, Mrs. Singleton (a new comer), H. E. Jones, Miss Jones, C. E.
Green, F. Green, J. Green, H. Sworder, D. Gregory, Mr. Tosetti, young

GUV GILBEY

21

Pyne, R. Barron, D. Grossman, Mr. Charrington, Capt. and Mrs. Bruce,
Mrs. Hine, the Misses Blyth and Gold, Messrs. G. H. Lee, F. Loyd,
Dr. Love, Mrs. and Miss Waters, Mr. Steele and his son, J. Todhunter
and others.

In the afternoon we had a very enjoyable gallop from Parndon Woods,
going out at the bottom end and running up nearly to Passmores ; before
coming back by Todhunters and going on towards Xasing we swung left-
handed for Parndon Woods, and without entering them crossed Epping Long
Green, and lost our fox near IMarles Wood. Miss Eva Bowlby was going
in the front all the time and IMessrs. Newman and Guy Gilbey and Mr.
Ford Barclay were equally conspicuous. The going was very light, but
being a very muggy day, it was a tiring one for horses, and a good many
tails were wagging before the run was over.

Guy Gilbey

Guy Gilbey comes of the right stock, for he has inherited
the love of horses and all connected with them that distino^uish
his lather, Sir Walter Gilbey. Hunting, polo, and point-to-
point races find in Mr. Guy Gilbey a devoted follower. Possess-
ing a very good eye to hounds, undaunted nerve and youth, and
riding A i horses, it would be a matter of comment if Guy Gilbey
was not in it in all the best brushes across countrv with the Essex

214

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

or Puckeridge Hounds. He has a great partiality for railway
fences, and is a great authority on the difference between
Essex and Warwickshire brooks, having sampled a good many
of both, and on one occasion, in addition to losing four or five
sovereigns, had a narrow squeak of being drowned in one of the
latter when staying with Lord Willoughby de Broke, the
Master of the Warwickshire Hounds. All regretted the serious
accident which kept so good a sportsman out of the saddle in
the season 1898-9.

"^^^"'^"^

Arthur Waters

Arthur Waters is a very keen rider, and has had longer
hacks home than the majority of those who have followed
the Essex Hounds, for Saturday is generally his off day and
Saturday's meets are never very handy for the Southern
borders of our country. Mr. W'aters was Captain of the West
Essex Polo Club for a good many years and was a great
exponent of the galloping game.

MRS. WATERS.

215

Mrs. Waters is devoted to hunting and hockey — in fact,
to all out-door amusements : — cricket, tennis, bicycling, polo
evmkhanas : she can turn her hand to any of them and hold
her own with the best ; and her daughter, Miss Georgie
Waters, whose portrait will be found on page 122, is equally
good at all out-door sports.

Mrs. Waters

Saturday, February 19th. Mr. Quare's Harriers at Copped Hall.
Out: Mr. and Mrs. \\'ythes on foot; riding, R. B. Colvin and his wife,
A.J.Edwards. W. and A. Sewell, P. M. Evans, F. Avila, A. R. Steele and
Miss Steele, G. Buxton, Mrs. and Miss Waters, F. Ball, G. H. Lee, Mr.
Lobb. A medium day's sport, but much too dry and cold for scent,

Thursday, February 24th. The same pack at Beech Hill Park. Out :
Mrs. Frank Ball, Edwards, and his two sons (who had obtained a long day
off from Eton,) \\'. Sewell and two of his little girls, A. Sewell, Miss T. and
Miss M. Buxton, Mr. Pyne, G. H. Lee, A. Roddick, Mr. Doxat, W. H.

2l6

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Baddeley, G. Hart, Rev. A. F. Russell (on a chestnut of his own breeding
and making), Mrs. Radford, F. Avila, Mrs. and Miss Waters and E. Lobb.

There was little scent, but hounds worked out a slow hunting run,
during which young Pyne (what his initials are I don't know) had the
bad luck, in taking a bank behind Mr. Russell, to come down and so damage
his shoulder that at the next fence into the road it came out. Mr. Hart
jumped into wire without damage.

Losing our first hare, we had a short, sharp and straight spin with
another from Edwards' place over the Waltham road, losing her below
Galley Hills.

Arthur J. Edwards on "Cheeky"

A horse Mr. Edwards was riding in 1898 with the Essex
Hounds, and as Mr. Edwards commenced hunting- with
them in 1871-72, he may fairly lay claim, in spite of his
very youthful appearance, to being one of their oldest fol-
lowers. Mr. Edwards has always taken a very keen interest
in all that pertains to the welfare of the Essex Hunt, and for
many years organised in a most successful manner the Hunt
Races at Rundells, near Harlow. Perhaps the best hunter

BARONESS

217

Mr. Edwards ever rode was " Baroness,'' whose portrait is here
given. Purchased in 1878 from the man who bred her (Mr.
Winder, a well-known Essex farmer and devotee of hunting,
living at Thunderley Hall, Radwinter), she carried Mr.
Edwards no less than eleven seasons, and finally bred him a
colt which, under the name of " Mistletoe Bough," he rode for
three seasons and sold to Mr. Percy Whitaker, Master of the
Oakley Hounds.

Baroness "

Guy Edwards and his brother Noel, both take after
their father in their love of fox-hunting, though, if I may be
permitted to say so, the younger one is a bit the keener ; he
hasn't, however, so far to fall, and does not mind taking a toss
as lonor as he lands the rio-ht side of a fence. He left a
good many the wrong side of one in a run from Shalesmore
in January, 1898, when he jumped some stiff rails on his
clever pony. The grey which carries the elder brother so
well is a very well-known performer in Essex, for she carried
Major Maryon Wilson in the first flight for several seasons,
and though I have seen the Major turn a complete somer-
sault with the grey over a double in the Dagenham country,
I never saw the grey turn her head from a fence, or the
Major either.

2l8

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Guy Edwards on "Nellie Grey"

Arthur Noel Edwards on "Bob'

GARNISH

219

Saturday, February 26th. At \\'aples Mill. Started late and caught
hounds just as they were being thrown into Screens. A large Saturday
field out, many faces unknown to me, but I spoke to the following people
during the day : Tresham Gilbey, Miss Gold, P. Gold and his wife, Capt.
and ^Irs. Bruce, A. J. Edwards, P, M, Evans, Young, Marriage (two),
David Christy (two), Ford Barclay, Mr. and Mrs. Grossman, E. and F.
Ball, Mrs. and jNIiss \\'aters, Capt. Kortwright, riding his little blood
chestnut mare (he was going to be married in June and sailing for India in
July) ; C. E. Ridley, W. Ridley, A. Bowlby, Tyndale White, John White,
E. Pelly, Edmund Charrington, Rev. Maryon Wilson, C. E. Green, Mrs.
Neill, H. E. Jones, ]\Iiss Jones, H. Sworder, F. Avila, W. S. Horner,
H. Horner, George Hart, Sheffield Neave, H. J. Price, Sir Evelyn Wood,
V.C., F. Green, Miss M. Green, Mrs. Weston Crocker, L. Pelly, A. J.
Tweed and H. R. Tweed, Capt. Cairns, Young, Green (Pongo), Lobb,
Carr, and Newman Gilbey.

Screens blank, also Berners Wood, Garnish, Lords and Leaden, it was
nearly 4 p.m. when we arrived at Wilson Springs, where we had the mis-
fortune to chop a fox to the bitter disappointment of everyone. We then
dragged on to Canfield Mount, Canfield Hart, and Canfield Thrift with
similar results. In Poplars, however, there was a welcome note directly
hounds were thrown in, and a ringing brute he appeared to be at first, but
eventually he took a good line by Wilson Springs, past Canfield IMount to
Garnetts.

The ground was so dry that not only did the dust fly up in clouds as
horses galloped across the ploughed fields, but it even flew up as hounds ran ;
and, curiously enough, scent was much better on] the plough than the
grass.

220

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Another curious thing. At High Roothing Street C. E. Green actually
left hounds before the run was over.

A Gallop at Last. — The meet, " Birch Hall ; " the date, Monday,
February 28th. A good muster, mounted and on wheels, including many
ladies, viz., Mrs. Gerald Buxton, Misses M. and T. Buxton, Mrs. H. J.
Price, Mrs. Mcintosh, Mrs. Radford, Miss Jones, Miss Barnes, Miss
Morgan, Mrs. Bennett, Mrs. and Miss Waters, Miss Fane, Mrs. Neill,
Mrs. Grossman, Miss M. Green, Mrs. Barron, Mrs. F. Ball, Miss Savill,
Major Ricardo, Tyndale White, John White, C. E. Green, F. Green, Syd-
ney Green, ^'^ Loftus Arkwright, J. Todhunter, F. Avila, H. Sworder, A. J.
Edwards, F. Basham, R. C. Lyall, D. Grossman, Gapt. Bruce, Ford Bar-
clay, G. H. Lee, A. Roddick, Sir Evelyn Wood, V.G., G. Buxton, Victor
Buxton, R. Barron, E. Gockett, R. Bevan, W. M. Galloway, Col. Fane,

'^T'^v^g^^^^*^'

.^.v-r

4.

Wilson Springs

D. Gunliffe Smith, R. Cunliffe Smith. R. Waltham, A. Flint, H. J. Price,
and others.

Hacked on to the meet with Douglas Grossman, who was riding my
horse " Liscarton," having screwed up most of his own. Trotted straight
off to the late Mr. Mills' stick heap— blank ; ditto, Barber's ; ditto, the Hill
Hall— Sir Charles Smith's coverts; not even a whimper in Beachetts.
Georgie Waters, however, put up a fox in Gaynes Park, but beyond running
him the length of Ongar Park Woods w^e could do nothing.

Drew the rest of the Gaynes Park preserves, not expecting to find again,
Bailey remarking, as we reached Rough Talleys, that if we did find, hounds
would not run, as there was no scent. Taking it rather too easy in con-
sequence, I suddenly awoke to the fact that something was up, and none too

He volunteered and went to the front in 1900. — Ed.

A SPLITTER FROM ROUGH TALLEYS

2 2 1

soon either for hounds were away to Weald Coppice, and the van, including
Grossman we e over the road, and the van had secured the opening of the
railway -atls though it cost ^Ir. Grossman his smallest coin, as.

Is we cTe'a ed Rough Talleys, craners were riding do^^-n the first fence
scann'nl it and after bSng nearly knocked over by one of them, '; Berserker
Smped'^i sideways most^ easily. On over the stubble at racing pace we

Sydney V. Green

laggards rode to catch the hounds, a gate into the North W eald road, a gate
outtbut the pace too good for either the leaders thought, the fence mo the
road bringing ^^Ir. Gerald Buxton (who was riding a horse of Mr iUhng s)
down a rare crumpler and flattening his sandwich case out of all shape.

Hounds were two fields ahead, but swinging to the left for \\ eald Cop-
pice, and we were abreast of them before they entered it ; a cry ot music, a
momentary linger beyond Mr. Bosley's, and they were away again at a
splitting pace for Rundells. Mrs. F. Ball was sending her bay along ov^er
the bea^as as we converged together for the fence at the bottom (those who

222

LEAVES P^ROM A HUNTING DIARY

had gone with the huntsman round the covert and those who had gone
through the yard of Weald Hall).

Miss M. Buxton, Capt. Bruce, Ford Barclay, Arkwright and a few more,
were first, and half-a-dozen of them fumbling at a gate at the next fence,
ditch with rails beyond, which the welter-weight smashed, and the d— 1 take
the hindmost, was the cry, as the bitch pack tore along without a check,
until they reached the back of Horse Shoe Farm, where our friend had been
headed. Here he ran the meadows as far as the Cross Keys — Mr. Baker
opening his gate to let the excited throng through. Crossing the Thorn-
wood road, hounds were at it again, with a burning scent across Rickett's

Miss C. Pelly on "Bishop"

big field ; leaving it at the furthest corner, hounds piped along field after
field, till they threw up at the barrel drain at Maries Wood— a ripping
burst. Tyndale White voted the Colonel's '= horse a mile too slow. Miss
Barnes had the misfortune to have her horse drop dead in the middle of the
run, and Mr. Galloway, staying to assist, lost the good place he had main-
tained. Mrs. Crossman, on her pony, was at the tail of the hounds all the
way, and laying close up came Ford Barclay, D. Crossman, Miss M. Bux-
ton, Capt. Bruce, Mr. R. Waltham, and the welter-weight, Mr. Fitch, of
Romford.

* Colonel Lockwood's roan horse.

TWO FAVOURITE HUNTERS 223

Miss Christabel Pelly on " Bishop," I expect almost looks
upon this game little bay cob standing- 14.3 as her own, for she
rides it almost as frequently as her mother, Mrs. L. Pelly, of
Bowes. "Bishop" is a great favourite of Mrs. Felly's, having
carried her and her daughter for three or four seasons without
a fall, and I may add, has carried them very straight over our
intricate countrv.

Mrs. R. Parkes on "Gay Boy'

Mrs. Parkes never regretted her judgment in purchasing
" Gay Boy," a grey gelding 14.3, in 1892. A good hack,
capital harness cob, and a pleasant mount with hounds, he
carried her well for four seasons, and became a great favourite.
Alas, that, in the words of Whyte Melville, Mrs. Parkes should
have to write : —

" Now for all my love and care, I've an empty stall and bare ;
I shall never ride my gallant horse again."

224

LEAVES EROM A HUNTING DIARY

Lord Rookwood presided over the annual meeting, which was held at the
Green Man, Harlow, on March 9th, 1898, at which the following members
of the Hunt were present : Rev. L. Capel-Cure, R. B. Colvin, Capt. Bruce,
Messrs. C. E. and F. Green, Loftus Arkwriglit, G. Buxton, Ford Barclay,
Newman Gilbey, Howard Fowler, F. Ball, H. E. Jones, C. E. Ridley,
G. Dawson, Tyndale White, T. H. Harrison, R. C. Lyall, H. Sworder,
E. Charrington, H. J. Price, Chaffey Collin, E. Pelly, F. Loyd, R. D. Hill,
J. SAvire, George Hart ; Col. Lockwood and Mr. A. J. Edwards being con-
spicuous by their absence. Before leaving the place of meeting Mr.

Arthur Salvin Bowlby on "Piccadilly"

Arthur Bowlby managed to secure several excellent photographs, one of
which is here reproduced. Of the sport that followed little comment is
required. Under the influence of a wind which had been blowing steadily
from the east for several days the ground, had become dry and hard. Con-
trary to precedent, the Osiers and the Moor Hall coverts were first drawn,
and then taking Barnsleys, Harlow, Latton Park and Parndon Woods, we
were not rewarded with a find until we gained the Galley Hill coverts, a
very sure find with the Squire of Monkhams in residence. Finding at once,
the fox broke the Monkam side ; a quick turn back and we were away on fair
terms for Deer Park, and our fox had cleared Nasing Coppice for Parndon

Ji r- "»

in o

= Q2

0Q(O

n

o

o

15

vor.. II.

226

LEAVES FROM A HUNTINC DIARY

Woods before he was headed. Turning back to Deer Park, the huntsman
had some difficulty with the indifferent scent, working out a Hue to Warhes.
En route over a trivial ditch near Deer Park, Captain Bruce's chestnut
horse " Roy " came down, and with the rider hung up and the horse
trampling about him, it was a marvel how the Captain escaped so lightly.

Very few, except C. E. Green, D. Crossman, J. Green, R. Hill, N.
Gilbey, F. Basham, stayed to the end to see Pinnacles and Parndon Hall
coverts drawn blank.

Rev. Austin Oliver

Rev. Austin Oliver, like the immortal Jack Russell, is as
good in the pigskin as the wood, and like the Devonian, would
have been equally unhappy had his lines not been cast where
hunting obtained. Though he now lives in Hertfordshire, he
gets a taste of the royal sport that he enjoyed for so many
years in Essex when his father was Rector of Latton. Essex-
men would welcome him back in their midst.

Wednesday, March i6th. Hatfield Heath, 12 o'clock. At the meet,
amongst others, the Master, Mr. Arkwright, Mrs. Arkwright, Arthur
Bowlby, Miss E. Bowlby, Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Gold (just back from their

ENDON OLIVER AND HIS FAVOURITE HUNTER "BOB

■izj

honeymoon), Tresham and Guy Gilbey, H. Blyth, Philip Gold, A. R.
Steele and his son. Rev. L. Scott, G. Dawson, Weston Crocker, Edmund
Charrington, ]\Iiss Docwra, Newman Gilbey, R. Y. Bevan, Capt. and Mrs.
Bruce, L). Grossman, A. J. Edwards, G. H. Lee, E. Pelly, Mrs. and Miss
Waters, \\\ Baddeley, Ford Barclay, John White, G. A\'illis, S. Fitch,
Miss M., Miss T. and Miss C. Buxton, R. C. Lyall, F. Basham, G. Harris,
V.S., Mr. and Mrs. F. Ball, Miss Barnes, E. Quare, Miss Quare, A. Sewell,
Jim Cockayne (the Puckeridge huntsman). Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C., Shef-
field Neave, Ralph Bury, Mrs. Neill and others.

We found in the Bassingbourne coverts, the Hatfield end, and had a
very pretty burst indeed, 15 minutes up wind to Stansted, right up to the
station, and came back past some ancient encampments, and making a big
circle reached Bassingbourne again in 55 minutes. Everyone very keen,
the country hardly open enough or the pace hot enough to shake the
ruck off.

Endon Oliver and his favourite hunter " Bob "

Endon Oliver, taken with his favourite hunter " Bob."
Alas, that he has joined the majority. No kinder-hearted fellow
ever got on a horse in Essex. With his sister, Mrs. Frank
Ball, and his brother Austin, whose portraits are given on
pages 195 and 226, he was brought up in an atmosphere of
hunting, and the tastes that he so early imbibed clung to him
until his health gave way. He is one of the many we look
forward to meeting again in the fields Elysian.

228

LEAVES I'ROM A HUNTING DIARY

The Point-to-Point Races came off on Saturday, March igth, at Stondon.
According to all accounts (I was not present myself), it was about the stiffest
course that had ever been chosen for a point-to-point race in Essex. This
may probably be partly accounted for by the fact that fences in the Stondon
country are more generally crept than flown over, when suitable places in
them can be more readily found ; but in a race they have to be taken pretty
well where you come at them with little time for pulling up at them. Again,
it was so foggy that the chance of picking out a good place in a fence
was further diminished, with the result that the winner in the light-weight
race (in which there were eighteen starters) flew four strands of wire with
the ditch on the take-oft' side. Mr. Seymour Caldwell was the bold indi-
vidual who took this line, and he won very easily on Mrs. Grossman's
" Ruth," Mr. Sheffield Neave coming in second. There were any number
of falls.

William Dalton on the "Clown"

The Welter Race, in which twelve started, was won by Mr. W. Dalton
on his grey horse, " The Clown," Mr. Dalton scored by being able to pull
up the quickest when they came to the wire and pop through a gap made
in it by the light weights in the previous race, Mr. Blyth was leading
up to that point. Mr. Crossman came in a good second on his bay. The
Farmers' Race was won by Captain Bruce on " Dairymaid." There was a
lot of grief in tliis race, for the competitors seemed to have picked out the

THE POiNT-TO-POlNT RACES At STONDON, 1 898 229

worst places in the brook. One horse landed with his head against the
further bank and slipped back into a ravine, into which a good-sized dining
room could have been comfortably stowed away.

Mr. Arkwright, who was riding last year's winner "Catapult," came
down and received a nasty cut on the face from his mare's foot. Mr. H.
R. Tweed and Mr. Guy Gilbey were amongst the victims.

Mr. Dalton is as smart across country as he is in his get-up,
and, Hke Whyte Melville's dandy, he is all there when leaving
covert. However big, black and strong a fence faces him,
Mr. Dalton possesses a heart big enough and a horse good
enough to tackle it, and he is always one of the pioneers in
the Hunt point-to-point races. In 1898 at Stondon, over the
stiffest point-to-point course ever selected in Essex since the
inauguration of these races, he came in an easy winner on
" The Clown " in the red coat Welter Race, Mr. D. Grossman
being second.

To Finish the Season.

Writtle Park, 12 o'clock Monday, March 21st, i8g8. Writtle Park had
been taken this year by Mr. A. O. Barnes, and it was by his kind invita-
tion that a lawn meet was held on this occasion. The day was quite
appropriate for a function of that description ; the sun shining brightly
out of a sky flecked over by a few white fleecy clouds. No one seemed
in a hurry to move off, and Spalding, of Chelmsford, had plenty of time to
secure some groups of those who had mustered to witness the fall of the
curtain for the season 1897-8.

Everyone who cared to dismount received a hearty welcome, the
Misses Barnes dispensing refreshments with grace and hospitality. Mr.
Tyndale White attired in mufti stood with his back to the fire surrounded
by a group of equally loquacious sportsmen ; and Mr. Sands, Mr. Caldwell,
General Wood, V.C, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Price, Mr. and Mrs. E.
Sheppard, Mr. F. and Miss M. Green, were amongst those whom we
noticed seizing the passing moment.

We drew up to Hylands without, I think, the slightest expectation of
finding a fox ; in fact, the owner of Hylands, Mr. Arthur Pryor (who, by-
the-bye, is 84 years of age) was so hopeless of our finding he told Edwards,
who went in to see him, that the sooner Bailey took his hounds away
from the garden policies the better it would be for our chances of
sport, for his (Mr. Pryor's) terriers hunted it every other day and always
found. What they found he did not describe ; what we found is readily
disclosed — " a blank." But the day was too sunny and too many hours
of it yet to run, for this futile draw to cause us much disappointment,
though we were quite ready for work, but not for a bad start, when hounds
took to the open from the Writtle end of the High Woods and threw up
the sponge at Lady Grove, Mr. Edwards coming to grief en youtc, and
much to his chagrin, in full sight of a would-be purchaser (Mr. Drummy
Smith) of his hog-maned bay.

" No luck " muttered the huntsman, as the cast came to nothing, and we
retraced our steps to the High Woods. With a good fox in front of us we
left Colonel Disney's wood and ran nicely to Margaretting, the railway
spoiling what might otherwise have been a good run, as Bailey made a
line out as far as Stock. Home by Parson's Springs, Horsefrith Park

2^0

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

and Forest Hall brought a long, and if you were riding a pulling horse
like " The Beau," a very tiring day to a close.

In addition to the names already mentioned I noticed the following : —
Mr. James Christy, Mr. David Christy, jun., Mr. Avila, Mr. H. Sworder,
Mr. R. Tilling, Mr. S. Fitch, Mrs. and Miss Waters, Mr. A. J. Tweed,
Mr. Harrison, Mr. and Mrs. Barron, Mr. John White, L. Marriage, jun.,
Mr. George Hart, Mr. and Miss Q^^ai'S' Mr. L. Pelly, Mr. R. Bury,
Misses E. and M. Morgan, Eustace Savill, Miss Fane, Mr. C. Green,
Mr. R. Y. Bevan, Mr. T. Kemble (who has seen 83 summers), Rev. L.
Capel-Cure and his son, ]\Ir. A. H. Giles, Major and Mrs. Ricardo,
Captain Cairns, Mr. Sheffield Neave, Miss Docwra, Mr. E. Charrington,
Mr. E. Helme (the future Master of the Essex Union), Mr. T. Howard,
and Goddard (huntsman to the Essex Union, and leaving the country at
the end of the season).

^^u/zy'r6-i^<jt_ /3F9.

Langleys

Writtle was not the last day, after all, for a card came on Tuesday,
saying hounds meet Swallows Cross, Thursday, March 24th, at 12. I
very nearly went, had my boots on ready to do so, when down came a
regular blizzard of snow, which effectually damped my ardour.

At the annual meeting of the Essex Stag Hounds, which was held in
February, Captain Cairns was elected Hon. Secretary, in place of Mr.
T. H. Harrison, who had resigned the post which he had held with such
conspicuous success for so many years.

At this meeting the question Avas raised, should deer be killed in the field,
attention having been drawn to the fact that several deer had been killed in
the past season. One subscriber said that it had caused ill feeling, and
though it might be only sentiment, still sentiment had to be considered

KILLING DEER IX THE P^IELD 23 1

now-a-days. Mr. Sheffield Neave, in reply, said he did not suppose that the
people who objected to deer being killed had any distaste for a leg of mutton,
and yet the deer were killed in just as humane a manner as sheep. He
considered that the hounds must be blooded occasionally, and if the deer
were killed in as humane a way as it would be killed in the yard, and the
entrails given to the hounds, it would do a great deal of good to hunting.
That was his opinion, and so long as he was blaster he intended to
carry it out. This morbid idea of some people about hunting was too
ridiculous.

Mr. Tyndale White, who was presiding at the meeting, thought it only
right to tell Mr. Neave that there was a strong feeling in the Hunt about
this killing of deer, and he hoped that Mr. Neave would defer to that feeling,
or at least undertake not to kill more than one deer a day. Mr. Neave
laughingly acceded to that request.

In a neighbouring Hunt, the Essex Union, at the annual meeting,
which was held at the Red Lion Hotel, Billericay, under the presidency
of Mr. T. H. Horton, a change of Mastership was arranged. Col. Hornby
having resigned, Mr. E. T, Helme was elected by the unanimous wish of
all the supporters of the Essex Union.

In bringing to a conclusion my notes on the season of 1897-98, it may
be fairly stated that Essex was by no means isolated in having to number
this season as one of the uvvst on record, and that, too, in spite of its not being
broken by frost.

The dry weather at the early part of the season, causing a postponement
of the opening meet, and the dry weather at the end of it, together with
absence of scent and a great scarcity of foxes in some parts of the country,
made, with the loss of Bailey's services up to Christmas, a combination of
unfavourable circumstances which it would have been very difficult for
any pack of hounds to successfully grapple with.

Arthur B. Giles's "Moonstone"

CHAPTER VIII.

B. Giles's ^'Moonstone" — Cubbing in 1898 — A fast thing with Mr. Qnave's
Havvievs — An Indian Snmmcv — Moreton — Witney Wood — A land of win —
The Aniateuvs kill their Fox — Presence of Mind — A Perilous Position — The
Parndon flyers — Seiifell's '^ Holloa" — Will Hurrell — Life and Death — High
Roothing Street — Olives — The Ash trees on the Sky Line — Bach to the Thrift —
Blue Gates — 18 miles from home — Rev. G. Maryon Wilson and Miss Maryon
Wilson — Hunt Breakfasts— The Wood below Boiver Wood — A Stern Chase —
Left behind— The Happy Four — Norwood — Running for Brick- Kilns — Taking
a Header — Boxing Day, i8g8 — Thoby Wood and Priory — Mr. Baddeley's
"Magic" — Mr. P. M. Evans's ''Katie" — Toujours Pret — Broken Backs
— Barbers — The South Wilts — Good Easter — Myless Lodge — Jack Turner
hunts the hounds — Dorsetshire doubles.

SEASON 1898-99. Being away in Scotland the whole of October, I can
give no details of the cubbing season ; but I learnt, when I made my
first appearance with hounds when they met at Coopersale, on Friday,
November 4th, that I had missed very little sport, but with plenty of foxes
in most parts of the country, that prospects of sport were very rosy.

A day in the woods in the cubbing season will always attract a large
field, so that what was a small number at g o'clock had swollen to a large
band an hour later, and included some of the most constant followers of
the E. H.

Mr. C. E. Green, Mrs. Waters, Mrs. Bennett and her two pretty little
girls in pink jackets, Mr. R. Y. Bevan, Mr. E. A. Ball, Miss Jones, Miss
G. Waters, Mr. and Mrs. D. Grossman, Miss D. Prance, Mrs. W. Sewell
and Miss D. Sewell, Mr. Ford Barclay, Mr. W. Cook, Mr. Tyndale White,

A FASt THING WITH MR. QUARE S HARRIERS :^33

Mr. H. Sworder, Mr. S. Fitch, Mr. F. Avila, Mr. G. Buxton, Miss T. and
Miss M. Buxton, Mr. Cockett, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Price, Mr. H. J. Miller,
Jack Miller, Mrs. Barron, Miss Savill, 'Sir. C. Savill, Miss Morgan and
others.

It was quite a cubbing morning, quite a day for conditioning a horse, for
foxes were fairly numerous, and scent was at a discount.

Did not hunt again before Wednesday, November i6th, which broke
very foggy ; in fact, looked too foggy for hunting. However, the sight of
some people hacking on and others driving to the meet at Nasing Common,
warned us (my friend, Rev. G. Ward Saunders, was staying with me) that
there was no time to be lost if we wished to see anything of the fun.
Dressing hastily we hacked by the Epping Bury fields and Harold's Park
straight for Galley Hills on the chance of nicking in. Saunders was riding
a cob which had carried Mr. Patchett the previous season ; I was on " Ber-
serker." Near Orange Wood we passed a large shooting party from Copped
Hall, and reached Galley Hills just as hounds were thrown in. Plunging
into the wood with the huntsman, the Master, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. and
Mrs. D. Crossman, and Ford Barclay, we were rewarded by seeing hounds
find at once. Making a bit of a circle in these woods, the fox broke the Deer
park end and ran straight through that covert and on to the Coppice, which
we reached in a fair state of lather, for it was a close muggy morning.
Breaking back again he ran straight back to Galley Hills, did another circle
in those woods, and came back by Deer Park, some leading hounds slipping
away after their fox nearly up to Copped Hall where they wefe stopped, the
coverts being closed to us owing to the shooting party.

We finished the day by drawing Tattle Bushes blank, not before,
however, the cob had put his foot through his Reverence's best hat.
Willie Sewell turned up at the end of the day on his new chestnut. There
were a good many people out. I noted the following in addition to names
already mentioned : Mr. and Mrs. Bowlby, Mr. R. Y. Bevan, Mr. C. E.
Green, Mr. G. H. Lee, Mr. and Miss Peel, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Price,
Mr., Mrs. and Miss Waters, Miss Tait, Messrs. F. Ball, W. Crocker, F.
Green, S. Green, H. Sworder, F. Avila, R. S. Tilling, S. Fitch and
E. Hill.

The foggy morning gave place to a bright sunny afternoon, (|uite
typical of the Indian summer through which we were passing.

Our next venture was with the Harriers on Saturday, when Mr. Quare
came to Coopersale Hall, and we had a very large muster, quite fifteen ladies,
including Miss Quare, Mrs. F. Ball, Miss Tait, Misses D. and M. Sewell,
Mrs. Bennett and her sister, Mrs. Clark, Mrs. Brook-Alder, INIiss Savill, Miss
M. Buxton, Rev. G. Ward Saunders on "Old Cockie;" Mr. M. Tosetti,
Mr. G. Dawson, young Jack Miller, riding my roan mare ; Mr. Gerald
Buxton, Mr. Doxat, Mr. Bestall, Mr. G. H. Lee, Mr. H. W. Lee, I\Ir.
Horner, Mr. F. Avila, Messrs. W. and A. Sewell, Mr. Brook- Alder, A. R.
Steele. Found a brace of hares on Mr. H. J. IVIiller's land, much to
Henry John's satisfaction. H. J. was on foot, with INIr. Fhnt and several
others, and in at the death when we killed in covert. Subsequently found
another hare near Theydon Garnon Rectory, which ran towards Brook
House, and was killed after going very straight for four or five fields over
some good fences.

In less than ten minutes we found another hare, which gave us a real
good run. Jumping up opposite Brook House, she soon struck the road and
held it past James Smith's, Hobbs Cross, and then turned right-handed over
his big fields, and led us a merry dance past Barber's and away over the
meadows at racing pace to Jordan's Farm, where hounds checked. How-

234

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

ever, three or four couple hit it off over the road, and Mr. Quare laying on
the body of the pack, they raced away towards Coopersale Church, crossing
part of Gaynes Park and taking us over an intricate country over Ted Smith's
Farm, up to the Forest. Mr. Doxat, who had been doing most of the pilot-
ing, got down here. Young Jack Miller was well up on the roan, in spite
of our having come over a very blind bit of country.

Wednesday, November 23rd. Moreton. The previous day had been
bitterly cold, and after a sharp wind frost the day broke in a storm of wind
and rain, and in the cold sleet we drove to the meet. We had an unusual
draw for INIoreton. Taking the Bye road to Forest Hall, we found in
Witney Wood, but soon lost owing to lack of scent. The half-a-dozen
fences we Avere called upon to jump were nearlv all wired.

t^^^-^

M,r

.!fl<^TfeV^^'' /j/MV'^'C.

A Meet at Moreton

In Spain's Wood, Willingale, we had a brace in front of us, but here
again scent was at a discount, and we could do little. En route to Screens,
a fox was chopped in a ditch. In Garnish hounds got away with a fox to
Lord's, and came back very fast by Garnish to Waples Mill. In Garnish
Bailey got hung up, and I had to catch his clever horse, as he sent him
over in front of him into the road. Lost our fox near Waples Mill ; hacked
back with Saunders and E. Ball.

In the early part of the day F. Green introduced me to Capt. Tod, who
had just taken up his residence at Whitehall, Chigwell. Among others out
with whom I exchanged greetings I may note : — The Master, Mr. Arkwright,
Tyndale White and his son John, who was out for the first time since the
accident to his ribs ; young Marriage, Howard, Avila, T. Hull, R. Tilling,
S. Fitch, H. E. Jones, Miss Jones, Miss Morgan and her niece, Mrs.
Waters, Swire and his wife, E. Ridley, C. Willett, Sheffield Neave, R. Y.
Bevan, Rev. L. Capel-Cure, Miss Capel-Cure and two of her brothers,
E. Cockett, P. Evans, G. Dawson, F. Basham, George Brown, Newman

THE AMATEURS KILL THEIR FOX 235

Gilbey, H. J. Price, Mrs. Price, C. E. Green, A. R. Steele, Miss Steele,
A. Giles, Capt. Tufnell, J. Gingell.

On Saturday, November 26th, hounds met at Harlow. Barnsleys, the
first covert into which they were thrown, although only a stone's throw
from the kennels, held a fox, as surely as the Master held an eager field from
galloping up the middle ride ere hounds had had time to clear the covert.
What a screaming scent there was as the bitches lashed forward for Harlow
Park ! Well might Georgie Dawson shake his grey cob out and gallop for
all he was worth, and the pink-clad one whisk over the chained gate ere
they struck the Common. But the skill of huntsman could not prevent the
pack dividing as they rattled their hunted fox round the covert, and roused
several other members of his marauding race. Six-and-a-half couple of
hounds going away after one of them over a fascinating line of country,
with just eight followers in pursuit ; the rest of us sticking to the huntsman
and the majority of the pack as they drove their fox out of Harlow Park,
and eventually raced him over the open to Parndon Woods, and without
dwelling there came away and struck Nasing Common, near the Lodge
Farm.

The Common rode well, but most of us made for the headland under the
boundary hedge, and with hounds smeusing through the fences parallel to
us on the left, we could just hold them to Nasing Coppice in spite of the
piping scent. A look towards IMr. NichoU's Farm, an ex-master standing
in the gateway ; Mr. Harry Sworder on the grey having a look at a broad
ditch ; the huntsman saying it would do if you put the pace on, and getting
over all right, but with no room to spare ; one after another following the
example of Mr. Newman Gilbey's horse as he obstinately whipped round at
some subsequent rails with a slippery take-off, and a field well tailed out ere
Deer Park was reached, are visions that rise before me as I pen these notes.
The huntsman's and !Mr. Avila's corner was the best after all. Round or
through Deer Park at the gallop — which you liked — we met at the narrow
bridle gate. Into the green lane running from Galley Hills, and entered the
wood to cry of hound, but not before one lady* was rescued from a perilous
position which, thanks to her perfect nerve and presence of mind, was not a
difficult matter. With more pace the thoroughbred black would never have
hung in the binder ; without cool self-possession on the part of horse, rider and
rescuer, the inevitable and bad fall must have taken place. "Twas well and
gracefully done, sir, as with strong arm you drew the imperilled one on to
terra Jirma. And then with a fox, possibly a fresh one, away for the Copped
Hall country, too far ahead of hounds to permit of their pressing him, we
eat our sandwiches in peace in Spratt's Hedgerow.

Yes, Mr. Bromskill was right when he said horses had had a good day's
work ere Parndon Woods were reached at something after three, for the
going was deep and the air oppressive and heavy from the dank mist that
clung to and saturated every hunting coat and skirt. x\ second horse was
a boon — nay, a necessity — on such a day. Parndon Woods always have
been, and methinks always will be, one of my favourite coverts while Mr.
Todhunter and Mr. James Green hold sway over them. Six times out of
seven you'll find there, and the foxes are real wild flyers, and none of your
hand-reared cubs ; and perhaps the glorious uncertainty of getting away on
terms with hounds when they leave these big woodlands gives an added
zest and charm to any run when your lucky star is in the ascendant and all
goes well.

* Mrs. Grossman.

236 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Hounds were close at their fox that gave us the evening gallop, as they
roused him at the Nasing side of the woods, and drove him out with
merry music from the middle covert, but not unviewed. " That's Mr.
Sewell's holloa," said the huntsman, as he shot past me by the woodside,
and he was right, but the chattering music of the ladies was clue enough
to ride to as they drove their fox from the top to the bottom of the covert.
Only those who sent their horses along at best pace, and they included
Mr. F. Green and his daughter, Mr. C. E. Green, Jack and the huntsman,
cleared the woods as the hounds streaked across the open and through the
little spinney beyond the muddy lane — into which Mr. Peel on his roan
seemed to have dropped from the clouds just in the nick of time, making
for Passmores.

Hounds fanned along at a rare pace right across the middle of the
fields, Mr. Peel leading. Two fields behind, in hot pursuit, came the
Master, Mr. Newman Gilbey, Mr. Steele and his son and daughter, the
present tenant of Little Laver Hall, and Mr. Ford Barclay. From Pass-
mores, across some heavy ploughs, hounds ran faster than ever. Crossing
the brook below Netterswell Bury they swung to the right, and only the
lightweights and fast horses could live with them. The pace was too
much for Jenkins, but there was time to pull out the watch as Mr. Peel
jumped into the road some half-mile below Netteswell Bury, with the
leading hounds and the pack checked for an instant, as the fox had run
the road, but hardly light enough to see the face of a watch for the steam
that came from the heaving flanks of the best-conditioned horse. Fifteen
minutes from the find was good enough to this point, and not many more
faces to note either who had taken advantage of this slight breather and
got to hounds. Mr. and Mrs. Grossman were in the road, I know, and
Mr. Galloway and Mr. Sydney Green and Mr. Todhunter, but I cannot
add another name from memory, though I believe there were one or two
others. Getting on the grass again, fences came thick and numerous, and
hounds got away from everyone except Mr. C. E. Green. Running close
to Bays Grove they swung to the right, and ran vevy fast up to Latton,
without entering it, and back over Rye Hill Common, and on over the
grass to Epping Long Green, finally reaching the big woods forty minutes
from the find, the shades of night saving the fox.

On such a scenting day it was rather hard that the huntsman proper
did not handle a fox when the eight amateurs did so well who followed
the six-and-half couple of hounds that got away with the fox already
alluded to from Harlow Park in the morning. Let us see who they were.
The secretary''^ of the Puckeridge Hunt — he had a lot of blood on the
knees of his white breeches when he rejoined us, so methinks that he
must have been the carver in chief when the carcase was cut up and
divided. One lady, the Master's daughter ; of course the brush hung at
her saddle bow. A thrusting welter from the Roothing country claimed
the mask, and no one dare gainsay him. Mr. Ford Barclay waved aloft in
triumph a pad ; Mr. B. E. Todhunter, Mr. Newman Gilbey, and Mr.
Gosling probably secured similar trophies. What the others divided has
yet to be learnt. The kill took place at Thornwood Common ; the run
was over the cream of the grass country ; time, 25 minutes ; and only those
who like sour grapes could affirm that the old women who lived in the
cottages near the scene of the obsequies of this bold Harlow Park fox
were of any assistance to hounds or huntsmen.

Alas ! that I should have to record a sad, very sad event which

Mr. Tresham Gilbey.

LIFE AND DEATH

^61

occurred to-day. 'Tis true, 'tis pity, and pity 'tis 'tis true that, while
we were enjoying ourselves in this fashion, a scene very different was being
enacted over the Border, and a day that began in joy and gladness
ended in black sorrow. For young Bill Hurrell, son of the late Mr.
Vigne's famous huntsman, and first whipper-in to the Puckeridge Hunt,
lay dead in the Quinn brook, with no witness of the sad end other than one
hound who watched faithfully by him and growled fiercely at the first
intruder on the sad scene. Stunned from a fall towards the end of a very
stirring run, young Will met a painless death ere any rescue could reacli
him, and while the brook ran whispering on with its sad story to the sea,
the heavy clouds and dank atmosphere shrouded as joyous a spirit and
warm-hearted a lad as ever cheered or rated hound. His loss will be deeply

High Roothing Street

felt far outside the circle of the Puckeridge Hunt ; for who is there —
Squire, Farmer, or Hedger — who knew young Bill and did not like and
have a good word for him. The hearts of all hunting men who knew
him or his aged father will beat in deep sympathy for the survivor and
the young wife that is left behind.

If a stranger wanted to sample the Roothings of Essex, and the ditches
that form such a marked feature of this fine plough country, he could
hardly select a better meet than the old-fashioned and picturesque village
of High Roothing Street ; for some of the most famous coverts in the
Roothing country are reached from this fixture, and some of the deepest
and blindest ditches in Essex must be crossed in a stirring gallop from
Garnett's or Dobb's Woods. No wonder then that men who never miss
a Saturday's hunt — come fine, come wet, come fog, or wind — look eagerly
forward to a meet in this fine, wild, sporting country.

238 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Sixteen miles to a meet is a fair distance, and it will take the edge off
a fresh horse, even a fiery chestnut from the Vale, Master George, but
you'll not grudge a long hack or long drive if the run comes off; and a
run coming off is a matter of scent nine times out of ten, and last Saturday's
experiences proved no exception to the rule. No one could affirm that a
fox hadn't a fair chance from Leaden at the first attempt ; no one asserts
that his egress from Lords was barred ; but the majority would admit that
there wasn't a yard of scent, and that the huntsman did the wisest thing —
getting back to Leaden and on to a fresh fox, but with almost the same
result if the varmint hadn't laid up in some roots for hounds to chop him
just when the coverts had been cleared and a fine open country lay mapped
out before an eager field.

I should like to know the name of that youth who took that roll between
Leaden and Lords, for 1 never saw a handsomer purl or a man come up
more smiling and ready for another header into a blind ditch.

That " a Roothing hunter is not made in five minutes " is an aphorism
worthy of "The Linkman."

Of course, there was a fox in Garnett's, but he preferred the security
of a big rabbit hole to taking his luck in the open.

Shortly after two the route was changed to Canfield Thrift, and there
hounds found at once. Breaking the Garnett's side they pottered and
dwelt for the first three fields, and most of their followers took it leisurely,
far too leisurely, filing after the Master as he led them over an awkward
corner to observe what was going on, for all at once hounds got a view,
and then for twenty minutes ensued such a scatter and squander as was
ne'er witnessed before. The blind fence running down to a small plantation
decided your fate. If you held to the right of that plantation you were
done, for hounds kept swinging away to the left, and running in view
nearly all the way to Olives, went at a terrific pace. Bad luck, Mr.
Galloway, to break a leather when you had secured a start. " A narrow
squeak that, Giles," said Mr. Newman Gilbey, as he shot up alongside
him after getting in and out of an early lane, over a very wide ditch ; and
hounds were tearing on in front, with the huntsman, Mr. Vickers, and Mr.
Seymour Caldwell close to them, and Mr. Price and Captain Tod very
handy.

To the right of Olives the fox could be seen on the sky-line near two
ash trees ; one more rasping fence, a good headland, a squeeze through a
gate, and some dozen, out of 150, were galloping downhill in the deep
furrowed field alongside hounds, and this little band got a pull at their
nags as hounds checked for a moment in the rough fence at the bottom
that runs up to the covert. But it was only a momentary respite ; just
time enough to squeeze through the fence as they took up the line again
and commenced the return journey at the same pace they had come out.
Bearing a bit to the right, at first towards the railway, they crossed a lane,
and then took a sudden swing to the left. A lucky turn for Mr. H. Blyth
on his grey, and he assumed a lead which no one could wrest from him
until he came a regular crumpler at an extra trappy one into a lane, and
the pace was too good to stop to inquire, thought Messrs. Grossman,
Caldwell, and Carr, as they took his place, and their fences at the gallop,
while hounds tore away towards the Thrift well tailed out by the pace.

Within a few fields of the Thrift hounds hung a bit, and Bailey got to
the front again, and our ranks closed up, and a young farmer shot to the
front on a four-year-old — the colt's first gallop in the Roothings — (a horse
worth buying, if I am not mistaken). A fresh fox, as Bailey made it good

REV. G. M. WILSON, AND MISS WILSON ON WHITE ROOTIIING 239

round the Thrift, ran ahnost into the hounds' jaws. Up and down the
ditch they dusted him, taking the gloss off his coat ere, close at his brush,
they raced him into the Thrift, to push him through and lose him some
fifteen minutes afterwards near ]-31ue Gates, leaving many of us an eighteen-
mile hack home, which, in pleasant company, on a sound horse and a mild
December evening, has a charm of its own, after a long day in the
Roothings.

Rev. G. Maryon Wilson, and Miss Wilson on White Roothing

This group will be readily recognised by all who hunt in
the Canfield country. Mr. Maryon Wilson, Rector of Great
Canfield, always looked well after Canfield Hart and Wilson
Springs during the lifetime of his brother, the late Sir Spencer
Maryon Wilson, who owned these world-famed fox preserves,
and never allowed the shooting privileges which he enjoyed to
interfere with the sport of kings. The Rev. Wilson, as the
huntsman Bailey always calls him, to distinguish him from his
neighbour, Mr. John Wilson, of New Hall, High Roding, who

240 LEAVES EROM A HUNTING DIARY

was an equally good friend to fox hunting, like most parsons, has
been and still is a very good man across country ; and where he
went his daughter could follow when mounted on the well-known
pony, " White Roothing." Originally the property of Mr. Bev^an
" White Roothing " was sold by him to Mr. Roffey, who passed
it on to his brother-in-law, the late Mr. J. W'almsley, who
sold it to Mr. Charles Green, during the latter's Mastership of
the Hounds, when it carried his second whip ; eventually the
pony passed into Mr. W'ilson's hands when Mr. Green's stud
was disposed of on his resignation of the Mastership of the E.H.

Among those out this day were : Mrs. Bowlby, Mr. and Mrs. Arkwright,
Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. R. Y. Bevan, Mr. Guy Gilbey (on wheels ; we all
hope that we shall soon see him in the saddle again), Mr. E. A. Ball, Mr.
Greviile Bevan, Mr. F. Barclay, Mr. and Mrs. Barron, Mr. H. W. Blyth,
Mr. R. Blyth, Miss Blyth, Mr. C. H. Carr, Mr. T. Christy, Mr. Weston
Crocker, Mr. D. Grossman, Rev. L. Capel-Cure, Miss Capel-Cure, Mr.
Capel-Cure, Mr. NeviU Dawson, Mr. P. M. Evans, Mr. Caton, Mr. Gallo-
way, Mr. Newman Gilbey, Mr. Tresham Gilbey, Miss Gilbey, Mr. and
Mrs. Gerald Gold, Mr. Giles, Miss A. Gold, Mr. Hollebone, Mr. T. R.
Hull, Mr. H. E. Jones, Mrs. Neill, Mr. E. Pelly, Mr. H. J. Price, Mr. C. E.
Ridley, Mr. Walter Ridley, Mr. H. Savill, Mr. G. Sewell, Mr. Steele, Miss
Steele, and Mr. Steele, junr., Mr. A. Waters, Rev. S. Maryon Wilson, Miss
Maryon Wilson, Capt. Tod, Mr. Willett. Mr. Vickers.

Mr. and ISIrs. Docwra gave a hunt breakfast at the Bower, Havering,
on Monday, December 5th. This and the prospect of good sport brought
together a bumper meet. At the conclusion of one of the best hunt
breakfasts ever offered to hunting men in Essex, Mr. C. E. Green, in the
absence of the Master, proposed Mr. Docwra's health, in a few felicitous
terms, a toast which was received with considerable enthusiasm by those
who had partaken of the excellent champagne repast. The guests in-
cluded : Colonel Lockwood, M.P., Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C, Mr. F. Green,
Miss M. Green, Mrs. Waters, Colonel and Mrs. Fane, Mrs. Wellesley
Pigott, Miss Jones, the Misses Morgan, Mrs. Grossman, Miss Chisenhale
Marsh, Mr. and Mrs. Howel J. Price, Mr. Pemberton-Barnes, M.F.H.,
Mr. Tyndale W^iite, Mr. John White, Mr. R. Y. Bevan, Mr. Avila, Mr. H.
Sworder, Mr. Fitch (of Romford), Mr. F. G. Barclay, Mrs. Barron, Mrs.
Bennett, and her pretty httle daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Cockett, Mr. James
Christy, Mr. Craig, Mr. A. Flint, Mr. D. Gregory, Mr. Hollebone, Mr.
Horner, Mr. T. R. Hull, Mr. G. H. Lee, Mr. G. Lobb, Mr. H. W Lee,
Mr. Baber, Mr. Seal, his young nephew (on a very sporting pony), Mr.
H. B. Michell, ^Ir. Raphael, Mr. C. Savill, Mr. A. T. Sewell, Mr. Drummond
Cunliffe Smith, and others. The hunt servants, too, came in for a most
excellent breakfast, and the members of Mr. Docwra's family looked so
well after every one — (we were glad to see Miss Docwra on her favourite
grey, and her brother taking part in the sport afterwards) — that sandwiches
and hunt flasks were unnecessary impedimenta.

There was a fox in the gorse near Bower Wood, but not scent enough
for hounds to drive him from the home coverts, or force another out from
Mrs. Mcintosh's broom — though on the latter attempt some half-hour was
spent, and some excitement aroused by someone holloaing a cat — was it
you, Mr. Smith ? — over a ride.

Not a yard of scent was the general verdict, but I still clung to the

i6

VOL. II.

242 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

belief that hounds might run, for the air was warm and the ground wet
enough for scenting conditions.

Arriving at the Colonel's coverts, Mr. Avila had only just time to
exchange his three-year-old for Mrs. Pigott's second horse, that required
a lesson across country, when Jack's scream of "Gone away!" at the
bottom of Crane's Wood came floating up wind. Hounds ran at a great
pace, sans huntsman. He went out at the bottom end of the covert, and
Jenkins followed him to Apes Grov^e, Mr. Ford Barclay finding en route that
a fence over which Mrs. Grossman's thoroughbred, " Ruth," had flown like
a bird, was not so easy as it looked. Breaking the south side of Apes
Grove the fox crossed the river half a mile from the ford, and getting on
the grass ran clean out of sight, and the question is whether we should ever
have caught them had they not checked a field from Barbers. The two
ploughmen who pointed out the line hounds had taken could have been the
only ones who extracted any fun out of this stern chase for it was too fine
a country to ride over without hounds, and so thought Jenkins, as he whipped
round at a couple of fences, and would have tried it on again at that last
one if he hadn't just caught a glimpse of his favourites in time. At 2.30
I left them trotting back to the Osiers at Passingford Bridge — " To run or
not to run," a question to be answered later.

Left Behind.

None but the enthusiastic foxhunter can fully grasp the full significance
of the sentence comprised in the two words " left behind." Few indeed of
the ardent followers of the chase who have not at some time or other in
their hunting career felt all that is conveyed in those fatal words, " left
behind," but from this latter fact consolation may be had. For even a hunts-
man, with a free hand to gallop through or round a covert with his hounds,
is occasionally caught napping ; though methinks you shall count on the
fingers of one hand the number of times in Bailey's long hunting career
that hounds— i^/i^ Pucker idge not excepted— have left him in the lurch.

So let us who were dished on Monday, December 5th, when hounds got
away from everyone, except Mr. Tyndale White, in a rattling afternoon run
from Curtis iMill Green to the Osiers at Bourne Bridge, and again when
they gave us the slip on Wednesday, December 7th, take heart of grace,
and hope for better luck next time. But 'tis with the latter date — Wed-
nesday, December 7th — that I am more personally concerned, for once
again I experienced to the full the doubt, uncertainty, chagrin, and despair
— a nightmare from which there was to be no awakening — of being left
behind, and completely out of one of the best runs of this prolific season
of i897-'98 which the Essex Hounds have placed to their credit.

Briefly the tale may be told. Wednesday was no morning for feather-
bed sportsmen to turn out ; for the day broke in a deluge of rain, which, as
the morning wore on, showed no signs of abating. " A nice rain, sir ! "
was Jack's cheery greeting at the meet at Little Laver Mill, and " a nice
rain " I repeated to everyone I met. And so it was for the East London
Water Company and the followers of the Essex Hounds, for the ditches
were filling, and the chief obstacle to a straight and good thing across the
Roothings of Essex was as rapidly disappearing, for most foxes, even
Roothingers, prefer the tortuous maze of dry ditches to the centre track
of a twenty-acre ploughed field. A small, liardly recognisable field — so
be-mackintoshed, be-aproned, and waterproofed were they — moved on with
the hounds for Norwood. Their names you shall have, as far as their
muffled attire will permit of identification : The Master, Mr. Loftus W.
Arkwright — no mackintosh disfigured or hampered his neat, lithe figure as

MR. F. GREEN SECURES HIS USUAL GOOD START

24:

he sat easily on one of his well-bred hunters. Our ex-Master, in habiliment
rarely seen, mackintosh of length — hue no longer white — that must have
done service in past days on the flags.

Roly, in his wonderful agricolas or agropholos, warranted to keep your
knees dry and add seven pounds to your weight ; Mr. F. Green, in coat of
pink to match his cheeks — he hunted long before nursing aprons were
invented ; Miss F. Green, in habit neat ; and Miss Buxton equally defying
the elements ; Mr. and Mrs. Weston Crocker, and Miss Georgie Waters,
on her long-tailed black, in waterproof becoming of slaty hue ; Miss E.
Quare, Miss E. Jones, Mr. D. Grossman, drab all but the hands (such
gloves must have been hand-knitted) ; his soldier brother-in-law, Mr. Daw-
son ; then Mr. Giles, Mr. John White, Mr. Howard, Mr. George Brown,
Mr. Marriage, jun., the Admiral, Mr. G. H. Lee, Mr. C. E. Ridley, drab,
all drab, as drab as they could be.

''''■■>^/./:-^

Norwood

Pluvius-defying came Georgie Dawson ; Mr. Head, of Canadian renown ;
Mr. Waters, ]M'r. Caton, in neat black or grey hunting coats. In pink, full
pink, :\Ir. Vickers; hidden pink, Mr. Jones, on the " Colonel;" Mr. Newman
Gilbey on " Cedric."

To Norwood, I said. We never reached it. Hounds were laid on at
the gallop to a holloa near Envilles, and a pretty Une was worked forward
and eked out past Little Laver Hall to Brick Kilns. And later, a leash
of foxes were roused in Man Wood, and a run began that the season shall
hardly see equalled. Breaking the White Roothing side of ]\Ian Wood,
four—and four only— Mr. Jones, Miss E. Jones, Mr. F. Green, and Mr.
George Brown, of Bobbingworth Hall Farm — got away on terms with
hounds, and the advantage they gained at the start they never lost to the

244

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

finish. First to catch them ere they reached Rookwood Hall came the
huntsman, the Master, and Mr, Giles. At splitting pace hounds ran on
for Bird Hatch, not touching Brick Kilns or Norwood in their flight, and
the country was dotted in all directions with those that had been left
behind.

A stern chase is a long chase, but 'tis the only way to make sure of ever
recovering hounds, and the reward came at the check at Bird Hatch, to
all those who rode the line and took the fences where the needle had been
threaded — and the pattern wove. From Bird Hatch they ran on at a good
hunting pace past Waples Mill, swung to the left by Garnish Hall, and lost
their fox just under Leaden Roothing's dark hanging woods, into which he
was afterwards viewed by Mr. Waters, dead beat. Time, about forty-five
minutes. All this we learnt from the smiling throng who came trotting

Running for Brick Kilns

back behind the hounds en route to tap Man Wood again, and amongst
them, in addition to names already mentioned, were Mr. H. J. Price,
Mr. Grossman, and his brother-in-law, Mr. Dawson, who was carried
most brilliantly on a wonderful pony ; Mr. Newman Gilbey, Mr. E. Pelly,
Mr. G. H. Lee, Miss Buxton, Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. Howard, Mr.
F. Green, Mr. S. Green, the latter with muddy hat and still muddier
coat.

The cream of this run was undoubtedly the piping burst to Bird Hatch,
for by the time it was over the fruit had been gathered, and the tale had
been told by those who were fortunate enough to get away with or over-
haul the hounds soon after the start.

The only consolation I was able to offer the fellow sportsmen whom
I met in search of hounds was that the pack had probably, after the run
of the season, eaten their fox and gone home. That indeed would have

TAKING A HEADER 245

added the finishing touch to a chapter of misfortunes. To return home,
not knowing what had become of hounds, imagining you had missed the
run of a century, then do justice to your dinner, would have shown you
to be the happy possessor of a temperament which even a phlegmatic Boer
might have envied.

We were spared putting our philosophy to that test. Mr. Tilling,

Mr. Dawson, Mr. Bevan, Mr. Ridley, Miss , Miss , Mrs. ,

were we not ? Excuse my mentioning names, I know you don't like it.

When we found a fox in the roots near Matching Park at 3 p.m. we had,
thanks to a clear sky, a considerable addition to our morning field, including
Mr., Mrs. and Miss Bowlby, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ball, Rev. Austin
Oliver, Mr. L. Pelly and Miss Steele, just enough to put new life and add
a new zest to the consolation hunt from Matching Park, which the fox from
the roots so considerately gave us, not unmarked by incident approaching
the alarming when Mr. Head, master of the Canadian Wolf Hounds, pulled
in by the horse's bridle, to which he clung valiantly, disappeared under
water in the same pond where a valuable horse of Mr. Price's looked like
finding a watery grave.

All's well that ends well, and a hot bath for the one and some good
linseed gruel for the other would put things ship-shape, we hope.

Running by Mr. Symes, High Laver, hounds swung round High Laver
Hall, and hunted well up to Brick Kilns, and were whipped off in the dark
at Man Wood, after a real good but tiring day for horses.

I can tell you of half-a-day in the Blackmore High Woods on Monday,
December 12th, when, in spite of blustering wind and a flashy scent, hounds
brought a fox to book that had never sought safety in the open, and a
promising run in the direction of Roxwell was nipped in the bud by a drain ;
not before Georgie Dawson had played the kind Samaritan and gone to the
rescue of Jack, who was temporarily placed hovs de combat by a fall out of
an early road.

Not finding in Lady Grove, in company with several other members of
the one-horse brigade, we set out on the 14-mile track home, and reached
it ere the dark granite on the road became indistinguishable on a short
December's day.

Wednesday, December 14th, at Tyler's Cross, was a day to be remem-
bered by all those who played the game, and played it fairly, on the grass
fields that link Parndon Woods to the Forest in the 5|-mile point hounds
made in forty minutes, ere they marked their fox to ground.

Saturday following found no cavillers at the big ring of forty odd minutes
over the Roothings from Row Wood.

And Monday last provided a day's sport that went to prove that Essex
foxes are not degenerating, or surely no unbroken line could have been
held from the Lower Forest to Belgium Springs in the afternoon gallop.
Unluckily, the day brought disaster to one of our most forward and most
modest riders''' in the loss of a valuable hunter, but the universal sympathy
extended to him should, methinks, make some amends for an experience
that everyone who hunts must, at some time or other, pass through, and for
which the rider is rarely to blame.

Tuesday night we dreamt of skating, and woke up to find the country
ridable; and later on a bumper meet at Epping Green, Mrs. \\'ythes, Sir
Fowell Buxton, and Mr. Victor Buxton making their first appearance in
the hunting field this season.

* John White.

246 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

'Tis hard luck not finding foxes in your coverts when you have taken
the trouble to preserve them, must have been in the mind of the owner of
the Copped Hall coverts as one after the other was drawn blank ; but
that they are there we have too many shooters' testimony to doubt. But
foxes like quiet, and a covert shot through a week before it is drawn is
generally tenantless when it is tried.

But we were in for no blank day, and before the night fell the large
field that had assembled in the morning had galloped and jumped to their
heart's content, and only ten were left to tell the tale : Mr. Arkwright,
Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. F. Green and his son, Mr. R. Y. Bevan, Mr. F.
Barclay, Mr. G. Buxton, and Messrs. W. and A. Sewell.

The same old story. Galley Hill foxes scoring all the tricks in a
rubber with Bailey and his dogs. Two packs and a rising moon, methinks,
before Bailey shall call four by honors, and sleep in peace after a Galley
Hill day.

The game commenced at 1.30 with a rattling lead from Obelisk Wood,
and did not finish before 4 p.m., when it was too dark to see the pips, and
Bailey lost hand after hand as the game went on, no matter how he
shuffled and dealt. All went against him, but the onlookers had some fun
as they followed the play.

But from Obelisk Wood to Galley Hill they had to gallop to see it ;
Mr. and Mrs. Grossman, Mr. Giles, with the Master, and one or two others
with quick horses, occupying the front row ; Mr. Jones and Mr. Tyndale
White flipping over a tempting lean-away gate in their keenness not to
be left behind as hounds ran through the spinney short of Galley
Hills.

From here the play became so intricate that the mildest and most
soothing cigar did not help to unravel its mysteries or solve its
problems.

BoXING-DAY.

Not often can the hunting man follow his favourite pastime on this
annual festival : generally is he called upon to risk his limbs on skates, or
watch the gliding throng that recklessly courts disaster on the treacherous
ice which he is too timid to venture upon.

So let it be written in red letters — a Boxing-day that may be enjoyed
in a pink coat.

Each fashionable hunt in the kingdom has — nay, must have — its own
special rendezvous for a Boxing-day meet, with its large attendant
crowd, and the further such trysting place is away from a railway station
the better it adapts itself for this particular festival.

Blackmore has no rivals as a rendezvous for a Boxing-day meet, for
in the limitless woodlands, with their interminable rides with which its
name is so closely associated, even a Bank Holiday crowd is soon
swallowed up. Boxing-day of 1898 witnessed a big gathering at Black-
more. Foot people in crowds, ready to who-oop and holloa if a mouse
broke covert. Boys in shoals, on ponies, clipped, or undipped, fiery,
untamed, or quiet as sheep, it mattered not what they bestrode ; eager
enthusiasm was written on their rosy faces, for was it not for many their
first hunt, and for most the exchange of a hard bench for the yielding
pig-skin — and the swing of a hunting crop in lieu of a steel pen.

Cyclists and carriages of every description in motley array.

Outside the High Woods they found a fox, and rattled him across half-
a-dozen fields or more to Thoby Wood at such a pace that when they
shortly afterwards brought him to book we hugged ourselves in the vain
delusion that there was a burning scent in spite of the blue mist and flashy
wind that came up in angry puff's from the south.

BOXING DAY, 1 898

247

Short as the spin was it afforded ocular demonstration that there were
a lot of young bloods out who meant having their day, and who did not
intend to be baulked of a single fence.

One brown-coated gentleman,* fresh from Klondyke, leading into trouble,
I am afraid, from the easy way (he had a lot of steam on) his dark chesnut
whisked over a hairy chasm near Thoby Wood, a lady who knows no fear,
her black cutting it in her last stride.

Up Thoby Wood side we galloped : half-a-dozen hounds coming out on
a hot scent, while the body of the pack rattled their hunted fox round the
covert. We ought to have been left behind — Mr. Carr, Mrs. Waters, Mrs.
Fane, don't you agree ?— for taking the outside circle of that big wood in-

Thoby Wood and Priory

stead of bisecting it with the huntsmen — e'en though the rides were deep and
muddy — and we were lucky, you'll admit, in finding the pack still running
their fox in a neighbouring covert, when there might have been a mile of
open country between us and the top of the hunt, and hearing, in company
with other good holiday folk, the who-oop as hounds ran into their quarry.

From the same wood they were away again with a catchy scent, and
held a line over as trappy and hairy a country as it was possible to find or
disagreeable to ride over, on a hot pulling horse, with a pony in every gap,
and someone down at every ditch. Quite worthy of Barnum's or Astley's
was the recovery of a gentleman on a black cob, as he jumped into the road
over a most gruesome ditch, and appeared sitting on the animal's tail. By
a series of spasmodic efforts and a liberal use of the bridle, he got back

Mr. Sheppaid.

248 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

in the pigskin again, and galloped on looking for something equally
difficult.

One at a time at most places, and someone wanting to Kodak someone
else, who had cut in with a sang fvoid that left nothing to be desired, except
the naughty little— word .

After this a general adjournment to Truelove's for refreshments. Result :
Two men, two very first flighters,t w^ho are never left behind, might have
been greatly missed had hounds found in some of the outlying coverts
adjoining the High Woods. The one in pink, to make amends, stuck very
religiously to the huntsman after that, and promised, when I said adieu to
him at 2.30, still keeping his eye on the drawing pack, to send me the
account of the run of the season, should it come off on Boxing-day after all.
Fortune did not favour the brave, the persevering, or the fair.

The names, if you will, of a few of those who kept Boxing-day in the
only way it ought to be kept in the midst of a hunting neighbourhood : —
Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. Tyndale- White and his two sons, Mr. F. Green, Miss
Green, Mr. and Mrs. Waters, Colonel and Mrs. Fane, Colonel Lockwood,
M.P , Mr. Usborne, M.P., and the Misses Usborne, Mr. David Christy,
Mr. T. Christy, Mr. J. Christy, Mr. Marriage, Mr. and Mrs. F. Ball, Mr.
E. Ball, Mr. W. Ball, Messrs. Sheppard, Mrs. E. Sheppard, Captain
Tufnell, Mr. T. R. Hull and his son, Mr. H. E. Jones, Miss Jones, Mr.
Seymour Caldwell, Mr. H.J. Price, Miss ]\Iorgan, Mr. Craig, Mr. Sheffield
Neave, M.S.H., Mr. Seal, Mr. C. E. Ridley, Mr. and Mrs. D. Grossman,
Mrs. Neill.

Bentley Mill.

Sport with the Essex Hounds has been of a very mediocre description
for the last two weeks, and trying to describe it is very much like en-
deavouring to turn out bricks without straw ; but with the advent of the
New Year has come, let us hope, a turn in the tide. Certainly last
Monday's record — the very first possible day's hunting in iSgg — stands
out as something quite beyond the common average.

The day did not commence in a very inviting manner, though better
far than the white pall of fog that hung over the country, blotting out the
landscape at the birth of the New Year, until melted and dissolved by
sheets of rain ; for although most of us who had any distance to hack or
drive to the meet were caught in a drenching shower of rain and sleet — fit
accompaniment of the searching wind that drove it up from the Atlantic —
yet by the time the tryst was reached the clouds were breaking, and a
winter's sun w^as paling the blue vault of heaven, making the spray upon
every hedgerow glisten and sparkle in its rays.

Not that hunting men, as a rule, are deterred by stress of weather, for
full well they know that hounds have been known to run desperately hard
in a gale of wind and out-distance all pursuit when March dust has fairly
hidden the flying pack.

With a nip of frost in the air, following a spell of mild, showery
weather, when days are at their shortest, most men would sally out to try
their luck if they had a horse in their stables half fit to go.

Monday, then, brought a bumper meet. How I hated myself for being
late. The hounds had pretty well finished drawing the ]\Ioors before I
arrived on the scene, to see those who had followed the huntsman on his
roan through the woods, coming over the bank after him into the road.
Mr. R. Cunliffe-Smith's horse gave a bound prodigious, a hat-guard tester,
as his topper blew off. Miss Jones's horse jumped off the bank most

t Mr. D. Crossman and Mr. S. Caldwell.

W. H. BADDELEY ON

MAGIC

249

beautifully, letting itself down with the agility and cleverness of a cat.
The collection of ponies, cobs, &c., that came following after there was no
time to stay and note, for Bailey was losing no time this good scenting
day, getting forward to the next covert — the High Woods — Air. Christopher
Tower's preserves — where a fox had been harboured.

We took close order in that road ten abreast, and the line extended
rearwards 80 to 100 yards. 'Tis too late, I am afraid, to adorn Jenkin's,
Peter's or Joseph's tails with gaudy ribbon ; they are too well-known as
non-kickers, otherwise it is a very useful appendage in a crowd, and affords
a very good excuse for edging up to the front. Here the question arises,
ought those who ride kicking horses to occupy the front or back seats
when a covert is drawn ? As a rule, a kicking horse is a good one belonging
to a good sportsman ; therefore I give my vote for putting the kickers in
front, subject to one penalty — they must make a hole in the first nasty
fence that requires boring.

W. H. Baddeley on "Magic"

A pony that carried his son four seasons without a fall. Mr.
Baddeley s favourite hunter, however, was " Little Jack."
formerly the property of Mr. Hoare. This well bred little
animal, which only stood 15 hands, carried Mr. Baddeley one day

250

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

a week regularly for four seasons at the cost of two falls, and was
about the cleverest and easiest jumper he ever sat on. Having
broken down badly at exercise during the long frost of '95, he
gave him to Mr. Avila, of Theydon, who patched him up
sufficiently to come in second for the Farmers' Plate at Harlow
Races of the same year, earring 1 3 stone, at which time he
must have been 20 years old. Mr. Baddeley generally rides
little horses, but they can all gallop and jump. The Saturday
meets being generally too distant for Mr. Baddeley, he keeps
himself in condition by a gallop through the Forest with Paper
and Drag. Mr. Baddeley can use a pencil as well as handle
the reins, and I have to thank him for the sketch of a meet at
Copped Hall Lodge Gates, page 126, vol. I.

p. M. Evans on "Katie"

A capital sport-.man in every sense of the word. Hunting,
shooting, polo, cricket, hockey, or tennis, nothing comes amiss
to him ; he is a good man at any of them. The mare he rides,
a great favourite, for which he gave a century, is as quick

TOJOURS PRET 25 I

across a country as her master. Go slow at your fences and
she will very soon put you down, and don't accept a mount
on her unless your nerve is as good as her owner's. Mr. Evans
would just as soon ride over a big fence or a succession of big
fences in cold blood as when hounds are running. His motto,
when it comes to jumping, is Toiijours pret.

Hounds hadn't been a minute in covert before over the road came the
fox, speeded on his journey by a chorus of holloas, and followed by the
hounds like a torrent as they swept after him to a burning scent, and
swung back as quickly as the fox recrossed the road to the High Woods
again.

How they rattled him through it quicker far than you could pick your
way through the thick green undergrowth of briar, or make way over the
wire netting that spanned the ride, or jump out of the covert and gallop
the headland, up which already those who had never gone into the covert
were coming along with a wet sail.

Hounds streaming along two fields in front of every one, and so, at
hottest pace, towards Weald Church, and down the steep hill at the gallop
to take the open 100 yards lower. Hounds well ahead of most of the
field, running hotly towards Brentwood — Mr. Seymour Caldwell a bit
closer to them than anyone else — to swing down to the brook to tempt Air.
Tyndale White and one or two others over, and then to bear away again
up hill as hard as they could go, fence succeeding fence. A momentary
check in a lane, where thirty of us got to hounds again by taking our turn
over a trappy ditch ; but once more hounds got away very quickly from
most of their followers.

Back to the High Woods, through these like lightning they forced their
fox. Up the wood side (decidedly the best line this time), with hounds
swinging away right-handed through a farm-yard, the nearest cut, every
horse being sent along for all it was worth. IMrs. Alexander, on a very
fast one, passing most between the fences. Shortly afterwards a slide
down a bank as steep as the roof of a house, which crumbled as you slid,
with your horse up to his hocks in the loamy soil. Lucky when your turn
came with hounds every second getting further and further away. Let a
lady come : the exclamator being quite ready to slide after her. After
you, sir ! Now let Mrs. Clark go. Let Mrs. Barron go. Let me go. Let
us all go. This trap for the unwary (on Mr. Garrod's farm, I am told),
the first six to come at it having a visible pull of the thirty who followed ;
but not such a nick as Mr. Tyndale White and one or two more, who, a
bit lower down, had two awkward fences in lieu of it, and landed bang on
the hounds' backs, and couldn't be caught again for some time.

Down another tail end of a lane, was it after the rough grass and small
fir-tree planted enclosure, gated each end, through which we galloped in
single file ? I fancy so, but no doubt about Sir Evelyn Wood being there,
looking glowing and happy, taking the country again out of the next road
with the first six. The field well tailed out at this period, for over some
big grass fields hounds were fairly racing. The huntsman's roan could be
seen leading the van. A slight hover at Noak Hill road, Mr. Charles
Green there at the right moment with a " Hold hard ; give them time,"
and Mr. W^altham's hand up on the left, and hounds picking it up again
on the plough. Note, we were getting deeper and deeper into the ploughed
country, the fox w^as sinking, and hounds were called upon to hunt, which
they did most beautifully.

252 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Up the side of one of the Dagenham coverts after Colonel Fane.
Hounds brushed across our front, and ran straight for Navestock Common.
Was it not here that one of the most popular members ''■'■ of our Hunt had
the cruel misfortune to kill a good horse ? Truly, if real universal
sympathy would have mended matters, the loser might soon have forgotten
his loss, for I never heard more genuine sympathy expressed on any other
similar occasion.

It looked now as if our fox meant Navestock Heath, and if he had set
his mask in that direction a very awkward brook would have weeded out
all the indifferent riders and their steeds ; but, considerately he coasted it.

A succession of most trappy fences, which Mr. Waltham and Mr.
Harry Sworder fairly seemed to revel in, had to be negotiated by all those
riding the line. We were nearing the end, for Mr. Waltham got a view of
the fox toiling along, towards Pyrgo Wood, well nigh spent. Five minutes
later hounds were rattling him round that covert to his death.

The wind blew keenly and icily after the hot gallop upon the lathering
horses, as drawn up at the covert side, they were kept for another ten
minutes ere this good fox succumbed — 55 minutes altogether— -forty-five
in the open and no time lost if you will glance at your map. Stiff as a
board, you could see at a glance, as the huntsman triumphantly held him
aloft, before blooding Mr. Harry Sworder's boy and another young
Nimrod, making them sworn fox-hunters for life. This run was full of
incidents, but there was little time to note them. If you rode religiously
the line hounds ran, you had all your work cut out to steer your horse
and keep clear of other people, as fences came one after the other. I
should say about thirty stuck to the line of hounds all through — Mr.
Sims Horner certainly one of them — and their horses had had quite
enough by the time it was all over. I would also affirm that for the
greater part of the run hounds had the best of it. I would further assert,
fearless of contradiction, that the huntsman, on his roan, was not beaten
by any one, and I am equally certain that no man, woman, or child was
in the same field with hounds from start to finish. Roads and lanes were
freely used, or not a tithe of those who appeared on the scene when the
fox was broken up would have witnessed the ceremony. What do you
say, Master Arthur Thomas? You came up spick and span, and I think,
remarked that you had hardly jumped a fence in this old fashioned, truly
enjoyable run.

Mr, Seymour Caldwell had a curious experience in the middle of the
run, for jumping out of a wood, through a very thick fence, he found
himself hanging up in the boughs, and his horse getting over without
him. Unfortunately a very pretty diamond pin, given him as a racing
souvenir by Lady Warwick, was lost ere he regained teira Jirma. Mr.
Raphael would never be able to wear his concertina'd hat again, I am
sure. Mr. Fitch, of Romford, was riding as hard at the finish as he was
at the beginning, in spite of a real good toss. Mr. Avila was grassed by a
hidden strand of barbed wire, a boggy ditch claimed one of our bravest
and fairest, and a hidden strand of barbed danger was flown by the priceless
black, while, instead of a glove, a lady's hat was borne by one who, if he
succeeded in keeping its fair owner in view, saw as much of the run as
anyone else.

They drew the Green : Curtis Mill Green blank. A brace they found
in Sir Charles Smith's coverts, one getting to ground a mile away in a
drain of Mr. Sam Crane's ; and at 3 p.m., in company with the young

* Mr. 11. J. Price.

THE SOUTH WILTS

253

Haileyburian, I left them running a good fox of Colonel Lockwood's in
the direction of Stapleford, snatching a run, almost as good as the last,
from the south-westerly gale that came lashing up, ere the sun had set.

The Colonel's fox that I left hounds running on the afternoon of the
good Monday's sport from Bentley ^Nlill gave his pursuers two very enjoyable
hours' sport, and beat hounds at every turn.

'Tis a curious thing to find yourself at Gaynes Park and the Lower
Forest from a Fyfield meet ; but such, I am told, befel all those who
followed the fortunes of the Essex Hounds last Wednesday week. What
they actually did I have only hearsay to go by, for on that particular
occasion I was having a day with the South Wilts,''' and was lucky enough
to drop in for rather a good thing, and found twenty years' experience over

,^^i,^., .,

Barbers

Essex banks a very good training for the class of fences we encountered ;
for the only safe way to cross a Wiltshire or Dorsetshire double is to go
at it slowly, and leave a lot to your horse — shut your eyes and chuck the
reins on his neck if he is a clever one The owner of the animalt I was
lucky enough to ride assured me that I could not possibly get him down.
He credited me, however, with being a better horseman than I can lay
claim to, but I was afterwards assured that the South Wilts Hunt will
have a clear gap over a certain brook-guarded fence for the rest of the
season, which will be very useful to them in an emergency. The first fox
we found, within half-a-mile of the meet, led us a nice dance for fifty-seven

* The Master of the South Wilts, Mr. Percy Browne, volunteered with his Yeomanry
Troop for the Transvaal War. — Ed.

t Subsequently this horse proved to be an equally good conveyance with the Quorn, and on
one occasion stuck up the tield over a brook place that had to be done in two jumps. — Ed.

254

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

minutes over a most delightfully sporting country, up hill and down dale,
all grass, every yard of it, and no wire to stop you, considerately running
through the grounds of the house I was staying in before Jack Stratton
finally handled him.

I must confess, however, that I think that old Bailey would have
brushed him very much sooner. Jack Stratton leaves a good deal to his
hounds — a good deal more, in fact, than Joe Moss, the huntsman to a
neighbouring pack — Lord Portman's ; who, report has it, can kill a fox
when he likes, and will mop up three to Stratton's one. A nice spurt in
the middle of the day, winding up with two hours over the vale, taking in
part of Lord Portman's country, brought a very enjoyable day to a close.

On Friday, the 6th, the Essex had another good day, followed by a
Saturday at Good Easter, that has left something to be remembered and

yi^i/^/''^

'//y/^W

Good Easter

talked about for many a long day by those who were fortunate enough to
be out ; for, as General Sir Evelyn Wood remarked to me on Monday last,
it was perfect bliss while it lasted, and, with a six-mile point in thirty-seven
minutes, I quite believe him just as much as I accept, without any demur,
the statement of a very thrusting welter that, on a young horse, the pace
was just a leetle too ultra for him. The country rode heavy after the
recent rains, and every field claimed some sobbing steed. Sir Evelyn,
however, saw every yard of the run, and Mr. Charles Green, I am told,
was one of the very select few who struggled to the end, and who has his
own theory of what became of that fox — eaten, he was not.

Now it is a remarkable thing once more illustrating the vagaries of
scent that, while the Essex hounds could run like distraction over their
Roothing country, Mr. Quare's Harriers could do next to nothing on the

JACK TURNER HUNTS THE HOUNDS 255

grass on the southern borders of the county — though I fancy one hare had
a very narrow squeak, which hounds ran three times round one of my fields
just as, hke the Baron in the fable, I had called for my boots preparatory
to sallying out for a ride after luncheon. They do say — but who said it, 1
must leave you to guess for yourselves — that it was no hare that brought
harriers to the outskirts of a country town, but that a very fine specimen of
the vulpine race was found in the open on one of the farms on the Copped
Hall Estate, and taught a lesson in getting away from hounds which may
stand him in good stead on some future occasion.

I now come to Monday, a day that we cannot compare with its pre-
decessor, for scent was against us ; but all the same we had a very pleasant
day's sport, and a very pleasant day in the open, for the sun shone out of a
cloudless sky, reminding one more of a day in early spring than mid-winter,
and all who came to the meet at Myless Lodge looked as if they had come
on pleasure bent.

Mrs. Wythes drove all the way from Copped Hall — a banking country
having no terrors for her, in spite of having been brought up in a flying one
with Its stiff upstanding fences. Essex is a very trappy country, full of
pitfalls, but very easy after the Belvoir Vale. Mr. Charles Green's eagle
eye detected a fox stealing out of some cabbages on land in Mr. Tyndale
White's preservation, and, taking us over the Stondon road, we had some
of the point-to-point fences before we reached Thoby Wood, where we lost
this fox. A very delightful country to ride over, but not a nice one to be
left behind in. What do you say, Mr. Ford ? * We were both in the same
boat, you know.

A longish draw from this point through all the Kelvedon and Dudbrook
coverts, with the prospect of a certainty at the Osiers — Sir Charles
Smith's. How glossy the varmint looked as he came away in full view of
us all, and tacked across Albyns Park, and after providing us with a good
long, muddy gallop up to and round Curtis Mill Green, afforded the oppor-
tunity before he was lost of showing how very easy it is when you seek for
an easier place in a fence to get left behind. Seeking an easier place in a
fence when hounds turned back from the Green towards Bishop's Hall, I
soon found myself in company — very good company, too, Mr. Waltham,
Mr. Steele, Mr. Raphael, Mr. Savill ; you'll admit this is not personal ;
and we hadn't a timber jumper between us when we came to the railed-up
lane, and Mrs. Bennett put us all to the blush as she flew over. 'Tis true,
Mr. Savill, you rode at those rails several times ; they bent and they
cracked, but break they would not, and we left you still at them when we
turned ignominiously away — is not confession good for the soul ? — only to
get wired up, and to see Mr. Waltham in a bird cage, and hounds a mile
away, and not recovered until they checked in Crane's Wood, by which
time the fun was all over, though hounds held a line over the river to
Shalesmore, bringing some of us two miles nearer home, a thing to be
grateful for.

I ought to have mentioned that Bailey was laid up with one of his
annual colds, and that in his enforced absence Jack carried the horn in a
very efficient manner. Even a huntsman is not exempt from colds — only, in fact,
those lucky individuals who, according to a writer in last week's Spectator,
can travel like Nansen in lands where there are no colds to catch. Did not
he get a bad one the moment he reached the confines of civilisation, with
its millions of hungry microbes ?

Mr. Ford Barclay got down here. I lost a leather and I had to help F. B. to remount. — Ed.

256

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Hunting away from home the day after the County Ball at Shaftesbury,
I renewed my acquaintance with the Wiltshire and Dorsetshire doubles.
On the same day the Essex Hounds had an eventful run from Latton Park
to the Ongar Park country, and hounds were running well, as they generally
do before a frost in nearly every county in England. To return to my day
with the South Wilts and the breakfast meet at Pyt House. We had a
big gathering of the clans on that occasion, including many soldiers, one of
whom during the day had the bad luck to break his horse's back just in
front of me. He had the animal shot at once, without consulting the

Miss Amy Beatrix Harenc on "Robin"

owner or a vet., and I am told that if you hire a horse and break its back,
you may be held responsible for its loss, even if its back is broken — unless
the actual owner has given his consent, or a vet. is present. If this is so,
it would be rather hard upon the wretched horse to have to wait for its
owner's consent, or a vet.'s sanction, to put an end to its sufferings.

Throwing off late, hounds did not get on to a fox before 2'i5; but
when they did they hunted on with few checks till 5 p.m., by which time
only a dozen were left out of a large field. Wliy did you go home, Mr.
Mason, and miss the best bit of the lot when, running at hot pace on the
grass over a very delightful country, hounds marked their fox to ground in
the Blackmore Vale country? — the two Miss Grosvenors, Colonel Mansel,

RUNNING PAST ROCHETTS

257

Colonel Paget, C.B., Mr. F. Farquharson, and Mr. Neil Harenc and Miss B.
Harenc, being among the dozen who saw the finish.

Contrasting sport in that part of the world with what one sees in Essex,
one can hardly fail to notice how many more farmers hunt in Dorsetshire
than Essex, or experience how much easier it is to hire a good horse for an
odd day.

Last Monday it blew half a gale when we met at Bentley Mill, and the
sun was getting low in the heavens before we found a fox — a real wild
customer — in Curtis Mill Green, and ran him slowly and with scent in-
different nearly to Ongar Park, enough to warm us and send us all home
cheerful and happy, and fencing sufficient to show that the popular Major
(Major Wilson was paying a visit to the old country) hadn't forgotten the
art of getting across any obstacle a bit quicker than most civilians.

Running past Rochetts

No other special incident to recall, unless, perhaps, one of the neatest
bits of fencing I have witnessed for many a long day, when Mr. Reginald
Cunliffe-Smith, to avoid a long trot up one side of a hedge and down the
other (which the rest of the field, following their shepherd, Bailey, were
engaged in), charged a very stiff post and rails into a lane, which, at the
angle he had to take it, necessitated clearing on the far side some wire
netting almost on the same level as the rails, but some feet away from
them — a wire and timber double — in fact, a fence that, however well it
might have suited a Colonial, would have stuck up a Pytchley or a Quorn
field to a man.

One other little incident — one that certainly pleased me — to see INIr.
Lawrence Buxton, one of the latest additions to our first flighters, sustaining
the Buxton tradition of riding straight to hounds by boring his way through

17

VOL. II

A BAD ACCIDENT 259

a fence as dark as Erebus, en route from the Green to Rose Hall Wood,
rather than meekly wait his turn for the gap which the rest of us sought.

The two absorbing topics of conversation in the hunting field on iMonday
and Tuesday the last week were (ist) the very bad accident which Mrs.
Douglas Grossman had the misfortune to sustain hunting with the Essex
Hounds the Friday previously, and (2nd) the great day's sport that fell to
the lot of those who were at High Easter the following day. With regard
to the first, it seems that a hound crossed a man, who was galloping in front
of ]\Irs. Grossman, '-•= down a ploughed field, bringing him and his horse,
together with Mrs. Grossman's, to the ground. When she was extricated,
it was found that her thigh w^as badly broken. She was taken to the
Saracen's Head, Dunmow, It was very fortunate that such good quarters
as the Saracen's Head were so conveniently near, as the landlady, whose
late husband, Mr. George Wilhs, hunted so many years with the Essex
Hounds, had had some experience of the requirements of those who have
been unlucky enough to be laid up by accidents, for Mr. \Mllis met with a
good many in his lifetime.

With regard to Saturday's sport, I missed, I am told, a chance of making
history, for Bailey affirms that 'twas the best scenting day that they had had
this season. Two big runs were brought off in the Lords and Leaden
country ; the first one of which was enough for most, too much for many,
and only those who had second horses had a look in for the big run that,
commencing at Garnish, swept past Lords and away to Row Wood, without
a check, leaving many a big and lusty youth lamenting the avoirdupois,
which, however useful it might be to him in a football scrimmage, was more
than useless when the lady pack of the Essex Hounds were racing frantically
across the big stretching fields of the best ploughed country in England ;
only one httle rift was in the lute to which such a merry tune was danced
upon this ever eventful Saturday — the two foxes brought to hand were
both found to be mangy.

But people who make high holiday on Saturdays, swear by the Roothings,
and never go home contented unless they have had at least one gallop, were
not having it quite all their own way, did not quite monopolise all the fun
of the fair, for Mr. Ouare's Harriers held high revel over ^Ir. George Hart's
demesne upon the same day, accounting for a brace of strong hares with con-
summate ease, and never giving anyone a chance of seeing any of the fun
unless they rode straight to the bustling pack ; and ride straight the following
did, if I may venture to take liberties with a few names : — Mrs. Wythes,
Major and INIrs. Ricardo, jNIrs. Waters, ]\Iiss ^L Yerburgh, Mrs. Pelly,
Miss Quare and her sister, ^Miss ^l. Buxton, ]\Ir. and ^Irs. G. Buxton,
Mrs. Redwood, ^Ir. Horner, :\Ir. L. Buxton, Capt. Wood, ^Ir. F. Ball,
Mr. W. Sewell, ^Ir. Rickett, Mr. P. Lee, Tvlr. G. H. Lee, ^Ir. H. Hart,
Mr. C. Hart, Mr. Tossetti, Mr. E. Lobb, Mr. G. Brown.

At midday, ]\Ir. H. Hart, who has succeeded his father at Canes Farm,
gave a most hospitable welcome to all comers, while his father, if helping
to keep some too eager spirits from over-riding hounds, was the first to give
them a line over a bit of Avheat when the pack were running full cry.

I believe that this season is the sixty-sixth that ^Ir. George Hart and
Mr. Sims Horner have hunted in Essex. It was an honour to be out with
two such veterans.

Not many days with ^Ir. Ouare's Harriers have come in my way this
season, but I could hardly fail to be surprised at the pace they can go, and
fancy that the strongest March hare will have little chance against them.

* Mrs. Grossman made a very rapid recovery, and was present at our Steeplechases on
April 6lh.

2 6o

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

What shall I tell you of Monday — Black Monday, it might well have
been called if one would have gauged its character from the despair and
disappointment written on all faces as preserve after preserve and covert
after covert were drawn blank. Not for me to weary you by dreary detail
of the names of all the tenantless preserves; even Courtfield — Col. Fane's
famous stronghold — for once disappointed us, and the cabbage field on its
outskirts, from which two such good runs have taken place already, failed
on this occasion. Methinks I gave someone else the credit for harbouring
a Courtfield fox instead of Col. Fane, but anyone may well feel a sense of
proprietary interest in a fox that has done you the honour to select your
fattest and most marketable chickens. A roving marauder is this Courtfield
fox, and he laughs in his sleeve at the Essex Hounds.

^^^^^r.'^^^^ji^^'^^^^:^^^^

Myless Lodge

Rough Talleys, on the borders of Epping Forest, saved the blank, when
the approaching night made it too late to be taken advantage of beyond the
boundaries of Weald Coppice.

If Monday was bad Tuesday was equally disappointing, and we had
such an eager field out too — so many that came to see a run, and meant
seeing any run the Essex Hounds could give them ; and among those
who have survived a season's hunting, escaped the influenza, have not
taken flight to the Riviera, or been hurried by Parliamentary duties into an
early London season, were : both Masters, Mrs. Bowlby and the Misess
Bowlby (three), Mrs. Arkwright, Mr. W. H. Baddeley and his son, Mr.
and Mrs. F. Ball, Mr. F. G. Barclay, Mr. and Mrs. Barron, Mr. Basham,
Mr. Avila, Mr. Howard, Mr. A. Bowlby, Mrs. Bruce, Mr. and Mrs. G.
Buxton, Miss M. Buxton, Mr. L. Buxton, Mr. E. K. Charrington, Mr. E.
Cockett, Mr. R. B. Colvin, Mr. Walter Cook, Mr. and Mrs. Weston
Crocker, Mr. D. Crossman, Mr. Tresham Gilbey, Mr. N. Gilbey, Mr.

INDIFFERENT SPORT 26 I

A. B. Giles, Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. T. R. Hull, Mr. G. H. Lee, Mrs. Neill,
Mr. George Hart, Mr. A. Peel, the Misses Peel (two), Mr. J. G. Pelly,
Miss Pelly, Mr. H. Sworder, Mr. Roddick, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Price, Mr.
C. E. Ridley, Mr. A. T. Sewell, Mr. A. R. Steele, Miss Steele, Mr. J.
Swire, Mr. J. Todhunter, Mrs. and Miss Waters, Mr. John White, Mr. J.
Green, General Sir Evelyn Wood, Sir W. Baillie-Hamilton, Tvlrs. E. J.
Wythes, Miss Yerburgh.

The one stirring incident of the day from Barnsleys to Latton — no
forest-bred fox, or he would have gone out at the bottom for Canes. On the
Latton side he hadn't a chance, you say, Mr. L. B., what with road riders,
eager carriage folk, and reckless cyclists. Mark it for future guidance, and
take the centre of the wood with hounds, sir ! and leave the main road
clear, for Harlow Park foxes have a knack of running to Latton. The
cyclist who, Mr. Baddeley affirms, yelled at the fox as he came out towards
Latton Park ought to have been — I was very nearly adding hung, drawn,
and quartered— but ought at the least to have had his tyres attended to.
We passed him in Potter Street, getting all he could out of a high gear and
the excitement of horses thundering down the road behind him.

Monday was not exactly a day we should have chosen for a mud bath ;
it was not freezing, certainly, but a keen cutting wind was blowing, which
the rays of even a February sun did little to temper ; so that the lady'''
whose horse rolled over with her in Parndon Woods, plastering her from
head to foot, showed a great deal of nerve and pluck in sticking to hounds
until the day had nearly dragged out its weary course. Only two foxes
seen all day. Coming on the top of Monday, does the fruit of Saturday's
sport taste as sweet in the mouth as it did on Sunday '? I have often been
loth to destroy the memories of a really memorable run by going out
hunting again for a week or ten days. I have often consoled myself
for missing a good one by the reflection — what can it matter a few years
hence ?

Mrs. E. J. Wythes.

CHAPTER IX.

Stovmer — Mr. Quare and his Harriers — Epping Forest — How to recover Hounds —
The success of the Suaviter in modo manner — Epping Town in summer dress —
Mr. Quare looks back upon a record season — His success at Peterboro' — The
annual meeting at the Green Man, 1899 — The Steeplechases at High Roding
Bury — Theodore Christy on "Schoolmaster" — Season 1899-igoo — Some
changes — Cub hunting — A Lion story — Bay's Grove — Record sport in November
—Fitz Johns — The Transvaal War — Volunteers for the Front — Our Handy
Man — A good run from Galley Hills — Pleshey Mount — Bushetts — The Lawn
Meet at Dudbrook — Imperial Yeomanry — Guy Gold, Philip Gold — Audley
Blyth, Rupert Blyth of the D.C.O. — Sydney Green — Guy Lobb — Gordon
Lobb — Godwin St. John Lobb.

Mr. Ouare's Harriers.

WHAT makes Mr. Quare so popular .'^ The question was put
to me on Saturday, February 25th, by a man who
possesses a keen insight into human nature, and whose pro-
fession is constantly calling- upon him to give decisions upon the
motives that underlie much of the bye-play going on around him
on the world's stage ; and yet this shrewd observer had to con-
fess that he was unable to solve this apparently simple problem.
One or two reasons I gave him then and there. Before
the day was over I could have given him a third, and that one
good enough to account for any popularity, and to it I will
allude later on — contenting myself with two at the present
moment.

MR. QUARE AND HIS HARRIERS 26

O

(First). Mr. Ouare is an enthusiast. He is a born harrier
huntsman from the sole of his foot to the crown of the neat
velvet cap which so often stands him in good stead when he is
boring his way through a scratchy fence. A great lover of
hounds, and a great judge of them. He is a most successful
breeder, and he has brought the pack, with which the late Mr.
Vigne and the present Master of Puckeridge were so closely
connected, to the very pink of perfection, and they can not only
hunt but can kill their hares faster than most packs. Did they
not kill five at Sutton's a week ago (nearly driving the head
keeper wild, I am told, at losing so many of his pets). — N.B. —
Wright always has liked hares better than foxes.

Another reason. No day is too long for Mr. Ouare, no
weather too rough, no field too large, no muster too small.
From daylight till dark he hunts his pack, and a sportsman
every inch of him. he is the bean id^al of the farmers, for, if
there is one man more than another a farmer esteems, it is a
sportsman born and bred, and born and bred a true sportsman
is Mr. Quare. Coming of a sturdy yeoman class, owners and
occupiers of land for many years in the Roothings of Essex,
no man can more fully enter into a farmer's feelings. No man
is more ready to study their interests in preventing damage to
crops and fences.

The third reason you shall have, as I promised, by-and-bye.
It had been whispered abroad, and the secret lost none of its
force in the constant repetition, that some of the wild forest
foxes were to be bolted from some of the forest strongholds
on Saturday last — subsequent to a meet at Birch Hall, Mr.
Gerald Buxton's house on the forest borders. No wonder,
then, that such a large assemblage came together to see the
fun : Sir T. Fowell Buxton and Miss Buxton, Miss T. Buxton,
Mrs. Clarke, Mrs. Redwood, Mr. J. G. Pelly, Miss Pelly,
Major Ricardo, Capt. Wood, Mr. Gregory, Mr. H. Sworder,
Messrs. W. and A. Sewell, Miss Marjorie Sewell, Mr, Tossetti,
Mrs. Bennett's pretty little flaxen-haired girl — by-the-bye, what
a very pretty picture those two children made riding about the
forest together, and taking the jumps that came in their way
when we got into the open country ; the one, Miss Marjorie
Sewell, with her raven black tresses falling in heavy masses
down her shoulders ; the other, the little princess. Miss Bennett,
with her luxuriant flaxen locks — as free as the wind, as happy
as birds, these innocent babes in the wood — Mr. and Mrs.
Cummins, Miss Savill, Mr. W. S. Horner — who, unluckily,
before the day was out had his face badly cut through his horse

264 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

bolting through the forest trees — Mr. H. J. Miller and his son,
Mr. Rickett, Mr. Cockett, Mr. Doxat, Mr. Howard, of Ivy-
lands, Mr. F. Ball, Mrs. F. Ball on wheels enamelled the
colour of forofet-me-nots to match her costume ; Mrs. C. R.
Parkes on foot, also Mrs. W. Sewell on wheels, Mr. Gould,
Mr. F. McKenzie. Mr. L. Buxton, Mr. Seal and his nephew,
and a good many more who were strangers to me, though they
seemed perfectly at home in the forest.

Mr. Ouare is never very hard upon late comers ; so by 1 1.30
you had only yourself to blame if you had not partaken, and
partaken freely, of all the good things that the proverbial
hospitality of Birch Hall provided.

Shortly afterwards, after a hack of some fifteen minutes, we
arrived on the scene, where the busy terriers were at work in
the earths, and heard the piercing scream that proclaimed
Reynard's flight, and set all the field agog, as the hounds
streamed over the ride and disappeared in the depths of the
vast forest. Like a rocket on his big bay came Mr. Gerald
Buxton, carving his way through the crowd, who, in desperate
haste, were striking out for the shores of the Forest, the open
country for which hounds appeared to be pointing. Was not
the remembrance of the great run some fortnight previous
fresh upon their followers ? If Mr. G. Buxton rode hard (we
did not know at the time that he could not hold his horse).
Major Ricardo, on his grand grey, that won the Essex Welter
Point-to-Point, rode equally fiercely in his determination not to
lose sight of such a pilot ; and to keep two such luminaries in
view I did my best, but doing it found the youths on the
handy ponies constantly cutting in as, like eels, they slipped in
and out or ducked under the low forest trees.

In breathless haste we reached the open, with straining eyes
we sought the vanished pack, and in the same plight came
Maiden, the huntsman, from another direction. He, too, had
lost his hounds. Not for him to wait and hesitate — a turn of
his bridle hand, and he was gone, to plunge once more into
the trackless forest, with a stronof followino-, and so men and
women rode in blind haste for another fifteen minutes. Anon
you came upon one whose judgment you would always sooner
rely upon than your own in matters venatic — first Mr. Harry
Sworder, then Mr. H. J. Miller, then the Major— all hound-
lost ; but the Master, with unerring instinct, had got to his
hounds, his horn was the signal that rang out sharp and clear
as near Copped Hall gates we once more hit off the hounds,
and again made for the open country, to enter it beyond Birch

IN EPPING FOREST

265

Hall. Oh, Mr. William Pearson, what were you doing- there ?
Why, oh why, were you not attending- to matters horticultural,*
instead of affairs venatic, for they say that you headed the fox,
and back from the open fields he sought safety in the forest's
pathless wilds ? And so the day wore on. Occasionally a
babbling note, as hounds feathered the line of one of the four
foxes that had in vain sought refuge in the forest earths, when
its sylvan glades were echoing again and again to the melody

Epping in summer dress and yet not a bicycle to be seen

of hounds' full cry, but nothing but a red-hot scent would have
served on such a day over the brown carpet of leaves that
thickly covered the ground, filling up every hole to a common
level, just as drifting snow smooths out the hollows on the
bleak moorland — makino- it dangerous to ride straioht ahead
without due caution, for any moment you might have found
yourself girth deep in the withered leaves.

Once more near the earth a stentorian holloa rang out, was
repeated, and rang out again. The first put Master, hounds,
and fields on the qui vive, the second on the move, the third on

* Mr. Pearson, of Redgrove, Epping, held the post of Hon. Secretary
of the Horticultural Show at the Essex Agricultural Society's meeting at
Epping in the summer of 1899. — Ed.

266 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

the gallop, to find, if nothing else, the latest ivay of recovering
hmtnds when lost, for the enthusiastic pedestrian whose lively
holloa in the distance had roused our hopes and stirred our
imaginations, confessed upon near approach that he had not
seen a hare, but had lost the hounds, and wanted to locate
them. As Henry John observed, what could you say to a
man like that? Mr. Ouare could only smile under his
moustache, like Lord Willoughby de Broke, when on the day
succeeding the Lincolnshire Handicap (at which meeting he
had unsuccessfully backed Mr. Tritton's horse, " Warpaint "), he
remonstrated with Mr. James Rose, ot Leamington, for getting
too near hounds. " 'Ware hounds, Mr. Rose! 'Ware hounds."
"'Ware paint! my lord," was the ready answer. His lordship
smiled grimly under his moustache, and rode on.f

After this, the hour near 1.30, Mr. Ouare thought it ad-
visable to give up the Forest and try fresh fields and pastures
new. Mr. Buxton, however, would allow none of us to pass
his doors without once more partaking of his hospitality, and
nothing loth to avail themselves of it did anyone seem on this
cold, bracing day. Cakes, sherry, and some grand old ale were
done full justice to, as was early demonstrated by the flippant
way certain hard-riding members of the field went hopping
over the fences, taking in cold blood, Mr. Miller, what we
should have looked twice at when hounds were running hard ;
but, after all, gaps are more dangerous than the hairiest fence.

Arriving at Mr. Avila's farm, a hare was very soon put up.
In their eagerness, no doubt, to give the hounds a good start,
to get them well laid on, several very keen thrusters rode
forward on the line of the hare, which aroused the wrath of one
member of the field to such an extent that he said, " I would
take the hounds home if they were mine." Perhaps he was
right ; perhaps Mr. Ouare might have been justified, too, in
adopting such extreme measures, but would he be the popular
man he is to-day if he spoilt the pleasure of the many to punish
the unintentional shortcomings of the few ? Neither saying he
wouldn't take his hounds home nor saying he would — very
much reminding me of a very popular clergyman I know,
who always says, "Yes, yes," when approached by would-be
innovators, but never departs one jot or tittle from the course
he has marked out as right — he quietly laid his hounds on, and
o-ave us two or three hours' of excellent huntino- and undeniable
Sport ; and this episode gives me the opportunity of asking,

t See " History of the Warwickshire Hunt."

SUAVITER IN MODO

267

would anyone seek further for the third reason of Mr. Ouare's
popularity? S^iaviter in niodo, rather xhm\ fori iter in re, is the
guiding principle of Mr. Ouare's conduct of his harrier field.

'Twas after 5 p.m. before Mr. Ouare gave up. The large
morning field had gradually dwindled down to five. Mr.
Arthur Sewell, who rarely goes home before the hounds, and
knows more about hare hunting than the majority ; Mr. Gerald
Buxton, who is second to none in his keenness and love of the
sport ; a stranger who delighted in picking out strong places ;
Mr. Doxat, from Cheshunt ; and one other. We had seen
some very good fun on this harrier day. Many saddles had

Outside the Cock Hotel, Epping (before the days of motor cars)

been emptied. It must have been nearly five, Mr. Cummins,
when you caught the runaway steed of the man in the soft cap.
Maiden said it was not hard falling, and he ought to have
known, as he took a rare toss at a big fence when hounds were
running very fast over the grass for the Shaws. Bn passant,
one cannot help admiring the way Maiden rides to his hounds.
No hesitation ; no matter what the fence is, over he goes if he
wants to turn them ; and we all know how much more nerve is
required riding to harriers than fox or stag hounds, for you
have the same biof fence backwards and forwards more than
once in the ordinarv course.

26S LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Hare hunting was soon over ; but when the end came, Mr.
Ouare had the satisfaction of looking back upon a record
season.

Mr. Ouare has been a hunting man all his life, and what
is far more uncommon, a hound man. Commencing on foot
with the Essex Hounds in the season 1859-60, he has had the
opportunity of studying the methods of various Masters of
various packs of hounds in his native county of Essex. In
1892-93 Mr. Ouare kept Beagles in Essex, and won second
prize for the best couple of unentered dogs in July, 1894, ^^^
in July, 1895, second prize for the best couple of entered
bitches. Mr. Ouare had previously kept Beagles in Cheshire
in 1867-68.

In April, 1896, he took over Mr. E. Barclay's pack of
Harriers, twenty couples, and hunted five days a fortnight
in 1896-97. In July, 1896, at Peterborough, Mr. Quare
won the second prize for the best couple of entered dog-
hounds, nineteen inch class (Mr. Ouare's standard), also second
prize for entered bitches. Increasing his pack in 1897-98 to
thirty couples, he hunted three days a week, and in July, 1897,
at Peterborough, won the following prizes : — First, with
"Dexter" and "Dancer," best unentered couple dog-hounds,
not exceeding 19 inches. Second prize with "Scalper" and
" Windsor," best couple of entered dog-hounds ; winning
the Champion Cup for dog-hounds with " Scalper." Further,
the Silver Cup for best three couples of dog-hounds ("Scalper "
and "Windsor"), ("Warbler" and "Signet"), ("Dasher"
and "Dexter"), making, with the second prize for entered
bitches "Refuge" and "Lovely," five prizes carried off in
1897. In 1898, however, he was even more successful, as the
following bare statement will show : —

First prize, best couple of entered dog-hounds (" Dexter "
and " Warbler").

Second prize, best couple of entered dog-hounds (" Scalper"
and " Signet ").

Champion Cup, best single dog-hound ("Warbler").

Silver Cup, best three couples of dog-hounds ("Dexter"
and " Warbler"), (" Scalper " and "Windsor"), ("Streamer"
and " Signet ").

First prize, best couple of unentered bitch hounds (" Sylvia "
and " Songstress ").

First prize, best couple of entered bitch hounds (" Fuchsia "
and "Refuge").

Champion Cup, best single bitch hounds (" Sylvia "j.

MR. quake's success AT PETERBORO'. 269

In July, 1899, Mr. Quare again swept the board at Peter-
borouorh, winninof seven out of nine classes : —

First prize, unentered dog-hounds, 19 inches.

First prize, entered dog-hounds.

Champion Cup, "Dog Hounds."

Champion Cup, dog-hounds, 21 inches, won by " Stormer."
(There were 20 entries for this cup.)

Second Prize, best stallion hound, 22 inches, won by
" Stormer."

First prize, entered bitch hounds, 19 inches.

Silver Cup, best three couples dog hounds from any
kennels.

The greatest triumph was winning with " Stormer," who is
only 19 or ig^ inches, against hounds from well-known packs
with a standard of 2 i inches.

Mr. E. Barclay measured "Stormer," and found that he
was 7^ inches round the leg.

The above record of triumphs is one of which Mr. Quare
may well be proud. What Essex sportsmen think of the way
he hunts his celebrated pack recently found expression in the
handsome testimonial and address with which they presented
him at the hands of Mr. George Hart on the occasion of the
annual puppy judging at Mr. Ouare's kennels at Matching
Green in May, 1898. On that occasion Major Aikman, in
responding for the Judges, remarked that he had been second
to Mr. Quare that year at Peterborough, and from what he
could see of the entry he was likely to be second to him next ;
the Major, as the sequel shows, was not far wrong.

The annual meeting was held at the Green INIan, Harlow, on March 11,
1899, Mr. Colvin presiding in the absence through illness of Lord Rook-
wood. To the regret of all present, Mr. Arkwright could not be induced
to reconsider his previously-announced decision of resigning the joint-
mastership which he had held with such conspicuous success with Mr. E.
S. Bowlby. ]\Ir. Bowlby, however, though expressing great regret at
losing Mr. Arkwright's valuable help and assistance (mentioning how
harmoniously they had always worked together), consented to go on
with the Mastership with the assistance in the field of Mv. C. E. Green.

A good many faces of those who were present at this meeting will be
recognised in the excellent photograph (taken by the Master's son, Mr.
Arthur Bowlby), which is given on the next page.

Of the day's sport there is little that calls for mention beyond the fact
that it was not up to the average class of good sport we have generally
met wnth at the annual meeting.

The Mastership of the Essex Stag Hounds also changed hands at the
end of the season, 1898-99; Mr. Pemberton-Barnes being elected at the
annual meeting in place of Mr. Sheffield-Neave, who had resigned.

The annual Steeplechases were held at High Roding Bury on Thursday,

o

o

THE STEEPLECHASES AT HIGH RODING BURY

271

April 6th ; the feature of the meeting being the successful way young
Maurice White managed to stick to his horse in spite of his saddle working
right round under his horse's belly.

The Essex Hunt Club Cup was won by Mrs. D. Grossman's " Ruth,"
steered by Mr. S. Caldwell ; the Farmer's Plate by Mr. T. Christy's
"Cheque-Book," owner up; the Fox Hunter's Plate by Mr. A. J. Tweed's
" The Doctor," Mr. Tweed riding. The Open Steeplechase Plate was

Theodore Christy on "Schoolmaster"

won by Mr. x\udley Blyth's " Whitehaven," ridden by Mr. Guy Marsh.
Percy Tippler rode two winners, viz., Mr. H. F. Simonds' " Bairath," in
the Essex United Hunt Cup, and Mr. J. Coleman's " Sweet Bird " in the
Roothing Steeplechase Plate. This High Roothing Bury course is not
half so pretty as the Rundells Course, but being miles away from any-
where saves it from being inconveniently crowded by the London crowd
from the East End.

272 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING UIARY

Half-a-crown was charged for paddock tickets — at Rundells they were
free. Perc}' Tippler told me that he liked the course, and he has ridden
over a good many in his time, so I gathered it was a good one.

About the second best hunter Mr. Christy ever owned
was " Schoolmaster," Irish-bred, chestnut in colour, he was a
very good stayer and fine fencer.

'Tis a pity that Mr. Christy had. no photo of "Chinaman,"
the most useful hunter he ever possessed, for the harder he
worked him the more " Chinaman " seemed to thrive, and at
the end of February or beginning of March he was always at
his best. For three seasons he hunted him regularly with
Mr. Neave's Staghounds, a very good training for point-to-
point races, of which he won no less than three with his
owner up, and a race at Harlow, carrying i3st. 7lb. Mr.
Christy thought that the alterations made in the Harlow
course in 1896 were a great improvement, and he looked upon
it as his lucky one, for he won the same race, the Farmer's
Plate, three years in succession, fairly doing the hat trick —
"Chinaman" 1894, " Rosebery " 1895, "Schoolmaster," 1896.

Mr. Christy is a finished horseman, and can make a young
horse into an accomplished hunter quicker than most men. He
has won six point-to-points in the last eight years, and the
Farmers' race five times in the past seven years. In 1899 on
" Brown Tony," he did a record performance, for carrying top
weight he beat all the light weights, and so won both stakes.

Season 1899-1900. Some changes to note in the mastership and the
staff, Mr. C. E. Green acting as Field-master in place of Mr, Arkwright
who had resigned at the end of last season, and Short, from the Bramham
Moor, taking the place of Jack Turner as first whip, and Maiden, from Mr.
Quare's establishment, succeeding Harry Easterby as second whip. In
personal appearance Short and Maiden are so much alike that they are
frequently mistaken for one another.

Jack Turner went to Mr. Arkwright as second horseman. At the
Puppy Show held in the summer he received a very useful testimonial in
the shape of a purse containing about ^300, subscribed by the members of
the Hunt, a pretty good evidence of his popularity with all the followers of
the E.H.

Cub-hunting commenced at 6 a.m. on Saturday, September i6th, at
Latton Park. The ground was so dry and hard after the long and almost
unprecedented drought and heat of the long summer of 1899, and there
appeared to be so little prospect of any better climatic conditions prevailing
for some time, that no one seemed in any hurry to get their hunters up.

However, rain set in towards the end of September, but the ground was
not soft enough to get any fun out of riding before the great rain on Friday,
September 2gth. Commencing in the afternoon it kept on without inter-
ruption all night, and again came down in torrents on Saturday night and
Sunday morning.

On Monday, October 2nd, hounds met at Coopersale at 7 a.m. We

BAY S GROVE

273

found a nice litter of cubs in Beachetts, the first, Mr. Gerald Buxton (who
has the shooting of this covert) assured me, that had ever been bred there.
We ran one cub very nicely through Shalesmore and lost it near Buttons,
and we finished off the day in a vain endeavour to try and force a fox
out of Weald Coppice.

I noticed the following out during the morning's sport : Mr. C. E.
Green, Mr. Tyndale White, Mr. and Mrs. Arkwright, Miss Bagot, Mr. F.
Ball, Miss Peters, Mr. and Mrs. Barron, Mr. G. Buxton, Miss T. and Miss
Maud Buxton, the latter just back from Africa where she had accompanied
her father, Mr. Edward North Buxton, upon a most successful hunting
expedition — not free by any means from dangerous adventure. On one
occasion Mr. Buxton was charged by a lion just as he had brought one
down ; his daughter, seeing his danger, warned him just in time, and he
shot the second one at very close quarters. Another time they (father and

Bay's Grove

daughter) were bicycling along a path when they encountered a lion.
Fortunately the two bicycles were too much for the animal's nerves and he
made off. What has all this to do with fox-hunting ? someone remarks.
Nothing, my friend, except that Mr. Buxton and his daughter found that
the presence of mind and quickness of decision which the hunting field had
certainly helped them to acquire stood them in very good stead on these
and other occasions. Others out at Coopersale on the 2nd : Miss Chisen-
hale Marsh, Mr. W. H. Baddeley, Mrs. Clarke, Mr. Walter Cook, Mr.
Newman Gilbey, his first appearance, Fred Green, Colvin Farnell- Watson
who had lately returned from Ceylon, where he had been hunting jackal ;
Messrs. Avila, H. Sworder, S. Fitch, R. Tilhng, S. Caldwell, John White,

18 VOL. II

2 74 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

G. H. Lee, E. Lobb, Colonel Lockwood, Dr. Harris-Butler, Major Ricardo.
On foot, Mrs. Bennet and Miss Prance.

Saturday, October 7th. Epping old church, 7 a.m. Overnight I had
not intended to hunt, but the sound of horses trotting past my house
at 6.45 awoke me, and I resolved to go for a ride at all events. Breakfast-
ing at 8, I was on old " Liscarton " before g, and a lovely morning it was for
a ride, a cloudless sky with a puff of wind from the east.

In the first field near the Bury Farm (Mr. Furze's) I met William Foster
(son of old Foster, a well-to-do tailor in Epping when I first came to live
in Essex), and he told me that hounds had had two good runs, one from
Orange Wood and the other from the Warren, and that they had returned
towards Copped Hall. Jogging quietly on I fell in with hounds in the
Warren and learnt that they had not really done much, as scent was very
indifferent. There were a good many people out, including C. E. Green,
F. Green, H. Jones, Miss M. Green, R. Y. Bevan, H. J. Price, John and
Maurice White, H. J. Miller, G. H. Lee, W. Cook, E. Cockett, Mr. and
Mrs. Weston Crocker, Vivian Nickalls, the famous sculler (just the man to
pull you out of a ditch) ; Harry Sworder, W. Sewell, Miss Dorothy Sewell,
S. Caldwell, F. Ball, Captain Wood, Mr. and Mrs. Waters, H. W. Lee.

From Obelisk Wood we ran quite a pretty little ring to ground about
two fields from Galley Hills. Green had the cub dug out and killed.
The grass yielded but little to the impress of a horse's hoof, and rain, more
rain was decidedly wanted.

Did not get any more hunting for eight weeks, missing thereby some
very good sport in November, the best November the Essex Hounds had
had for years. Mr. Frank Ball very kindly, however, supplied me with the
following notes, which will be found of considerable interest to those who
follow the fortunes of the Essex Hunt.

The second fortniofht of " reoular huntino- " deserves a
detailed record. It opened with a brilHant brush on
November 20th, from Blake Hall to Hatfield Grange, in which
hounds distanced the field. Two days later, a most enjoyable
run from Ongar Park to a kill in Poles Wood, Kelvedon, was
slightly marred by difficulty in crossing the Roding. This was
followed by a busy Saturday from Hatfield Town, foxes being
found directly hounds were in covert at Row Wood, Poplars
and Canfield Thrift. Moderate scent baulked hounds of their
prey, though their last attempt was kept up for an hour in good
style. On the following Monday (27th) Mrs. Mcintosh's gorse
furnished one of the right sort. His first point was for
Bishops Hall, which he nearly reached, then swung round and
took us to Pyrgo and through Curtis Mill Green. A drain at
Suttons gave him refuge for a time ; then he made off to an old
earth near Tawney Hall, where he was left to run another day.
Wednesday (29th) found us at Galley Hills, a covert which has
afforded much of our sport during the present season. This
time we had a good gallop across the meadows by Holly Tree
Farm, then up to Mr. Bury's, where we changed foxes and ran
well back through Galley Hills, ending with another wide

FITZ JOHNS

7D

circuit on the Monkhams side of the covert. The week ended
in the Roothings, where a brilHant day's sport was enjoyed on
December 2nd. Hounds met at Mr. R. Y Bevan's farm at
Willingale. A fox was quickly found in Spain's Wood, and
was brought to hand in Writtle Park after a oood run. Lords
Wood was then drawn, and away went a real g-ood Roothing
fox. A merry dance he led the field across the High Easter
Brook and on almost to Pleshey Church ; then away through
Fitzjohn's and Israel's — next by Mashbury Mill and Chignal
Hall, and thence he made his way across to Skreen's Wood
and on to Berner's Wood, where hounds ran into him in the
dusk.

^^.,^'vi'^^M't •'

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Fitz Johns

Another red-letter day in November was when hounds ran from Ashdon
to Bardfield, some fifteen miles in one hour and forty minutes, and then went
home at one o'clock, everybody having had enough. Short, our first whip,
always was in the right place at the right time.

Toot Hill, Monday, December nth, 1899. — My third day's hunting
this season. A slight frost in the night and a sprinkling of snow in the
morning made hounds late at the meet, at which a good many, including
the following, were present, viz., the Field-master, Air. C. E. Green ; Mrs.
Bowlby, Miss Eva Bowlby, Mr. A. S. Bowlby, Col. Lockwood, l\Ir. and
Mrs. F. Ball, Mr. E. Ball, I\Ir. G. Buxton (Miss M. and T. Buxton jomed

276 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

us later on), Mrs. and Miss Waters, Mrs. Grossman, in tall hat ; Mr. D,
Grossman, Mr. F. Green, Mr. and Mrs. H. J, Price, Mr. and Miss Jones,
Major and Mrs. Ricardo, Major R. B. Golvin ; a new member, Mr. Playne,'''
riding a clever thoroughbred horse and having a reputation for being a
very good man across country; Mrs. Barron, Mr., Mrs. and Miss Sewell ;
Gol. Fane on Royal Ghieftain, Mrs. Fane, Mr. R. Y. Bevan, Mr. and Mrs.
Arkwright, Miss Hattie Tait, Gaptain Wood, Mr G. F. Fitch, Mr. H.
Sworder ; Mr. Saward, of Patch Park, who during the day had a nasty roll
in the middle of a ploughed field ; Sir Gharles Smith, Mr. D. Gunliffe-
Smith, Mr. Gapel-Gure, Mr. George Brown, Mr. H. W. Lee, Mr. G. H.
Lee, Mr. F. Avila, Mr. R. G. Lyall, Miss E. Pelly, Mr. L. Pelly, Mr. E.
Lobb, Mr. John White, Mr. Daniel Gingell.

We drew through Ongar Park Woods and some of the Gaynes Park
coverts without finding, and then hounds were run through the upper part
of Ongar Park again, with like result, and Bailey was making his way
through the woods to Rough Talleys when a single hound gave tongue,
and the rest of the pack flew to the cry.

Turning sharp back I had the satisfaction of seeing hounds sweep right
past me and over three of the rides as they made a big sweep through the
woods, and with Golonel Fane, R. G. Lyall, J. Swire, Jack Miller (who
was riding Mr. G. E. Green's second horse), Bailey and Maiden (was it
Short ?), the still greater pleasure of seeing hounds hit off the line in the
open in the direction of Blake Hall.

To the back of the station hounds ran like smoke. Leaving Greensted
House on the right, they kept on parallel with the line towards Ongar ; Miss
Jones joined us here, and soon afterwards her father came galloping up.
Grossing the road by Water End Farm, our fox got to ground, and the
Field, who had had a stern chase, came up — " a very sparkling fifteen
minutes."

The fox was duly bolted but slipped hounds.

At Gurtis Mill Green they found again, and running close up to Patch
Park came away over the river crossing the road (into which Mr. Drummy
Smith scrambled as soon as anyone) by Skinner's P'arm. Taking the line
very nicely through Bush Wood and over Hill Hall Park, we soon reached
Beachetts, hounds waking its deepest recesses with their musical cry ;
and driving their fox out over Hill Hall Park they ran to Barbers at hot
pace ; and kept it up beyond the covert, over the good-scenting grass fields
alongside the brook, crossing it, and causing something more than delay
to some of those who tried to follow. I quite expected that " Jenkins " would
land me in the middle, but luckily, after a refusal, he saw how easily Gol.
Fane's horse, "Royal Ghieftain," hopped over, and followed him. Hitting
the road off, near Mr. Pegrum's farm, not a horse would leave it, Mr. H. J.
Price's, Mrs. Bennett's, they all declined the small bank out (but here let
me note that, ere the run was over, I saw Mrs. Bennett pop the horse she
was riding, a recent purchase of Mr. Harry Sworder's, over a stiff five-
barred gate). A gate lower down let the refusers through, and they galloped
after hounds towards Stew Green and up to Stonard's Farm, where Mr.
Samuel Fitch, on foot, was ready for them. Our fox ran right through
the grounds of Theydon Grove from end to end, going out towards Epping
Station, to circle back and cross the road into Mr. Ginger's wood. Mr.
H. W. Lee giving Mr. E. Ball a lead out of the road in the wake of
hounds, while the majority of the field crossed the line by the bridge, and
helped to make a line of gaps in the Rev. E. H. Grain's fences before
they got on terms again with the pack, near Goopersale Ghurch. Running

* He very soon afterwards rejoined his Yeomanry and went out to the Cape with them.

VOLUNTEERS FOR THE FRONT 277

on through the Forest and Gaynes Park woods, we lost our fox near
Jordan's Farm, by which time it was freezing hard with every appearance
of a frost setting in — which it did so severely that by Sunday, December 17th,
skating was going on in various parts of the country, the Lake on Epping
Plain bearing well.

Monday a cold thaw set in, enabling us to hunt on Wednesday,
December 20th, when we met at Great Parndon.

One of the first men I encountered at the meet was Major Beale Colvin,
who informed me that he, with several of the troopers belonging to the
Duke of York's own Loyal Suffolk Hussars, were going out with the body
of 3,000 Imperial Yeomanry which Lord Chesham was to command. Of
course little else but the war was talked about in the hunting field, for
directly or indirectly it affected everyone. Mr. Peel told me that his son,
who was with General French's force, had been placed hors de combat.
H. E. Jones said his son was going out. Col. Lockwood said he quite
expected that the reserve of officers to which he belonged would be called
out and have to go. Ford Barclay said he was going out with one of the
irregular troops being raised, and that he quite expected the following
Christmas to be camping out on the veldt with the force besieging Pretoria.
F. Green, in answer to a question of mine, if there had not been a great
run on his ships (the Orient Line), replied that the Government wanted
all they could possibly spare.

The sport was of indifferent character and does not call for any lengthy
notice. A fox was chopped in Latton, and another with an injured foot
only stood up for an in-and-out ten minutes at piping pace from the small
springs outside Latton Park, being killed near Epping Long Green.

Saturday, December 23rd, 1899. Waples Mill. A very foggy morning
at starting for the meet, but the sun broke through and it turned out a
lovely day.

This was my first day in the Roothings this season, and my first day
upon old " Berserker." I was doubtful whether I should be able to hold him
on account of my shoulder,* but found the strap round my arm a great help.

There was a good muster, including Frank Jones, H. E. Jones's son,
who had volunteered and expected to go out with the Imperial Yeomanry
to South Africa. F. Green's son, Sydney, was also going, and young John
White told me that he had volunteered.

There was a very keen, hard-riding lot out, including : Mr. E, S. Bowlby
and his son; Miss E. Bowlby, Mr. and Mrs. L, Arkwright, Mr. Fred
Green and his son, Charlie Green (just back from Harrow), Miss M. Green,
Mr. and Mrs. Waters, Miss Morgan, Mr. Hilliard, Mr. H. E. Jones, Miss
Jones, Mr. and Mrs. Grossman, iNIr. and Mrs. Woodhouse, Mr. T. Usborne,
M.P., Miss Usborne, Mr. A. R. Steele and Miss Steele, Col. Lockwood,
M.P., Messrs. A. J. Tweed, J. Swire, H. Blyth, P. Gold, F. Basham, Ford
Barclay, W. and C. E. Ridley, F. Ball, T. Christy on " Brown Tony," N.
Gilbey, S. Caldwell, Weston Crocker, George Brown.

It was quite evident before the day was over that the unenviable
notoriety which the Roothing country had acquired for its paucity of
foxes was fully justified. Not a fox was found in any of the following
coverts : Spains Wood, Willingale (from which such a good run had taken
place earlier in the season across to Blackmore High Woods) proved blank.
When Spains Wood was being drawn there was great competition to be
first down the lane leading to the covert, the exit of one at a time out of
the lane on the previous occasion, already alluded to, having brought

* I had dislocated it a month previously.

2/0 LEAVES FROM A HUNTINCx DIARY

disaster to a good many, in fact to nearly all who failed to get through in
the first dozen, for hounds ran at a great pace. F. Green was one of the
lucky ones to see the run, and to see it well. After Spains came Screens
and its surrounding coverts, then Berners Wood, then Lords and Leaden ;
nor did we find until we reached Man Wood, only to be rewarded with a
spin to Brick-kilns and back.

Wednesday, December 27th, 1899. Tyler's Cross. It froze so hard in
the early hours of the morning that hounds did not put in an appearance
before 12. Bailey was not at all keen about hunting, as he said that the
ploughs would cut the hounds' feet to pieces, so Gerald Buxton suggested
that they should go on to Nasmg Coppice, where it was all grass. x\s luck
would have it, just as hounds were going steadily on over Nasing Common,
a fox jumped up in view, Mr. Seymour Caldwell being the first to spot him ;
hounds fairly flew across the common and lost their fox beyond the coppice
near Deer Park ; what with the cold and " Berseker's " pulling, my hands
were quite benumbed by the time we reached Deer Park, so I welcomed a
check. W., who was riding " Liscarton," said he could not get over the
ant-hilly common fast enough to keep with hounds.

We next put into Galley Hills, and very soon had a fox away to Shatter
Bushes, where a very pretty little gallop came to an end.

Our next find was one of young Bury's foxes in the fagot heap, and this
one led us a very nice little dance over the grass by Nasing Schools,
crossing the road up to Deer Park, going through that covert and on to
Galley Hills, and without dwelling reached the place he started from.
Bolted from his refuge ; at starting he ran much the same line as before,
but turned quicker for Galley Hills, from which covert he, or another fox,
took us out at the bottom end towards Obelisk Wood, and ran to ground in
the Forest, near Honey Green Lane. Altogether it was a very jolly day, in
spite of the frost.

Young Bury went very well, taking his own line ; he appeared to have a
very useful horse that knew its business.

Three strangers out — the Marquis of Headfort, Miss Carr-Ellison and
Miss Faudel PhiUips. After the Marquis had broken his horse's knees
jumping into a road, they all went home.

Monday, January i, igoo, " Brook House." A sharp frost in the night
and a dense fog in the morning, it looked anything but propitious for
hunting by the time we arrived at the meet, where there was quite a
bumper gathering, including Mr. and Mrs. L. Arkwright, Mr. F. Avila,
Messrs. E. A. Ball, F. Barclay, Miss E. Bowlby, Mr. and Mrs. R. B.
Barron, Mrs. Bennett, her little girl, Mr. Arthur Bowlby and his young
brother, Misses M. and T. Buxton, Mr. Gerald Buxton, Mr. Seymour
Caldwell, S. Chisenhale-Marsh (his first appearance for several seasons, I
believe ; he told me that his children between them had lamed all his
horses) ; Mr. W. Cook, Mr. and Mrs. D. Grossman, Mr. W. Dalton, Guy
and Noel Edwards, Col. and Mrs. Fane, Mr. C. F. Fitch. J\Ir. and Mrs.
E. Sheppard, Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. F. Green and his son Charlie, and
another small boy and girl ; Mr. T. R. Hull, Miss Hull, Mr. H. E. Jones,
Miss Jones, Mr. G. H. Lee, Mr. Lobb, Col. Lockwood, Mr. J. G. Pelly,
Vivian and Miss Pelly, Mr. H. H. Raphael, Mr. E. Savill, Mr. and Mrs.
W. Sewell, Mr. A. Sewell, Sir Charles Smith, Mr. D. Cunliffe-Smith, Mr.
and Mrs. Waters, Mr. Tyndale White and his son John, and W. H. B.
Yerburgh. No sport owing to fog.

January 10, Thrushes Bush. Some spell it Threshers Bush ; I have two
large maps, on each it is differently spelt ; so I have adopted the first
throusfhout these Leaves.

OUR HANDY MAN 279

Barnsleys was the first covert we tried, then Mark Hall, both blank.
In Bay's Grove hounds found instanter and ran at a great pace to Latton,
checked there, and getting away again pulled their fox down in the open
two fields from Latton Priory, when the opportunity was taken of
blooding two youthful aspirants to fox-hunting fame ; Charley Newman
Gilbey was one of them, and I fancy a cousin or brother of his the other.

I was out of this hunt from Latton, as were most of those who were in
the middle ride when the fox broke.

Herbert Blyth, however, was one of the fortunate ones who got well
away and led the dance — as he remarked to me after the kill, hunting in
Leicestershire teaches you to be quick ; jump the first fence whatever it is,
and you are all right. But there was no fence in that middle ride to jump
— only a big crowd to wedge you in. What, then, Mr. B.? "Xo business
to have got there, sir," I fancy he would reply.

Parndon Woods, for a wonder, failed us, but in the small spinney
adjoining Mr. Todhunter's house a fox was at home. Here I and W. had
a great stroke of luck. Thinking that the holloa was the Pinnacle side, we
rode for it to find to our dismay that we were wrong, and what was still
worse, that the old gap by the side of the wood was done up with rails,
making it quite unjumpable from our side ; the fence itself was impracti-
cable, and riding along it no weak spot could be seen. Resigning ourselves
to the inevitable, we were retracing our steps without any hopes of seeing
hounds again in that run, when we suddenly espied Short, the first
whip, gallop up to the corner of the wood, and he asked us it we had
seen the fox, which had doubled back into the wood. To make a long story
short, I and W. were at the head of affairs when the fox broke, and again
made for Parndon Woods ; pressing him through these, hounds ran him
across Rye Hill Common to Latton Park ; coming away from there over the
common, they returned to Parndon Woods, where within two fields of it a
flight of rails over which jMr. J. Swire had flown brought Mr. Bevan to
grief. The Admiral and I jumped off to the rescue, but luckily, beyond
having the wind knocked out of him and being somewhat bruised, Bevan
was none the worse for being used as a door mat by his quad. Leaving
Parndon Woods we ran our fox at slow pace to ?^Iarles and lost him near
Thornwood Common. Altogether a nice hunting run. They did not find
again.

Wednesday, January 17th, Tylers Cross. Hacked on to the meet with
W., and we were overtaken by Tilling and Gerald Buxton, the latter of
whom said he had just received a letter from his cousin Lawrence Buxton,
who was with Sir Redvers Buller's force, and that he had stated that
there was no doubt about their having had a tremendous hiding on the
Tugela.''

Nothing like such a large muster as the previous W^ednesday, the
threatening appearance of the weather no doubt deterring a good many,
but the following names occur to me : Mrs. Bowlby and Miss E. Bowlby,
Mr. Arthur Bowlby, Mr. and Mrs. L. Arkwright, ^^lajor and INIrs. Ricardo,
Mr. Vivian Nickalls, Mr. J. Pelly, Miss E. Pelly, Vivian Pelly, Mr. R.
Bury, Air. and Mrs. Crossman, Mr. H. E. Jones, Mrs. and Miss Waters,
Mr. H. |. Price, Air. and Mrs. Weston Crocker, Mr. Balfour, of Moor
Hall, Mr. T. J. Howard, Mr. F. Avila, Air. A. Peel, Miss E. Peel and her
sister, Air. E. W. Young, Air. J. Green, young Chapman, Air. G. H. Lee,
Mr. R. S. Tilling, Air. G. Buxton, Aliss t. Buxton, Air. E. Savill and his

* Another instance (though unofficial) that Englishmen are not given to magnifying every
defeat into a glorious victory, like the Boers. — Ed.

2 8o LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

sister, Mr. C. E. Green, Miss M. Green, Mr. J. Swire, Mr. Seymour
Caldwell, Mr. N. Gilbey and his son, Mr. R. C. Lyall, Mr. Tyndale T^lte,
Mr. John White, Mr. Ford Barclay, Mr. J. Todhunter, Dr. Love, Mr.
Christie.

A move was first made to Pinnacles without finding, and then to
Roydon Grove and Tattle Bushes. In the latter covert there was a fox
that did not wait to be found, and his exit was not discovered until hounds
were being blown out of covert. Only those who were lucky enough to be
in or very near the covert when hounds found had the chance of a start.
Mr. Arkwright, Mr. R. Bury, Mr. Tyndale White, Mrs. Arkwright, young
John White, Mr. A. Giles, Mr. T, R. Hull, and Mr. V. Nickalls were
among the lucky few. Hounds came away at a great pace and crossed the
Low Hill Road, running on towards Mr. Bury's. Immediately after we
had crossed the Low Hill Road we were pulled up by a locked gate which
everyone crowded round. Mr. Nickalls, however, managed to squeeze
through the press, and his good roan horse jumped the gate at a stand,
giving him a lead which no one would have wrested from him had hounds
run on instead of being pulled up some half-a-dozen fields further on just
as they had fairly embarked on a most lovely country. It was bad luck for
him, and bad luck also for all those who squeezed through the gate
afterwards when John White had fetched it off its hinges— that what
promised to be such a good run was so quickly nipped in the bud.

Our next move was to the Policies around Nasing Park, Here we
found but could not get the fox away ; bad luck also attended our third
venture at Nasing Coppice, a fine fox getting to ground within a field of
the covert. Going to Galley Hills, after running on the line of a fox nearly
up to Shatter Bushes, hounds found at once, the fox most accommodatingly
breaking in full view of us all, as we waited at the bottom end near
Monkhams Lane. No one could complain about getting a bad start, but
how many, ere the run was over, had failed to keep the place they had
started with.

Running past Mr. Dewey's Farm we surged down the first grass field.
Mr. V. Nickalls did not wait to open the gate out of it, but at once jumped
the fence, which Mr. Ford Barclay and a few others flew on his left (the
gate, it turns out, was fastened, and this threw a good many behind).
Hounds ran fast up to Shatter Bushes, through that covert, and away
towards Nasing Coppice, Mr. V. Nickalls again scoring as he jumped a
high rail out of the lane near Deer Park (no one caring to follow his
chestnut's lead). Riding on with Mr. H. J. Price and others towards the
Coppice, over ground cruelly heavy, we had hounds on our right, and very
soon they came right across us, as our fox had turned back for Galley Hills ;
not entering this covert, he went away down the hill, crossing the road
near Nasing Schools, Mr. Nickalls once more being the quickest to get to
them as they ran on at a great pace towards Mr. Bury's fagot stack.

Just short of St. Leonards the fox swung to the left through Mr. Bury's
gorse, and went a rare bat up to Galley Hills, Mr. V. Nickalls being first
into the covert with hounds, followed by the huntsman, and first whip, Mr.
Arkwright and Miss Peel. Few others were near them when they left this
covert (for it was sobbing work for horses up to and through Galley Hill,
and many had to ease their horses) and went away for Shatter Bushes,
hanging a bit after the first two or three fields ; one or two more, including
Mr. D. Grossman and young John White, joined the ranks. After leaving
Claveringbury Farm behind we had a couple of fields up hill, and Mr.
Nickalls' chestnut could no longer go as before, though he still kept plug-
ging on. Arkwright, who, fortunately for him, had just secured his second

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282 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

horse before the run commenced, was going very strong. Curiously enough,
one of the first into Shatter Bushes was the Httle, fair-haired Miss Bowlby.
How she got there I do not know. Hounds checked for some time at
Shatter Bushes, which allowed the field to get up before they got on the
line again. Crossing the Cobbin End lane, hounds flew along over the grass
for Orange Wood, Mr. Arkwright, Bailey, Short, and Miss Morgan being
among the first few over the brook below Gill's Farm. As hounds bore
down the hill for Orange Wood, Bailey for some reason or other turned to
the left through the farm-yard, and nearly everyone followed him, with the
exception of Mr. Seymour Caldwell and Mr. Swire ; Mr. Caldwell getting
down at a very trappy fence into the field running up to the wood (he was
riding a well-bred little horse belonging to Reggie Hill). Leaving Orange
Wood behind, Mr. Jones riding his favourite horse, the Colonel soon joined
Messrs. Swire and Caldwell ; but the run was nearly over, for two or three
fields further on, at the bottom of the hill leading up to Waltons, General
Marter's house, our good fox got to ground in a drain, and although he
was bolted out he was never recovered, but I am afraid was drowned in
the Cobbin brook, which was running in flood at the time. We wound up
the day with a very fast gallop from Parndon Woods to Galley Hills ; Mr.
A. Giles, Miss T. Buxton, and the boy on the bang-tailed bay, being
among the few who stayed to the end.

Bobbingworth Windmill, January 22nd. Started out with R. on
" Liscarton " after luncheon, and fell in with hounds running full cry near
Knightsland Wood to Ongar Park. Scent had been at a discount all
day and did not improve in the afternoon, when we found ourselves in the
Gaynes Park preserves, only a small field out, including C. E. Green,
Tyndale White, John White, G. H. Lee, Frank Ball, Colonel Fane,
Major Ricardo, Mr., Mrs. and Miss Waters, J. Swire, Mrs. Bennett, R. C.
Lyall, A. Bowlby, S. Chisenhale Marsh and his son, Hugh Hart, Mrs.
Grossman, J. G. Pelly, V. Pelly, C. K. Carr.

Wake Arms, January 24th. Rode with R. to the meet. A big muster,
including Mr. R. Lockwood, in the blue coat of the Beaufort Hunt ; Mr. R.
Tilling, Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. G. H. Lee, Mrs. L. Arkwright, Mr. F. Ball,
Mr. R. Y. Bevan, Mr. F. Avila, Mr. S. Fitch, Mr. G. Buxton, Miss T.
Buxton, Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton, Mr. Victor Buxton and two of his
children on ponies and out for the first time with foxhounds ; Mr. E.
Cockett, Mr. W. Cook, Mr. and Mrs. Grossman, Guy and Noel Edwards,
Mr. W. Sewell, Miss Dorothy Sewell, Mr. Newman Gilbey, Mr. D.
Gregory, Mr. W. S. Horner, Mr. F. E. Loyd, Miss M. Morgan, Mr. J.
Pelly, Vivian Pelly, Major and Mrs. Ricardo, Mr. A. T. Sewell, Mrs.
Waters, Mr. C. E. Ridley, Mr. R. Bury, Rev. A. F. RusseU, Mr. C. H.
Pyne, Mr. W. Gingell, Captain Wood. Driving, Mr. and Mrs. F. McKenzie.

Beech Hill Park was swarming with foxes, and hounds snapped up
three directly, much to the satisfaction of Mr. A. J. Edwards, who, although
unable to hunt, had been looking well after the interests of his hunting
friends by keeping these foxes for them. It was a great pity that they
had not been routed out in the cub-hunting season.

Going away with a fourth fox, hounds worked out quite a nice hunting
run on the outskirts of the Forest, after first running up to the King's
Oak and coming back by Dick Turpin's Cave. Only one drawback to this
country, which has been alluded to previously in these Leaves, there is
too much wire about.

We drew several of the Copped Hall coverts blank, Spratts Hedgerow,
Orange Wood, &c., and finished off the day with a Nasing Coppice fox,
which was lost near Nasing Park after crossing the Common.

PLESHEY MOUNT — BUSIIETTS

283

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284 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

On Saturday, January 27th, after a prolonged and ineffectual attempt to
get a fox away from C. E. Ridley's new gorse, and after drawing the whole
Pleshey country blank, at 3.20 p.m. they found themselves at Screens, and
had a rare good run from that covert of an hour and thirty minutes, run-
ning through Roxwell, where those who plunged in and out of the brook,
led by Hilliard, had a great advantage, and on through Lady Grove, with
very pretty hunting up to Lea Wood and Writtle Park, thence through
King Wood to Hylands Park, where the fox went close to the lake near
the house, and perhaps because he was frightened by a shooting party,
who were probably having their last treat for the season, went on and across
the river and close up to the Dye Works at Chelmsford, where information
was received that the fox had gone on to the railway, but being dusk the
chase was abandoned. The day finished with a participation in the
generous hospitality of Mr. T. Usborne, M.P., followed by a ride home
through a night of Stygian darkness, hounds not reaching the kennels
till nearly g o'clock.

Monday, January 2gth. We met at Dudbrook, where Mr. and Mrs.
Grossman very hospitably entertained us all before hounds moved off.

For many years the Dudbrook coverts have been noted for
their dearth of foxes, the late tenant, Mr. David P. Sellar,
never having taken any interest in their preservation. Now,
however, with the advent of two such keen fox-hunters as
Mr. and Mrs. Grossman we may hope for better things in
the future. That we did not find upon this occasion was a
great chsappointment to them both, as it was well known that
there were foxes at Dudbrook, and before the day was over we
brought one of them back from Curtis Mill Green and then
put up another.

It was a bitterly cold morning. All those who had driven
to the meet looked perished, and required very little persuasion
to try the hot coffee, or orange or cherry brandy. Mr. and
Mrs. Arkwright and J. Pelly were staying in the house, while
among those present at the first meet that had been held at
Dudbrook for probably nigh half a century were Mrs. and Miss
Bowlby, Mr. C. E. Green, Major and Mrs. Ricardo, Mr. and
Mrs. R. F. Ball, Mr. E. A. Ball (about his third appearance at
the covert side this season), Golonel Lockwood, Miss M.
Morgan, Mr. Tyndale White and his son, Mr. R. W'altham, Mr.
F. Avila, Miss T. Buxton, Mr. A. W. Graig, Gaptain Wood,
Messrs. Ford Barclay, Jones, Brown, Bevan, Lee, Gockett,
Fitch, E. Savill, E. Lobb, L. Marriage, Miss Jones, Mrs.
Barron, Mrs. Bennett, Mr., Mrs. and Miss Waters, Sir Gharles
Smith and his two sons, Golonel and Mrs. Fane, Mrs. W. R.
Glarke, Mr. F. Green, Miss M. Green, Miss E. Pelly, Miss G.
Pelly. Mr. L. Pelly, Miss Savill.

A brief scurry from Gurtis Mill Green to Dudbrook
warmed us up at mid-day. This is always a sporting line of

IMPERIAL YEOMANRY

285

Guy Gold Philip Gold

D.C.O. Imperial Yeomanry

286

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

country to ride over, offering, as it does, such variety in the
obstacles that have to be negotiated, and by many, including
Mr. Grossman, is much preferred to the Roothings.

Late in the afternoon we found a brace of foxes at Colonel
Lockwood's, but had not scent enough to push them, and we
finished up a very indifferent day's sport by drawing Loughton
Shaws and a wood behind Birch Hall blank.

Corporal Audley Blyth, D.C.O. Imperial Yeomanry

Everyone was very depressed at the news from the front,
the retreat from Spion Kop, where so many of our gallant
soldiers had lost their lives.

Fred Green told me that his son Sydney, who was going
out as a yeomanry trooper, found that he had plenty of real
hard work to do, getting up at 5.30 every morning, grooming
his own horse, ike. (see p. 221).

IMPERIAL YEOMANRY

287

Miss M. Morgan said her brother was deUg-hted to be
going, and Eric Lobb complained that he had to stop at home
and look after the house, as three of his brothers had gone, or
were going immediately ; his mother, who lives at Woolston
Hall, Chigwell, has indeed something to be proud of that three
of her sons should volunteer to fieht for their Oueen and

Trooper Rupert Blyth, D.C.O. Imperial Yeomanry

country. Godwin, of the Hon. Artillery Company, went out
with the Mounted Infantry Detachment of the C. I. V. ; his
brothers, Guy and Gordon, joined the Montgomeryshire Yeo-
manry, and went out very soon afterwards.

It is very satisfactory to note how all the hunting men of
Essex responded to Sir Redvers Buller's call for more mounted
troops in the hour of their country's need — yes, and that too !

:88

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

long- before Mr. Winston Churchill's well-known message was
flashed across the sea, ''Are all the Gentlemen of England
Fox-hunting?'' they were ready and willing to go. Mr.
Lancelot Rolleston, whose portrait appears in these pages
(see vol. i., page 5), was by no means the only Master of
Hounds who went out with his yeomanry troop at this great

Lieut. -Colonel Colvin, late Master

crisis in England's history

Lance Corporal Guy Errington Lobb (No. 49 Company, Imperial YeomanryJ.

of the Essex and Suffolk Hounds, whose name appears so
often in these pages, and whose portrait will be found on
page 18, vol. i., was one of the first to volunteer to go out, but
his services were requisitioned to serve his country at home as
Deputy- Assistant Adjutant-General to the Imperial Yeomanry
(for corps raised outside the head-quarters of the existing

IMPERIAL YEOMANRY

289

yeomanry regiment). Mr. Percy Whitaker, Master of the
Oakley, and a former Master of Hounds in Essex, whose
name also has been mentioned in this journal, immediately
volunteered for active service and went out with his troop.
While of the humbler votaries of fox-hunting in Essex, to
names I have alreadv mentioned in foot-notes or elsewhere in

LanceCorporal Gordon Horak Lobb (No. 49 Company, Imperial Yeomanry).

these pages, I would add, Mr. Audley Blyth and Mr. Rupert
Blyth, sons of Sir James Blyth ; Mr. Philip and Mr. Guy Gold,
sons of Mr. Charles Gold, M.P., who joined the " Duke of
Cambridge's Own." While hunting occasionally with us, but
known perhaps better over the border with the Puckeridge, let
me add Mr. Alfred Gosling's name, making with Mr. Seymour
Gosling and Mr. George St. Clowes no less than seven members

ig VOL. n

290

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

of the Stansted Polo Club who had gone, or were going, to
the front ; Mr. Johnson, son of Mr. Henry Fielder Johnson,
of Piper's Harlow ; young Willis, son of the late George Willis,
of the Saracen's Head, Dunmow ; Mr P'ord Barclay, who went
out to join one of the Colonial contingents ; Mr. F. Avila's
nephew, James Christy, junr, ; young Blyth, son of Mr. W.
Blyth, of Sturgeons ; and three of Mr, Hollebone's sons, names
all well known in the hunting fields of Essex.

Lance-Corporal Godwin St. John Lobb, C.I.V.

" Ripley "-(i878).

CHAPTER X.

Hunting from Town — One of the Penalties of it — The Brick Kiln Fox — Sir
Charles Smith and Mr. Thomas Cowee to the front again — Matching Park —
A Memorable Run — -Deidey Wood — Grecnsted Wood — The Select Few —
Dexter has it — The Annual Meeting, 1900 — Lord Rookwood Presides— Mr.
Boivlhy Resigns the Mastership — Saving the Blank — See it out Mr. Tilling —
Another late Find — A Kill in Epping Forest — Little Laver Mill to Galley
Hills — How we did it — Mr. C. Fitch breaks his collar bone — Where are the
Light Weights? — George Brown shows the ivay — F. Green to the rescue — The
Ambulance — Refusers — Short's Method — Through Epping Town — The last
day of the Season, 1 899-1 goo.

HUNTING FROM TOWN.

IN Essex the frost broke up sufficiently for hounds to take the field at
High Roothing Street on Saturday, February 17th. But the going
was bad and the sport indifferent.
'Tis with Wednesday, February 21st, the meet Great Parndon, that
I take up the thread of my hunting narrative. If you are living in
town you must breafast betimes if you would catch a hunting train for a
day in Essex. This, however, is no hardship to the fox-hunting enthusiast,
who rather enjoys an early start, the early anticipation of sport to come.
Therefore it was not a matter of surprise, before the train steamed out
of the station, to see those keen votaries of the sport of kings, Mr. R. S.
Tilling and Mr. P. J. Pelly, booted and spurred, on the platform. Hacking
on to the meet I overtook Frank Ball and his wife, and heard that hounds
had had a very fair run on Monday from Mrs. Mcintosh's gorse.

There was plenty of time to note the names of those who were present
at Wednesday's meet during the twenty minutes hounds were kept waiting
for the Countess of Warwick's arrival. No one demurred at this delay.
All were delighted to see Lady Warwick hunting again with the Essex,
and she seemed equally pleased to be back with her old pack.

292 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

We were all glad, too, that our Master, Mr. E. S. Bowlby, was able to
ride again, and hoped that the rumour of his resigning the Mastership at
the end of the season was a rumour and a rumour only. Mrs. Bowlby was
out also, Mr. and Mrs. Arkwright, Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. Arthur Bowlby
and the three Miss Bowlby's, Mr. F. Avila, Mr. E. A. Ball, Mr. and
Mrs. R. F. Ball, Mr. F. T. Basham, Mr. W. H. Baddeley, Mr. R. Y.
Bevan, Mr. H. Blyth, M. G. Buxton, Miss T. Buxton, Mr. S. Caldwell,
Mrs. W. R. Clarke, Mr. E. E. Cockett, Mr. Walter Cook, Mr. and Mrs.
Weston Crocker, Mr. C. F. Fitch, Mr. H. P. Gee, Mr. N. Gilbey, Mr.
Tresham Gilbey, ^liss A. Gold, Mr. Gerald Gold, Mr. F. Green, Miss M.
Green, Mr. T. J. Howard, Mr. W. S. Horner, Mr. Eric Lobb, Mr. R. C.
Lyall, Mr. A. Peel, Miss E. Peel, Mr. J. G. Pelly, Major and Mrs.
Ricardo, Mr. C. E. Ridley, Messrs. L. and E. Savill and Miss Savill,
Rev. R. L. Scott, Mr. A. T. Sewell, Mr. and Mrs. W. Sewell and Miss
Dorothy Sewell, Mr. S. Single, Mr. A. R. Steele, Miss C. Steele and Miss
M. Steele, Mr. R. S. TilHng, Mr. J. Todhunter, Mr. B. E. Todhunter,
Mr., Mrs. and Miss Waters, Mr. Tyndale White and Mr. John White,
Mr. E. W. Young, Mr. E. S. Kennedy, Mr. Balfour, Mr. James Green and
son, Mrs. Hine.

What sort of scent do you think there will be ? elicited from that
veteran Mr. W. Sims Horner, the reply, "Ah! that's impossible to say."
Both Mr. Lyall and another man rashly hazarded that, with the frost in the
ground and the strong cold wind blowing, scent would be at a discount.
They w^ere deceived ; though, with the first fox discovered, just outside
Parndon Woods, scent was not good enough for hounds to press him, until
after crossing Rye Hill Common he turned up wind ; a turn that did
Mr. G. Buxton out of his usual place in a good run ; for, stopping to help
Short, who had come to grief, to remount, he took a wrong turn, thinking
hounds were pointing forestwards ; and, taking one wrong turn, he kept
taking others, which in the deep state of the ground it was impossible to
make good at the pace hounds ran. Short, however, was more fortunate,
and got to hounds by Maries just as they fairly settled down to run with a
will, and was very soon demonstrating that he v»'as on a good timber
jumper, no one caring for the rails he selected.

Leaving Maries Wood on our left, we crossed the farm road, Mr.
Arkwright leading, followed by Mr. T. J. Howard on his grey, and Mr. F.
Green on his chestnut, and the Admiral on his 'bus-horse. No one
headed them over this delightful grass country, although there were plenty
close on their heels, until hounds checked for a few seconds just on the
edge of Epping Green, Mr. Gerald Gold breaking the rails that barred
our access to it.

Hounds entered Parndon Woods at the Nasing corner, and our ranks
closed up, about twenty being ready for the gap by the time Short's holloa
away, half-way down the covert-side, was heard — Mrs. Bowlby, Mr. Ark-
wright, Mr. G. Gold, Mr. Tresham Gilbey, about the first through ; Mr.
E. Lobb, on his black thoroughbred mare, going for a stiff stile '■'- on the
right of the gap with the same pluck and determination that his twin
brother, Godwin St. John Lobb, led his company of the C.LV. when
Lord Roberts seized Jacobsdal on February 15th. The mare hit it hard,
and, nearly pitching a somersault, sent her rider flying well clear of her,
and, galloping off, was not recovered for three fields.

* About the first time I have seen this stile attempted, the well-known and well-worn
poached-up gap, with its deep drop and greasy landing (the only other feasible place in the
fence) having far too great an attraction for the majority of us. — Ed.

c

ni
v

a

s

294 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Beyond Mr. Todhunter's spinney we had a five minutes' check.
Recovering the line beyond the Tyler's Cross to Parndon, Lane hounds
crossed the brook and ran very hard for Pinnacles. " Is there a way
over ? " said Mr. C. E. Green to Mr. Arkwright. " Only the bridge a field
to the left," came the reply, and for the bridge on the left they went.
Bailey, however, had spied a way in and out, a fairly easy walk down, but
a steep sideways' scramble out, and no horse out of the half dozen that
followed him did it better than Mrs. Bowlby's. After the brook a choking
plough up-hill took the pull out of most horses, the Admiral still
fanning in front, as we ran up to Pinnacles, and with our forces rather
augmented left the wood behind and made for Roydon — Messrs. E. and F,
Ball both well to the fore. Just short of Roydon our fox turned, Mr.
Arthur Waters finding the quickest way in and out of a lane for the left-
hand contingent as hounds ran on for Parndon.

Swinging once more to the right they ran like smoke for Todds brook,
crossing the road below Northbrooks and running past Passmores, They
crossed some heavy fields with plenty of fencing, Mr. Balfour's good
chestnut whipping round at one blind place. In and out of a lane sharp
with Mr. C. E. Ridley and Mr. Charles Green, and as hounds turned once
more to the left and ran on fast for Parndon Woods, you could note that
Mr. Peel, Mr. Avila, Mr. H. Blyth, Mr. Waters, Mr. Tyndale White and
his son (on Miss Morgan's young chestnut) were in the first dozen that
were going in front, and reached the woods with hounds.

Inside or outside the covert, which was it to be ? The first cannot be
wrong, thought Mr. Sam Fitch, as he plunged up the boggy ride. Coming
away with, some affirm, a fresh fox by Mr. Burchell's Farm, hounds went
at a great pace over Mr. Ralph Palmer's barbed-wire begirt land, and,
turning to the right, got away from the huntsman and all who attempted
to ride the line — a further delay occurring after crossing the Tyler's Cross
road at a fence which even Mr. Peel declared was too brambly for him. The
staff, with Mr. Arkwright, galloped away to the left to turn it, while Mr.
Gerald Gold, rather more fortunate, found a place on the right, and Mr.
Avila, who followed him, hung up his hat in the fence to mark the place
for Mrs. Bowlby, who was waiting her turn to go at it. No one, however,
caught the hounds before we reached Pinnacles, except some half dozen
who had made good use of the road when we left Parndon Woods. At
Pinnacles this good hunting run of one hour and forty minutes was
virtually over, and the lucky mortals who possessed second horses were
glad to get hold of them.

Just as hounds were thrown into Latton Park it was reported that
Ladysmith''' had been relieved. This put everyone in good heart, and
Mr. Arkwright looked more pleased than usual when hounds found at
once in his covert, and pushing their fox round came away at the Parndon
end, running the green lane for a short distance towards the Priory Farm
before turning off for Rye Hill.

At a splitting pace hounds ran across the common for Parndon Woods,
and without checking went straight through and out at the bottom end
of the further wood, and over the grass down to Broomfields. One at a
time we clattered in hot haste through Mr. Hodgkins' grounds and imme-
diately jumped the blind ditch out of the road; three or four more fences
and we were on the common, with hounds simply flying along in front of
us tailed out by the pace, and nearest to them, the huntsman, E. Short,

* A rumour, alas, untrue, but a week later it was accomplished, one of our hunting men,
L. Buxton, being wounded in the final attack on the Boers. — En.

ONE OF THE PENALTIES OF HUNTING FROM TOWN

295

Mr. Arkwright, Mr. H. Blyth on his grey, Mr. Tresham Gilbey on his
bay, Mr. Tyndale White on his grey, the Admiral on his good black,
voting him before we were half-way across the common no better than
his 'bus-horse, l\Ir. Peel on his bay.

With hounds or without, what a difference it makes to a horse over
Nasing Common. Up hill, down dale, over the ant hills, those near the
hounds galloped as if on the smoothest turf ("Jenkins" with his blood well
up fairly pulling), and so reached the bottom end of Nasing Coppice with
hounds, and coming away with them as they fanned away for Deer Park
(Mr. P. J. Pelly voting it good enough to that point). A shght check, the
first from Latton, and w^e were away for Galley Hills again at a slower
rate ; Mr. B. E. Todhunter boring a way through a thick fence for Mrs.
Bowlby and some more of us on the left who were hung up.

Ongar

Running straight through Galley Hills the fox broke the Monkham's
end, and I viewed them going away over a beautiful country in the direction
of Hollyfield Hall. Saw Bailey jump out of the lane to join them. Caught
sight of Lady Warwick in close pursuit of hounds, and putting some right
who wanted to know where hounds were, I set off to catch my train. To
leave hounds in the middle of a good run with one's second horse quite fit
(the frost had not told upon " Jenkins ") is one of the penalties you very
often incur niJien hunting from town.

Wednesday, March 7th, Moreton. And as luck would have it, to find the
fox which just four days previously had afforded such a good run in the
afternoon from Brick Kilns. The hour 12 when we found him, and he
was away at once from the Matching Green side of Brick Kilns, and a
Wednesday field minus most of our friends from the Stansted side of the
country sat down to ride and see the fun. Miss E. Pelly losing her hat

296 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

very early in the run. The pace was fast enough to test the condition of
a horse, and I soon found out that a fortnight's rest had not done " Peter "
any good, as hounds fanned along across some heavy ploughed fields in
the direction of Little Laver before taking a swing towards Moreton. Mr.
and Mrs. Arkwright, riding wide on the right, were only two out of the
fifty or sixty who were really well placed with hounds in the thirty-five
minutes up to the first check beyond Norwood near Lampett's Farm.

In this gallop, occupying as I did a middle position between the first
rank, whose horses had got it in them, and the third rank, whose horses
could not quite go the pace, an old reflection came back very forcibly to
my mind, namely, that an Essex field never rides harder than it does at
the end of the season. Not a man nor woman appeared to be shirking a
fence. All seemed determined to see all that there was to be seen and
fairly revelled in the Roothing ditches. Mr. Tyndale White on his grey
was very much to the fore. John White was jumping places others would
not look at. Just before we touched Norwood Mr. Swire was carrying
barbed wire away from gateways. The Admiral was shoving his black
along ; Ned Ball on his fine chestnut had a line of his own, he always did
shine in a quick thing across the Roothings. His brother Frank was
always near the hounds. Messrs. David Christy — father and son — were
both there, the latter on a very good horse. Mr. B. E. Todhunter, on
his bold, big, jumping bay, was not a man to lose sight of, as he was one
of the lucky individuals who had seen the good run already alluded to.
Mr. George Brown was riding, as he always does, with an eye to the
leading hound. Mr. Howard, on his grey, held as good a place as anyone.
Miss Ethel Jones was in her element (a run across the Roothings). Mr.
Balfour, of Moor Hall, was going strong. Mr. Barron, on his grey ; Mr. F.
Green on his chestnut ; Miss M. Green, Mr. Seymour Caldwell, Mr. Carr ;
Mr. Thomas Cowee going in quite his old form, always ready to nip oft
for a gate. To me the pleasantest feature of the whole day was to see
Mr. Cowee in the pigskin again — able to ride as of yore. Mr. R. S.
Tilling — I travelled down from London town with Mr. Tilling — so I know
he was there. Mr. S. Fitch, Mr. Harry Savill, Mr. N. Gilbey, Mr. G. H.
Lee, Mr. Harris, of Parndon, Mr. C. E. Ridley, Mr. J. G. Pelly, Mrs. L.
Pelly, Miss C. Pelly, Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Price, Mr. W. Sewell, Mr. A. R.
Steele, Mr. G. Buxton, Mrs. F. Ball, Mr. Harrison, Mr. F. Avila, were
some of those occupying the good place they generally do when hounds
run hard.

At Fyfield the run was by no means over, but the pace w^as, and it
could hardly be called interesting after the lane near Heron's Farm, where
Mr. Green, calling out " Ware wheat," led a contingent down the lane, a
lane, as it turned out, he had better have stuck to a bit longer, as it led to a
ford, and the recovery of hounds running by themselves across the park at
Forest Hall, those in direct pursuit of hounds being delayed by the river,
so that at a critical moment, beyond the park, when one hound was
running the line by herself, Bailey w-as not there to give any assistance,
and Mr. Arkwright, with Mr. Giles acting as whip, could not lay the
pack on as quick as he would like to have done.

Another whimper or two beyond the brook, and Bailey had to give it up
near Norton Heath — after running exactly one hour. The wind blew
searchingly cold after this hot gallop, though it did not seem to affect Sir
Charles Smith, who was well up all through this run. I stated in my short
personal sketch of him (p. 103, vol. ii.), that he no longer rode across
country^at the time I wrote it Sir Charles did not come out — but the
season 1899-1900 found him once more as keen a votary of the chase as

298

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

ever, much to the satisfaction of every member of the Hunt, and may he
not have to reUnquish the sport for very many years to come is the sincere
wish of us all.

During the day one heard a good deal about the good hunting run our
hounds had placed to their credit on the Monday previous following a
meet at Bobbingworth Windmill and a morning and afternoon spent in
the Ongar Park country. Perhaps, however, I cannot do better than quote
vcvbatim Mr. F. Avila's account of this excellent day's sport, which he was
good enough to send me : —

Dewley Wood

" A Memorable Day with the Essex Foxhounds.

" March 5th, met Bobbingworth Mill. A perfect hunting morning. The keen bracing air
made one feel like going. My pen* can scarcely do justice to this excellent day's sport.

" After drawing Dewley and Greensted Woods blank we trotted off to Knightsland, where Sir
Charles Smith found us a fox and hounds, ran him well to Ongar Park, the usual line through
those big coverts to Gaynes Park, and back to the end of Ongar Park, Toot Hill side, where
he was viewed by a gentleman on foot trying to break away, but owing to high wire netting,
the fox could not do so and ran up the covert pointing for Ongar Park Hall, hounds running the
line slowly but well. Bailey asked the writer to slip up the ride, which he lost no time in doing
and was just in time to see the rascal going away.

"A loud view halloa soon brought Bailey, hounds and field up, and quickly getting on the
line they ran beautifully by Greensted House, over Mr. White's Farm, over the brook and to
and through Greensted Wood, and skirting Dewley Wood and over Mr. George Brown's farm
to the railway, which they crossed, and away to Ongar Park, where they marked him to ground.
A very pretty run and thoroughly enjoyed by Messrs. Swire, Giles and W. Sewell, who had
decidedly the best of it ; Mr. Swire riding a bay horse that it would be hard to beat. I was
riding ' Dolly,' late the property of Captain Bruce, and found her a good mount.

"The rest of the morning is hardly worth recording ; suffice it to say we were busy up and
down Ongar Park, Gaynes Park and the Beachetts. Foxes in plenty, but they would not leave

* Mr. Avila is too modest. — Ed.

A MEMORABLE RUN

299

these big coverts. At 4 p.m Mr. C. E. Green gave the order to draw Rough Talleys. The
field had greatly diminished, as horses had had a tiring day. We hardly expected to find, as
hounds being so close all day, we thought the varmint would have taken himself oft'.

" Bailey changed on to his good roan ' Matching,' and was not long before he had his
hounds in covert ; they very soon opened, and were rated, as hares were seen, but Mr. Fitch
shouted to Mr. Green that he had seen a fox, and, true enough, he was trotting across the plough,
a regular cool customer, for half way across the first field he sat down and had a look round, as
much as to say, ' I don't care for you,' but he did later on.

" Mr. Green, ever alert, at once blew his horn, and Bailey had his hounds out in a trice,
and away we went, thinking it would be the same old game, Ongar Park, &c. Hounds ran
by the Rifle Butts across the lane into Ongar Park Wood, and going parallel with the lane
broke at the top corner through Gaynes Park over Banks's lane. Here Mr. Buxton got a

.^ MMIS^Slf^'^^^Si&^'^Z .^tA-itiiguAPtt^^'JSi /*K^ vL) .') ^ I

Greensted Wood

view of him as he tried the drain at the back of Mr. Miller's ; he then ran over the road up
the grass field towards the Brick Fields and into the Beachetts, and running through the covert
broke away by the keeper's lodge (Mr. Avila here remarks that he lost his hat jumping out
of the covert, the pace being too good to stop and recover it — Ed.), and led the field a nice
dance over the grass fields, the scene of last year's Pomt-to-Point. Mr. Waters was going
strong at this period of the run, but suggested as hounds flew up the steep hill that they ought
to steady, but there was no time for that. After Mr. James Miller's spinney, hounds sank the
valley, running through Well Eves by Barrick Farm, and twenty-acre wood, Mr. Green, Mr.
and Mrs. Waters, Mr. and Mrs. W. Sevvell, Miss Doro'.hy Sewell, Mrs. Barron, Mr. G.
Buxton, Mr. Swire, Mr. R. Y. Bevan, Major Ricardo, all well up and (j?V)— Oh, by the bye,
Mr. Fitch looking superb on his fine grey horse. Here a momentary check occurred, but
only momentary, for hounds streamed out over the grass field — it was grand to see them — and
running through the next small covert, turned to the right, and ran over Mr. Waltham's big
fields to the river, which they crossed (the field riding for Shonks Mill and across Howlett's
Hall Farm,* and so to Curtis Mill Green. Through this covert hounds drove their fox and
away over Mark Lenny's Farm, the field now being reduced to Bailey, Mrs. Waters, Mrs.
Barron, Mr. Swire, Major Ricardo, Mr. Waltham, who had left hounds before this fox was
found, but hearing them full cry near his house, jumped on his mare, who had just had a pail
of gruel, and joined in, and the writer. Hounds then crossed the road and ran to Pyrgo Big

* One of Mr. F. Avila's Farms. — Ed.

300 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Wood, scarcely entering it, and tan as if for Dagnams, and came to a short and acceptable
check in a grass field. Bailey was casting down the lower end of it, next the Dagnam Road,
when we noticed a hound, 'Dexter,' cast up the field by himself, and hit it off quite close to
where we were standing. It was a grand sight to see him. A hand up to Bailey, failing a
hat, and at it again hammer and tongs, and to notice how well Bailey's horse, tired as he was,
jumped the next fence, a quickset with a rail through.

"We next ran by Pyrgo Lodge, and leaving Bedfords on the right went to Stone Hall
Farm, where we were obliged to leave this good fox to live for another day, as Bailey's horse
refused to try any more, and being past six and sixteen miles from the kennels, it was quite
time to stop hounds. Those who were at the finish were the huntsman, Mrs. Waters, on an
excellent stayer, bought from a gentleman who has gone out to fight for Queen and country ;
Major Ricardo on his good grey ' General Banks ; ' and my four-year-old Irish nag ' Shamrock,'
who was none the worse for his gruelling, Mr. Waltham on his game chestnut mare, but he
had got to the bottom even of her.

" We all repaired to Mrs. Mackintosh's (on the way I managed to secure a cap), who most
hospitably entertained us all. Hounds were placed in a loose box with plenty of straw, and
were glad of the rest before jogging home, getting to kennels at 9.40. Mr. Buxton came up
when it was all over, having found a second horse, and Short, the first whip (who had stayed
at Curtis Mill Green with one of the hounds who had run so hard that he had brought on a
fit) got up. The rest, with the exception of Mr. Swire and Mrs. Barron, who came as far as
Pyrgo, could not get any further than Curtis Mill Green, where the scene was described to
be like a battle field."

The Annual Meeting was held at the Green Man, Harlow, on
Saturday, March 10th, Lord Rookwood presiding. Mr. Bowlby, to the
great regret of all present, said that he should be unable to act as Master
next season. The meeting, on the proposition of Mr. G. Buxton, seconded
by Mr. C. E. Ridley, was adjourned ; a small committee, consisting of the
Chairman, Col. Lockwood, Mr. L. Arkwright, Mr. Ridley, Mr. Bevan,
Mr. Green, Mr. Buxton, and Mr. J. Todhunter, being appointed to confer
with Mr. Bowlby and report to the next meeting.

Mr. Tyndale White resigned the post of Hon. Secretary, which he had
held with Mr. Bevan, who was re-elected. Lord Rookwood, in proposing a
vote of thanks to the Farmers (which was seconded by Mr. Bowlby),
alluded to the loss of their great friend Mr. George Hart,* at the same
time moving, on behalf of the members of the Essex Hunt, a vote of
condolence to Mr. Hart's sons on the great loss they had sustained in their
father's death.

Among those present during the day were : — Mr. E. S. Bowlby, Mr.
Arthur Bowlby and his two sisters, Mr. F. Avila, Mr. and Mrs. L. J, W.
Arkwright, Mr. W. H. Baddeley, Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Ball, Mr. E. A. Ball,
Mr. R. Y. Bevan, Mr. F. T. Basham, Mrs. Bennett, Mr. G. Brown, the
Misses Blyth (2), Mr. Balfour, Mr. G. Buxton, Mr. S. Caldwell, Mr. Carr,
Mrs. W. R. Clarke, Mr. E. Cockett, Mr. Walter Cook, Mrs. Weston
Crocker, Mr. Weston Crocker driving (he had unfortunately broken a small
bone in his leg a few days previously, the result of a hunting accident), Mr.
P. M, Evans, Mr. W. M. Galloway, Mr. H. P. Gee, Mr. Guy Gilbey
driving, Mr. Newman Gilbey, Mr. Tresham Gilbey, Miss E. Gilbey, Mrs.
Hine, Miss Gold, Mr. G. Gold, Mr. F. Green, Miss M. Green, Mr. C. E.
Green, Mr. James Green, of Todds Brook, Mr. D. Gregory, Mr. H. Fardell,
Mr. R. E.Johnston, Mr. W. S. Horner, Miss E.Jones, Mr. Kennett, Mr. J.
Kirkby, Mr. G. H. Lee, Mr. Lobb, Mr. V. Nickalls, Mr. A. Peel, Miss
Peel, Mr. J. G. Pelly, Miss E. Pelly, Mr. E. Pelly, Major Ricardo, Mr.
C. E. Ridley, Mr. and Mrs. W. Sewell, Miss D. Sewell, Mr. A. Sewell,
Mr. S. Single, Mr. A. B. Sorrell, Mr. D. Cunliflfe Smith, Mr. A. R. Steele,

* Mr. Hart was within three weeks of attaining his seventy-sixth birthday, when, after a
short illness of a week, he passed away on February 17th, quite peacefully in his sleep; so
peacefully that one of his sons who was present with him did not know when sleep ended and
Life began. — Ed.

THE ANNUAL MEETING, MARCH lOTH, 1 9OO 3OI

Miss Steele, Mr. C. V. Thorneycroft, Mr. J. Todhunter, Mr. B. E.
Todhunter, Mr. T. J. Howard, Mr. H. J. Miller, Mr., Mrs. and Miss
Waters, General Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C, Capt. H. W. W. Wood, Mr.
E. W. Young.

Although it was a perfect day for riding about, it was by no means a
good one for sport, scent being at a discount, consequently hounds could do
little with a fox (one of a leash) found in Latton Park, which they came
away with to Parndon Woods, beyond disturbing some of the best coverts,
and a long morning was spent in vain looking for another fox.

At 3 p.m., as there appeared but little prospect of finding a fox for some
time and having to catch a train to town, I started to hack back with my
man. We had hounds some distance off on our left as we rode homewards
through the fields by Todd's Brook and Northbrooks. Almost directly we
had passed Mr. Steele's house I viewed a lovely dark fox, one of the
richest-coated ones I have ever seen ; his fur was as thick as a colley dog's
and shone like polished bronze, and his brush swept the ground, as he ran
up the furrow of the ploughed field into the corner of a small adjoining
spinney. I am afraid that all thoughts of catching my train vanished to
the winds as we both commenced holloaing (I must say William has a fine
voice), mine soon gave out ; luckily we attracted the attention of Major
Ricardo in the distance, who passed it on, and it reached Bailey in the
Parndon Hall coverts, and he got a view of the fox as he galloped breaking
from the small spinney into which I had viewed him. Hounds did not
settle to run before they had left Passmores behind, and then they pushed
on very nicely as far as Kingsmores without a pause. A slight check at
the covert beyond, and as Bailey made his cast, Mr. Green, who was
keeping the crowd in check at a gateway, caused some amusement by
calling, " Yarboro', don't press them," and receiving the answer from that
individual who happened to be standing behind him — " Adsniii."

Taking the line up by the side of Parndon Woods, hounds worked it
back through the woods to Passmores, where at 4 p.m. I had to leave
them and managed to catch the 5.30 up to town, after a very enjoyable
hunt of fifty minutes.

One never enjoys a run more than when you have been the first to view
the fox. You acquire at once a sort of proprietary interest in him, and
experience in some small measure some of the enthusiasm a huntsman
feels whose aim it is to catch his fox when he has found him.

A poor day's sport fell to my lot at my next venture, when hounds met
near Bentley Church, on Wednesday, March 14, for after dragging through
all the Weald Hall, Dagnam, and Pyrgo W^oods coverts — even Mr.
Docwra's gorse failed us ; also T^Irs. Mcintosh and Sir Charles Smith's
osiers, and Colonel Lockwood's preserves — I had to leave hounds (at 4 p.m.)
still hoping to avert the blank. Nor did I quite appreciate the feelings of
a man who declared a blank day with fox hounds was worth a good day
with stag hounds. We had only a small field out, including a sprinkling
of the followers of the Essex Union. I subsequently learnt from Mr.
Tilling that hounds found in Gaynes Park at 5-15, and ran on in the
neighbourhood of the woods until it was dark. Mr. Tilling was thinking
of leaving at 6.30 to catch his usual train at 7.30, when Mr. Green
remarked, " Oh, stay and see it out." "See it out?" said Mr. Tilling,
" You can't see anything, only hear 'em ! " The fading light probably
accounted for two little croppers in this evening gallop, one to Mr. S.
Caldwell, the other to Mr. H. Sworder, whose horse pitched head over heels
as he landed in a new-made drain. On the following Monday, March 19,
hounds met at Kelvedon Common, and searched the whole country side
in vain for a fox, a blank day having to be recorded.

102

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Wednesday, March 21, Toot Hill. — A perfect day for hunting, keen
easterly wind with rising glass, the going on the heavy side from the recent
fall of snow. I was afraid that I should have to record another blank, so
short of foxes are we in our Monday country — Greensted Wood, Knights-
land, Northlands, Beachetts, Gaynes Park, Rough Talleys, were tried in
vain — and it was 2 p.m. before hounds found in the Lower Forest, in a
covert that belongs to no private owner but to the people of London, more
particularly the East End of London — the identical spot near the gravel
pits.

Crossing the line the fox took a turn towards Woodside, quickly
retracing his steps and with hounds close at him ran through Smith's
Wood and went away up the hill (jumping out of the wood both Mr. F.
Basham and Mr. Marriage came to grief over the wire netting) past
Coopersale House. When hounds crossed the line it was a toss up which
side of Ginger's Wood* to go. Mr. Avila and the majority turned off to

The Merry Fiddlers

the right, the huntsman and a few of us going to the left for Theydon
Grove. Here another fox was probably put up, for hounds divided, three
and a half couple coming away at once over the line by Stonard's Farm,
very few grasping the fact that they had done so, as the huntsman was
back again with the body of the pack, and for all we knew the men who
were riding three or four fields ahead were only riding to turn the railway.
Mr. E. Ball however, caught sight of a few hounds, and another man
calling out " the mant in the black coat has them," Mr. Giles and Mr.

* Mr. Ginger farms the land round this covert. Mr. Avila used to hold it succeeding Mr.
Watson. Watson's, Avila's, now Ginger's Wood. — Ed.
t Mr. Fitch.

FROM FOREST TO FOREST 303

Tyndale White set to work to catch them, nor did they hesitate a second
at the trappy jump in and out of Stew Green, to which more than one
horse demurred, and caught hounds just beyond, to find Mr. Fitch and Mr.
Young leading, Mr. Young being the first into the road and out over the
rotten banked brook, Mr. Harris' horse nearly coming down with him
as he essayed it. Mrs. Willie Sewell on Jack was over with the first half
dozen who tackled it.

Hounds (the three and a half couple) flew along up the hill to Mr. Flux's
farm, crossed his ride and ran on past Gardener's farm, Mr. Fitch going
very strong on the right with Mr. Cecil Savill, Mr. Harris and Mr. Giles,
Mr. Young, Mr. Tyndale White and his son, with Mrs. W. Sewell laying
up close on the left. Crossing the line below Gardener's Farm, hounds got
away from everyone owing to the delay at the railway gates, but were
caught in the forest, through which they ran most beautifully up to Copped
Hall Lodge gates, bringing their fox back with a will, and running hand-
somely into him in an open part of the forest, just short of the Theydon
road. Forty-five minutes best pace, a very pretty hunt and a very pretty
performance, to find a fox in the Lower Forest* and after a few miles in
the open to kill him in the Upper Forest. The keen wind made itself felt
after this hot gallop, and there was a run on the refreshments at several
houses in Epping before Bailey went on with hounds to Weald Coppice
and other likely coverts, to draw on till nearly six without finding again.

North East wind with snow showers was a true forecast for the last
Monday in March, 1900, on which day our hounds met at Epping Long
Green at 12 o'clock. The card said 11, and several luckless individuals,
including Mr. Ralph Bury, arrived an hour too soon, to shiver in the icy
blast, but they were soon warmed into action when Bailey got news of a
fox below Orange Wood, and slipping away quickly from the covert, laid
hounds on the line of a traveller. There was a scramble at the ford
through the Cobbin Brook, and a good many refusals at the fence beyond,
a wattled hedge with a wide ditch, which brought Bailey to grief ; only the
top of his horse's head could be seen as he lay in the ditch. A strangerf
on a long-tailed bay got over first, quickly followed by Short, Mr. C. E.
Green and Mr. Swire.

Two fields beyond the brook hounds checked. The stranger sitting
still, waiting for them to pick it up, caught my eye, and the huntsman's cry
(not quite liking a stranger to have such a prominent place) " 'Ware wire,"
caught my ear.

At the small plantation on the Bury Farm hounds hung fire and failed
to carry the line beyond Griffin's Wood, affording time before they found
again to take stock of some of those who were out. The Master, Mr. E.
S. Bowlby, Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. and Mrs. Arkwright, Mr. Arthur
Bowlby, Mr. R. Y. Bevan, Mr. E. A. Ball, Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Ball, Mr.
F. T. Basham, Mr. T. R. Hull, Mr. G. Buxton, Major Ricardo, Mr. and
Miss Waters, Mr. Ralph Bury, Mr. Henry Buxton, Miss Buxton, Mr. ].
Green, Mr. F. Green, Mr. L. Pelly, Mr. J. G. Pelly, Miss Pelly, Mr. W.
Sewell, Miss Dorothy Sewell, Mr. E. Cockett, Mr. J. Todhunter, Mr.
Walter Cook, Mr. A. Flint, Mr. J. Swire, Turner, the Huntsman to the
Enfield Chase Stag Hounds. Mr. Arthur Sewell, Mr. Howard, of Epping,
Mr. W. S. Horner, Mr. H. E. Jones, Mr. G. H. Lee, Mr. C. E. Ridley,
Mr. C. Savill, Miss Savill, Mr. Harris, Mr. John White.

* The Town of Epping divides Epping Forest, the smaller portion is known as the Lower
Forest. — Ed.

t Mr. C. Lane Fox.

304 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Our next find was at Galley Hills, which, as usual, was full of foxes.
Breaking the Monkhams end our fox took a very good line, going up the
hill and turning to the left for Obelisk Wood. Hounds ran very smartly to
Shatter Bushes. A field from the covert, hearing a splash, I looked round
and saw young Hull in the middle of a pond, luckily not a very deep one,
and he managed to scramble out the right side. Not dwelling a second in
these coverts hounds slipped along towards Nasing Coppice, and then
swung to the right towards Balls Hill, Mr. Gerald Buxton kindly demolish-
ing a hurdle with a bad take off, which most of the horses who came to it
were too blown to jump.

One at a time over an awkward bottom, Mr. Sewell on his chestnut,
finding a place for himself on the left, we rose the hill and then galloped
down to the covert (Balls Hill) the gate out was securely fastened, and as
the huntsman and whip jumped off to unhinge it, the stranger on the bay
scrambled his way out of the covert and quickly found his own way in and
out of the road. Two or three fields further on, at Hunter's Hall, hounds
threw up, and although Bailey worked out a line as far as the old Church,
the fun was over, and there was time to exchange a lame horse for a sound
one before we went on to Nasing Coppice and Deer Park, to find in the
latter covert and run through Galley Hills to ground below Monkhams,
and spend a very pleasant hour or two on the grass country that stretches
below Hollyfield Hall to Galley Hills.

The afternoon run from Latton Park on Wednesday, March 28, was
about the best (speaking personally) I had this season.

Meeting at 12 o'clock at Moreton we went off at once to look for the
hero of the cabbage field, near Little Laver Mill, a fox that Mr. L,
Marriage informed me had already afforded three good gallops.

It was curious to note the eagerness with which everyone closed up as
Bailey, blowing his horn, galloped up to the roots with his hounds. But
although the customer was not at home, we found him in the covert over the
road, the famous covert of Brick Kilns. Breaking the north side we
thought that we were in for a stinger as hounds flew along over the first
two fields. Mr. Young, Mr. Avila, Mr. C. Fitch, Mr. Swu-e, Mr. David
Christy, jun., on a recent purchase, a very likely looking bay horse, all eager
for a start as they followed the Huntsman sharp in and out of the Grange
drive. But although everything pointed to a good scent — easterly wind,
rising glass and ground saturated with the snow of overnight — hounds could
not work out the various twists, evidently on the wrong fox as a brace came
away from Brick Kilns, and too late they heard of the hero of previous runs
running through his old camping ground, the root field. The cast Bailey
made to get there must have taken in a couple of miles of country, done,
too, almost at a hand gallop, so fast did he go ; a waggoner's team doing a
bolt near High Laver causing no little excitement as we galloped down
the road.

At Little Laver Mill in the morning we little expected to be at Galley
Hills (the scene of Monday's exploits) in the afternoon, the points some
fifteen miles apart. But how this came to pass you shall learn if you care
to read the following notes. Most of Monday's field were out with the
following additions : —

Mr. Grossman, just back from the Meynell country, riding his wife's
beautiful black, which I believe on a recent occasion in a very fast fifty
minutes with the Meynell, ridden by her fair owner, tailed off every horse,
not excepting the four or five out of a large field who were able to keep
near the hounds for the first forty minutes.

Miss Woodhouse, Mr. Weston Crocker, Rev. L. Capel-Cure and the

LITTLE I^AVKR MILL TO GALLEY HILLS

305

Misses Capel-Cure (2), Miss L. Bovvlby, Miss Mary Gower, Mr. Gee,
Mr. Giles, Mr. B. E. Todhunter, Mr. T. J. Howard, Mr. Raby, Mr. L.
Marriage, Mr. T. D. Whitehead, General Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C, Mr. F.
Ball, Mr. A. Waters, Mr. Tyndale White, Mr. A. W. Craig, Mr. R. S.
Tilling, Mr. S. Fitch, Mr. George Brown, Miss M. Green, Mr. Fardell,
Mr. T. R. Hull, Miss Ethel Jones, Mr. R C. Lyall, Miss M. Morgan,
Mr. E. Pelly, Mr. E. Ouare, the Misses Ouare (2), Miss C. Felly, Mr.
G. Harris, Mr. A. R. Steele, Miss Fane, MrT E. W. Young.

Man Wood, the Gorse Down Hall (Mr. Bowlby told me that already
there were two litters of cubs in the Down Hall coverts), and Man Wood
were drawn without a whimper, also some rough field below Matching

The Axe and Compasses

Park and the kennels, when at 3.15 we found ourselves at Latton Park.
Hounds had scarcely been in covert a minute before a vigorous view holloa
in the direction of Rundells Grove set us all on the gallop, and immediately
afterwards, as we gathered near the keeper's house, a beautiful dog fox
broke in full view at the bottom of Rundells Grove and went away as
straight as an arrow across the big wheat field towards Rye Hill.

In the meantime hounds were back with the vixen, but Mr. Green kept
his horn going, and he laid hounds on at the gallop ; the moment they
touched the line you could tell there was a scent, as heads up and sterns
down they drove along ; and those who had got through the wire netting
that surrounded the field, and those who were with Mr. Green, including
Mr. T. J. Howard on his grey, converged for the corner of the field. It
would have puzzled a stranger to have found a way out of the field into
the lane. There was only one weak spot and we knew it, and very little
room either between the trees of the fence ; my whip was torn out of my

20

VOL. II

306 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

hand, and there was no time to retrieve it as the men charged through the
fence in quick succession, Mr. Howard cutting his face badly in the boughs.
Mr. F. Green, to avoid the wire, had led a contingent up the side of the
wood, and was already coming down the lane with a wet sail. Hounds
simply flew along it, turning out sharp to the right towards Parndon at a
place where you couldn't follow them. A gallop of a hundred yards further
down the lane put you on the high road, and gave you the command of
hounds as they swept over the grass towards the road and checked for an
instant at this sudden turn. Bailey had them on the line at once. Those
on top of the hill with Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. F. Green, Mr.
E. Felly, Mr. Giles, having a decided pull over those on the right who
had to get in and out of the Maries Farm lane, and to shake their horses
out, to overtake hounds as they flew round the edge of the big wheat field
that runs up to the woods.

Straight for Maries, the identical line, the identical fence we had in the
great run on March 17th, 1894 (see sketch, p. 270, vol. i.j. Twenty abreast
they went at the stiff quickset fence. The Admiral, the huntsman, Mr.
Howard, Mr. F. Green, Mr. Arkwright, Mr. C. Fitch, Mr. Grossman, Sir
Evelyn Wood, V.C., Mr. Avila, among them. The fence, a cut down black-
thorn, strong with the growth of years, and with a down-hill approach,
would not stand trifling with, and woe betide the horse that struck the
stubs. Mr. Fitch's good grey cleared it but pitched head over heels on
landing, unable to carry his rider's weight at the pace he was going, break-
ing his rider's collar bone, and losing him the finishing days of the season.
Straight through Maries and a momentary check in the road beyond.
Luckily, Mr. C. E. Green was there to hold the keen thrusters. Hitting it
off, hounds soon put a field between themselves and their nearest pursuers,
Mr. F. Green, the Admiral, the huntsman and Short. Where are the light
weights ? queried the Admiral and Mr. F. Green, as hounds flew along
parallel with the road leaving Epping Church on the left ; if the Admiral
had glanced round he would have seen Mr. Arkwright, Mr. Giles, Mr.
Avila, Howard and half-a-dozen more laying close up on the right. Another
sharp turn just short of Chamber's Farm. Hounds overshot it, but Bailey
quickly laid them on, and Mr. F. Green held the gap in the corner of the
next field until they had settled to the line.

Leaving Orange Wood on the right hounds slipped along down the
grass meadows towards the Cobbin brook ; Sir Evelyn Wood, Mr. Swire,
Mr. John White and a few more on the left making for a ford ; but a sudden
turn of hounds parallel with the brook into the plantation running towards
the keeper's house made them alter their course, only to find themselves
with the rest of the hunt cornered by some unjumpable rails by the
plantation in which hounds were feathering. A few valuable minutes were
lost here before the rails were demolished and the huntsman and staff" got
through. In the meantime, Mr. L. Felly and Mr. G. Buxton, anticipating
the block, had already slipped round. Almost immediately the hounds
picked up the line by the brook, and we splashed through the same ford we
had splashed through the previous Monday ; but how different looked the
fence beyond, not a vestige of the wattled hedge remaining at one gap, but
all the same Bailey remarked that he was nearly down again, as we steered
for the next ditch and bank, and jumped them at the slant, as hounds
pressed on up the hill and made for the plantation on the Bury Farm
to take quite a new line beyond up to the Bury Farm. Some curious
fences had to be negotiated in the follow-my-leader fashion as we turned
right-handed and jumped in and out of the lane near New Farm ; Mr.
George Brown finding a way for those on the right, his bold bay horse

gkor(;e brown shows the way 2>'^j

simply forcing his way through the stiff quickset fence. A field beyond
the lane Mr. Avila, who was riding a very good little mare, " Dolly," which
had been given to him by Captain Bruce, came to grief as the mare,
catching her legs in a binder, turned head over heels. Mr. F. Green
promptly went to the rescue, as Mr. Avila was hung up. Some whisky
and soda soon revived him, and he went sailing along in the wake of
hounds as if nothing had happened. x\ youth in mufti, a stranger to me,
having first shy at the next wattled fence on the top of a bank, luckily the
binders broke, as the fence could not be flown, and there was hardly room
to double it. The youth, however, shot ahead too far and got cornered at
the next fence as hounds ran on hard for the Warren, with Mr. Avila
and Mr. Gerald Buxton leading the van. Hounds ran beautifully through
the Warren, and their fox failing to get over the high palings ran
past the lodge gates, and getting out in the park made for Copped Hall
Green. No one caring to tackle the park palings (we wanted Mr. Sheffield
Neave" to show us the way), Mr. C. E. Green was perfectly happy, and
so was Bailey, for hounds had plenty of room as they ran, on by themselves
and we didn't catch them until they came to a check in Warlies Park.
Mr. C. E. Green, insisting upon the ambulance, i.e., Mr. F. Avila's con-
veyance, going first at the one at a time places, of which there were three
or four if you took the line hounds did and followed ^Ir. Arkwright and Mr.
C. E. Green over the drop on to Copped Hall Green.

From Warlies hounds ran very smartly to Cobbin End, Mr. Howard,
of Epping, going very strong on his chestnut. At the end of the run Mr.
Howard told me that he would not sell the horse for ^200 ; he could drive
him single and drive him double, and hunt him three or four days a w^eek.
Crossing the brook by the ford, Mr. Bevan and Mr. Grossman splashing
through with the first come first served contingent, hounds ran on towards
Obelisk Wood, just missing it, and rose the hill beyond Shatter Bushes, a
quickset fence at this period causing a good many refusals, until Captain
Wood came to the rescue. I saw three horses run their heads into the
opposite bank rather than attempt the jump. Short was one, and he looked
(you know how Short looks, if you hunt with the Essex, when his horse
refuses), and you know that his horse will have to tumble into or over the
fence rather than be allowed to get his own way, as Short, though a very
judicious rider is a very determined one, with plenty of North Countrie grit
in him.

If hounds had run on now at the pace they had started you would not
have reached the Galley Hill coverts, Messrs. Lee and Grossman, in the
easy way you went trotting up that last field with the pack, still less have
come away again Avhen they brought their fox once more over a delightful
line of country by Shatter 13ushes, the Rookery and Griffins Wood, to lose
him in the A\'arren, a forest fox undoubtedly. Several, including Miss
Woodhouse, who went splendidly in the run, Mr. C. E. Ridley, Mr. David
Christy, jun., and Mr. Gee, in spite of their long distance from home, stuck
to it to the end of the two hours run.

For the last day of the season, 1899-1900, hounds met at Birch Hall,
Mr. Gerald F3uxton's house, on the outskirts of Epping Forest. Twenty
years previously the last meet of the season was held higher up in the
Forest, two miles nearer London, at Goldings, where Colonel Howard was
living. Not a large muster for the last day, the counter-attractions of
Stag Hounds at Matching Hall doubtless attracting some ; just a hundred ;

*In a run this season near Bedfords, Mr. Sheffield Neave jumped some high park palings
(solid hoard) with ditch bevond and a l)it of a dnip info a road. He had no followers. — En.

4.

L

4

^

THE LAST DAY OF THE SEASON 1 899- 1 9OO 309

I took the trouble to count them as they trooped past me in the road below
Mr. Buxton's wood, and the hundred inchided several very pretty little
girls, two of Mr. Wahab's in brown covert coats with velvet caps to match ;
Miss Lucy Green and Mrs. Bennett's little girl, in red Tarn o'Shanters,
neither of them in their teens, but all the same looking very much at home
on their ponies ; Miss Melles, with her father, about his first visit to the
hunting field this season. Mr. W. H. Baddelely and his little girl. Mrs.
Gerald Buxton was driving, Mr. Avila was also on wheels, driving the
animal that had put him down in Wednesday's run, when he sprained both
his wrists. Mr. F. Green, jun., was on a hireling of Rett's. A few others
whose names I recall I will add, with apologies to the many whose names
I have omitted : Mr. E. S. Bowlby, Mr. Arthur Bowlby, Mr, and Mrs.
Arkwright, Mr. C. E. Green, Mr. R. Y. Bevan, Sir Evelyn Wood, V.C,
Mr. A. R. Steele, Mr. and Mrs. W. Sewell, Mr., Mrs. and Miss Waters,
Mr. Young, Mr. Lane Fox, Mr. G. H. Lee, Mr. H. Sworder. Mr. and
Mrs. R. F. Ball, Mr. F. Green, Miss M. Green, Mr. H. J. Miller, Mr. H.
Sworder ; Miss T. Buxton, just back from Florence ; Mr. G. Buxton, Mr.
Whitehead, Mr. J. G. Felly, Miss Felly, Mr. W. Sims-Horner (on wheels),
Mr. Ralph Bury, Mr. Rickett, Mr. Seal, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Fardeli, Mr.
D. Cunliffe-Smith, Mr. Capel-Cure, Mr. L. Savill, Miss Savill, Capt.
Wood, Mr. E. Lobb, Mr. and Mrs. Grossman. None of them so lucky as
Mr. A. Giles, Mr. Howard and Mr. Todhunter, who, taking time by the
forelock and making sure of a gallop, went out with stag hounds before
joining the fox hunters at 4 p.m., for they arrived in time to see us find
our first fox in Harlow Park, and avoided the long weary draw through
endless coverts. A dead vixen could hardly be called a find ; though the
catastrophe of finding one dead in a trap in his wood, the Beachetts, evoked
the sympathy of one and all with Mr, G. Buxton, for the vixen had cubs.
Gaynes Park, Rough Talleys, coverts that have stood the hunt in good
stead this season, failed this day, and General Sir Evelyn Wood had had
to bid an adieu to the chase before we found at Harlow Park. A fine grey
fox, not the red-brown customer we found on Wednesday, crossed the road
for Latton, and going out at the bottom end of Rundell's Grove at starting
took the same line as Wednesday's fox, and many began to think that they
were in for a repetition of Wednesday's sport. But it was evident before
we had crossed the first field that there was not the same scent. Two
days of an easterly wind had dried the ground and hounds could not run
a yard, but Bailey managed to work out a line to and through Parndon
W^oods, and a few fields beyond, before going to look for a fresh one in
Nasing Coppice. The certainty of a find in Galley Hills induced a good
many to stay on, although it was quite 5.30 before they got there, and they
were rewarded with a very nice gallop on the grass up to the Forest, losing
their fox quite near to the scene of the morning's meet. This was the third
time this week hounds had paid a visit to Galley Hills.

None enjoyed this gallop more than Mr. Whitehead ; in spite of his
eighteen stone his mare carried him right through the run as well as she
had carried him on the previous Wednesday, and catching the 7 o'clock
train for town, he went home in the best of spirits, in spite of regrets that
the season was over with our hounds — a season which, in spite of a paucity
of foxes in many parts of the country (partly accounted for on the score of
mange) has on the whole been a very good one, marked by many stirring
runs, though, had it not been for Mr. Green's keenness to stay out while
daylight lasted, many of the best gallops would never have come off. If
Essex men never get a worse season than 1899-1900, they will never have
any cause to grumble.

.^. fo

l?:aves from a huntinc; diary

" Berserker," by " Berserker, " bred l^y l.ord Harrington,
was allowed by that great judge of hunters, the Master of the
South Notts, to be one of the best he ever owned, and as far as
my limited experience goes, he was worth every penny of the
400 guineas he fetched at the hammer. A rare stayer, in the
six seasons he has carried me in Essex I have never bottomed
him, though perhaps it is only fair to add that I have never
o-iven him more than halt days. Like all well-bred ones.

Berserker "

coming out of the grass countries in the Midlands (where I tirst
rode him) he very soon learnt the Essex banks and ditches, and
could pull himself together and jump the widest of them in
three strides ; or if you galloped him at them would just clip
over them without overjumping himself, and to sit on his back
was like sitting in an armchair, so easy was his lumping,
resembling, in that respect (I have been told) all "Berserker's"
stock.

REV. RICHARD YERBURGH ON

RUFUS

I I

I have often been asked how I came to adopt the noiii-
de-plume McxA.dam. It is easily explained. My father, whose
portrait on one of his favourite hunters accompanies this short
sketch, was particularly fond of a gallop with hounds. In his
day the fashion of lingering over the nuts and the port had not
altogether died out, and many a run was discussed and many
an incident of the chase recalled when the fire shone bright on
the old hearth, and the rich Falernian sparkled in the glass, and
some of these scenes I would occasionally jot down and send

Rev. Richard Yerburgh on " Rufus "

to The Field under the pscudonyiii McAdam,* a name sug-
gested by the partiality shown by the old governor in the
winter months for the creation of that inventive genius " Mac-
adam " of which he had such a righteous horror in the summer,
for with a merry twinkle in his eye he would remark that
he could hardlv ever go out for a quiet ride on the road, how-
ever late in the dav, with(jut meeting the hounds. t

* See Appendix a " Day -with the BelvoirT
t Vide Appendix, " Letter from Frank Gillard."

312 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

How and where he was tempted to leave it he would point
out in some walk, though in these rambles he never got quite
so far as the spot where, on the occasion of the Prince of Wales
honouring a meet of the Blankney or Belvoir Hounds with his
presence, he had the honour of giving his Royal Highness
a lead over a fence to which his horse had demurred, as the
dear old boy subsequently remarked " I ought to have been
made a Bishop on the spot."

Allowed to be one of the best judges of a horse in Lincoln-
shire, and a great lover of the noble animal, many a good one
found its way from Horncastle Fair or the North of England
into his stable. One in particular which was bought by the late
Robert Chapman of Cheltenham in October, 1867, and sold
the followino- month to the Duke of Beaufort, was acknow-
ledged by His Grace to be one of the best hunters he ever
rode.*

Small wonder, then, that I clung with some affection to my
pseudonym McAdam, which revived such pleasant memories
of scenes long past.

See Appendix " Letter from Duke of Beaufort."

Thoby Priory

CHAPTER XI.

Thoby Priory— Mr. Vickermans Diary— Covert Side by Wm. and Hy. Bcrraud
—" Carloii'''—" Chancellor"— Jim Cassidy—Mr. Conye/s Eccentricities—
His Concern for Mr. Vickerman-The Pulling " Cognac "—His Jumping
Feats— Mr. Vickerman's Patent Bit— Frederick Beckington— Season 1844-45

— Hunting Caps— The great Row Wood Run— Gate Jumping— How to live
to Eighty— Drag Hunting— Falls—Sam Adams's Stag Hounds— Root Ditches

— Conyevs Meets at Laindon Hills— The Purchase of ''Cognac" — At the
Harboro' Hotel, Melton, Nov., 1^^6—Kirby Gate— Cream Gorse—Mr. Greene
of Rolleston—Lord Strathmore—Sir Richard Sutton— Mr. Finch, M.P.—
Burley-on-the-Hill—Ben Morgan— Old Goosey.

HAVING come to the end of my hunting notes, on the
principle of reserving the best for the last I now add the
following extracts taken from the very interesting hunting
journals which the late Charles Ranken Vickerman (Secretary
for twenty years to the Essex Stag Hounds) kept with such
care and accuracy for a period extending over fifty years,
prefacing the same with his description of his well known
horses " Carlow " and "Cognac," whose portraits, together with
that of his faithful servant P>ederick Beckington taken from
the painting "Covert Side" by William and Henry Barraud,
will be found facing page 314.

314 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

"COVERT-SIDE," BY WM. AND HY. BARRAUD,

1846.
" Carlow."

A rich brown horse, 15 hds., ^^ inc., bred in County Carlow
(whence his name), began life as a racehorse on the Curragh
of Kildare. He was brought over to Melton Mowbray by the
then Earl of Howth about the best light weight rider of his
day, and hunted with the Ouorn, Belvoir, and Pytchley hounds,
establishing a reputation which survived long after he had left
that country. He was sold for ^500 (a large price in those
clays) for steeplechasing, and won many good races, including
the Hare-brained Moonlight S. C, got up by the regiment
when in garrison at Windsor.

After many vicissitudes he was sold at Tattersall's and
realised but a small price, chieHy owing to his being vicious in
the stable. The purchaser was a sporting farmer and miller in
Essex, but though a strong, powerful man, he was quite unable
to ride the horse with hounds, even after "bucketing" him
round a ploughed field before starting. They had to cast
him before clipping or administering a ball.

At the end of his first season in Essex he was sold to Jim
Morgan, the hard-riding huntsman of " The Essex Hounds,"
under the Mastership of Henry John Conyers, of Copt Hall,
near Epping, who kept the hounds, chiefly at his own expense,
for quite forty years. Fortunately Jim Morgan was unable to
produce the purchase money, and sold his bargain to Mr.
Vickerman, then residing at Blackmore Priory, for a small
consideration.

" Carlow " suited his new purchaser " down to the ground."
Though a tremendous puller, naturally of a jealous tempera-
ment, intensified by racing and chasing, and unable to tolerate
a horse in front of him, yet properly bitted {with a twisted
snaffle and "gridiron " bit of the owner's invention), and ridden
with a light hand, y^Vj/ /;? Ais oivii line, he was perfection, and
distinguished himself equally over the " yawners " or "ready-
made graves " (as they used to be termed) of The
Roothings ; the stone walls of the Heythrop and Vale of
White Horse, and the Bullfinches and Oxers of Leicester-
shire and Northamptonshire. Mr. Vickerman writes : —

" Kind and firm treatment made him so fond of my stud
groom that the latter would frequently go alone in the dark
into his box and give him a ball without difficulty.

On the first occasion of hunting him from Melton, with the

a
o

"&

c

u
CO

u.

3l6 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Ouorn, we had an early find, and good run of nearly an hour,
over a very stiff country. Only a select few out of an
enormous field could live with the hounds, amono- whom
" Carlow " was conspicuous. After the run, while jogging on
to the next covert, I was politely accosted by one of the
leading members who thought he recognised my horse. My
replies to his enquiries satisfied him that his recollection was
correct, and he then told me of the horse's performances in
former days, and introduced me to his friends — some who had
seen, and others who had only heard of him. In fact,
"Carlow" was quite an introduction to the dlite of the Hunt,
who without him would not have noticed a young man and
a stranger, as I was at that time.

Those were the days of Sir Richard Sutton, Henley
Greaves, George Payne, Earl of Wilton, Col. Wyndham (who
was with the Scots Greys at Waterloo), Hon. Captain Maynard
{father of Lady W^arwick), Little Gilmour, Stirling Crawfurd,
Frank Geary, Sir Thomas Whichcote, Earl of Strathmore,
Lord Gardner, &c., &c. All were very kind and nice, with the
exception of the last named, who did not relish being deprived
of his "pride of place" by a young stranger, and being
unmercifully chaffed by his companions in consequence.

" Carlow " had very fine bright eyes, and a wonderful "eye
to hounds." On one occasion, soon after I had bought him, he
was " sailing away " broadside of the hounds, on their left,
when they suddenly turned away to the right. He instantly
turned with them, and with such suddenness that I was not far
from being unshipped.

He was an old horse when his portrait was painted in 1846,
by the two brothers, William and Henry Barraud, of Park
Street, Grosvenor Square — the former depicting the landscape
and quadrupeds, and the latter the bipeds. William Barraud
told me that " Carlow " had made him do what he had not done
for twenty years, viz., measure the horse's neck and his own
canvas ; fearing his eye had deceived him and that he had got
it too long. But he was quite right. His neck was unusually
long, with a beautiful shoulder and high withers, and magnifi-
cent quarters. He was a difficult horse to sit over a wall with
a drop — being a " pitchy " jumper — going close up to the wall
and oivine a tremendous "lash out" in the air with his
powerful quarters. Henry Barraud especially admired my top-
boots. The different cut of coat and leathers from the present
is noticeable.

Determined that " Carlow" should never get again into bad

MR. VICKERMAN S HORSES

JW

hands, I turned him out on my brother's farm in Essex to " end
his days in peace." He managed to get to some spring-tares
and ororofed himself so o-reedily that he died.

" Chancellor."

The chestnut gelding in the picture had been ridden by his
owner to the place appointed near to the fixture, and was about
to return home after some instructions given to the groom.
His height was 15.1, with good substance. He had carried a
lady, as hack only, until he had bucked her off, whereupon
I became his purchaser. He had plenty of pluck and courage,
but had never seen a hound nor a fence.

In those early youthful days I had a theory which I carried
into practise, viz., that it was as natural for a horse to jump as
to trot or gallop, and that it only required nerve on the part of
the rider to make him, at once, into a hunter. Intending to
hunt with the Essex hounds the ensuing season, and not then
residing in the county, I sent this horse and another to the
" Sun and Whalebone," Harlow Bush, kept by that good old
sportsman, Jem Cassidy, formerly jockey, and afterwards trainer
to the Marquis of Exeter.

Having been forewarned of some of the eccentricities of the
Master, Henry John Conyers, I rode up to him at my first
meet, and prefacing that I understood there was no Secretary
to the Hunt, I added that I proposed to have the pleasure of
hunting with his hounds and would be glad to be informed of
the name of his bankers. He was all smiles and politeness.
" Thankee, sir, much obleeged to you, sir. My bankers are
Messrs. Childs of Temple Bar."

We had a good day's sport, two or three good runs, but the
ditches very blind and deceptive. I acted upon my theory and
rode " Chancellor " to the front, with the inevitable result that I
had three or four falls, regular " crumpellers." Mr. Conyers
happening to see one of these falls and hear of the others,
called out, in feigned alarm, to those around him, " Will none
of you take care of that little gentleman in the cap.-* He has
asked for the name of my bankers, but I fear he will never live
to get there." This story stuck to me for fully twenty years
afterwards.

"Chancellor" speedily matured into a brilliant hunter.
Jem Cassidy declared that he was about the best, for his inches,
that he had ever ridden with hounds.

The stud groom in the picture was as good in his way as
the horses. His name was Frederick Beckington and he

o

18 LKAVKS FROM A HUNTINC 1)1A1<\"

began life, while a lad, as whip, or second horseman, to Sir
Belling'ham Graham's Harriers in Yorkshn'e. He was thirty-
two years with me and died while in my service. He loved
his horses and took infinite care of them. His wife used to
complain that he thought much more of his horses than of
his children. On more than one occasion I have happened
to go to the stables supposing all had gone home for the night,
when on entering I saw Beckington stripped to his shirt sleeves,
bathed in sweat, and dressing a favourite hunter.

On rather chiding him for letting his understrappers go
home before finishing their work, he explained that the horse
had not been done to his satisfaction and so he preferred to do
him over again himself. It need hardly be added that the
horse's coat was then shining like satin, as he showed it to me
with honest ])ride.

" Cognac."

At that time I had three other hunters, namely, *' Cognac,"
" Champagne," and " Circe.'' The two latter were capital
hunters, but with no special features. " Cognac " was,
however, a more wonderful horse than even " Carlow," and
was, without exception, the grandest water-jumper I ever saw
or possessed. I have jumped rivers and the main Fen- Dyke,
beyond Grantham in Lincolnshire, and the Down Hall. Leaden,
and other brooks in Essex and the Vale of Aylesbury, in places
where they had never been jumped before and very probably
never since.

A moat on the farm of John W^ebb, of Hatfield Town, near
Dunmow, had always been voted impracticable, but was seen
by John Webb to be cleared by " Cognac " in gallant style.
At another place in the Roothings where two fences and wide
ditches crossed at right angles, I was rash enough to ride him
at their junction, but he jumped the lot, clearing a distance,
measured the next day, of 36 feet.

On another occasion, riding home from hunting with that
good sportsman and neat rider, Horatio Kidd, of Nine Ashes,
Blackmore, he said to me, " You have jumped everything
except a road. Do be able to say you have jumped a ready

We were near home at that time, after a hard day, and in a
deep narrow road. So I jumped out of the road, took him
some fifty yards into the field and sent him at it, when he
cleared the two fences and intervening road magnificently.

Unfortunately, he had no mouth, and pulled frightfully, but
I succeeded with him where evervone before me who had tried

THE PULLING " COGNAC ' 319

had failed. Some of his performances and my own, have been
noticed in Bailys Magazine. The secret of my success lay
chierty in having discarded the cruelly severe bits in which he
had been ridden, and substituting a bit of my own contrivance,
consisting of a large t\\\(zV plain snaffle-bit attached to a wide
strong pair of reins with stops. To this was added my
favourite gridiron-bit, with a short buckled rein which lay on
the horse's neck. I invariably rode him on the snaffle only,
except when I wanted him to shorten his stride on approaching
a road or any cramped place, when I just laid hold of the
buckled-rein with the two forefingers of my right hand, releasing
his head immediately he answered to my hand.

He got so used to this that sometimes when I failed to get
hold of the rein, owing to its being entangled in his mane, he
would feel my fingers fumbling on his crest and pull himself
together, just as if I had checked him with the rein.

I have seen it discussed whether a horse in jumping, ever
alights on his hind legs before his fore legs. Of course the
great majority of horses do not, but there are exceptions and
" Cognac " was one of them. At the first wide Roothing fence
I rode him over I thought he must have jumped short, so at the
second fence I turned round and looked behind, as he landed,
and saw that he had cleared the ditch by a yard and more.
The peculiarity of feeling was owing to his having landed
first on his hind feet. He did not always do it, chiefiy when
he was over fresh and going a great pace. It was an advan-
tage as he went away in his next stride without " dwellino- "
for an instant.

(The subjoined extract from an article which appeared in
Bailys Alagazine for May, 1876, records the tragical death of
" Cognac ") : — -

" Those who have hunted with the Surrey Staghounds, the Queen's,
and Baron Rothschild's, as well as with the Hon. Henry Petre's Stag-
hounds, must remember Mr. Vickerman's hard riding, and now that he
retires into Wales, to his country seat, he will carry with him the good
wishes of all whose pulses quicken at the sound of the cheerful horn.

" Mr. Vickerman was an unexceptionably good judge of horses. He
had three very fine horses, ' Carlow,' ' Cognac ' and ' Champagne ' ; and
when he sold ' Cognac,' which was a queer tempered horse, he predicted
that he would either break his own neck or his rider's. Mr. Souter, who
rode ' Cognac ' at Hendon Steeplechases, told me of the truth of the
prophecy. Mr. Souter was leading with Jem Mason, and Mason's horse
fell and broke his thigh. ' Cognac,' missing his companion, became like a
lump of lead, and would not rise at the next fence, but rushed right
through it and bvoke his neck."

Mr. Vickerman writes in such a clear and lucid style that
not for a moment could I entertain his suggestion to cut down

320 lf.avp:s i-kom a hunting diary

the above notes, which accompanied the portrait of himself,
his favourite hunters and trusty servant. On the contrary, I
seize the opportunity to avail myself of his permission to
extract from his unique and most interesting hunting- diary, lent
to me at the request of his nephew, the late Mr. John V.
Longbourne, some of the most notable runs through which
these gallant horses carried their owner ; also to relate a few
of the adventures which have befallen him in his long hunting-
career, and which, if given in full, as most of my readers
will concur with me in hoping they may be at no distant
date, will make a volume of striking interest ; not only to
Essex sportsmen, but to all lovers of the horn and its associa-
tions, where'er they live or roam, for his diary, commencing in
the year 1844- 1845, and running on to 1887- 1888, deals with
fifty-nine packs of hounds in twenty-three different counties.

Mr. Vickerman was living at The Priory, Blackmore, when
he rode " Carlow " for the first time on November 6th, 1844,
and though delighted with his speed and fencing, he could not
hold him in the light double bridle he was trying, and five or
six times had the reins fairly pulled out of his hand — con-
gratulated by some and envied by others for possessing him.
In a very straight gallop from Dunmow High Woods on
Saturday, November i6th, "Carlow" seems to have gone to
his owner's satisfaction, jumping a gate out of a farm yard into
a road beautifully and clearing one wide place where the
Huntsman (Jim Morgan) and John Burge (?) trying to follow
him, fell side by side.

Mr. Vickerman was much amused to hear that Mr. Adams,
the late owner, who was vexed at parting with him, had
reported that " I was sick of the horse and wanted to sell him,
and also that John Bramston looked at him with a jealous eye."
He writes : " Ingersole mounted a cap for first time, the first
person who followed my example."* Mr. Campbell, from
India, with eye glass, rode well, but required a team at last to
extricate him from a deep ditch. Ten days later Morgan, the
Huntsman, told me that the old Squire f called at his house
last evening and observing "how well the little man in the cap
went on the brown horse on Saturday, enquired whether the
little man was likely to sell the horse. Morgan replied "not
the slightest chance of it." I confirmed Morgan's opinion, and
gave him a quotation from Shakespeare, "There is a tide,"

* Mr. Vickerman always rode in a cap and set the fashion in Essex. — Ed.
t The Master, Mr. John Conyers. — Ed.

THE GREAT ROW WOOD RUN. 1 844 ■>2I

&c., alluding- to the opportunity Conyers had of purchasino-
"Carlow," the neglect, or rather rejection, of which, had been
the cause of his becoming my property.

Saturday, November 23rd. After being much pulled down
during the week by violent cold and dosing and other remedies
for it, and still suffering from it to an extent to deprive me of
my usual spirits in the anticipation of a day's sport, and the
day being cloudy and cold, but still with the wind at N.E., I
proceeded sohis to the meet at Hatfield Heath, hackino- the
little chestnut, "Chancellor," who was quite in a fidget at sioht
of assembled horses and red coats. INIounting " Carlow " we
proceeded to draw several springs and small woods in the
neighbourhood to allow the Squire, who had friends stayino-
with him, to join us. Met the Rev. Charles Tyrrell, whom I
had seen in the train on Tuesday morning, on his way to
Oxford, to purchase a horse, and found that he had acted on
my recommendation and gone to Tom Smart, of Cricklade, and
bought one from him. The Squire coming up we trotted away
to Row Wood, which looked like business. " Carlow" made a
mistake going thither by coming down at a foolish little place
into a road and depositing his rider on his back. He behaved,
however, very well afterwards, standing still without attemptino-
to hurt me, so that I was glad of the fall as it settled satisfac-
torily a doubt I entertained about him. Knowing his vicious
propensities in the stable, Mr. Wm. Whitfield * could scarcelv
believe his eyes when he saw me down, but laughed heartily at
the mode in which both animals acquitted themselves.

Drew Row Wood without a symptom of a fox, and after-
wards a small wood adjoining with like result and with blank
faces were proceeding to Waters Corse when the Squire and
Jim Morgan threw the hounds into another part of the small
wood (Waters Grove) and a minute afterwards our ears were
greeted with Will Orvis' (the first whip) view halloa. Galloped
round the wood and viewed a fine doQ- fox eoino- at a slashino-
pace across a large field to Row Wood. The hounds were laid
on his track immediately and the gallant fellow disdaining all
shelter from covert passed through Row W^ood, thence to Man
Wood at a splitting pace, disdaining the protection of which, he
made to Brick Kilns, and thence to Norwood, and thence by a
track certainly not known to me across Forest Hall to Ongar
Park Woods. The distance, which those who knew the country
best (Collins and others) estimated at twenty miles as the fox

* A splendid horseman.
21 VOL. U.

122 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

ran, was accomplished in one hour and forty minutes. In the
large woods of Ongar Park he hung for nearly an hour and many
of the field having- had quite enough of it and thinking all was
over, left ; but he broke again and ran to a small wood called
Dewley Wood, by the side of which he fell a prey to the hounds,
just three hours from the time of finding him ; but they were too
weary to eat him with much avidity until after a few minutes'
rest. The fox was found to be unusually large, with a good
deal of white about him, and is said to be the gallant fellow
who oave us five oood runs last season, from Row Wood,
generally, to Screens.

The fencing and pace were very severe, the former particu-
larly difficult towards the close, when with tired horses we got
into a stiffer country and had some very awkward roads and
park fences to surmount. Among the men who went well were
Soames, Stallibrass, Burge, Whitfield, Wilson, Stanes and
Bodes, but as it was stated {e.g., Bodes) that no horse went so
well as "Carlow," I took the brush and Goddard Morgan,
second whip, reminded me of a promise of last season to give
him a silver cup made into a fox's head — to which I agreed,
though the finish did not come within the condition of my
promise, which was " to kill in the open." My cold made me
full weak to hold " Carlow," who made another mistake during
the day by getting into a ditch going out of a road. I regretted
the death of the gallant fox, but recollected my expressed wish
of last season, "that if ever he died a violent death it might be
an honourable one and that I might get his brush."

Monday, November 25, 1844. Met at Fyfield. Numerous
enquiries about " Carlow " and remarks upon his going so well
on Saturday. Jim Morgan told me that the Squire had been
again asking about my selling him and was most angry with
him because he had sold him to me. Burge also told me that
the squire had commissioned him to get me to name a price.
To both I replied that I did not want money and that as the
horse suited me I would not sell him

Saturday, November 30. Met at Thorn wood Common and
on my way there heard that the Squire had been libellous
respecting me on Thursday, having exclaimed when he came
up to the earth where the fox had run to ground : —

" If the little man in the cap had been out the hounds would have been
driven over this and we should have known nothing about it."

I venture, however, to demur strongly to such remarks,
since I believe that I cannot fairly be charged with over-riding,
"always riding wide of hounds."

HUNTING CAPS

O^O

On Monday, December 2, met at High Laver Church.
Drew Matchinof Park, Prior's Wood, Brick Kilns, Row Wood,
and Lancaster Springs, all blank. Our Row Wood fox's death
was much regretted when his covert was drawn blank. Rode
" Carlow " whom I had reserved* for to-day thinking the meet
a good one, but the day decidedly the worst of the season
hitherto. J. Burge remarked how handy I had made "Carlow"'
with reference to the quiet and clever way in which he had
taken his fences during the day while drawing and going from
covert to covert. I had some fun at a gate with a drop on the
off-side. The Huntsman and Kick! had Qone over with the
hounds. I was behind and by the time I walked up thirty or
forty horses were congested at the gate, they or their riders,
and many of them good ones too, e.£\, Bramstone Stanes, not
liking its complexion. Having asked them whether they
intended to take it or clear the way, and Graham exclaiming
" Let's see ' Carlow' do it," the latter alternative was chosen,
and I put " Carlow" at the gate. To my surprise, he refused.
Ingersole (in his cap and on a weedy grey brute whose knees
had been broken before and reopened this morning by being
too reverentially disposed on the other side of a fence into a
road) then essayed with good pluck, but fortunately for him,
his steed followed " Carlow's " example. " Carlow " was then
put at it again, and again declined it, and Ingersole and his
weed followed suit. A voice then exclaimed that " it was the
caps which the horses could not carry over the gate,' upon
which indignity to my favourite head-gear, I borrowed Inger-
sole's whip and charged "Carlow" at the gate, giving him a
smart stroke on the shoulder and he flew over beautifully.

" How TO Live to Eighty."

Monday, December 9. The frost still continuing and the
wind from the N.E. keener, if possible than ever, I took my
shower bath standing upon ice and went to town in disgust.

Monday, December 30. Met at Thornwood Common and
redeemed my promise to Jack by borrowing Mr. Broughton's
pony and taking him with me and leaving him in charge of
Thomas, with whose assistance and the steady pony he
managed very much better than I anticipated, displaying the
right stuff for an embryo fox-hunter and enjoying the sport
thoroughly. "Carlow" was in capital case and went excel-
lently, so that one (Littler) remarked that it was worth ^200 to
see him trot, and another (Reeves) observed that I had my
" riding breeches on."

* How often have I reserved a good horse for a favourite meet with similar results. — Ed.

324 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARV

(After a long day with the Queen's Staghounds on Friday,
April nth, 1845, described most graphically and at length in
the diary, the following postscript is extracted : — " Reached
Osborne's stables at 4 o'clock, without a dry thread about me
but rejoicing in having had a good day's sport, and having got
back in time to show myself at the office and transact a little
business before the day closed ; after this I recruited my
inner man by a dinner at my chambers consisting of a
couple of mutton chops with tea close upon the heels of it,
and then set to work and continued at it until past midnight.

1 record this fact not as an unusual occurrence, but as a very
ordinary one, and with an honest pride of making the most of
a day ostensibly devoted to pleasure."

" Sleeping at Dunmow on April 22nd, after being present at
a Hunt dinner held at the Saracen's Head, Dunmow, the
former night, with Mr. Wilson, of Canfield Hart, in the chair,
supported by the two Woodbridges, Mr. Vickerman drove
the next morning, in company with Kidd, to the King William,
when a scratch pack of draft hounds, kept by Adams for
Morgan, were to hunt a stag ; the animal having broken its leg
their chances of a day's sport were reduced to a bagman, which
arrived (sic). 'With the ten couple of hounds brought by young
Sam Morgan, our pack numbered seven and a-half couples,
with about fourteen or sixteen riders.' ")

Our fox, a vixen, having;- been turned down on a mead near
the King William, whisked her brush and went away in style,
but owing to the dry state of the ground, we lost her about

2 o'clock.* We then returned to the King William, where
nearly all our party having recruited themselves with meat and
drink, Adams' man. Buttle, was despatched with a lot of meat
attached to a rope, with a supply of aniseed, to take the line of
meadows from Lord's Wood, towards Bush Wood and
Chelmsford ; while we were giving him law a man arrived
warm and pale, who had just run another drag from Halling-
bury for some Bishops Stortford men. The greater part of
our company were not for running a drag, and I confess, with
my back and hip still very painful from Tuesday's misad-
venture, the tremendously hard state of the ground, enough to
lame your horse, and break his knees and his rider's neck, and
being mounted on " Chancellor," not noted for keeping on his
feet, I was of the majority ; but Kidd, who had just purchased,
and was riding for the first time. Bridge's brown horse, appear-

A good thing too. — Ed.

DRAG HUNTING 325

ing to greatly wish for it, the rest consented. With my sore
limbs my confidence was not increased by hearing most of the
men declare that they would not ride "Chancellor" across
country if I would give him to them for so doing, and others
confessed that they could not ride him.

Our party then went a little way to see the Bishops Stort-
ford men come in, but having made up my mind to ride I
reminded them that we had much better not let our drag go
stale. We started accordingly in a mead close to Lord's
Wood, and could smell the aniseed before the hounds owned
it, which they did soon afterwards, and away we went very
prettily over a beautiful line of meadow, along the course of
a brook with stiffish fencing and wideish places. Unfortunately
our team did not much relish aniseed, so that they did not long
continue to run well, but the line of country chosen by our
dragsman was so beautiful, being nearly all grass and so
different from the hard fallows which most of us anticipated,
that we all enjoyed our ride and ran up to our leader at the
brook very near Bush W^ood. Adams, our Master pro tern.,
blew his horn well and rode better than he sometimes does.
Kidd went better on his new purchase than I have ever yet
seen him go. His horse is a long blood-like looking animal,
16 hands high, and with his good hands will get out of the
habit of refusing his fences. It is singular with him that he
generally rides a new horse better than he does one to which
he is accustomed. We must have had between one to two
hours with our drag, and I left them at nearly half-past five
going to draw Bush Wood, not caring to be one to disturb any
of Conyers' coverts, and having to call at the Farm to discuss
the felling of some trees.

Saturday, November 29th, 1845. Met at Matching Green.
Weather mild, cloudy and muggy, and the field numerous,
including several strangers, and among them Lawton and a
friend named Griffiths, a Frenchman and companion of the
Duchesse de Berri in her adventures in La Vendee. Man
Wood was drawn blank to our surprise, but we found in Brick
Kilns and went away prettily to Envilles ; changing we came
back again to Wood End at a great pace, when w^e killed a
vixen cub, and there was then a talk of going to a bagman at
Leaden Roothing, but Hodgson fortunately suggested that we
should try Norwood, where we found a brace, and went away
with a fine old fox through Brick Kilns and Wood End to Man
Wood. Here it is supposed we changed and went on to
Hatfield Town and Mr. Lowndes' Park, where we gave it up.

;26

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARV

Up to Man Wood the pace was very good, and altogether it
was by far my best day's sport this season. Morgan's horse
was beaten with the first fox, so that I saw nothing of him
until we came to Man Wood. The ground rode rather heavily,
the day was close and warm, and very trying to horses.

As usual on a good day there were many misadventures,
Octavius Coope had two falls, his horse rolling over him on the
last occasion. Lawton was well mounted on a nice looking-

Octavius E. Coope

mare, and Griffiths, who rode a horse of Cassidy's, enjoyed the
sport amazingly, and went very well. " Carlow " was very
tired, more so than I have ever known him to be ; he carries
more flesh than he will do later in the season, and does not
spare himself To-day he went excellendy, but showed he was
tired by making a mistake at a high bank just before coming to
Hatfield, when we were both some time in the balance, but
eventually recovered ourselves.

(The portrait of a man better known to the past than the

OCTAVIUS E. COOPE 327

present generation. Mr. Coope had always a pleasant word
and greeting for everyone, and was one of the most cheerful
men I ever came across in the hunting field. He was a liberal
supporter of the Essex Hounds, whose fortunes he followed for
more than forty years. — Ed.)

On Saturday, January 3rd, 1846, at a Dunmow meet
Adams was as usual loud in his regrets at having parted with
"Carlow," and with a Mr. Wood (who at one time possessed
him) was as loud in his admiration. Morgan, the Huntsman, on
hearing them turned round in his saddle and exclaimed, " Two
wise men, you ! to have a good horse and not know it."

Saturday, January 24th. A perfect spring-like day, the
fixture Bigood's House, Mr. Edward Woodbridge's, two miles
beyond Dunmow. The field rather small for a Saturday, but
included two strangers who looked like going, the Hon. the Rev.
Edward Grimston (brother of Lord Verulam, a noted cricketer)
and Captain Alexander of the 2nd Life Guards. We drew
Bigood's. A brace a-foot, one breaking just by old Conyers,
who holloaed and blew until he brought the hounds and
Morgan. Before they came, however, he indulged in a tirade
against myself, most unfairly and unjustly, as to over-riding ; no
doubt from the report of IXIorgan* on Saturday, who has been
more liberally treated at my hands than at those of nearly all
the other members of the Hunt, and generally at a check begins
bellowing out instead of thinking what has caused the check
and acting accordingly, and consequently frequently makes the
most absurd casts possible.

Conyers followed up this attack by a request that I would
increase my subscription, choosing a very fitting opportunity
for making such an appeal. (Here follows a long description of
the run in which Captain Alexander, mounted on a fine bay
horse, distinguished himself, and Grimston rode like a thorough-
bred sportsman, always near the hounds and in his place and
going well and quietly, while (sic) " Viscount Maynard went very
well to-day and generally goes well for an elderly man. He
certainly rides better this season than he did last.") Conyers'
Hunt is very much indebted to his lordship, for his coverts are
some of our best and the country around excellent. It is a pity
that he does not dress a little differently, for his dark trousers,
with long antigropelosf always loose and unbuttoned at the
thigh, look very seedy and are rendered still more unsightly by
being surmounted by a red coat.

* Riders beware, the Master may not see you, the Huntsman does, he generally tells him,
and we have heard of many a lost fox being put down to certain parties. — Ed.
t What are antigropelos ? — Ed.

328 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

After losino- our fox, we drew on to a covert belono-ino- to
the Puckeridge Hounds, called " The Jock," and thence to
Ouendon Woods, &c., &c. We returned home by way of
Henhain, Elsenham, Takely Gate, Canfield and the King
William, making quite 25 miles from the place where we
left the hounds ; making a long clay for horses and men.
" Carlo w " trotted home in his usual gallant and untiring style,
and must have gone between 80 to 100 miles by the time he
reached his stable soon after 9 o'clock.

(A little later, in his attempt to have a day or two with the
Heythrop, Mr. Vickerman laments his failure in the following
strain) : —

" Falls."

My ill luck has certainly pursued me so far this season in
every particular. To select the first week's frost for the period
of sending horses anci men 150 miles from home is quite in
keeping with the rest of my fortune during the season, and to
hurt myself at every fall is of the same calendar, and very
different to my first season in Essex, 1843-44, when little
" Chancellor's " pluck and indiscretion, added to my own eager-
ness used to give me so many falls, from which I escaped so
well that they used to joke me by saying that I ought to take
out a patent for my discovery of the art of falling without
hurting oneself. Before then, in the riding school at Paris
when putting " Un Cheval Mechant " at the bar, who had
probably never gone over a broomstick before, I recollect the
Frenchman remarking that I knew how to tumble.

Soames, Peters, Roberts, Hobson, Wood, and Littler were
among the party who assembled at the Sun and Whalebone on
Saturday, March 29th, to meet Sam Adams's pack of stag-
hounds. After runnino- throuoh Brick Kilns and Man Wood,
they entered on the best part of the run, going as hard as they
could go, only four with the hounds, Hobson, myself and two
farmers. In the course of this part of the run one of the latter
was a few yards in advance of me and we came to an ugly
fence, uninviting in itself, but rendered worse by a 7-00/ ditch
placed on the near side of the fence in such a position as to
give the chances in favour of your going neatly into the yawner
on the off-side. Observing the young farmer to hesitate and
waver on the selection of his spot, I shouted to him energeti-
cally "For Heaven's sake, sir, ride straight ; " but unheeding
my caution he crossed before me, went askew at the fence, his
horse making a mistake at the root ditch and both lay sprawl-
ing on the other side. I was never so frightened before, at the

ROOT DITCHES 329

pace I was going and at such a fence to check my horse was to
get him into the root ditch and precipitate both of us on to the
prostrate man and horse ; to stop him was impossible. " Cham-
pagne " never pleased me so much ; he jumped the fence beau-
tifully, lighted short of the man and jumped clean over him,
and gave me the satisfaction of picking up his horse and
assuring me that I had not touched him.

Saturday, April i8th. "Another last day," very un-
expectedly, for I went by the train last night fully bent upon
ofoino- to town this mornino^, but on alio-htino" at Brentwood
met Lescher, and found that Conyers was to meet at Laindon
Hills to-day. I told him that I had neither horse to ride nor
clothes to wear, " Carlow " being in physic, "Champagne"*
having already done two days this week, and my hunting-
wardrobe in town ; f but he replied that he was sure I should
manage it and he was rio-ht. I decided therefore to hunt
"Chancellor," and sent Beckington an hour early to Brentwood
with despatches for town, and hacked " Rocket '' on to Brent-
wood, taking " Chancellor " thence to the fixture. There I
met several old faces and steady stickers to Conyers, including
the inseparable triumvirate of Colvin, Lescher and Field, who
all welcomed me back and seemed glad to see me. The
country looked particularly uninviting, heavy land with great
hiofh and wide fences, blind and straoforlino- about the worst
altogether that I had seen in my rambles this season, and the
very worst to bring a hot, impatient little animal like
" Chancellor " to. We found a vixen in Laindon Hill |
coverts, ran her round the covert and in it for some time, and
killed, the men of course declaring- it to be a doo-. We then
drew several coverts below the hill, including that where they
found the fox a fortnioht aoo, which oave them such a good
run, but all blank. Went back towards the hills with better
success, found a fox by the drag and ran him over a very
cramped, heavy country nearly to Hutton, where the hounds
were stopped as they were about to enter Lord Petre's coverts.

The men in this neighbourhood talk of giving Conyers
^200 a year to hunt their country a day a week, but I have
some doubt whether they will carry out the arrangement,
Conyers has too much country already to require more.

Wednesday, May 6th. Sent up "Carlow" and "Chan-
cellor " by Beckington to have the portrait of the three taken
by Messrs. Barraud, of Pont Street, Grosvenor Square.

* " Champag;ne," another of Mr. Mckerman's good horses. — Ed.
t Mr. Vickerman had been hunting with the Baron's and other packs. — Ed.
+ It is interesting to hear that Laindon Hills was one of Mr. Conyers' meets. — Ed.

330 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Thursday to Saturday, 7th to 9th May Mr. Barraud
at work on the horses and groom. He is much struck with
"Carlow," and declares that "take him for all in all" he is
decidedly the finest horse he has ever painted. This is some-
thing to be said by an artist who has painted Prince Albert's
hunters, many of the crack hunts, with some of the finest
horses in the kingdom. " Lawn meet at Ascot," "Badminton
Lawn meet," &c.

(The following entry in Mr. Vickerman's diary may be taken
as a specimen of its descriptive interest) :—

Monday, May iith. To-day deserves to be recorded as a
pleasant holiday though not a "hunting day," albeit it savours
of it. It was fixed upon for the performance of an engage-
ment made with Colvin in the early part of the season that
William * and myself should ride over to Monkhams and see
the Shorthorns on the first frosty day that stopped hunting. ,

The unusually mild weather caused the engagement to be \j
deferred until to-day, which in place of being frosty is one of
the finest, clearest, and hottest days we may expect this
summer. Before starting I tried Wilson's chestnut horse, Qr;V"
" Cognac " (which Beckington fetched yesterday after his
previous and unsuccessful attempts) by riding him over the bar
a few times, and then mounting Beckington on " Carlow" and
Davis Williams' groom on "Grimaldi," went out into the
meadows to try a few fences which, blind with leaves and long
grass, looked more treacherous than inviting to those who
knew their real width and depth.

We went down Partridge Hills across the farm into the
further Partridge Hills and finding the chestnut disposed to go
I charged him at the brook. He tried to stop himself before
coming to it, and in so doing slid along from six to eight feet ;
but even with this disadvantage cleared the brook, here rather
wide, but the landing was lower than the take off, which gave
him an advantage. Desiring the grooms to remain where they
were, I put him quickly over the fence into the mead opposite
Wm. Caton's and then charged him back again at the brook
at a place where the banks on both sides were perpendicular.
This time he seemed to know what he was going to do and
without a pause took it in, his stride covering upwards of four
feet on each side, and clearing, as Beckington afterwards
ascertained by measurement, twenty-four feet. The three
horses then walked through the brook at another place and

* William Longbourne, half-brother to Mr. V.— Ed.

MR. VICKERMAN BUYS "COGNAC 33 1

over two or three fences into the Twenty Acres (except the grey,
who having nearly got into all his fences, we would not allow
to attempt the awkward fence into this field) where I had
intended to try the pace of the chestnut against " Carlow," but
he pulled so that I preferred galloping him round the field by
himself, which he performed in gallant style.

On entering this field we met William and Stephenson, who
had proceeded thither to witness the performance, but who thus
lost the brook jumping. The trial had already quite decided
me in favour of the horse, my only doiibt being my ability to
hold him, and we were quitting the fields with Beckington
about to open the gate into the oat field, when calling to him to
stand still I rode at the gate. The chestnut cleared it with
his fore legs but hit it very heavily with his hind shins, which
with the drop on the other side shook horse and rider a little,
and had I thought broken the gate ; but on turning round I
found the gate entire, he having struck it at the very thickest
part. This mistake was not entirely his fault, for he had his
eye on the other horse, " Carlow," standing near the gate and
to prevent his swerving towards the lower fence on either side,
I had to ride him at it so quick as scarcely to give him time
to rise. Fortunately he did not hurt himself, and showed his
pluck by being quite ready for the next had I been disposed
to indulge him. He crossed back over the fence he had come
over between the jumps at the brook in a very clever style.
On returning home I saw " Rocket " jump the bar for the first
time, and was delighted with his clever and pretty perform-
ance ; after leading him over it Davis rode him over it, but
though a light weight and good seat, he got his hands rather
high for a youngster and was not far from being capsized.
I then rode him over once or twice, and from the spring and
elasticity of his hind quarters, did not feel surprised at his
trying the powers of adhesion of a rider.

William and I then started on the cob and " Chancellor "
for Monkhams, the residence of Mr. Colvin, and on two such
first rate hacks, and on so fine a day, enjoyed our ride of
eighteen or twenty miles through a beautiful country, very
greatly ; reached Colvin's at 2 o'clock (later than we had
intended), where we found our host and Colonel Jones with a
substantial luncheon awaiting our arrival. Discussing our
lunch and getting the flies out of our eyes, we first looked over
the stables, kennels, &c., which were as extensive and
complete as a man need desire; the horses, both hunters and
hacks, of the best and his half dozen couple of harriers the

OJ-

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

pick of his late pack, and it is to be hoped the seeds of a fresh
one. His farm and Shorthorns next occupied our attention
and particularly William's, after which the beautiful prospect
all round the house delighted us until dinner time, to which we
had consented, contrary to our usual rule, to stop, but there was
no resisting- the honJioniie of our host, who really deserves
the unusually excellent character he bears.

After a dinner with which no fault could be found, except
that it was almost too o-ood, considerino- that we had to ride

o - o

twenty miles upon it, our host not only consented to our
leaving when we liked (half-past nine) but ordering a beautiful
little chestnut hack for himself, accompanied us as far as Copped
Hall, to show us a road by which we saved a mile. It was a
lovely night, a full moon, and deliciously cool after the heat
of the day, and we reached the Priory at half-past eleven,
well pleased with the rare event of an holiday and excursion
together.

(Mr. Vickerman purchased " Cognac " after this trial, giving
him that name from his pale colour and fiery nature resembling
that ardent spirit. I shall now proceed to extract from Mr.
Vickerman's voluminous diary, a few of the notable runs
through which this remarkable horse carried him, until I come
to the day when Mr. Vickerman wanting to sell him got a very
bad fall, putting his shoulder out and otherwise hurting himself.
Having at the end of the season (1845-46) made arrangements
to go down to Melton the following season to have a fling in
the grass countries, his hunting journal for the season 1846-47,
commenced as follows) : —

Monday, November 2nd, 1846. Behold me then at Melton,
comfortably quartered at the Harboro' Hotel, kept by Mr.
Wm. Mason, with five horses yclept " Carlow," "Champagne,"
"Cognac," "Circe," and "Chancellor," in the stables, under
the care of Beckington and Tom, with the aid of a helper for
this occasion, and as a climax I must add Frank's little white
terrier " Snap," who astonished me when most unexpectedly I
found him here yesterday, having come quietly with the horses,
for whom he has a particular friendship. Little " Snap " more
forcibly reminded me of home, when I first saw him yesterday,
than all the others together. I suppose from never before
having seen him away from home and not expecting to find
him here. I had been amusing myself by wondering what the
poor little dog would think of the absence of the horses and
their attendants, and the loss of his daily run with them to
Brentwood.

KIRBV GATE ;^2>3

The horses travelled up by the road to London on Thursday
and were quartered for the night at Shackles, for the purpose
of being near to Wilkinson and Kidd, the saddlers, whose aid
was required in a few repairs to saddles, &c., and on Friday
morning came down by the half-past ten. train to " Syston," and
thence by road, reaching here at 5 o'clock the same evening,
&c., &c.

(Mr. Vickerman's hunting wardrobe having gone astray he
writes : " I must make my dSii/ here this season in a shooting
jacket." He then goes on to describe his horses.) They look
in excellent condition and I feel just the reverse, causing
Beckington, who is a kind-hearted fellow, to express his fears
that I may not be strong enough to steer them over the
" tremendously big places," as he styles them, abounding in this
country, especially "Cognac" whom I have not yet tackled
with hounds. To add to my personal disadvantages on Friday
morning while cutting the loaf I cut the top of my forefinger
of my left hand to the bone and into the nail, so that I have
yet to try whether I shall be deprived of the use of my bridle
hand. Some little time after the accident and while standing
by the fireplace alongside my brother Frank, who had just tied
some lint round the finger, I suddenly fainted, dropping as if I
had been shot, falling over the standard of the fender and
should have gone with my head into the fire but for Frank's
promptness, who clutched me by the coat and landed me on my
back on the hearthrug. So much for my condition.

Our meet this morning was Kirby Gate. Here I found the
Ouorn assembled for the first day of the season and the scene
was certainly beautiful and exciting, though I had scarcely
health and spirits to enter into it. We drew Cream Gorse, tall
and thick, where several foxes were at home, and after a
ringing run of an hour by Thorpe Trussels and Ashby Pasture,
got back to the gorse.

(Sport does not appear to have been very grand, but
" Carlow " seems to have gone very well, exciting general
notice and admiration, particularly of a rough-rider of Billesdon,
Tomlin, who was in raptures with his make, shape and style
every time he came alongside him). By riding right-handed I
fortunately got through the day without hurting the same
finger, &c. I own that I was rather disappointed with the
country to-day, it was more hilly, the fields were smaller, and
the fences more cramped than I had anticipated. There were,
of course, fine horses, ofood riders, and men of o-entleman-like
appearance. Mr. Greene, of Rolleston, the Master, is a light

334 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

weight and a good sportsman. All the servants are light
weights. Lord Strathmore, a steeplechase rider, rode to-day
in a style that uiight do for steeplechasing but would not do
long in a good run. I was not much struck with the appearance
of the Quorn Hounds, they were not nearly so well-bred in
appearance as I had anticipated, and were, moreover, rather
uneven.

Tuesday, November 3rd. Another nice fine day, after a dis-
charge of the " Pride of the Morning" in the shape of a light
soft rain, of short duration. The pack to-day was the Cottes-
more, Sir R. Sutton's, and the fixture, Burley-on-the- Hills, the
seat of Mr. Finch, M.P. for Rutland, and twelve miles from
hence. Sending on "Champagne,' I hacked "Cognac," but
the latter is almost in too high condition for a horse of his
temperament ; his temper was ruffled by being led up and down
while I was at breakfast, causing me to finish it abruptly for
fear of an accident to him, and he was like a mad horse fre-
quently, while going to covert. This decided me rather to
alter the plans I had formed of joining the Pytchley at North
Kil worth to-morrow by railway, and instead of doing so to meet
the Belvoir at Aswarby Park, sending " Cognac " on the same
morning to cool him clown a little before encountering him
with hounds. Burley is a magnificent place, and one of the
completest I have ever seen. The house, a plain and very
substantial Grecian edifice, stands on the brink of a command-
ing eminence, and must afford lovely scenery down the glades
of the park and woods and over the tree tops of the surround-
ing country. The rides through the woods reminded me of
Cirencester Woods on a small scale, but the place as a whole,
though less extensive, seemed to me more complete.

After hanging about the woods for some time they ran fast
and straight for a quarter of an hour to another covert, from
which he went away across an open country, partly plough light
land, small as well as big fences and several stone walls, running
to around in a drain at Normanton, the seat of Sir Gilbert
Heathcote. The running, while it lasted, was very good, the
hounds hunted remarkably well, the country generally was a
very pleasant one to ride over, with flying fences and some stiff
ones, and the day altogether pleased me more than yesterday.

I was delighted with " Champagne," who, if I had doubted
it before, proved himself a splendid hunter, lively yet temperate,
jumping equally well stiff timber, walls, stake-bound fences and
bullfinches ; going the best pace with ease to himself, fre-
quently leading, always with the hounds and with the first three

THE COTTESMORE. 1 846 335

or four horsemen, consisting of Ben and John Morgan and an
effeminate-looking and speaking man in pink, with light sandy
imperial, and taking a stiffish wall out of a road at which the
field had pulled up.

Piloted by a young farmer to Burley, from there I followed
Mr. Oliver, Lord Wm. Thynne and Mr. Bateson, over a beautiful
line of meadows to Whissendine, and thence by road to Melton,
fifteen miles from the finish. Sir Rd. Sutton's pack numbers
some excellently bred and well-shaped hounds, and his Hunts-
man, Ben Morgan, and his brother John for one of the whips,
and another brother, young Tom, for second horseman (sons
of Jim Morgan, Conyers' Huntsman), made me almost feel
as if I were in my own country. Old Goosey, whom Ben
succeeded, came up on a pony as they were debating about
dislodging the fox, but it being three o'clock I left them without
assisting at the tedious operation of digging. My bad condition
tells on me, for I felt rather tired on reaching Melton at 5.45,
though still I think I shall pick up all right, and in fact am
picking up strength as I go. To-morrow will be a trying day,
upwards of 50 miles of road work on a pulling horse.

Aswarby Park

CHAPTER XII.

Aswarhy Park — The Bclvoiv, 1846 — William Goodall — Tom Moody — For the
honour of Essex — A Lincolnshire dyke — Lost in High Leicestershire — Big v.
Little Horses — Singeing v. Clipping— Sir Richard Sutton — The Punch Bowl
— Burrow Hill — An anikwavd fence — Colonel Wynham — Tlie Pytchley at Crick,
18^6— George Payne— Lady Villiers gets the brush — Lord Strathmore ivins the
Worcestershire Steeplechase on " The Sivitcher " — The Old Club — " Carloivs "
cleverness — Dick Sutton — Captain Coles — A brilliant scurry — Good Champagne
— Billesdon Coplow — Mr. Frere's House — Mr. Surtees — Mr. Gascoigne —
Lord Gardner — Leicestershire men's dislike of ditches — " Cognac " takes a stiff
line of stiles — Lord Forrester — Ranksborough Gorse — Mr. Parry — Captain
Houblon — Hallingbiiry Hall — Simpson's discrimination — " Cognac's " leap.

WEDNESDAY, November 4th. This morning- found me
in the saddle at 7.45, on the back of " Miss Circe,"
havino- hastily swallowed a cup of coffee and put a little dry
toast in my pocket to last me until I should reach Grantham,
whither Beckington had preceded me on " Cognac," with in-
structions to order breakfast for me. The morning was misty
and cloudy and the first part of the road very uninteresting until
I reached Croxton Park, a seat of the Duke of Rutland, where
the country assumed a magnificently English appearance, with
undulating green slopes well clad with fine timber ; and this
character of scenery continued nearly to Grantham. Some of
the villages nestling among the trees and meadows are very
pretty, especially I may mention Harlaxton.

THE BELVOIR, 1 846

JvDi

'Circe" fortunately started very quietly and did the
distance to Grantham, sixteen miles, in capital style in one
and a-half hours. 1 found Beckington waiting- at a turning,
which led to the stable of the " George," with the consoling
intelligence that I had still twelve miles before me to Aswarby
Park, the fixture of the Belvoir to-day, the seat of Sir Thomas
Whichcote. I had accordingly only time to take two or three
mouthfuls of breakfast, and then mounted " Cognac," who,
being a capital hack, brought me to the fixture (by w^ay of
Londonthorpe, Welby, Culverthorpe and Swarby) just as the
hounds were leaving the Hall to draw the first covert.

" Cognac " fretted much at starting, and with the close
morning and unusually thick coat, had sweated a good deal
and had not recovered from his excitement of yesterday. 1
hacked him, therefore, very quietly, and rode him, as I intended
to hunt him, in his own bit and the nose strap, but using only
the snaffle rein, having the other rein tied in a knot and lying
on his neck ready to be made use of when required.

The Belvoir are a beautiful pack, well-bred and regular.
William Goodall, the Huntsman, is a relation of the noted
Tom Moody, and is a fine good-natured looking man, knowing
his business and a good w^orkman. I was not so much struck
with his whips. The field was small, I suppose, from being
rather a remote meet and the early part of the season. The
first covert we drew was of about forty acres in extent and
soon gave tokens of holding the animal, who broke on my side,
but returning to the covert they could do nothing with him.

The country around here was very rough and uninviting,
smallish fields, and a good deal of heavy plough and blind
wide fences, very unlike some of the country I had passed
through on my way from Grantham, which, though principally
plough land seemed firm, with large fields and neat compact
fences. We then proceeded towards Ouarrington and found in
the first covert we drew there and went away at a rattling pace,
threading through another small covert without stopping. It
was as well I did not think of riding "Cognac" in a snaffle
only, as had been suggested to me, for had I done so I must
on the first start have gone over a flock of sheep, and unless
floored by them must have capsized the Huntsman and a Mr.
Thomas somebody in the ride of the covert ; but with the
aid of the gridiron bit I was able to hold him, though he
fought violently against it. If I had felt any doubt before,
this would have convinced me of the propriety of taking a
line of my own, and accordingly as soon as we were quit of

22 VOL. II.

oo

8 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

the covert, which we had to leave by taking some rails which
he jumped capitally, I set sail in a parallel line to the right
of the hounds, the Huntsman and other forward riders having
taken their left side. Never was I carried in finer style.
" Cognac," who I had fancied felt a little tired on the road
just before reaching- Aswarby Park after having travelled
twenty- eight miles by himself, seemed as fresh as if he had
just quitted the stable, swept over the larger fields as though
he covered them in a dozen strides, lying clown to his work
in a style that made his rider feel as if mounted on a low
horse, and took his fences in his stride with judgment and
clearness. The bit answered admirably. I believe without it that
when he had once set sail he would have gone on in a straight
line until stopped either by want of wind or by some fence
which he had miscalculated ; but with the aid of the bit when
requisite I was able to give him all the advantages of the
snaffle alone in his galloping and jumping, while at the same
time I could check him at a cramp or impracticable place, or
at a gate opening into a road, or when hounds were at fault,
or in short, whenever it was requisite and could thus guide
and direct him with the snaffle. He seems to have no
notion of turning with hounds like old " Carlow."

Our run lasted about three-quarters of an hour, and we
lost our fox rather unaccountably. "Cognac" led by far the
greater part of the run, and in the course of it set the whole
field twice, and many of the field (in fact all who were in his
line) at several other places. The first place looked on coming
at it like an ordinary hedge with a widish ditch on the other
side, but when taking it it proved to be a Lincolnshire dyke,
very wide in itself, but with the earth dug away at this par-
ticular place, materially increasing the width. While in the air
I thought he must drop short, but he cleared it gallantly, and
turning round I shouted to one of the whips who was following
me that it was a bad place, but found that he did not need
the hint, for neither he nor any one else attempted it. The
second place occurred when hounds were running slowly and
in the latter part of the run, 1 could observe that the Huntsman
and all the field turned away from the line of the hounds into a
road ; but supposing this was to avoid a wide place I was not
sorry to be left alone with a pulling horse. I soon perceived
the cause of their taking to the road, from a bank of earth
rather recently thrown up ; but this same bank prevented me
from seeing exactly what I was coming to or its width, but
seeing Goodall and I hose of the field who were parallel with

FOR THE HONOUR OF ESSEX 339

me in the road turn in their saddles to observe what I should
do, I concluded it was a w^ide place, and therefore selecting a
portion of the bank which seemed sounder than the rest, I
put "Cognac" smartly at it "for the honour of Essex," and
he cleared the whole superbly, alighting right on the top of
the bank of earth on its opposite side causing Goodall to
exclaim "Well done! " It proved to be a regular Lincolnshire
dyke, with the width and difficulty much increased by having
been recently cleared out and the earth thrown up on both
sides. It certainly w^as a place to startle weak nerves, for I
could see when crossing it that the sides were perpendicular
and about ten or twelve feet deep, so that there would have
been little chance of getting out in the event of a mistake.

" Cognac "' pleased me much in his timber jumping ; he
cleared beautifully a very stiff tiight of rails in the early part
of the run ; just after having taken my own line and kept it for
some time, I observed the hounds ahead of the rest of the
field and joined them by taking these rails, shaking off all who
had followed me to that point. We afterwards drew the woods
and plantations round Keythorpe Hall, a fine old mansion in
an antiquated style, but could not get our fox away, who finally
went to ofround in a corner of the covert.

Thursday, November 5th. I got up this morning rather
tired from my exertions of yesterday, but lightsome and in
good spirits, for to-day we were to meet in a capital country,
Stanton Wyville, in High Leicestershire, sixteen miles from
Melton as I was told ; but I see by my map that it is nineteen,
and I am sure I must have made twenty-four or twenty-five
of it by following the directions of the elder Mason, who meant
well but did not certainly tell me the shortest way. It was
well that I had the o-allant little " Chancellor " under me as a
hack (albeit fretting at my red coat), he cantered in excellent
style through Burton, Little Dalby, Pickwell, Somerby,
Ouston, Loddington, East Norton, Keythorpe, and thence to
Stanton Wyville ; all this was wrong as I afterwards learned,
since I ought to have gone by Burrow to Tilton, Skeffington
and Rolleston, and by Rolleston Spinney right across to
Stanton Wyville. With the exception of going so much
further than was necessary, I managed pretty well with such
a hack as " Chancellor," notwithstanding the faintness of the
morning, until I came to East Norton, and then in endeavouring
to follow a direction given to me by a woman, I got completely
bewildered in the great grass grounds of High Leicestershire,
rising in undulatino- swells in all directions around me with

340 LEAVES FROM A IIUxNTING DIARY

few trees and sprinkled over with cattle and sheep, but not
a living soul within ken.

At length I spied a building which looked somewhat but
not much better than one of the ordinary cattle sheds in this
part of the country and placed in the centre of immense grass
ground, and making for it I found it to be a human habitation,
or herdsman's hut, tenanted by a woman who directed me to
Keythorpe. Here I met a girl, a woman and a man, each
and all of whom directed me to Stanton, and assured me that
I could not miss the road ; I thought at the time I should be
clever it I did not miss it, and the more so as my directors
were in the valley and could not therefore point out the objects
they were describing — moreover the morning was still
rather misty. However, I cantered up the hill and did my
best to follow my instructions, but got as completely lost as if
in the desert of Sahara, and in a locality which seemed about
equally populous.

Here I was fuming and fretting, galloping about among
the large grass lands, trying one bridle way after another with
alike indifferent success. Looking at my watch and finding
that it was half an hour after the time fixed for the meet,
losing leather and patience in bumping over the ridges after
my long ride of yesterday, and 1 have no doubt making little
"Chancellor" think that his master was bewitched. At length
my eyes were gladdened by the sight of a human being
looking like a spectre half a mile off I galloped to him and
from him got a direction to the opposite hill above Stanton,
there I met some foot people who told me that the hounds
had not found and were then drawing near the mill on the
summit of the opposite hill, near Gloostone. To the mill
therefore I turned, " Chancellor " taking a couple of stiles and
an awkward fence very cleverly, and then I found Beckington
with "Circe," who had been wondering what caused my non-
appearance, but having had like myself some, though not
nearly so much, difficulty in finding his way.

1 he vexation I felt in losing my way and being behind
time, not expecting to see hounds all day, added to my not
feeling very well since I came, quite upset me for the day and
I felt out of spirits. The mare, too, with her cough upon her,
was out of sorts and has not in fact been right since her return
from Radstock. This was the worst day's sport since my
arrival, and to make matters worse, " Circe," whom I rode
with hounds for the first time, did not please me. In the first
place she was too small and felt like nothing under me after

BIG V. LITTLE HORSES 34I

the Other three horses. Even Beckington, who has always
seemed to wonder at my hking large horses tor cross country
work, is coming round to my opinion and admits now that he
sees other countries and the horses in them, that a small horse
in such a country as Leicestershire, with its enormous fences,
is quite out of place.

My opinion is and always has been, that the size of a horse
should be as much regulated by a man's style of riding as by
the number of stones he may happen to weigh. To a man
in the habit of cutting and popping about and making for
gaps and easy places and gateways, even in an easy country,
a small quiet horse is as good or better than a big one, because
he is more pleasant to ride, more active and will generally last
longer if not overweighted. But to a man who is fond, when
he can manage it, of keeping the line of the hounds, or a
parallel with it, and taking his fences pretty much as he comes
to them, a bio- horse is of oreat advantage in any countrv, but
indispensable in a country like Leicestershire. A big horse
will cover as much ground in two or three strides as a little
horse can accomplish in three or four, and the latter must jump
at a fence which the former would take in his stride ; while at
a very high or wide place, the difference in size tells still more
palpably. Of course in making the comparison, I assume each
horse to be equally well bred and similar in every respect,
except their difference in inches — a slow horse, however big and
powerful he may be, is of little use anywhere and quite
useless in a fast country.

" Circe " cannot of course be answerable for her height any
more than her rider for his, but she displeased me by making-
one or two mistakes (from which, however, she recovered her-
self well), and in refusing some of her fences. This, however,
is no doubt in a great degree attributable to both mare and
rider being out of sorts, and neither having much confidence in
the other, and, therefore I have determined not to prejudge
her, but to reserve my opinion on all but her size until after
another trial. She is very fast even though out of sorts, and
would, I think, in condition be very lasting ; she had no
difficulty in keeping alongside a beautiful brown mare of Lord
Gardner's when we were going at about the quickest.

I returned with the hounds by way of Rolleston, Mr.
Greene's place, and a very pretty one it is, of moderately
comfortable size, and delightfully placed, in the middle of
those fine grass grounds generally well timbered, in the
neighbourhood of gentlemen's seats. There is many a spot in

342 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

this neighbourhood where I should Hke to pitch my tent. The
country looks so English, the very hills, though detrimental to
hunting, give it a variety of scene, and the continued grass
and numerous bridle ways render it delightful for riding or
rambling. I can scarcely imagine a more enjoyable life than to
have one's headquarters in this neighbourhood with occasional
rambles in spring, summer or autumn, to the Highlands or
Wales, or similar places, for some fishing and shooting, not
omitting the salmon or red deer.

But after all this eulogium shall I say I am disappointed
with Leicestershire as a hunting country, or rather that it does
not come up to my expectations, or the opinions I had formed
of it from the hasty view and taste of it I had in the latter part
of the season of 1844. I confess that such is rather my feeling
at the present moment, though perhaps I am somewhat pre-
mature ; but it is more hilly than I expected, and the fences,
though few and far between, are in too many places impractic-
able, so that it is impossible to ride as straight as over the
Roothings, and offers a premium to those who affect gateways
and bridleways, which are found in abundance. At any rate, I
think that I am not premature in saying that I am disappointed
with the greater part of the country round Melton, so much so
as to feel some surprise that it should ever have attained such
great fame and popularity ; but it must have proceeded rather
from its central position in regard to the three packs of the
Ouorn, Belvoir and Cottesmore, than to the goodness of the
country, for all its best country lies in High Leicestershire,
which is a o-reater distance from Melton than from either
Leicester, Lutterworth or Market Harborough. Billesdon
seems to me very central for the best country of the Ouorn and
Cottesmore, but would be very far from the Belvoir though
within reach of the Pytchley, when in the Market Harborough
country.

Tomlin, the rough-rider, who like most men of his class,
seems a good natured devil-may-care fellow, knowing every-
body and every place, was very civil in pointing out the road I
ought to have taken to-day, in case of my coming to the same
place again, lives at Billesdon, I will therefore enquire further
as to its merits.

Having dismissed my hack I had the unpleasant task of
riding home a tired horse, but was fortunate in getting the
pilotage of Mr, Oliver's servants to Melton, which I reached
about 6 o'clock, very tired and out of spirits. The long and
bad day made me feel all the fatigues of yesterday, and being

SINGEING V. CLIPPING

343

unwell and out of spirits in the bargain, I perceived that unless
I sacrificed to-morrow and laid up, 1 should probably knock up
and then have to make a greater sacrifice. I was the more
inclined to take this prudential step, from the fixture to-morrow
being at Widmerpool, which is reputed to be a very bad
country, woodland, heavy and clayey, plough land, small fields
and blind fences, but like all other bad countries sometimes
showing capital sport.

Friday, November 6th, 1846. A lovely clear day would
have made me regret my prudence, had the state of my health
and strength made the expediency of the measure more doubt-
ful. As it is, with a day's rest and care, to-day an easy distance
(three miles), to-morrow, followed by the rest of Sunday, will, I
hope, set me up, and render any further sacrifices of a similar
nature unnecessary. I amused myself to-day by looking at
the horses in the stable, ordering "Cognac" to be clipped, a
process I cannot bear, but necessary in the present state of his
coat ; on taking a stroll across the fields towards Kirby,
accompanied by Snap ; in partaking of an early and invalid
dinner, followed by a copious supply of tea (which would have
made Frank exclaim against the horrors of excess in tea drink-
ing) ; in writing letters home, and getting up an arrear of these
notes which may, I hope, call to my recollection years hence the
present times and scenes, when I shall no doubt regard with
a very different eye and feeling to those with which I now
behold them.

Before another season I must endeavour to recollect to have
the singeing lamp used once a fortnight as soon as the coat
begins to start. This will bring them out, when the season
arrives, fine and short-coated and without any appearance of
the coat having been tampered with. I am indebted to
William Mason for this hint, who, though sticking to his
business and always in the house, takes a great interest in
horses and hunting (not that this is to be wondered at), imparts
his experience very freely and good-naturedly, and in addition
to making one feel that his house is about the most comfortable
and more like home than almost any hotel I have ever stayed
in — amusing me while waiting at table with gossip and
anecdotes of bygones, as well as present men and things. The
horses also seem to be as comfortable as the master, to have
everything they require and to be doing well, so that all these
are considerable sets off against the disadvantage of beingf some
distance from the best of the country.

Saturday, November 7th. I got up this morning feeling

344 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

lighter and in better spirits from my lying up yesterday and in
coming down stairs was surprised to find Francis Pym, just
arrived by the train from Leicester, where he had stopped last
night, being on his way up from Scotland, having heard from
his brother Alan of my being here and having travelled up
with Sir Richard Sutton, who had entered into an animated
conversation on foxhunting, which had inspired him with a
desire to have at least a taste of it. He had therefore deter-
mined to have a day at Melton and afterwards visit his friend
Potchin of Barkby Hall ; while partaking of an excellent break-
fast provided by Mason, to which Pym's excitement would not
permit him to do equal justice with myself, we arranged for the
hiring of a horse for him from Cuttage, while I went on with
" Carlow " to the meet at Little Dalby Hall, the seat of Mr.
Hartopp, very prettily placed on rising ground amidst trees and
near the church, with a very neat lodge approach, presented
an interesting spectacle.

A large field generally, superbly mounted and looking like
going, and Sir Richard Sutton and his whole establishment
exceeding in neatness of appearance and style and the quality
of their cattle anything I have ever seen. Sir Richard himself
pleased me amazingly ; he is a middle-aged man, about the
middle heio"ht, of small reo"ular features, dressed in a scarlet
frock coat, cap, and cords, taking the management of his own
hounds, which he does well and with spirit, and looking like a
gentleman and sportsman. His two sons are slim and spare,
dressed like sportsmen, mounted superbly, and going very well.
The Huntsman, whips and some of the second horsemen were
all mounted equally well, all dressed in new coats, cords and
caps and with new whips, and stirrup leathers over the
shoulders, looked the beau ideal of a first-rate establishment.
The hounds are of a stamp and breeding suited to this excellent
turn out.

We immediately proceeded to draw the small plantations
and coverts of Mr. Hartopp, Sir Richard handling his hounds
with great spirit and energy, and soon found, in a small covert
called the Punch Bowl, the exciting "tally-ho! gone away!"
being heard from the top of the covert. Sly Reynard had
faced the hill and took a round at best pace by Thorpe Burrow
Hill, Somerby, Pickwell, and back again to a singular dry stick
covert adjoining the Punch Bowl where, after hanging a short
time, he was killed. During this ringing run, which lasted for
about three-quarters of an hour, including a longish check at
the finish, owing to another fox having got up and the hounds

AN AWKWARD FENCE 345

dividing, the pace was tremendous and the country very severe,
as well from the continued succession of steep hills as from the
formidable nature of the fences. Not above a dozen rode to
hounds, including Sir Richard Sutton, his sons, Potchin, Freke,
and Tomlin, and myself on "Carlow. "

Among the awkward places I may mention the top of
Burrow Hill, where we had to descend a declivity almost
perpendicular, over a low stone wall and jump a fence at the
bottom. Very few ventured down this place, " Carlow " went
down like a cat and jumped the fence at the bottom well.
Another awkward place was out of a turnip field into an
adjoining field which lay higher and the fence was first a ditch,
then a hedge set up on the higher ground with a rail just
beyond, very dark coloured, so as to be scarcely visible.
" Carlow " went at it so beautifully that I could hardly help
lookino- more at him than at the fence. His eve was on the
rail and setting his ears forward and arching his neck he went
at it in magnificent style and cleared the whole without touching
a twig. Nearly all the leading horses took the same fence in
various parts, awkward as it was, without a fall, though some
rattled the timber about not a little. Leicestershire is certainly
the country for fine horses and bold riders, nor is it to be
wondered at the horses becoming clever, for in addition to the
stiff fencing the ground, though grass, is so broken up by ridge
and furrow, and grips, hollows and mole hills, as to require a
very clever horse to go full swing across it without a mistake ;
but this " Carlow^ " did to-day to perfection.

No sooner had the hounds eaten their fox than another
was tallied and seen going straight up the opposite hill. The
hounds took up the scent and swept up the hill as mute as
mice, horses following without much respite from their pre-
vious exertions and with every appearance of another clipper ;
when upon the fox working round again from its native planta-
tions Sir Richard very properly decided not to destroy another
this morning, and had the hounds whipped off We then
trotted off to Ouston Woods, soon found, and had another run
not equal to the first ; finished by a great deal of galloping
around this large covert, to which we had, I believe, come back
again. After this the select few who stayed went away to
Tilton Woods and adjoining coverts, where we found again, all
the field being left behind except Ben Morgan, the Huntsman,
mounted on his second horse, a maQ-nificent erev — so beino-
nearly 4 o'clock, gave it up.

Pym had previously left with his friend Potchin : the latter

346 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

on his favourite horse " The Miller," had gone well ; the former
was unlucky with his hired horse, which proved a screw and a
roarer, so he exchanged for a powerful chestnut belonging to
Watson, who keeps the "George" at Melton. I left off near
Skeffington, where one of the young Suttons lives in a neat
house built for him by his father, in a sweet situation and in the
midst of a beautiful country ; thence I found my way to Tilton,
where I put " Carlow " into a stable and gave him some chilled
water, and he brought me home in a style as if he had not been
a mile. On my way through a succession of gates, and quite
unusual with him, he quickened his pace on coming up to them
as if he wished to jump them. I suppose the upright fencing
reminds him of old times, before he went into Essex, and suits
his taste. This was one of his pulling days, but he was very
much admired and enquired after. Col. Wyndham, who lives
at Melton, recollects him when running in Ireland, and from
his and others' statements he must be now nearly twenty years
old. What an astonishing horse he is ! and what must he have
been at six years old, and how could Lord Howth ever have
parted with him ^

A hound was ridden over to-day by a " stranger in a cap,"
and as I answered this description, and had. ridden in a fore-
most place, I fancied, as did Pym, both from Sir Richard's
observation and also from having received a friendly hint from
Jack Morgan as to Sir Richard's love and care for his hounds,
that Sir Richard thought that I had been the perpetrator of
the mischief I therefore accosted him at Tilton Wood, asking
him whether he thought so, adding that I had not touched a
hound, at least that I was as conscious of having eaten one as
of having ridden over one to-day, and that had I inadvertently
done so I wouki have tendered the fullest apology ; when he
replied in a very gentlemanlike style that he did not attribute it
to me, that he did not know who it was, but that the hound was
a stallion, a particular favourite, that he believed he was only
hurt, not killed, but that whether or not he must say with
Osbaldeston, " I have plenty more at home."

W^ednesday, November 1 1. None of the three packs hunt-
ing to-day, I betook myself, with "Carlow," by railway to Rugby,
to meet the Pytchley at Crick, one of their best fixtures and in
some of their best country. There had been a sharp white
frost in the nioht, and the mornino- was brio-ht and beautiful,
but not looking much like hunting, I had to be stirring early
to go by the 6.40 train from Melton, and therefore took merely
a cup of coffee, put some dry toast in my pocket and started by

THE PYTCHLEV AT CRICK, 1 846 347

the train, which took me to Rugby by 9 o'clock. I led old
" Carlow " up to the "Eagle" at Rugby, about a mile from the
station, where I had an indifferent breakfast in company of three
officers of a regiment quartered at Birmingham, who had come
by rail this morning to join the meet, and having ordered some
linseed gruel for "Carlow" and dinner for myself to be ready
on our return, trotted off to Crick, about six miles from Rugby.

A numerous and well-mounted field were assembled at
Crick, including two ladies on horseback and Lady Villiers in
her phaeton. The hounds looked strong, well bred and business-
like, but scarcely as finely bred as the Belvoir or Cottesmore,
and not so large or handsome as Conyers'. Mr. George Payne,
the deservedly popular Master, is apparently about 55, of a
large mould and well built, and looking like a man who under-
stood his business. He was mounted on a remarkably compact,
short-legged, bay horse, who seemed quite perfect at his busi-
ness of crossing a country. Mr. George Payne waited very
good-naturedly half an hour for Lord Strathmore, who was
coming down by rail from London after his recent exploit of
winning the Worcestershire Steeplechase on his noted horse
"The Switcher," beating most of the best horses and riders,
professional and otherwise, of the day.

We then proceeded slowly towards Crick Gorse or covert,
and his lordship just then making- his appearance, the hounds
were thrown in. Before any challenge was given, in fact
without his being found, a fox was viewed away, the hounds
were laid on and went away across the road in the direction, I
believe, of West Haddon, at a tremendous pace. The very first
fence out of the road was rather a stiff stake and bound, and
made a very considerable thinning. Hounds ran over a beautiful
country, principally grass-grounds smaller than those of Leices-
tershire, but with fences stiff enough to please hard riders, but
still generally practicable. The worst fences were the doubles
and ox-fences, of which there were abundance and manifold
partings were the result, the sure sign of a good quick thing.
We went on in this style, about the usual number of a dozen
being well up with the hounds, with only one slight check until
we came to Lord Henley's place at Watford, delightfully placed
near the church and commanding a fine view, where, after a
scurry or two round the lawn we killed our fox, the brush being
given to Lady Villiers, who was there in her phaeton.

This is by far the best run of thirty-five minutes which I
have had this season, although a ring. Lord Strathmore said
that he was innocent, like myself, of its having been a ring until

348 LEAVES FRO-M A HUNTING DIARY

told SO. I was told yesterday by Mr. Richard Oliver of the
"Old Club," that I should find lots of doubles, and I can
testify to his being a correct informant.

(" Carlow " appears to have gone excellently in spite of
putting Mr. Vickerman down once, and giving him a nasty rap
on his poor proboscis (making the third day in succession in
which it had been in the wars having smelt the bullfinches on
the two previous days), displaying all his usual quickness and
cleverness over the ridge and furrow, and popping in and out
of doubles and taking walls and stone stile in excellent form.)
The " Diary " continues : —

(One awkward fence he did so superbly, that I must record
it. It was at the top of a grass field which sloped upwards and
had a kind of wide stile or rails not particularly high, but placed
on the far side of a very wide dry ditch, or rather hollow, or a
ditch with the sides worn much away, I was there about fifth
or sixth from saving " Carlow " up the hill, and could see those
before me incline towards this stile, which was quite in the
line of the hounds, but not liking the look of it turn quite out
of the line and take a fence at right angles to it. I relied on
the old horse's cleverness when he sees his work, and just put
him at it without disturbing his stride, and he cleared it
brilliantly, kicking his hind quarters sideways on landing, in a
most clever style, to get them quite clear of the obstacle, but
rather difficult for his rider to sit. As he turned sideways I
could see that a man encouraged by my success was coniing
at it, but he made a terrible mistake, his horse going right
into the dry ditch and falling right on the rails, breaking them
and giving his rider a regular purler.

Just as the fox was killed, I was told that "Carlow" was
either staked or over-reached. I found it was the latter, and
game as he is, it made him go lame. This was excessively
unlucky, as the next covert to be drawn was Vanderplanks, a
certain find, and one I had heard much of and greatly wished
to see. I was walking afoot leading him, to see if the lameness
would go off, w^hen Lord Strathmore (who seems very fond of
horses and seems to take good care of them, though he makes
them go straight) passed me, and agreeing with me that he was
too lame to proceed, I turned round and walked afoot to
Rugby, eight miles. My expenses to-day were £2 12s. 6d.
but it is certainly the best day I have yet had.

(One Monday out of Mr. Vickerman's "Diary" re his Leices-
tershire experience this season, as written by him, is a fair sample
of his diary throughout, and I must, with the space at my
disposal, condense the remaining" notes which I extract.)

A BRILLIANT SCURRY 349

Tuesday, November 12th. — Our fixture with the Ouorn
this morninor, was Houo-hton-on-the-Hill ; " Little Chancellor,"
fidgety as ever since the commencement of the season,
carried me there in his clever style, and I accompanied Mr.
McGildowney, who knowing something of the road took me
by a very pleasant line from Twyford by way of Ouenby and
Ingarsby, and passing by a very fine old mansion called
Ouenby or Oueeniborough Hall, formerly occupied by Sir
Walter Carew, but at present tenantless, I could not but be
surprised that so fine an old place in a pretty situation of
Leicestershire, and so admirably placed in the centre of the
best country, should be without a tenant considering the many
men of fortune who resort to Leicestershire for the season.

The morninof was cloudv and cold with the wind in the
east, the country very dry, and the glass high and with but
little promise of rain. I felt rather stiff and tired from my
exertions of yesterday in riding and walking, and rather shaken
from my fall and rap of the mouth. Glen Gorse produced us
a fox who gave us a fair hunting run of between an hour
and an hour and a-half, circling round by King's Norton
or Norton by Galby, where we lost him. We then drew a
small covert or gorse on the way to Billesdon just by Galby.
Here a fox broke in the direction of Rolleston ; returning to
the covert he broke in the opposite direction with the hounds
close at his heels, and went away over a very stift' line of
country and at a racing pace, crossing some very big and
awkward fences. Of the whole field though several got away
with them, only four could live with the hounds down to
Neston Brook, where we came to a slight check, viz., Dick
Sutton, Captain Coles, Mr. Shepherd and " Champagne,"*
five or six couples of hounds, who did not get well away with
the rest of the pack, were unable to join them until the check
at the brook. We lost a little time at the brook in crossing-
through it at an awkward place, and here we dropped Shepherd,
who took some other direction and let in Lord Gardner and
other fast riders, who knowing the country had made a cut
to join us. Coles led through the brook followed by Sutton,
who had some difficulty getting his horse through, but had
led up to that point in such workmanlike style that I thought
it onlv fair to wait until he had the first chance of oettino-
through ; and he continued at a racing pace for about five
minutes longer, over a stiff but fine line of country, crossing

* Mr. Vickerman's horse.

350 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

several ox fences until we ran to ground in a drain, after as
brilliant a scurry of ten or twelve minutes, as I ever rode in.
Dick Sutton was mounted on a fine-looking thoroughbred
horse which he rode on Saturday, but had only recently
purchased of Payne the dealer, and went in a style that could
not be excelled, getting a fall at the very last ox-fence, but
escaping scatheless. Captain Coles (of a regiment quartered
at Loughboro') rode as he seems always to do with in-
domitable pluck.

"Champagne" pleased me immensely. I had never yet
put his powers so fully to the test, but he answered the call I
made upon him gallantly. Though the pace was racing, and
over ridge and furrow, to which he is not accustomed, it was
not at all too quick for him ; but, on the contrary, he seemed to
enjoy it and pulled more than ordinarily, taking his fences at
full swing without a mistake, clearing the ox-fences magnifi-
cently. One of the most awkward fences was one of the latter
description, from one grass land into another, sloping down to
it with a drop on the other side and a very bad approach, and
the rail dark coloured and scarcely discernible. This he led
over takine it in his stride, but rather swervino- towards
Shepherd who was riding parallel with me, for which I
expressed my regret. Altogether I was delighted, as well
with his good speed and cleverness as with his jumping, and
can only conclude by saying that no horse could have per-
formed better in so quick a thing than he did. I must
certainly think again before parting with so fine a hunter.
When I heard Dick Sutton declare that he would not take
^300 for his horse while admitting that he was inferior in
breed and appearance to "Champagne," I could not help
feeling that long as the price was I gave for the latter, I had
not given more than his value, indifferent as a hack though
he be.

I felt anything but well or in good spirits this morning, and
it was no small comfort to find myself on him instead of either
of my other pulling horses. He has gone very much better
since I have had the large easy bit, which I procured after he
had given me the fall with the Duke of Beaufort's Hounds
last season, which deprived me of the use of my bridle hand
for so long a time ; and the improved mode of shoeing him has
still further added to the comfort and mode of his going. It
seems singular that I should have felt, and still somewhat feel,
less confidence in "Champagne" than I need have clone, but I
suppose it has proceeded from riding him alternately with a

BILLESDON COPLOW 35 I

SO super-eminently clever a horse as " Carlow," from his being
a bad hack, and careless in going, even across country, so as to
need a good deal of watching and holding, from having given
me two bad falls in the first season of my hunting him, both
of which hurt and incapacitated me for a time, and from his
being occasionally so lame without any apparent cause. At
present though getting a little light from his work, he is, and
has been ever since he has been down here, more lively, sound
and safe on the road than I ever recollect him to have been,
and carries by far the best coat of all my horses.

We then proceeded towards the " Historical Covert " of
Billesdon Coplow, a gorse covert on the top of a hill with the
summit surmounted by high trees. A very compact, pretty and
modern house is built just on the south side of the Coplow,
belonging to and occupied by Mr. Frere, who seems to take
great delight in planting and improving his pretty little
demesne. Mr. Frere came out and invited the field generally
to partake of some luncheon, but being a stranger 1 did not
consider myself included in the invitation, and had passed the
door when Lord vStrathmore, on coming out of the house with
Mr. Frere, saw me, called me by name, and introduced me to
Mr. Frere. Dismounting, I went into a very nice compact
dinino- room commandino- a fine view, and took a o-lass of

O O ^ «->

sherry and piece of cake, which on this cold clay, and from
having omitted to put into my pocket the usual supply of dry
toast, came very acceptably. I was much pleased with this
little mark of courtesy and affability on the part of Lord Strath-
more. I precipitately left the house on a servant announcing
that they had found, and we soon got away with a fox which
no doubt went to ground after running two or three fields, but
Day, the Huntsman, was too knowing to point out the where-
abouts to the foot people.

We then returned again to the Coplow, found again
(probably the fox which had crossed before me just as they
got away with the first), and had a very pretty run of about
half an-hour, giving it up near Tilton ; only a small field stayed
to participate in this last run, which was over a very pretty line,
but some very stiff and frequent timber jumping, generally with
bad approaches, but all of which " Champagne " jumped
excellently without a mistake. Mr. Surtees, a regular Mel-
tonian, and who has a very level neat stud of ten or twelve
hunters, went well at the beginning of the run, leading in a
line which involved a good deal of timber work, in answer to
my enquiry as I rode back with him to Melton, whether he

352 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

did not find six days a week rather a toil and labour throughout
the season, replied that so far from it, he only wished the
season lasted for twelve months in place of six, adding that
he only omitted three days during the whole of the last long
season, and found himself on the very last day with only one
horse and that a hack and lame, all the rest having been
screwed up. There are some then I find who like hunting
better than I do, for if I had the power I do not think I should
hunt more than three or four days a week, unless staying at a
place like Melton, where to exist you must hunt, for there is
nothing else to be done.

(Here follows a page of personal impressions which Mr.
Vickerman says " I should not record except in a private journal
like the present, intended merely for my own inspection and
amusement, and to recall to my recollection years hence, if I
live so long, the scenes and circumstances of the passing hour
connected with a favourite pastime.") He then goes on : — A
sinoular character with these hounds is a Mr. Gascoiofne, livino-
at Somerby. He is a square-built man of between fifty and
sixty, and about i6 stone, riding peaceful and very quiet horses
which, nevertheless, he is always apostrophising for being
unruly, in good round oaths, which he seems to make particu-
larly sound and sonorous, as if to give effect to them. To-day
his face was caught by a bramble called "a lawyer" and scored
like a gridiron, bleeding a good deal, and when the blood had
dried, his appearance while swearing at his horse, when chest-
ing a rail, which he had ridden at, a sight I shall not readily
forget.

Friday, November 14th. The Ouorn at vSix Hills, &c.
Lord Gardner rode to-day with his accustomed indifference
when there is nothing particular worth riding for. He seems
susceptible of cold, for after any galloping he buttons up his
coat, carefully elevating the collar closely round his neck. The
fear which these Leicestershire men have of encountering a
little blind ditch, while they will unhesitatingly charge an
enormously stifi" bullfinch or a flight of rails, seems singular to
me coming from a land of ditches, and it was most amusing to
see them pull up at a little hedge with dry grass, not venturing
to take it because they could not see the ditch (for which they
were earnestly looking) for the best of all reasons because there
was none. So much is this a habit, that these hard-riding
Leicestershire men fear these little places more than the bigger
ones to which they are more accustomed, and as I hear

"cognac" takes a stiff line of stiles 353

generally get more falls in a day in this country than during a
season in their stiffer country.

In consequence of Captain Bateson's horses coming to the
Harborough, Lord Archibald St. Maur not sending as many
as he at first intended, my horses are shifted into much more
comfortable quarters, &c.

It is rather a disappointment that so few of the regular
Meltonians are here yet. The continued dry weather no
doubt intimates that they may safely stay away without much
fear of losing any good sport. Lord Wilton, Mr. Gilmour,
Mr. Leslie, and other old stagers have not yet arrived. Mr.
Crawfurd is too ill to come, but is recovering from his dangerous
attack. A man of his wealth, coupled with his amiability and
liberality, would be missed in any country he had been in the
habit of frequenting. Lord Forrester has not yet come to
Belvoir, and until he arrives to take the mastership of that
pack, I hear there will be no meets within reach of Melton.
This is unlucky again, for the Belvoir is the pack which the
Meltonians rely upon for Mondays and Wednesdays through-
out the season.

Monday, November i6th. Lord Forrester having come
down to take the mastership of the Belvoir, we had a meet
at Croxton Park. In a run from Clawson Thorns just after
crossino- the Nottinorham Road, Mr. Vickerman's horse
"Cognac," distinguished himself by taking a stiff line of stiles.
The first was a poser, strong and stiff, with a wide, dry ditch
before it, and frightened away the whip and the field. Goodall
by this time had got a field to my right, I put " Cognac " at
the stile steadily and determinedly, and he cleared it very
cleverly, got into the line of the hounds, going most delight-
fully and luxuriously bang by himself with the hounds alone
and taking all the other stiles and fences beautifully. At a
footbridge over a place wider than usual he put his foot on
the bridge and hopped over to the other side and then cleared
the low stile on the farther side with another jump. In this
manner I got on to Broughton Hills and up to a stone house
recently erected by a Mr. Johnstone, on the very top of the
hill called Little Belvoir, and commanding an extensive pros-
pect, it is said, as far as Lincoln Minster, &c., &c. On
describing the line to Mr. Mason, he told me that he recollected
it perfectly, and that a certain gentleman, naming him, had
had three or four falls in taking the self-same line of stiles a
season or two ago.

(Unforeseen business engagements cropping up, Mr. Vicker-

23 VOL. U

354 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

man's projected stay at Melton was cut short, but he came in
for a great day with the Cottesmore from Langham on
Wednesday, November i8th.) We proceeded to the far-
famed covert called Ranksborough Gorse. The last time I
was here, February, 1S44, the Gorse was six or eight feet
high ; to-day it was only a foot high, and so short, sharp and
impervious, that the hounds seemed afraid to face it, &c. The
diary winds up : — As one's last day it was satisfactory to hear
the Huntsman and most of the hard riders declare that it was
the best clay they had this season, that it was a day worth a
whole season, and that they feared it would be long before
they had another run equally good over such a country.

December 21st. A Fyfield meet suddenly altered to
Blackmore. This is one of Conyers' besetting sins and caused
general dissatisfaction and incovenience and a clay's " row."
Many who had come from a distance, like the " Myers," found
that they had gone live or six miles further than was necessary
only to return, and Thos. Hodgson did not get his horse at
all. After a debate as to the comparative merits of the High
Woods and other places, we drew Horsley Park, Moor Hall,
Skreens, Barnish Witneys, and lastly some little coverts near
to Grinsted Wood, and finished with a " blank day." Vexa-
tious enough, after ten days frost and with two such horses
out as "Cognac" and "Champagne," and both so fit to go.
"Conyers' " Hunt certainly gets slower and more slow, the men
worse mounted than ever, the hounds less spirited even than
usual and the field thinner. Conyers complains that he neither
has foxes nor subscriptions, that of the latter only two have
been paid this season, and made an earnest appeal to me for
mine, which it seems has not appeared in his banker's book,
though paid in October.

Morgan declares he shall be ruined with the few foxes killed
and the small caps when a death occurs, &c. Conyers has now
quarrelled with Colvin, his largest subscriber and a very good-
natured fellow, and to-morrow he makes a bye-day to draw
his covert of Galley Hills, expressly, he declared, to kill his
" pheasants and hares."

(In a good run with the Puckeridge, Mr. Parry's, on
February 22nd, 1847, "Cognac" distinguished himself over
a very big fence, necessitating putting on the steam, and a
sharp pull up on the other side as hounds checked, eliciting
the remark from Simpson, the Huntsman, " Look at that
gentleman ! that's the way to pull up. I wish every one would
do so." This discrimination of Simpson's brought him half

SIMPSONS DISCRIMINATION 355

a sovereign.) Returning home this day Mr. Houblon was
hospitable and courteous enouo-h to ask me to accompany C.
Tyrrell to luncheon at Hallingbury Hall,* which I accordingly
did, and rode thither with them and his brother, Capt. Houblon.
The house is very large and roomy, capable of sleeping fifty
guests easily, and the dwelling rooms lofty and spacious ;
but the exterior of the house, which is of red brick, is very
unarchitectural and inelegant, with four-corner square towers,
like the Priory, but each surmounted with a sort of pagoda
roof. The park is, however, fine and spacious and standing
by Takeley Forest, which belongs to it, renders the whole
place, to my taste, one of the most complete and gentleman-
like in the county.

(From diary, Saturday, March 13th.) Old Webb, of Hat-
field, was out to-day with his protdgc, young Sullens. Both
had examined the spot where " Cognac " had cleared the brook
last Saturday, and stated that there was seventeen feet of w^ater,
and that the horse must have cleared twenty-six feet, and this,
too, uphill, the place of alighting being higher than that of
taking off. He's certainly an extraordinary horse.

For photograph of Hallingbury Place (not Hall), see page 32. — Eu.

John Vickerman Longbourne

CHAPTER XIII.

The General Fast Day, 1847 — John Vickerman Longbourne — Jack learns a lesson —
The Fiiichley Stag Hounds — Jim Bean — Mr. Garland — Old Alcshech —
Hobsons spurt — A twenty mile point — A n eighty mile ride — The Aftermath —
Baron Rothschild' s Stag Hounds — " Cognac " bolts — A Disaster — The Qiiorn at
Six Hills — The dislike of Meltonians for mud — The Chartist Demonstration —
Special Constables — Mr. V. is sworn in — An unlucky season — The Opening
Meet, 1848, at Row Wood -Mr. Vickerman parts with "■Cognac" — A zceek
of Disasters — Mr. Pet re's Harriers — The Blackmore Beagles — West Essex
Yeomanry — Coventry Steeplechases — "Cognac" falls — The Victim wins —
Riding for the Brush — Abraham Caton's Beagles —The Puckeridge, 1850 —
Eastwick Wood — The Four Men in Pink — The test of a good run — The
Epping Hunt, Easter Monday, 1850 — Up! Up! Up! — The Take in the
Open — Bridle roads — " Carlow " draivs Mr. V . to Church on his Wedding
Day — Season 1850-51 — A bye day with Conyers — The great Drought —
Mr. Conyers advertises his meets for the first time — Lord Petre — Boyton
Hall — The Christys — Essex as a Hunting Country — The choice of six packs
ivithin fifteen miles of Blackmore — The hind " Lucy Long" — An Old Park
fox — The Miller s maid — Barking Creek — The End of the Season — Boys at
play.

MR. VICKERMAN'S nephew, J. V. Longbourne, whose
portrait, as I knew him, is given on this page, comes in
for notice in his uncle's diary [sic) : — Saturday, March 27th, Jack
returned from Eton on Tuesday for his Easter hohdays and I
accompanied him and his father with Bridges Harvey to Grays,
in the afternoon and spent the following day, Wednesday, with
the family, being a "General Fast Day" in consequence of
the distress arising from the scanty harvest and failure of the
potato crops. The church at Grays has just been thoroughly
repaired and re-arrangecl, in fact, renewed, and is now (with
the exception of the steeple, which I cannot digest) as pretty
a little church as need be desired.

JOHN VICKERMAN LONGBOURNE 357

(W^e must go forward a great many years to realise that
the boy Jack has developed into the grown man who is driving
the grey mare, and whose features are familiar to all those who
were following the E.H. at the time this photograph was taken,
when he was living in winter quarters at Wynters Grange. Alas !
at the time he sent me this photograph, July, '96, he was not
able, through serious illness, to hunt a mouse, let alone a fox.
A kinder-hearted fellow or better sportsman never breathed.
All had a good word for Jack Longbourne ; his name appears
a good many times in the extracts I have made from his uncle's
diary; sufficient, therefore, for me to add that in his love of the
game and bold riding he was a worthy follower of that bold
Nimrod, Charles Ranken Vickerman, and although he had his
share of tumbles, he always came up smiling.)

This morning we started for the fixture at Hatfield Heath,
Jack on his "The Queen," I on ''Carlow," &c. A small field
and a blank day memorable to Mr. Vickermann from Mr.
Conyers, after they had finished the forest about 2 p.m., ask-
ing them in to luncheon at Mr, Houblon's ; C. Tyrrell, Wilson
of Canfield, James Meyer, Warter, Coope and Conyers doing-
justice to Mr. Houblon's hospitality, x^fter luncheon they drew
Bassenden Springs and other coverts, where they were joined
by Mr. Houblon and Mr. Jolliffe Tufnell, with a lad, probably
a son of the latter, and Sir Henry Meux. They were on their
way to pay a visit to Mr. Rush, at Elsenham, and waited some
little time on the chance of our finding, &c., &c.

" The Queen " is one of the best shaped, cleanest and
quickest ponies I have ever seen. She jumps beautifully,
and at one place a drop made such a spring through a standing
jump as to astonish Jack, making him change colour and
wonder when she was coming down, and causing his legs to
fiy away from the saddle when he landed. Fortunately, seeing
the drop, I had admonished him to sit well back, so he did not
lose his seat. He is a plucky boy, fond of the sport, and only
wants practice* to make a good and bold rider. He is naturally
in love with his pony, but she is far too fat and rough to make
me think much of Parris as a groom, and nails are driven into
the very point of her toes to fasten the fore shoes. (Jack was
not so lucky in his essay at hunting — but let the diary tell
the tale.)

Tuesday, March 2,0, i847- On returning home from town

* This practice he evidently got, for in the years I knew him in Essex he was always a
dashing horseman and one of the best-hearted fellows and keenest fox-hunters I ever came

across. — Ed.

T^^S LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

last evening, drenched to the skin by a snow shower which greeted
me on alighting from the train at Brentwood, without any great
coat, and beat in my face until I reached Park Wood, and
which " Trap," from his snorting and starting seemed to relish
as little as his rider, I was puzzled by Beckington repeating that
he had been to the " King William " and Leaden Roothing
according to my instructions, and that no one there had heard
of its being in contemplation to uncart a stag on the morrow,
but that he had met an individual named Snow who stated
confidently that Hastingwood Common was to be the fixture.
As these places are a good ten miles apart, I was puzzled as to
the best course to pursue, but finally determined to start at nine
o'clock in the morning and ride round to Stallibrass's house,
which I believe to be in the neighbourhood of the latter place,
and who would be safe to know which was to be the fixture.

The morning broke bright and beautiful after a slight frost
during the night, with the ground in capital order from the
rain and snow of Sunday and Monday, but a further difficulty
arose from Jack's non-appearance from Doddinghurst, where
he had spent the afternoon and evening of yesterday, and
whence he was to have returned by ten o'clock last evening.
Knowing the distances the horses would have to go in case the
"King William " should prove to be the fixture, and having been
kept up in expectation of Jack's return until long after midnight,
it was sorely against the grain that I gave him the chance of
upwards of half-an-hour (bearing in mind also his vehement
protestations that he would not stop even to dinner and leave
me alone, which I had checked at the time) giving him the
option of staying until lo o'clock ; but it being then past
the half hour after nine, and having first to go round to Mr.
Stallibrass's, Ongar Park Hall, I started on " Cognac," with
Beckington on " Champagne," but instead of taking the short
cut to Stondon across the fields, kept along the road on the
chance of meeting Jack.

We had scarcely cleared the village before we did so, in Mr.
Harvey's cart, and shouting to him to mount his pony, which
was in readiness, and come after us immediately, we proceeded
at a foot pace until we came to the turning at Stondon with-
out seeing anything of Jack, and fearing he would miss the
turning we returned in the road and met Mr. Harvey's cart
proceeding homewards, and learned from Stone that Jack had
passed him in the village riding quickly. It was, therefore,
quite evident that he had taken the wrong road, and as he
would naturally have ridden at a great pace in the expectation

JACK LEARNS A LESSON 359

of overtaking us, and he had now lost nearly an hour alto-
gether, it was manifestly useless to ride after him, and we
therefore continued on towards Ongar Park Hall, leaving Jack
to take his chance of dropping in with us or picking up informa-
tion on the road which, added to what he had heard yesterday
when with Beckinoton at the " Kinof William " miy-ht enable him
to reach the fixture. I may here add at once that he rode, by
his own estimate, about thirty miles about the country, and
returned to Blackmore about two o'clock without having met us
or gone to the " King William " and learned thus a lesson about
keeping engagements which I could not regret. It was no
doubt a severe disappointment, and will, I trust, do him more
good than a dozen lectures. I therefore continued with
Beckington to Ongar Park Hall, going by vStondon, Chipping
Onoar and Greensted, and on reachino- it found that Stallibrass
had gone to Mr. Cure's, but fortunately before following him
discovered that he had been directed to the house of the father
instead of the son, and that the latter John Stallibrass lived at
Hastinowood Common four miles oft.

" Misfortunes never come singly," I thought, as I rode towards
the latter place and reflected on the loss of time and extra
distance which we had covered, and when we reached John
Stallibrass's house and found that the " King William " was after
all the fixture, that it was a quarter past eleven, that Stallibrass
had been gone more than an hour, and that it was a long ten
miles, I almost gave up the hope of ever seeing hounds. And
while reflecting on the beauty of the morning, the capital state
of the ground for riding and scent, and the magnificent country
in which the stag was to be uncarted, I blessed my ill-luck and
felt not over amiably disposed towards Jack, who had been the
cause of the loss of an all-important hour in the morning, but
nevertheless rode briskly on to Leaden Roothing by way of
High Laver, Matching Green and White Roothing, trusting to
the time generally consumed in guzzling and gutting when a
deer is to be uncarted to a scratch pack.

At White Roothing, to my infinite relief, we met Mr.
Garland, Jim Bean (the steeplechase rider) and other worthies
connected with the Plnchley Stag Hounds, and learned that
the deer cart and hounds were behind and that one o'clock was
the hour. Thus, after a series of ill-luck we reached the fixture
in time, but with the penalty for the poor horses of having gone
nearly 25 miles on the road at a brisk pace instead of an easy
eight miles over the fields. The vexation made me quite
nervous, for having to jump a stiffish fence between Chipping

360 LEAVES FROM A HUNTINCx DIARY

Onorar and Greensted, I confess that I relished it much less
than usual, but every feelino- of this description was dispersed
as soon as I found we were in time for the run.

About thirty people were assembled, all riders, consisting of
the attendants upon the hounds and men hunting with Conyers
and the Puckeridge. The only two in pink were Bean and
Garland. One of the two deer (brought down with the hounds
by rail from Sawbridgeworth) was uncarted just below the
church and ran clown the road, and while pivino- him law of ten
or twelve minutes and collecting- a cap, Peters and Barker
exhorted me to ride for the honour of Essex. As soon as old
Meshech laid the hounds on it was evident that there was a
burning scent, for they rattled down the road a capital pace for
a quarter of a mile and then turned to the right, across country,
bearing in the direction of White Roothing. They swept over
this beautiful country at an excellent pace and though all out
were riders, still the enclosures will always make a distinction.
"Cognac" kept close with the hounds and did what a horse
never did with me before, swerving towards a gap jumped on
to a hound, making him yelp lustily but not preventing his
going on.

Here Peters rode well up as did Firman of Stortford.
The deer now made a ring which let up the tailors, and then
crossed a road with a drop into it which old Meshech did well ;
and this was the last trace of our Huntsman, for he was very
badly mounted, or the game old fellow would have been about
in his usual place. Fortunately the scent was so good that the
hounds required no hunting, and when a slight check occurred
either Bean or Garland generally managed to creep up in time
to render them what little assistance they required. At a rat-
tling pace we ran by Stortford Town to Canfield Hart, where,
checking a minute or two — not more — we raced for Dunmow.
During this latter and quickest part Hobson and myself were
leading, the former not having ridden forward up to Canfield
Hart, but then, as is his wont, making a spurt and challenglng
" Cognac " to a race. This I prudently declined lest he should
overpower me, as I had needed all my strength to ride and hold
him in the run without racing, up to this point. I had seldom
more than one or two couples of the leading hounds alongside
me, and here I am almost ashamed to write — Hobson and
myself were riding the deer (whom we had in view for a mile
or two) being within fifty yards of him and ahead of the leading-
hounds.

Holding " Cognac," though with great difficulty owing to

THE FINXHLEY STAG HOUNDS 36 1

Hobson's spurt, Hobson's mare was not sorry to go slower,
and we allowed the leading hounds to resume their proper
position. At this time the only others with the hounds were
Francis Barker, Peters, and Jennings on Robinson's little mare.
It had been proposed to whip off the hounds on getting so near
the deer, but those who knew the country and saw how strongly
the deer was running fortunately over-ruled it, stating, and
truly, that in that case with the short pack (only six and a half
couples) we should not take the deer. Hobson's spurt over, he
fell into the old position and did not show particularly forward
afterwards, and his place was taken by F. Barker. And now
came the prettiest and straightest bit of the run and the longest,
without even a momentary check — the hounds running in a
line, as in fact they did all day, as hard as they could go, and
F. Barker and myself riding parallel with them and with each
other about 20 or 30 yards apart. Keeping our horses' heads
straight and not interfering with each other or the hounds, in
this way we rode for between twenty minutes and half-an-hour,
and I enjoyed it much, for F. Barker rode quietly and well, as
he always does.

" Cognac," therefore, went pleasantly as well as magnifi-
cently, taking all his fences, whether high bank, drops, or wide
ditches, or all three combined, in superb style, frequently flying
the whole lot, but never making a mistake, and in this wav went
by Dunmow to Stebbing where a check occurring at Barnston
Brook let up the second flight. Thence to Little Saling with
slow hunting up to Shalford, running by Gosfield towards
Weathersfield, taking the stag in a pond on an off-hand farm
belonging to Tabor, having passed Marriott's house, making a
twenty mile point to point from where the deer w^as uncarted.

Towards the end it became, as it invariably does with a
stag, very slow% so much so that I took refuge in Mr. Burder's
stable for a smart snow shower. The run was certainly the
very best I have ever witnessed in Essex or, I think I may
say, anywhere else, because it possessed all the ingredients of a
good run and there was no check caused by whipping-oft
hounds. It caused me to observe, while ridine alonorside
Barker, more than once, "This is worth a whole season with
Conyers," and all agreed that it was worthy of the best days of
Sheffield Neave. We must have gone over thirty miles of
country in rather more than three hours, and the last hour and
a-half was slow, so that we must have gone at an amazing pace
for the first hour and three-quarters as evidenced by the tailing
off of the riders and distress of horses. At least one-third of the

362 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

field (including- StalHbrass, Crouchman, on Adams' new chesnut)
and Meshech were never seen again after the first twenty-five
minutes. Bean, Garland, and the others belonging to the
hounds could not live with them. The first went the best of
the lot, and he could only creep up when a check occurred ; he
got a regular cropper and but for his horse refusing a fence
would have gone right into a pond.

" Cognac's " mouth became pretty dead at the finish, and
he pulled hard enough to straighten one of the curb hooks.
F. Barker's horse towards the finish almost dropped and was
only restored by bleeding him.

When I rode over the hound, I exclaimed to Peters,
*' Thank goodness I am not with Conyers ! " and when in the
latter part of the run I pulled up to allow the hounds to go
through a gateway and was thanked by Bean and others for
doing so. I could not help observing to Barker, "the luxury
of riding over a hound without being blown up, and receiving
thanks for not riding before the pack." A dozen times at
least, I regretted that I had not my cap on, for I had to keep
perpetually jamming my hat over my eyes to keep it on, and
" Coonac " takes such a swino- at his fences that near Canfield
Hart he fairly shook it off my head.

We had twenty-five miles of road work before we reached
home, coming by way of Bocking, Braintree, Waltham,
Chelmsford, and Writtle, and reached Blackmore soon after
8 o'clock, making about eighty miles for the horses since they
left their stable. Eighty miles and riding a horse like
"Cognac" was tolerable work for his rider, and yet I felt in
the evening, as Jack remarked, fresher and less fatigued than
on any evening since he had been with me ; so much for the
exhilarating effects of sport. I enjoyed the run a second time
in my dreams at night, but with the tragical result of " Cognac "
dropping down dead with me in the field. Both horses were
very stiff next day, and " Cognac's " sides rather rubbed and
marked with the saddle where I had gripped him with my
knees.

(On Monday, February 7th, 1848, Mr. Yickerman riding
" Cognac " with the Baron had a nasty cropper. The horse
was not so unpleasant to ride when going in front, but an
unluck)' turn with the stag on this day put him somewhat
behind. As he came down to a brook at which some horses
were stuck up, Mr. Vickerman says) : — I had great difficulty
keeping him to his line, and as I brought him down the field
I felt that I had lost all command of him, and therefore though

"cognac" bolts 363

the brook was unusually wide and looked boggy, and I was
approaching it at a bend which made it wider, with an upright
fence on the other side looking like a place which was beyond
any horse's power to clear, and thinking that he must go clean
into the fence if he cleared the brook, but knowing that in his
present mood I should get into difficulties if I attempted to
stop him, I exclaimed, " You brute ! if you will have it you
shall," and applying the persuaders put him straight at it,
when to my astonishment he cleared the whole scarcely
touching a twig, and was over the following fence in a twinging.
His blood, however, was now thoroughly up, his mouth dead ;
the hounds unluckily coming to a check, and the fields small
and strongly fenced, being paddocks near a farmhouse, I was
unable to stop him. I jumped one or two fences and avoided
other places until we came to a small paddock with trees of
about twenty or thirty years' growth in the hedge, thickly
planted, and a brook beyond. Though impracticable I saw he
intended to have it ; I was powerless to stop him, having used
the short rein on my left arm to no purpose, and there was not
room to turn him even if I had the power to do so. A disaster
being inevitable, I considered w^hat was best to be done, and
removing my feet from the stirrups and loosening my seat in
the saddle just as he came to the trees, and charged the place,
letting go of the reins I shifted myself in the saddle throwing
my right side and shoulder forward and keeping back my
head. The next moment, after being suspended in the trees
for a second, in fact forced between them by the impetus
of the horse, I dropped on to my back in the brook, under
water, but thanks to being a swimmer reached the other side
easily.

" Cognac " who had been nearly if not entirely under water
too, was caught in the farmyard and brought back to me, but
having lost my whip I was looking in the water hoping to see
it, and endeavouring in vain to induce the yokels to venture
after it, when casting up my eyes I saw it suspended in the
trees marking the spot where I had descended, and Roffey
the old Huntsman who then rode up said, " I should not have
thought horse and man could have come alive out of such a
place." I remounted, but the hounds being laid on again,
" Cognac " immediately bolted up a hill with me, I felt ex-
hausted, my right leg weak and powerless ; fearing that I might
damage some one else as well as myself, as soon as I was able
to stop him I dismounted, led him a little way and then rode
back to Tring, wet throui^h. without crloves, and bitterlv cold.

364 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

There I had a dry chanoe. of which I availed myself, and
putting" my feet in warm water I escaped without cold, which
was scarcely to be hoped considering- my recent illness, state
of health and sudden quenching- in the brook. Had I not
preserved my presence of mind and shifted my position as I
came to the trees, I consider that I must have been seriously
hurt if not killed, but as it is, I escaped with a contusion on
the knee and leg. How lamentable that " Cognac " should
almost more than counterbalance his extraordinary powers by
such a temper and mouth. He went at the trees with the
steady determination and the despairing" stride with which he
went at the gate by Canfield Hart last season, and so nearly
rolled over. When in that mind I believe no abyss would stop
his progress so as to prevent his plunging- into it,

(In a day with the Ouorn at Six Hills, on March iith,
1848, when most of the field had gone home. Mr. Vickerman,
riding a hireling which gave him a rare cropper in the early
part of the day, came in for a good hunting run of an hour,
finishing off in a covert of Mr. Fox's of Wyvendon, in the Vale
of Langar. Captain Houblon of Hallingbury, being one of
those who stayed for the finish. Mr. Fox was very hospitable
and provided a capital luncheon in his fine old house (Mr.
Vickerman does not say at what hour) but that he sat next to
Sir Richard Sutton, who recognised him in spite of the mud
bath he had had, and made the remark, " I like to see a man
come home dirty, but these Melton gentlemen are wonderfully
afraid of a little mud," alluding to the bulk of the field who,
hearing they were going to draw the Widmerpool country had
turned homewards.

How Mr. Vickerman hunted his horses " Carlow " and
"Cognac" in Essex, Thursday, March i6th, and had them at
Melton in readiness for Saturday, March i8th, and how he
joined other Meltonians for a day with the Pytchley at Cold
Ashby, getting to Crick in a cattle truck, and of the sport
that followed, is it not written in his "Diary"? As also his
experiences on a hireling on March 25th, in a run with the
Ouorn from Cream Gorse to ground at Frisby Station in an
eighteen or twenty minutes' burst in which Mr. Gilmour, Lord
Wilton, Captain Maynard, Mr. Geary and Mr. Vickerman's
friend, Mr. Watkins, showed the way?

On April iith, Mr. Vickerman did not find a snaffle and
gag bit very satisfactory for holding "Cognac" in a run with
staghounds, if he did his discussion with two policemen at
Hatfield Heath, on the failure of the Chartist demonstrations of

THE CHARTIST DEMONSTRATIONS 365

the previous day, through the excellence of the arrangements
made to prevent its ill-effects, and the duties of special
constables, of which honourable corps he had been made a
member, i^oino- on dutv at Grav's Inn.

At the end of the entry of the days sport with staghounds
at High Easter Bury on April 17th, the following notes
occur) : —

"This closes a very unlucky season, both as regards myself
and my stud, especially annoying from the openness and
moisture of the weather from first to last. My knee continues
very weak, and I must really give it a chance now that hunting
is over, by abstinence from exertion in riding or walking,
continuing Colvin's remedies of the douche bath with white of
^^g'g bandage, and Hugh Davis' edition of iodine application at
night. My stud rather bothers me too, without having much
time to give to its consideration ; something is wrong, and a
considerable drawback exists in regard to each horse.
" Carlow " will require firing- again in the off fore-leg, and his
wind has been so much worse this season that I can scarcely
expect him to be of much further service for the future than as
a covert hack. But I must never part with him to allow the
fine old fellow to get into bad hands, and he is far too good to
dispense with as long as he will last in any shape. " Cognac's "
lameness seems to be cured, for he is as sound as he was when
the season began ; but his temper and mouth are far from being
impro\'ed, and I have had much more trouble with him this
season than last, which has disappointed my expectations.
Much of this, however. I attribute to my indisposition following
my accident,* both of which have considerably impaired my
strength. Next season I hope to be more fortunate with him,
and give him more amusement, and the prospect of the stag-
hounds (Parker's) being continued offers an additional induce-
ment to keep him in hope of improvement. This now com-
pletes two seasons with him, which is much longer than as far as
I can hear, he has ever been kept as a hunter by any previous
owner ; for though only eight years old this spring, it is curious
to hear the number of hands he has passed through. I think
of handling him a little during the summer to prevent his
getting so wild, and have yet to try him with hounds in the
Chifney bit, made after my own device, in which he has only
once been ridden by Beckington, who reported it as a failure.
" Champagne " fairly puzzles me, but not for the first time, for

* Hurt by a fall from " Cognac."

366 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

he has been a continual puzzle, and causing- regret and trouble
ever since I have had him.

Saturday, November 4th, 1848. Row Wood was the
fixture with Mr. Conyer's hounds to-day for the first day's
regular hunting. The morning bleak and raw, a cold wind
blowing strongly, &c., &c. ; "Cognac" very fresh, pulling
hard, and going at his fences like a locomotive, but made no
mistake, &c. On Monday, November 6th, at Willingale, he
did. Hounds running slowly from White Roothing, "Cognac"
became intolerably troublesome and unmanageable. I allowed
them to creep on to Brick Kilns, and then took a line to
them which " Cognac " performed in steeplechase fashion and
time. After hanging a short time in covert, they drew slowly
on, and I was about joining them again when Palmer, of
Leaden Roothing (the "King William") being in the way,
creeping down the side of a fence, I called to him to move
on and then put "Cognac" at the fence. It was but a small
one, but he went at it at his usual slashing pace, slipped into
the ditch and fell on the other side, throwing me clean on my
head, my heels going over, and so on to my back, a complete
somersault. It tried the strength of my neck and vertebrae
and shook me not a little. Fortunately, it escaped my knee, but
feeling my head and neck somewhat affected and the fox being
lost, I turned homewards on my road, reflecting on the different
behaviour of the two horses — the pleasure of riding " Carlow "
close to hounds, and the impossibility of getting "Cognac"
near them, except when they are going at racing pace, which
so seldom happens — and the loss of all the pleasure of hunting
at other times, it occurred to me that, after all, I am paying
too dear for my whistle in allowing the pride of riding a horse,
which had foiled all others to counterbalance the drawbacks
of being pulled and hauled about, as my friends will have it ;
and to-day with great appearance of truth risking life and
limb in riding such a horse. I cannot deny that he is unfit
for hunting and that steeple-chasing is rather \vl^ forte.

Thomas Helme very kindly called at Blackmore to learn
if I were hurt and reiterated the oft-repeated regrets at my
riding the horse, and Beckington, notwithstanding the brilliant
condition of the horse, seemed quite delighted at my expressing
a doubt whether I should continue to hunt "Cognac." Think-
ing it better to act before a good run had perhaps put me into
good humour with "Cognac," I wrote at once to Smart,
Watkins, and Benbow, as to getting rid of him and supplying
his place and that of " Champagne " with two others.

THREE GENERATIONS OF TUFNELL S IN THE FIELD 367

Monday, November 27th. A heavy rain in the night
ushered in a beautiful and springlike morning. The fixture was
Navestock, but we went on to Sir Digby Neave's coverts,
all of which were drawn blank, to the obvious vexation of
Sheffield Neave, &c., &c. Another blank day, long and
dragging through mire and much wearying to spirits and body,
and tiresome and fretting to horses. I must really go occa-
sionally with the Harriers to get something like sport, for the
whole of November has passed without the semblance of any.

Mr. Kortwright rode a chestnut mare sold to him by
Cassidy, and which had belonged to Tom Hodgson, though
not ridden by him. She has been recommended to me, but
being said to be plain I had not made any enquiries about her.
She is plain and looks more like a hack than a hunter, and is
withal somewhat hot and has something to learn. At an early
gap she seemed not to rise at all, and gave Kortwright a
cropper, covering him with dirt and tearing his coat. I caught
the mare for him.

Monday, December i8th. Yesterday was a lovely spring-
like day after the incessant rain of the preceding forty-eight
hours, and this morning also broke finely, though the atmo-
sphere was so raw that when I first went out of doors, not
feelino- well, I shuddered. However, hacking- "Wide-awake"
to the meet at Writtle race-course, and with " Carlow " ridden
by Beckington, I soon warmed in the genial sunshine. A large
field out includino- three Qrenerations of Tufnells, and vouno-
Harry Bramstone and Tower, the former on a very clever
pretty little horse bought of Cassidy, &c. Running towards
Leaden Wood, just as I landed over a wide place in the road
on " Wide-awake," old Palmer was jogging past. I jokingly
rowed him, saying, " The very devil must be in you. Palmer,
for you are everlastingly in my way whenever I am jumping
into a road."

Tuesday, December 26th. The fixture was Leaden
Roothing, and having to show " Cognac " to Biss, who was
coming especially from Cheltenham to see him, I sent on
" Wide-awake " by eleven, in the hope of having time, after
showing "Cognac" over a fence or two, to join the hounds
by riding on with Biss towards the meet, and talking of details
as we went in the event of his thinking the horse likely to suit
him. He got to Blackmore soon after eleven o'clock, Frank
having kindly driven to Brentwood to meet him ; and having
the horses ready saddled I mounted " Cognac," putting him
on "Peep o' Day," and Beckington on "Carlow." We went

368 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

throuqh St. Mary's Mead Into Partridge Hills, when being
anxious to lose no time in letting him see " Cognac " go and
jump, as the time was running very close for getting to Leaden
Roothing, I offered to ride him a short round and turned him
over the fence into further Partridge Hills, which he flew
beautifully ; then across the brook into further Blacklands, over
the fence, near the covert, into Spring field, which had been
recently ploughed, and was desperately heavy, and had a very
awkward fence out of it into the Twenty Acres. I steadied him
therefore across the field, and made him take his time at the
fence, which he did very well. Then I took the circuit of
the Twenty Acres (which he was inclined to avoid) into the
turnip field called Nick Adams ; and then turning to the right
jumped the fence Into Broad Meadows, which he did well, and
then right down the meadows towards the fence, separating
this field from nearer Blacklands, in which fence with ditch
towards I had ordered hurdles to be placed on the top of the
bank, being the last fence before the brook which I had
determiined should complete my circuit.

As soon as the horse had jumped Into Broad Meadows
and found his head set towards the hurdles in the fence, I could
perceive that he recognised an unusual appearance and that
he would do his best to avoid them. However, the jump would
certainly have been a rasper for any horse, however powerful
and fresh. I had, perhaps, too much confidence In the horse's
powers so that I did not make sufficient allowance for the
very heavy state of the ground after the frost, and his having
done no work for a month or more, and did not, therefore,
pay sufficient attention to certain indications of his being
rather blown, not allowing him to refuse and taking him too
cjuickly at the fence to permit him to stop, which he did his
best to do. Making an attempt to jump It askew towards
the other horses then approaching, his hind legs, after sliding
two or three yards along the turf, dropped into the ditch, and
he fell with tremendous violence on his near side on the
other side of the fence, breaking down the hurdles and going
with such force as to brlno- his hind le""s well after him
and clear of the ditch. He fell on to my left leg and foot,
bringing my left shoulder into collision with the ground.
Getting clear of him, in an instant I was on my legs, and
observed that he had positively ploughed up a large space in
the turf with his side which retained the Impression of it, but
on attempting to shake myself as usual, I found that on this
occasion It would not do, and that I could not stand upright

A WEEK OF DISASTERS 369

and had lost all power of my left side and arm (shoulder
out). Biss tried "Cognac" afterwards as to paces and likes
him all — but his mouth, &c.

With my usual luck the hounds found a fox at Leaden
Roothino-, and ran him to the Blackmore Hiofh Woods.

This is a week of disasters. On Friday evening, as I was
about to retire to my bedroom, a messenger on horseback
brouo-ht me a letter from Mould of the "White Hart," announc-
ing that poor Frank* had been the subject of a railway
accident. The particulars which I afterwards learned were,
that returning by the mail train, and being in the rearmost
division of a carriage by himself, he had fallen asleep, and
awaking suddenly as the train was about stopping at the
Brentwood Station, he imagined it to be just starting from the
station towards Chelmsford, and that he would be carried
beyond his destination. Opening the door and stepping out
hastily while the train was still in motion, something w^ould
appear to have caught either his foot or his clothes, for
though he alighted on his feet on the platform he was instantly
drawn backwards, and fell on to the railway between the
carriage he had quitted and the next one.

Providentially, something (perhaps the connecting chain
between the carriages) broke or changed the direction of his
fall, for instead of falling across the rails, in which case death
or at least the loss of a limb would have been inevitable, he
fell lencrthwise between them, with his head towards Inoate-
stone, and his right shoulder so close to the near rail that the
flange of the first wheel pressed it into the soft ground, and
cut two small but very deep wounds in the muscle of his arm
between the elbow and shoulders, in addition to bruisino
severely the whole arm from the shoulder to the fingers. Two
pennyworth of half-pence in his coat pocket singularly lodged
on the rail and canted the wheel in some degree off the
shoulders and arms, leaving their impressions on his railway
ticket, which was literally cut in two in his pocket. He did
not wait for the second wheel, but drawino- his arm to him and
turning on his side fortunately escaped all further injury, and
the train immediately after stopping, the porters who witnessed
the accident came with lanthorns and extricated him from his
perilous position. He lost a good deal of blood and fainted
on his way to the "White Hart," where every attention was
paid to him by Mould, and he remains under the care of

* Frank Vickerman.
24

3/0 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Butler of Brentwood, till Monday. The newspapers may
fairly head their reports of the accident " Miraculous Preser-
vation." His arm continues much swollen, and will require
great care to heal the wounds, but fortunately not a joint or
bone is injured, and he is in the pure air and quiet of the
country, without the necessity, as in my case, of having to
hurry to town to attend to business, while still unwell and
quite unfit for it. He has a solace too in Charlotte, so near
a neighbour, so that having every chance and every induce-
ment to get well, he must soon be himself again.

Wormald having advised me so earnestly to give my
shoulder every chance by avoiding a repetition of the disloca-
tion, in which case the rent in the capsule will never heal, I
put myself in his hands and kept my arm in a sling for six
weeks, and abstained from hunting, allowing the Rev. F. Fane
to ride "Wide-awake" and "Peep o' Day" regularly, and
" Carlow " once with the Blackmore Beagles.

February 24th. Mr. Petre's Harriers at Writtle. This
being, I believe, the last day that Fane rode any of my horses,
I may record his opinion of them. He believes " Peep o'
Day " to be, without exception, the best horse he has ever
ridden, though he had ridden " Arbutus " the steeplechase
horse, &c., &c.

Saturday, April 14th, 1849. As a wind-up to the season
a drag with the Blackmore Beagles came off to-day, starting in
the Priory Meadows and finishing up at Mr. Fane's house,
where he had provided a dinner. Fane rode his pony, his
brother in-law Ballard also rode. W. Kortwright, Livimore,
and one or two more were also mounted. " Carlow " was the
only horse that at all attempted to go with them, so that the
gallant old fellow being unmolested, enjoyed himself while
sailing away alongside the miniature pack. Fane, to do him
justice, would have ridden had he not spared his pony, and
knowing the line selected (which I had no previous notion of),
and availing himself of the roads and short cuts, got on very
well and charged the bush hurdles in Myless gallantly, but his
pony swerving right in front of "Carlow," I had some little
difficulty to avoid riding over him.

Abraham Caton who officiated as Huntsman, went sur-
prisingly well, and would puzzle any one on two legs to ride
with him across country. The line of country selected was
about eight miles, embracing thirty-two jumps and the ground
was very heavy. The drag was carried by four men in
succession, two on foot and two on horseback, and the distance

THE WEST ESSEX YEOMANRY 371

was accomplished in forty minutes by the leading two couple
of hounds, they with old " Carlow " running- up to the drag-
just as it entered the last meadow. I had no notion that
" Beagles " could run a drag so well, or could go the pace and
distance. It is true that only two couple (led by Tattler) ran
fairly up to the finish, the rest tailing off from the unusual
severity of the run. Altogether I enjoyed the gallop, and the
drag was by no means a bad wind-up (to me) of an unlucky
and unsatisfactory season.

Since the dislocation of my shoulder, I have had only one
fall, which was with "Carlow," in the good day with Marriott,
and, as a matter of fact, came right on to the game shoulder ;
but I had my shoulder brace on, and the cause of the fall
prevented its hurting me — very soft ground on alighting — from
a jump newly trenched, so that the horse sank up to his shoulder
and rolled over with and nearly upon me."

(After running "Cognac" in the Craven Handicap at the
Coventry steeplechases on March 13th, when Lord Chester-
field's horse " The Victim" turned up the winner, and
" Cognac " ridden by Benbow fell, Mr. Vickerman makes the
following note in his journal) : — I returned to town that same
evening voting steeplechasing a bore and loss of time, except
to an idle man who had time for this as well as hunting and
other amusements. To be a spectator merely is tantalizing
to one fond of riding, and I should feel with Lord Strathmore,
that to care much for this kind of sport, it was requisite to
combine with it the riding of one's own horse.

1849. At the suggestion of Clifton, Jessopp, &c., and in
accordance with my own inclination, I joined the West Essex
Yeomanry this season, receiving from Capt. Palmer the only
vacant appointment — that of asst. quarter-master. Smith and
Co., of Piccadilly, provided my outfit, and Kidd supplied the
horse gear and trappings. " Rocket " was my charger, and
beautiful he looked, exciting universal admiration, there being
no handsomer horse in the troop ; but excited and fidgetty
with the novelty of the scenes and requiring some riding.
Mustered at Epping on Monday, June nth, and marched to
our quarters for this year at Waltham Abbey. I was quartered
in the old barracks until I procured a room at the " Cock,"
Corporal Algers.

Tuesday. A ball at Waltham Cross "New Lm ; " met
Ken wards.

W^ednesday and Thursday in town on leave of absence.

P>iday, the 15th, had a capital and merry dinner at
Jessopp's, and afterwards to a ball at Christie's, of Hoddesdon.

372 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Saturday, i6th. Practised in the meadow at Broxbourne
and dinner at the Old Rye House.

Sunday, 17th. Church at Waltham Abbey and excellent
dinner at Colvin's.

Monday, i8th. Grand field day on Broxbourne Marshes,
with the Hertfordshire Yeomanry, reviewed by General Fearon.
Mock fight with artillery and skirmishing. Dined in tents
with the Hertfordshire and returned by barge. " Rocket "
much lighter from his week's excitement and bad hay.

Began the season, 1849-50, by joining Mr. Frederick Petre's
harriers at Bush Wood, on Crooks' Farm. The morning mild,
close and foggy, with a light rain falling until about mid-day.
The harriers, gh^ couple, being mostly foxhound bitches between
20 and 22 inches, looking very clean bred and in excellent con-
dition and working and running very well together. Petre
takes a great interest in them and improves his pack each year,
having a fine range of country. In place of F. Barker he has
a servant this season as whip, but I think he will miss the
efficient help of the former, &c., &c. Thos. Helme and W.
Kortwright were out in the afternoon, each having lost a horse
since last season, the former his favourite old " Jack," who
went blind, and the latter his young brown horse from getting
hurt in the stifie while out at grass.

"Cognac" preserves his character of an "unlucky horse"
in every particular. He was not lame when turned rough and
blistered in the early part of June, and seemed quite sound
when taken up in the middle of August, but with walking-
exercise merely he fell lame in the same leg that looked so
sound when he returned from Benbow, &c. ; there seems
nothing for it but to put him to ploughing and other work on
the farm.

Riding for the Brush.

After meetino- at Mr. Barnard's, Little Canfield Hall, on
Saturday, November 17th, 1849, and running a fox from Hog-
lands for one and three-quarter hours, the field was reduced to
a select half-dozen, consisting of Will Orvis, the Huntsman,
Household, Chafey, Robb, Mr. Woodbridge, while I was
riding my favourite " Wide Awake " ; the hounds evidently
felt their fox was sinking, and smelling blood, increased their
pace until the last two or three fields they were running in
view. A kill in the open being evident, each one of the select
half-dozen bethought himself of the brush, and as the fox, as
they commonly do when sinking, kept turning, each one had
an equal chance. Household and Chafey especially were racing

RIDING FOR THE BRUSH 373

against each other, and in their emulation did not sufficiently
observe a sudden turn to the left, and went on leading the
others after them until they came to an impracticable fence
which they could not surmount, and which prevented them
seeing the fox pulled down.

Thanks to a temperate horse, I had quietly observed their
proceedings, and as soon as the fox and hounds turned to the
left, instead of ooino- with the rest straio-ht on, I charged the
fence in the only practicable place, and saw the fox pulled
down, being within 50 yards at the time (as Will was not 200
yards off, though pounded) ; I sat quietly on my horse, without
interfering with the hounds, and watched them breaking him
up, when, to my amusement, Chafey came bundling through
the fence afoot, having left his mare on the other side, and
laying into the hounds with his whip, seized hold of the dead
carcase and claimed the brush. However, I insisted on my
right, and Chafey, no doubt feeling that it was mine, did not
press his claim, but contented himself with the head.

Every one was delighted with the good day's sport and
glorious finish, and none more so than that fine old sportsman,
Mr. Woodbridge, who having provided us with plenty of foxes
during the day now provided us with a luncheon. "Wide
x'\ wake's " forehead in the meantime having been decorated
with the brush by Joe, and about ten minutes or a quarter of
an-hour having elapsed, up came Charles Tyrrell, who seeing
me with " Carlow " on Monday, observed that I stuck to the
old horse and left the long tails, " Wide Awake " and " Peep
o' Day " for my groom, so that in the early part of the
first run I pointed out that I was riding one of the long tails.
Afterwards, in the early part of the first run, when the scent
was bad and we could not get on, I was riding very quietly
either through a gateway or following others through gaps,
when C. Tyrrell said laughingly, "This is the way you ride the
long tails ; " therefore, when he had come up after the finish,
I turned " Wide A wake's " head towards him ornamented with
the brush, and pointing to the latter replied, "This is the way
I ride the lonor tails ! "

It is singular that long as I have hunted with Conyers,
this is the first time 1 have ever been out when a fox has fairly
been pulled down in the open after a good run ; all the kills I
have witnessed (including even the noted Row Wood fox),
being either in or at the side of a covert or in a ditch, therefore
I was proportionately pleased to have witnessed the pulling
down, and being- mounted on one of mv new horses unused to
the country, made it doubly gratifying.

374 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

(After describing- a very merry day's sport from a Leaden
Roothing meet on Monday, November 19th, during which
Button, on his grey, went Hke a sportsman, and Rolt, on his
chestnut, rode as if he Hked the fun, as did Coope, Edward
Round, Household and Joddrell, Mr. Vickerman notes that
four and a-half brace of foxes were moved (two of them
Irishmen, turned down by Sir J. Tyrell in Lord's), and that
he had never seen so many foxes in the Roothings. And that
the season had not only opened well but promised to continue
so, though it was tantalising to have so many horses laid up
with trivial accidents while there was the promise of sport.

Mr. Vickerman's horses must soon have recovered, for on
Monday, November 26th, the following entry occurs) : —
Another brush, and with my other new horse, seems to show
that fortune, which has of late been all against me, has this
season taken a turn in my favour. Success was the more
pleasing to-day from being mounted on " Peep o' Day " for the
second time only with hounds, though I have had him for a
twelvemonth, and a game and plucky little fellow he is (though
not little after all, for it is his compactness which gives him
that appearance), feeling like a castle under me, and yet able to
gallop like the wind and skim a yawner like a swallow.

The fixture was at Mr. Williams', close to Row Wood, of
which covert he is proprietor, and who has recently married a
nice little wife, fond of horses and huntino- and to whom he
introduced me as the taker of the brush on Saturday week.
After waiting in the cold until the Squire came up in his
brougham (he was too unwell to ride), getting away up wind,
with a fox, they ran him to ground in ten minutes. After
capping for this performance we drew Waters Grove, Bam-
borough Springs and Bromsted, and were about leaving the
latter Springs when up came some men with our hunted fox in
a sack. A subscription for the men was then made and the fox
turned clown close to Bromsted Springs (after a very good
run), the fox was pulled down within a dozen yards of Mr.
Vickerman ; next came Joe Reeve on his chestnut, for which
he asked ^300, and then Cassidy, who had been riding in
expectation of a turn in the other direction, and after him Joe
and two or three others, and Will on "Tomboy," a splendid
jumper, but who never could go, and was now unnerved and
about used up. As Mr. Vickerman gave the first whip, Joe,
his customary half-sovereign on taking the brush, he observed
"that if his recent luck continued he would be ruined before
the season was over," &c., &c.

THE PUCKERIDGE, 185O 3/5

(As Mr. Vickerman returned home with " Peep o' Day's"
forehead ornamented with the brush, he called at the Priory and
delighted the children not a little by taking " Peep o' Day "
into the hall, and shutting the door to keep out the cold : and
very well and quietly he stood and behaved, not at all caring
for the bright fire in the hall, which looked cheery and comfort-
able, nor the lights, nor the exclamations of the children. He
looked twice his size in his unusual position, and made the old
hall assume an air which recalled the scenes and descriptions
of halls of old manor houses in the days of chivalry, or at least
those of the Cavaliers.

Saturday, December 22nd, Little Canfield Hall. Owing
to frost Sir Charles Smith, Helme and Kortwright were the
only ones who showed. Though ploughs were going in all
directions, hounds did not hunt, so Mr. Vickerman took a bee-
line of his own across country straight to Canfield Church, and
then from Leaden Roothing to Nine i\shes, jumping some
forty fences. At Nine Ashes he called on Abraham Caton,

who soon had his beaoles out and rave him a run with a hare.

• /I

Mr. Vickerman dearly loved a ride home across country (that

sort of thing would not be allowed at the present time. — Ed.),
for on Saturday, January 4th, 1850, after an indifferent day in
the Fyfield country, he and his nephew Jack (who was riding
"The Queen"), in company with Tom ^lashiter and a stranger,
who had recently taken Ditchleys (Mr. Blomfield), came across
country, leaving Fingrith Hall on the right ; nearing Black-
more, both he and his nephew got down at the last fence.)

Mr. Vickerman writes : — "Our new pastor, James Hodges,
dined with us last night, with the Fanes and the Gills ; I trust
that he will be as much liked as Fane (whose going is univer-
sally regretted and for whom the parishioners are getting up
some testimonial, to the subscription list of which I gladly
added my name)."

(Comments after a bye-day with the Puckeridge, at Widford
on February ist, 1850, when Eastwick Wood, a covert of 160
acres, edging the beautiful Gilston Estate, sold just previous to
that date to Mr. John Hodgson by Mr. Vickerman's firm,
sustained its reputation by providing two foxes and two runs.)
The country is not to be compared to Conyers', there are so
many headlands and green road-ways through the centre of
fields leadino- to o-ates, that even the foxes seem to prefer
running down them than over the soft ploughed land on either
side, and the fences are very blind and straggling, so that one
finds oneself galloping with the ruck and going unsatisfactorily,

'if'J^ LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

briiiQ-ino one to one's old conclusion that thouQ^h the Master
and Huntsman are undeniably good, and though they seem
always to have foxes and sport, one spin of half an hour across
the Roothings with a flying fox is worth a month in such a
country.

Saturday, February 2nd. To-day realised my conclusion
of yesterday. It looked like a hunting morning, the wind, still
S.W.. had greatly moderated and a slight mist, scarcely to be
called rain, was falling. The fixture was Fyfield, and the draw
in the right direction, viz., Norwood, where we found instantcr,
running a cracker from Brick Kilns and Man Wood to Match-
ing Green, where a check occurred at some cottage gardens
and, it was feared he had beaten us. But hitting it off, Stalli-
brass, myself, and one or two others attempted to get to hounds
through a farmyard, but an Amazon proprietress stood on the
other side of the gate and positively refused to let us through,
proof alike against persuasion or threats, and it being evident
that nothing but force (which as against a woman was not to be
thought of) would clear the way, we had to retrace our steps
and lost not a little, which cost our horses an effort to recover ;
running by Down Hall, Sheering and nearly up to the Forest,
pulling their fox down by Hyde Hall Springs. Captain Tower,
Will and others saying the brush belonged to me I took it.
Chafey, Captain Tower, Jessopp, Stallibrass, Household and
Sam Reeve were well in the run, which lasted sixty-five minutes
and must have covered twelve miles.

Will, the Huntsman, was lauding the beauty of the fox's
head, which significantly reminded me of a promise to give him
a cup after some good run ; I therefore told him to give me the
head, which he very gladly did. Though barely i o'clock we
did not draw again, and went home, " Peep o' Day" decorated
with brush and head, looking changed in his appearance since
the morning, but every inch a hunter after the tug-of-war.

Monday, March i8th. 'Twas a lovely morning for anything
but hunting, though the wind was still N.E. there was but little
of it, and the bright sunshine was warm and gave a cheerful
appearance to the scene, though the moat was covered with ice.
After an agreeable walk in the garden of the old Priory with
the Miss Harveys, I started for Boynton Hall, where a deer was
to be uncarted before Petre's Harriers. An untried hind, pro-
vided by James Parker, was uncarted about a quarter before
one, and evidently had to learn her business, for she was dis-
inclined to go away and kept returning until driven off by
F. Barker. The hounds (consisting of Petre's Harriers, which

THE FOUR MEN IN PINK Ty^']

are dwarf foxhounds with draft hounds from the Union Pack),
being laid on could make nothing of it, which was not to be
wondered at seeing that the fallows were as hard and dry as
brickbats and the state of the ground made one quake for a
valuable horse.

So we proceeded at a foot's pace towards Good Easter,
many despairing of a run, but I tried to keep up their spirits
and my own by saying that the hind would probably wait for
us and that when we came up with her and the hounds got a
view we should be able to go ; and so it proved, for after five to
ten minutes of this slow work we dropped on her in a bush and
went away at score in view, pointing first to the right and then
making a short double to the left, across some very awkward,
and in many places impracticable fences. Over anxious, I
started with them to the right and lost considerable distance by
the sudden turn which was all in favour of the quieter and more
prudent individuals who had remained on the left, and got a
good start. Frank Barker, on a surprisingly clever colt only
three years old, but i6^ hands high, unfortunately touched in
his wind, went away with the lead and rode admirably through-
out the day as if he had been on a trained hunter. Sam Reeve,
on his clever chestnut, soon joined him and then followed in
various order, but the foremost always a field or two behind
the leaders, F. Petre on his large brown mare. Captain Tower
on a fine old white horse of Follet's, Blomfield on his clever
Irish mare, W. Kortwright on his brown mare, these four being
in pink ; with Thomas Helme on his brown horse, Coope,
Wm. Barker, Dan the whip, and various others, in places
varying according to their luck and pluck.

When I had surmounted the awkward fence which my turn
to the right had let me in for, and got into the line of hounds, I
found I had a terrible distance to make up, for I could not see
the leading riders, let alone the leading hounds. However, I
knew " Wide A wake's ' powers as well as his foibles, and there-
fore keeping my eye steadily on the leading rider, who was
visible to me, I rode perfectly straight for him, turning as he
turned and prevented " Wide Awake " from what he so much
desired, hanging after the other horses, whom I kept steadily
passing in succession. By so doing I rapidly gained ground
and made up for my bad start, and sooner than I should have
anticipated, found myself in a meadow with the four men in
pink only half the length of the field in advance of me, causing
me to think that the pinks were showing well in the run, as they
certainly looked well in the sunshine.

When gallantly charging the fence out of the meadow, two

378 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

out of the four were down with their horses' hoofs uppermost
and pinks prostrate ; the other two seemed rather in difficulty,
as if from sympathy with their companions. Though I have,
of course, seen many a man and horse down in the hunting-
field, I don't think I was ever so much struck with the resem-
blance to the pictures of hunting disasters as on the present
occasion — I suppose from having been watching them going-
well and their misadventure coming so suddenly, and seeing
four horses just before me go at a fence and two only get over
and the other two left behind. The unfortunate two were
Blomfield and Kortwright, the former hurt his side from having
an awkward square-cornered flask in his pocket, and the mare of
the latter got away from him. Avoiding the debi-is by jumping
the fence a little to the left of them, I speedily passed the two
survivors and then caught the leading hounds in company with
F. Barker and S. Reeve, until at a slight check in the road
Helme joined us.

Hitting it off again directly, it was now my turn to lead with
F. Barker and S. Reeve in attendance and in this order we
went until the former fearing, not without reason, that he might
be giving the young ones too much of a dose, cried out that he
must now leave it to the old ones. Having come in this
manner over the cream of our country by Good Easter, High
Easter, Lord's Wood, High Roothing, to the meadows below
the latter place, and Great Canfield, in fifty minutes from the
start, but only about thirty or forty going as hard as we could
lick and being reduced to one hound, we whipped off to let the
rest of the pack up. Well up at this point were S. Reeve and
Barker, Helme, Captain Tower, Blomfield, Petre, Dan the
whip, Coope, and W. Barker, and afterwards seen dropping in,
Joe Reeve, the Christy's, Barlow on his clever dun pony, Willis,
and some others. A general enquiry was made for James
Barker, who had started on a fine bay horse, but he was missing,
as was his groom.

After tolerable time the hounds were laid on by the side of
the brook and came up to where the hind had taken refuge and
many thought they were going to take her and did not seem
sorry, having had enough ; but from the style in which she
jumped out, I exclaimed that we should not take her for an hour,
and so it proved, for after dodging about the brook some time
and distance, which gave the horses every chance, she finally left
it and went away in view, not a field before the hounds, as
straight as a line and as hard as we could lick, by Canfield
Mount and so on to Little Canfield Hall and towards Lord

THE TEST OF A GOOD RUN 379

Maynard's. Joe Reeve, on his strong chestnut started off
saying " They'll kill her," but kept to a line of gates and so
soon dropped out of it. I followed immediately, exclaiming
''They won't catch her yet," accompanied by Samuel Reeve,
and during all the straight running he and I were keeping
our respective lines without another soul near the hounds and
having some awkward fences and deep roads to cross.

We came to a check jast before dropping into a deep hard
lane without a bit of sward to light on. An old hurdle stood in a
gap and I asked a churl of a fellow to remove it to save the
drop on to the hard road ; but he refused and to save my horse
I therefore charged an awkward fence to my left into the next
field, when down he came giving me a purler, falling partly on
my back but alighting on the muscular projection between the
left shoulder and neck, and catching my small ribs on the same
side, thus hurting myself above and below, but just avoiding
my bad shoulder which was unprotected by the brace. Though
the hardness of the ground knocked the breath out of me I was
so enraged at the fellow's churlishness, that I jumped up and
ran towards him, more than half disposed to give him a taste of
my whip, but he fortunately grunted out something about riding
over "his land," which brought me to my senses by causing
me to reflect that it would not quite do to assault a man on
his own territory. And therefore contenting myself with a
short jobation I ran after "Wide Awake," and not before it
was time, for he was in a very dangerous position, pawing at
the fence into the road with both his forelegs entangled in the
reins and only prevented from attempting to jump into the road
in this state by young Barker, who being in the road was very
kindly and thoughtfully preventing him from making the
attempt with his whip.

Shortly after this we took the deer in a ditch in Lord
Maynard's park, having been running two hours all but five
minutes. Altogether it was the best thing with stag I have
seen for a long time. If we had chosen our line of country it
could not have been better, and the pace which we were going
was first-rate, for during three-quarters of the running the game
was in view — another test of its goodness, almost every one had
a fall, e.o-., Kortwright (2), Blomfield, Captain Tower, Helme,
and Coope. The distance was eleven miles from point to point,
and sixteen or eighteen by the line taken by the deer,

Easter Monday, April ist, 1850. A marked improvement
in the weather has occurred. Yesterday it rained a little in
showers which seemed to make everything grow and the birds

380 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

rejoice, though the parched ground gained but little benefit
from it. This morning was genial and warm, cloudy, with the
wind south-east, and looking like a hunting morning. Having
been unable to induce Fane and his friends to change the day
for the drag with the Beagles to-day, so as to allow me to see
it, I go with the stag to-morrow. I was dressing to await the
foxhounds at Blackmore when Mr. Conyers' huntsman was
announced, and going downstairs in my dressing gown, I saw
Will, who had been sent round by the Squire to myself, Petre,
Helme, and others in the neighbourhood, to say that the
hounds were not coming to-day, but that they would be at
Old Samford at the end of the week.

I was voting myself unlucky and the Squire very annoying,
when Will reminded me of the Easter Hunt at the " Roebuck,"
on Buckhurst Hill, in Epping Forest, and considering that I
had never seen the far-famed hunt immortalised by Hood, I
decided upon going. I told Will that had the hounds come
to Blackmore to-day, I had intended to present him with the
Cup and christen it at the same time, in drinking health to
himself and success to foxhunting, but as it was he had better
take the present opportunity of taking it home on his return
from Writtle Park. The inscription on the Cup is as
follows : —

" To William Offys"'' (sic) — Huntsman to Henry James Conyers, Esq.,
the Essex Hounds — this Cup, made from the head of a gallant fox found
on Saturday, February 2nd, 1850, in Norwood, and killed near Hyde Hall,
after an excellent run of one hour and five minutes, being one of the best of
a very good season with these hounds, was presented as well in commemora-
tion of the run as an acknowledgment of his efficiency, civility and general
good conduct in the field during the nine seasons out of the twenty he has
been with Mr. Conyers, to which the donor can bear testimony. — His sincere
well wisher, Charles Ranken Vickerman.
'^Blackmore, March nth, 1850."

Mr. Vickerman's diary goes on : — Intending only to have a
look at the Cockneys, and having heard that the stag rarely if
ever left the Forest, and seldom ran more than a mile or two,
I decided upon riding "Chancellor" (who, having been so
recently taken up, was not in hunting condition). And with
Beckington on " Trap " (kindly lent by Williams) proceeded
to the scene of action by way of Navestock, Passingford
Bridge, Abridge, Chigwell, and across the fields to Buckhurst
Hill, arriving there about a quarter to two, and meeting a
motley assemblage of horsemen, foot people, carts crammed

Should be " William Orvis."— Ed.

THE EPPING HUNT, EASTER MONDAY, 185O 38 1

with occupants, and other vehicles of every description —
music playing, flags flying, and all the concomitants of a
racino- rather than a huntino; scene. Colvin, Robert Helme,
the Jessopps, Davis's and others, were there, and seemed
mightily amused to see me.

The turn-out of the Cockney sportsmen disappointed me,
being mostly seedy dark coats and trousers, there being only
one hero in pink of regular Cockney features and cut, but
mounted on a chestnut horse by no means to be despised, and
who honoured me by selecting me as his guide up to the first
check, after which I saw him not until the finish.

At about a quarter past two, up came the cart containing
the stag with three men on the roof with horns playing "Old
Towler " with gusto, until a sudden jolt silenced the melody
of one of the nightingales, by sending him, horn and all,
toppling off on to the wheel and thence amongst the crowd,
another of the trio only just escaping a similar fate.

The capping process having been generally accomplished
and the doors of the cart being opened, out jumped the stag,
his remnants of horns decorated with gaudily coloured ribands ;
he had to turn down a perfect lane of people on either side,
holloaing and whooping like mad. At length the poor brute
escaped from the crowd and took to the Forest, and the hounds
(five couple belonging to Rounding, the landlord of the
'' Roebuck," or to his brother, who, in pink and a cap, and on a
grey horse, officiated as huntsman) being laid on, or rather taken
on, to the line just clear of the crowd, took up the scent very
well, and with good music ran prettily through the Forest,
which was generally very fair galloping, soft in parts but not
very boggy, going in the direction of High Beech.

The running in the Forest lasted, I should think, about
twenty-five minutes, and the scene was most amusing. There
being no fences, every one of the 500 equestrians would ride
boldly and fearlessly, undaunted by stubs, grips or from
tumbling off, each one yelling or screaming as if his life
depended on the noise he made, and uttering a cry constantly
which puzzled me for some time, but afterwards saw its
meaning, viz., "Up ! up ! ! up ! ! ! " addressed to their
steeds, at each little grip or unevenness in the ground they
came to. I kept about a medium place to enjoy the fun, and
supposing they would keep in the Forest, both "Chancellor"
and " Trap " pulling hard, and not a little excited by the noise,
confusion, shouting of riders and galloping of steeds. But on
coming to the edge of the Forest, I found that by good luck

o

82 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

the Stag had taken to the enclosures, and the select few, going
at a good pace, I had therefore to clap on to make up for my
indolence, and gallantly little "Chancellor" responded to my
call upon his powers.

But I could not help pausing to enjoy the scene at the first
fence, most of their horses attempting to bring them over, the
riders not being minded to come ; others with their nag's
forelegs and heads literally down in the ditch and their riders
telling them in that position to "go on." However, I found
that I need not wait, for at each fence was a repetition of the
scene, and I had no time to lose. "Chancellor" whom I was
riding in " Peep o' Day's " bridle, viz., a gag snaffle and curb
which suited him nicely, went splendidly, shooting past the
other horses and jumping all the fences (which were mostly
blind, cramped, and awkward) beautifully and without the
shadow of a mistake. I made him take his time at them, and
no place proved too big or too wide for him. It was a fine
line of grass meadow over Mr. Banbury's and Mr. Colvin's
land, until we came up to the stag in Cobbins Brook, which
" Chancellor '' crossed and recrossed by creeping through very
slowly.

Dislodged from here he took another excellent line over
meadows, but the huntsman was not to be found, and there-
fore, at Colvin's suggestion, I got on with the leading couple
of hounds, and had a capital gallop with stiffish fencing, and
rather a nasty drop into a lane at which many got stuck up,
until we got to Cobbins Brook again, at another point where I
crossed and holloaing on the other hounds, and the huntsman
at length appearing, but keeping on the right side of the brook,
we ran on for a few fields further and took the stag underneath
a small hedge close by Copped Hall Park. The run in the
open must have been nearly if not quite an hour, and altogether
was about one hour and a-half; the hour over the enclo-
sures was really excellent, a good pace, nice riding turf and
sufficient fences. In addition to this piece of good fortune,
"Chancellor" delighted me, and I could not have been better
or more safely carried by "Wide-awake;" " Carlow " would
not have carried me so well, for he would have been too
excited. Probably the litde fellow not being in such high con-
dition was all in his and my favour to-day ; it reminded me
of old times (five or six seasons ago) when, on this same little
horse,* I would puzzle more than nine-tenths of the field.

* See picture, p. 315.

" CARLOW " DRAWS MR. V. TO CHURCH ON HIS WEDDING DAY 383

Altogether I enjoyed the day amazingly, saw the Cockneys
and the scene, had a capital run (all the more prized from being
beyond our expectation) and was delighted by an old favourite
horse. I now regretted neither the loss of the drag with the
Beagles, nor the omission of the foxhounds to come to Black-
more, and I was further pleased by finding that my selection
of the hounds on Saturday had been fortunate, for I had
avoided a blank day with Conyers. " Trap," who looks
perfectly beautiful and was in tip-top condition, was very
violent, rushed into the first fence, and Beckington could do
nothing with him, but like an old stager still kept on the line
and saw the finish. Even after allowing for all who crept up
from knowledge of the country, or while the stag was being
taken, there were only about thirty or forty out of the multitude
who started. Giving the horses some chilled water at the
" Cock " at Epping we trotted home, taking the bridle
road* from Tyler's Green to Chipping Ongar, and thence to
Stondon, and across the fields to Blackmore, which we reached
at 6 o'clock, "Chancellor" very tired but game, and going-
well to the last, and "Trap" as fresh, rash, and hot, as when
he started. So much for condition !

" Carlow " DRAWS Mr. Vickerman to Church on his

Wedding Day.

Friday, August 30th. An important day for good or ill
in the career of every one, is the day of his marriage. Mine
being fixed before poor John's t untimely fate, neither his poor
widow nor mother considered it desirable to postpone it, as a
year's postponement must have been involved. The day was
bright, brilliant and beautiful, and the drive to Hornchurch
in the brougham, drawn by my two favourites, "Carlow" and
" Rocket," and with the chaise in attendance drawn by " Trap "
and the filly and conveying Gale (the bridegroom's man) and
Jack, was an enjoyable and auspicious commencement of the
day.

Having on my return from my recent visit to Wales
expressed regret that I had not sooner thought of getting
"Carlow" fit to take me to church and convey my wife from
it to our home, I was much pleased on entering the stable
later in the day to find Beckington and Stone with shirt sleeves
tucked up to the elbow and with poor old "Carlow" between

* Where is the bridle road now? Like a good many more, shut up, I am afraid. — Ed.
t His brother, who was drowned, when attempting to cross with his chaise Egremont Ford,
in the little river Cleddan, on August 5th. — Ed.

384 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

them enveloped in lather and soapsuds. This was a novel
mode of getting a horse clean and into condition by a summary
process, but Beckington sharing in my feeling that the gallant
old horse who had borne me so well and so often in the front
rank should have the honour of conveying the bride home,
determined to accomplish it if possible and succeeded, and
very handsome he and " Rocket" looked together in a set of
harness bought for the occasion.

Season 1850-51.

Saturday, November 2nd. The return of this season brings
with it some feelinsfs almost akin to reoret in the reflection
"What effect may my recent change of state have upon what
has hitherto been my chief source of enjoyment and as
I verily believe, the means of enabling a mind and tempera-
ment naturally unsuited to them, to bear up against the many
cares and anxieties entailed by an anxious profession ever
since the sudden death of my poor father left me a mere boy
fresh from school to encounter the struggle of life." If the
change should involve the abandonment or even a material
curtailment of the only recreation which has ever enabled me
to forget care for a time, will the affection of an amiable wife
fully compensate for the deprivation ? and will not the addi-
tional responsibilities consequent upon the change weigh yet
more heavily upon the mind when it has lost the healthful
vigour which in common with the body it has always hitherto
derived from the pursuit of field sports and the greatest of
pleasures ? The future, however, can alone answer these
enquiries, and therefore it is useless now to speculate upon
them. One satisfaction is, however, present, whatever may be
the result of the future, that unlike many of her sex, the regret
of my dear wife would be added to my own if from any cause,
especially one relating to herself, I were forced to forego a
manly and invigorating recreation, which combines health,
happiness and enjoyment.

Having heard that Mr. Conyers, " the old Squire," would
have a bye-day at Myless, not beginning regular hunting
until the iith inst., I wended my way thither across the fields
on old "Carlow," and after waiting for a couple of hours the
Squire made his appearance, profuse in apologies, and with his
nether members encased in woollen and surmounted with
antigropelos. I was glad to see the old veteran in the saddle
again, for one cannot fail to admire his pluck and determina-
tion, whatever may be one's opinion of other points of his

THE DANGER OF SLOW FALLS 385

character. On returning home across Navestock Park I could
not resist the temptation of a flight of rails which " Carlow "
took in his usual style, and it was gratifying as well as credit-
able to hear the universal remark that the old horse looked
fresher and better than ever.

Monday, November nth, 1850. This, the first day of
regular hunting with Mr. Conyers' hounds, was bright and
brilliant and mild, and more like April than November, and
pleasant for anything but the object for which a goodly field
had mustered at Fyfield. The Forest Hall coverts were as
usual drawn blank, and as usual the hurdles in the park
afforded the only sport which this pretty place could properly
show. Proceeding from Norwood to Wood End close to
Butt Hatch, I put " Wide-awake " quickly at a standing jump
with a wide ditch from me and a slight drop into the next field.
Instead of doing it with care, as I anticipated, he jumped short
and alighted singularly enough on his head against the opposite
bank and side of the ditch, throwing a complete somersault on
to his back with all four legs in the air. By great activity I
rolled myself clear of him as he pitched on to his back, but
even then was quite among his legs, and a great height his
hind legs looked while up in the air. I surveyed them recum-
bent on my back and saw that they would descend upon me,
probably striking me severely in his efforts to rise, when by
another exertion I rolled myself clear of his hindquarters just
before his legs descended and we both sprang to our feet
together, the whole affair, though lengthy to describe, occupy-
ing some ten seconds.

I had just caught hold of " Wide-awake's " bridle, laughing
at the disaster and my escape from a very awkward and
unusually dangerous fall, when Beckington put " Peep o' Day "
at the same place in order to join me. Unnerved, or else
dismayed by the fall of his companion, he did not appear to
make an effort to clear the ditch, but jumped clean into it,
which was the more fortunate for his rider, who merely went
over his head without any danger of his horse falling upon
him ; but I thought that I should never have ceased laughing
at the droll disaster and on witnessing Beckington's unrivalled
agility in scrambling up, for having seen my danger he put
on the steam to get out of " Peep o' Day's " way, who was
emerging from the ditch, and finding neither of the four animals
damaged by their performance, there was no drawback to my
merriment.

This comes of pottering about with horses fresh and foolish.

25 VOL. n

J

86 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

for thoyoh the place was tolerably big, yet in the height of
the season both these horses would have thouoht nothing' of
it; these slow falls are always the worst and most dangerous,
for having no impetus one is sure to tumble all among the
horse with all the chance of his rolling over, or at least severely
striking or treading- on one when risino-.

This season must be surely unmatched in England, or in
Essex, at least, for drought. Spring, summer and autumn
have all been unusually dry, and now in November, when we
calculated upon a daily wet jacket to compensate for former
dryness, the drought still continues, and judging from appear-
ances there seems but little prospect of a change for a fortnight
at least. Among the strangers to-day was Lord Vivian (who
is on a visit to Brice Pearse at Gilston), on a powerful old bay
horse of a good stamp and able to carry his master's great
weight and long legs. He is evidently a rider and a sportsman,
and I regretted that he had not a better opportunity of exhibit-
ing these qualities.

Saturday, November i6th. Matching Green was the
fixture. Among the field was Lord Petre, just succeeded to
the title by the death of his father last summer, tall, thin, and
of an aristocratic appearance, courteous and affable in manner ;
he was ridino- a lono-, rakino- lookino- brown horse of no
great substance, but looking like going, as did his rider. Sir
Charles Smith was also out on his fidgetty little chestnut : he
was disposed to be very "complaisant, expressing regret at my
being about to leave the country, &c. Mr. Conyers has
advertised his meets this week for the first time in his lono-
career and intends doing so for the future, for which he assigns
his reasons (i) That after the great kindness of the county
evinced in his testimonial he thinks it right to afford them
every opportunity of enjoying sport, and (2) which, he adds,
will be by many considered his chief reason that Mrs. Conyers
positively refuses to write any more circular letters, and that
he cannot write. This will be a saving of many tivopences,
for one of his peculiarities was that he never paid the postage
of the letters to his subscribers.

Tuesday, November 19th. Staghounds at Boynton Hall.
A name of promise, and the hour the luxurious one of half-
past eleven. I rode "Wide-awake" thither, who was fresh
and gay and in blooming condition, wanting only work,
and overtook Frederick Petre with the hounds (twelve couple)
at the " Hare and Hounds," Roxwell ; and his brother, Lord
Petre, drove up in his light cart just before we reached the

THE CHOICE OF SIX PACKS 387

fixture. The Christys had provided a luncheon at Boynton
Hall, and a small field mustered, including Lord Petre, F.
Petre, Sir C. Smith, Parker, Soames, three Reeves, two
Barkers, Stallibrass^about twenty-four altogether. Mr. F.
Petre hunted the hounds, riding his old black mare of last
season, but apparently on no better terms than he then was,
for he did not get on comfortably and hadn't sufficient stomach
for his fences. Lord Petre, mounted on the same lengthy
black horse he rode on Saturday, and which he told me he
had steeplechased, justified my anticipation of him as a rider,
his horse fencing beautifully, and appearing as much at home
with the banks and ditches as if he had been entered in Essex.
Sam Reeve rode an Irish horse (just bought by his Lordship)
so like the old chestnut that I did not at first perceive the
difference, and rode him very well. Soames, on a well-bred
and good shaped black horse, which has carried him four
seasons in the Vale of Aylesbury, also rode very well. Coming
to a check of some duration caused Lord Petre to exclaim —
"Where is the Squire ? " and then directly amending the phrase
"Where is the Master?" But neither Squire nor Master
responding he proceeded like a sportsman to assist the whip
in turning the hounds, and by the time they were put right
the Master appeared minus his horn, which had dropped, he
supposed, as his mare blundered at a fence. By Old Park.
Felstead Park, Lees Priory taking the hind " Lucy Long,"
near Felstead Common.

Saturday. November 30th. Not a litde creditable is it to
Essex as a hunting county, nor to Blackmore as a centre in it,
to record that this morning I had the chance of hunting with
any one of six packs of hounds, viz. : four of foxhounds, one of
staghounds, and one of beagles. Conyers was at High
Roothing Street, The Essex Union at Stock, the East Essex
at St. Anne's Castle, and the South Essex at North Ocken-
don. The staghounds were at Writde Racecourse, and the
Blackmore Beagles at Roxwell, all within reach, the farthest
from here being St. Anne's Castle, about fifteen miles, where
1 occasionally go and have already been during the present
season.

Saturday, December 7th. The fixture Fyfield. There
was a goodly muster, and it included the old Squire in great
force, in a pair of stirrups padded entirely with leather, copied
from the Duke of Wellington, whom he described as still
ridino- in the huntine field with QTeat ardour and determination,
and cracking his joke that " though he was not m the Dukes
shoes he was next best, being in his stirrups."

388 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

In a run with the staghounds from Pleshey on Tuesday,
December 12th, the hind "Lucy Long" — a run in which
every one had the opportunity of sharing at some time or
other, though Captain Pilgrim was invisible from first to last.
Captain Duff having his liver in good order rode his chestnut
rather wildly on to hounds at the beginning when they went
slowly, and was rated good-naturedly, but showed more pluck
than I had yet seen him display. Williamson having changed
Follet's brute for a better one, made up for his misfortunes on
Monday. Young Wake from Northamptonshire (son of Sir
C. Wake) rode that good brown horse of Cassidy's, which
carried Du Cane last season, very pluckily and certainly, as
I told him, took his twenty-five shillings' worth out of him and
got a fall at the finish. Harvey Tower, far too heavy for his
little brown mare, had three or four falls. F. Petre was on
his brown horse, and Parker on his grey again, but neither
was very ferocious to-day. Soames again on his old black,
with fourteen miles to return ; .Sparrow on a fine stamp of
weight carrier, and Button on a good-shaped though spare
bay horse, having come this morning twenty-six miles from
Mucking and returning to Billericay. (For the run with the
stag " Chief Justice," so named in compliment to Mr. Denman,
who was out on February iith, 1851, from Leaden Roothing
to Hockerill within an hour, you must read Mr. Vickerman's
diary.)

.Saturday, February 15. In a run with an Old Park fox
on this day, Mr. Vickerman. who was riding "Wide-awake,"
found himself in a very uncomfortable position, and then
describes how his horse, after rolling on his side, fell into
the deep ditch, half full of water, nearly taking Mr. V.
with him, squatting on his hams, which deposited him fairly
on his back, with all his legs upwards, and drawn towards each
other like a dog when begging on his back.

Mr. Vickerman goes on to say : — Giving the reins to
Ridley while I scrambled back over the fence and then taking
them again myself, I got him to apply at the nearest farm for
help. Only two others besides myself had taken this line and
they had gone on ; and there I stood by myself, looking at
poor " Wide-awake's " helpless and uncomfortable situation,
thinking of the fate of poor " Little John," and reflecting that
I had never before got a horse into a ditch during the eight
seasons I have hunted in Essex, and contrasting the sudden
change of my present quiet and isolated position with the
strong excitement of a few minutes previously, when sweeping

THE miller's maid 389

over the country close to twenty couple of slapping- foxhounds
with more than one hundred horsemen behind me.

Saturday, February 22 nd. After the old Squire had
amused us by a few personalities while waiting- by Envilles,
and had performed the unwonted civility of sending- to Lord
Petre to enquire where he would like to draw, and had ad-
dressed Cassidy, who had ventured to sport a cap, "You look

so d d smart in that cap, I didn't know you ! " we went to

Brick Kilns, and thence to Barnish, from which covert a rare
good run took place by Abbess, White Roothing, Leaden and
Aythrop to High Roothing, Bury, killing at Poplars. John
Stallibrass went well at first, but pumped his horse, got a fall,
and could not keep with them. Sworder, on his good little
mare, went well, and so did young Honey wood, and the two
Mashiters were well placed ; Lord Petre also was well up, and
seemed to enjoy it, while he told me I was very happy.

Fyfield, the first fixture for staghounds, March 8th, 1851.
The dry weather and distance of foxhounds at Takeley caused
the largest field to assemble I have yet seen with the stag-
hounds. Lady Petre was in her carriage to witness the un-
carting of the quarry, " The Miller's Maid." As soon as
hounds were laid on it was apparent that there was a capital
scent, for they literally raced over the first few fields across the
lane leading to Fyfield, down to the Farm House, where some
rushes laid in a ditch made an awkward place, by declining
which, in the first instance, though I had to have it afterwards,

1 • 1 *

the hounds got three fields ahead, but seeing them incline to
the left I sailed away down the meadows and soon came up
with them. Then down to the river not far from Shelly, over
the brido-e leading- into the Forest Hall meadows, in front of

11

the house, just avoiding the invisible fence, and over the
hurdles, avoiding John Stane, who was afoot, with some
difficulty ; then into the Ongar Road, which I quitted directly
by taking a fence under a tree, when Du Cane, who was just
behind me on his roan, told me to put down my head, and in
following lost his own hat, but the pace was too good to stop,
and he pluckily rode to the finish bareheaded.

Crossing these meadows in and out of the road and round a
barn, and by Paslow Hall meadows, to Allford Bridge, over
Myless Park, entering by the Lodge, and going to the bridge ;
but then bearing to the right and over the enclosures and a
litde road work to Navestock Green, and into the enclosure on
the left, with some stiff fencing, up to Ditchleys, by Wright's
Bridge to Bedford's, and over Tom Mashiters farm, to

390 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Marshall's and the back of the outskirts of Romford, close to
Hill House ; here in a garden or nursery ground, by the
wall of Marshall's, we ran up, and the hind, who looked tired —
as well she might — for she had brought us so far in one and
a-quarter hours, the first three quarters of an hour at literally
racing pace — and all hoped she might be taken, as she would
have been but for an unlucky cast,

A select number had got so far and few of them went on.
Lord Petre, who had gone well, but made too free use of his
brown horse, got two falls, and no further than Navestock. A
Mr. Arkwright on a clever horse, stopped at Romford. But
short rest was given to those who intended to see the finish,
for the hind seemed fresh again, and went away at the back of
Marshall's, disdaining roads, over a good line of country,
straight for Hainault Forest, through about half of the forest,
and then out again to the left. Here I lost distance from
carelessness and feared I should not see hounds again, trusting
unwisely to the confident assertions of the Christys and William
Mashiter ; but after going over much more ground than the
hounds, we fortunately espied them just quitting the forest and
sailing over the enclosures as if they had only just started.

The boggy ground prevented our joining them as quickly as
we would wish, and a fresh impediment was presented in a
churl who stopped my companions. I was pushing through a
side-gate when he rushed after me and seized my bridle ;
remonstrance proving unavailing, I rose in my stirrups and
gave his knuckles a benefit which speedily relaxed his hold,
jumped the fence amidst his blessings, and after a switching
gallop over light and favourable ground and banking fences,
caught the hounds running over a fair line of country by Ilford ;
crossed the railway by a bridge, and continued on to Barking,
which the hind disdained to enter, and set her head for the
marshes, where we anticipated a benefit with tired horses among
the ditches ; but after jumping a stiff post and rails and ditch
gallantly, she headed short back again, and was secured at the
back of some houses and literally within one hundred yards of
a " ship " lying in the creek. She was taken two and a-half
hours after the hounds were laid on, the distance by the
nearest road must be about twenty- two miles. Tom Mashiter's
horse nearly died on reaching home, and was only saved by
administering to him a bottle of port.

Saturday, April 5th. All the other packs in Essex having
ceased regular hunting, Marriott, as usual, stayed on a week
later than the rest, and met at St. Anne's Castle. A field of

THE FINISH OF A GOOD SEASON 39 1

between two and three hundred mustered, and it seemed as it
all the hunting' portion of Essex were assembled, and some
from Hertfordshire too ; one met almost everybody one had
been accustomed to meet during the season. There were four
Masters of hounds out, and I saw men who had come nearly
thirty miles from opposite points, making- a diameter of fifty or
sixty miles to the circle, thus drawn to a centre by a meet of
foxhounds, &c.

As we returned through the High Woods we heard
Conyer's hounds, which met to-day at Blackmore, for a bye-
day, running' a fox at nearly 7 o'clock, and were told by the
two Fanes, who overtook us, that they had been running their
fox for four hours, and could neither kill him or get him away.

Saturday, April 12th. (With the Puckeridge at Elmdon
Lee, Mr. Vickerman brought his hunting to a close, and says) :
— Thus ends the seasons 1850-185 1, the most open and
generally favourable, in point of weather, that I can call
to mind, the first of my married life and the last, in all proba-
bility in Essex— at least, the last in which I shall hunt from my
own residence in Essex. Whatever influence the married state
may have upon future seasons and hunting in general, it has
opened auspiciously for I have had by far the best sport, with
the fewest falls, disasters, soakings or other discomforts, greater
or less, than I can ever recollect, &c.

BROOK JUMPING.

Saturday, April 26th, 1851. In honour of Jack* having attained the
mature age of 18 years, he had a hoHday of two or three days, having his
friends and mine and formerly pupils at S. S. Newman, Gale and Rouse,
to stay with him at Blackmore. Willie was also at home for his Easter
holidays.

While I was breakfasting this morning they ail came over to me and
insisted that I should join them in some fun, as they were going to have a
steeplechase, and I told them that I would come to look on and see fair
play, when I had breakfasted, and agreed as to the place where the Hurdles
should be fixed in the meadow called Blacklands, leading to the brook
dividing it from the meadow called " Farther Partridge Hills."

On joining them I found that Jack had selected a very good line. Being
only able to muster 10 hurdles he had made 5 " flights '" of them at about
45 or 50 yards apart ; the last or 5th liight being about 50 yards from the
brook, with the starting post about 20 yards from the first flight, and the
winning post 60 or 70 yards on the other side of the brook in Far Partridge
Hills. From the starting post to the brook the meadow declined in a
gentle descent with an advantage in the height of the ground on the take-
off at the brook, and then after a level bit of land on the other side of the
brook, the ground rose rather sharply to the winning post.

John \'ickerman Longbourne, Mr. Vickerman's nephew. — Ed.

392 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

I found that the steeplechasers were to be only 3, Rouse being no
jumper and too fleshy for running, having been elected Judge and Umpire.
The other two visitors, Newman and Gale, like Jocks of the present day at
an " ugly fence," were protesting loudly against the brook, declaring that
it was not jumpable and that they would get a ducking. Jack, on the other
hand, having with myself, often tested his capabilities, and with his usual
pluck was all in favour of the brook and certainly vociferated as loudly,
in the inharmonious tones of a hobbledehoy, in its praise as the other two
in its dispraise. It certainly looked, as it was, a jump which must be
cleared, for the banks were nearly perpendicular, with a few low bushes on
both sides ; there was about 3 or 4 feet of water owing to the recent showers
and the take off about 4 feet above the water, while the landing averaged
about 3 feet above it, a round bush much higher than the rest forming the
right hand boundary of the course at the brook. To the left of the bush
it required a jump of 12 feet to clear the brook, but the take off was very
good, and the landing was low, sloping and favourable. To the right of
the bush on the other hand the brook could not be cleared under 14 feet
because the take off was further from the edge, the earth had been marked
away at the landing which was higher as well as wider, with some bushes
also which would cause a fall, if not cleared. In addition to this, as the
hurdles were placed, those who went to the right of the brook had to run
quite out of the course to the right, and then after clearing the brook run in
again to the left. I proposed, therefore, and Jack, after a little good natured
grumbling about " unfair advantage," &c., agreed, that as Gale and Newman
were guests and funked the brook, they should have it all to themselves on
the left of the bush, where it was easy and straight and that as Rouse
would not run, and in order to make up the four so that each might have his
own half hurdle to himself, I would enter myself, though being full of
coffee, &c., while they had all breakfasted more than an hour ago, and old
and stiff after a season's hard riding, while they were all young, active
and crack cricketers, just in condition to begin their season, I should have
no chance but would enact " Boots " for the fun of the thing, and that
Jack and I should be compelled to take the brook to the right of the bush
with all the disadvantages of so doing.

Even this did not satisfy the visitors, nor would Gale be persuaded
that he could reach the opposite side of the brook without becoming a
" moist Gale," until he had essayed and succeeded, though at the expense
of a slight rick of his ankle, which admonished him that he should exchange
his low shoes for ankle boots, as worn by the rest of us. While he went
to the village accompanied by Rouse to make the change, Newman,
Jack and I amused ourselves with the gloves and single-sticks. It was a
lovely morning, sunny, with the appearance of showers and the ground
moist and in good order for jumping.

Gale and Rouse having returned and amused us with a set to with the
gloves, in which the former displayed much activity, and the latter some
science from the professors under whom he had studied, the conditions of
the races were stated and agreed upon.

Gale was on the left, with Newman on his right, and then myself and
then Jack on the extreme right. It was to be a race in heats. Each was
to keep to his own half hurdle and place at the brook, and fouling or
jostling strictly prohibited. The racers divested themselves of hats, coats,
waistcoats, neckcloths and braces, their " breeks " being supported by
handkerchiefs tied round the loins. Rouse as judge and umpire, took his
station at the winning post on the other side of the brook, supported by
Willie, and the racers ranged themselves in line at the starting post 20

BOYS AT PLAY

>3yo

yards from the first hurdles ; the signal to start being the dropping of the
judge's white handkerchief after previously ascertaining that we were all
ready.

" Betting " was not particularly brisk on the course, though in my
opinion at least, Jack was favourite at even against the field, or perhaps
with a point or two in his favour, say 4 to 3 on him ; Gale 2 to i against,
Newman 3 to i against ; while " old Carlo "* was certainly at 4 to i
against him even if named at all in the betting.

Jack's powers and confidence at the brook, even though he and
" Carlo " had to take it at the worst place and go out of their course both
before and after it, made him first favourite, added to which he is already
taller than " Carlo," half a stone lighter without any lumber, in fact lithe,
gaunt, and accustomed to this style of fencing, all through the past winter.
Gale on the other hand, with his active and powerful build and broad
hips, and Newman as long, spare and active as a greyhound, and both
in good order and longing for the cricket-fields, as well as from former
feats of activity, justified the confidence of their backers and would have
commanded a higher figure had they not shown a little nervousness and
indisposition to face the water. As for "old Carlo" it had transpired
that his trainer not expecting him to start had actually given him his corn
and beans as usual, and as he had been nominated only in the place of an
animal that had been scratched and had manifested decided symptoms of
stiffness in his preparatory canter, it was not to be expected that he would
find many supporters.

At the given signal an excellent start was effected, all the horses getting
well away in a line, and the judge declaring that they all jumped the five
flights of hurdles abreast except perhaps the last flight which Jack cleared
slightly in advance. But then occurred a very different scene and order of
things. Jack was first over the brook and past the chair, but had crossed
"Carlo," though unintentionally, on reaching the brook, whose Jock had
taken a pull to steady him at the brook, and thus actually shut him out
and prevented him from going at it until he had got over ; but still old
"Carlo," to the surprise of the field and delight of his Jock, was second, and
these were the only horses placed, for though both Gale and Newman
charged the brook gallantly and got safe over, the former had fallen on
landing and the latter stumbled over him, and then both walked in having
no chance, but as they had cleared the brook the Judge declared that they
were not " distanced."

The judge was saved the necessity of deciding between Jack and
" Carlo " by the owner of the latter declaring that being convinced the
fouling was unintentional, he would not press the objection. In truth he
was in such good humour that a " Blackmore nag," viz.. Jack, had kept
up the honour of the parish and the county, and that his own old horse
" Carlo," another county nag, had run second instead of being distanced,
and would probably run better in the next heat, that he was willing to
agree to anything.

The requisite time having been allowed, viz., about ten minutes, the
horses again assembled at the starting-post, each feeling greater confidence
than on the former occasion, as all now felt that the course was practicable
throughout.

The result of the first heat had somewhat altered the betting. Jack
was even against the Field. Gale, from havdng fallen at the brook had
receded to the third place, and Newman, whose mistake at the brook

Carlow." (Mr. C. R. Vickerman).— Ed.

394 LEAVES FROM A HUNTIN(; niARY

had been caused by Gale's disaster, had advanced to second place, and
even the owner of the Favourite thought he looked dangerous, while old
" Carlo " was still " Boots," it being considered that but for the mistakes at
the brook of the second and third horses the old fellow could not have
beaten them.

Another reason which brought the third and fourth horses into favour
notwithstanding their mishap was that by general consent and on the
proposition of "Carlo's" owner, though it might tell against his horse,
the winning post was removed much further up the slope and from the
brook, so that any horse stumbling or dwelling at the brook might have
more time to recover himself and perhaps then be a winner.

In this state of things, and in the presence, as in the first heat, of some
fair young spectators from the adjoining Priory (which however is not a
" nunnery " as might otherwise be supposed), the flag was dropped for the
second time, and again an excellent start was effected, the first flight of
hurdles being cleared by all the horses abreast. But "Carlo's" Jock
having perceived his error in the first heat, in not having placed sufficient
confidence in the old horse's powers, and feeling also that the old fellow
had disposed of some of his beans, and so that his wind might now be
trusted, here forced the running and led over the remaining four flights of
hurdles and brought his horse first to the brook, so that he could not be
shut out as in the first heat. The Favourite, however, fearing for his
laurels, made play at a tremendous pace, so that " Carlo " could scarcely
get a length ahead of him. It was a good race between Newman and
Gale up to the brook, though they contended only for the honour of
third place and to avoid being Boots, but Gale refused the brook and
was then both Boots and distanced. "Carlo" cleared the brook in the
old horse's usual style, a little in advance of Jack ; the advantage was
increased by the latter stumbling on landing, but he recovered himself so
quickly and tried so hard to win the race by winning this heat that it was
not without a severe struggle that "Carlo" went in a winner by a
couple of lengths with Jack second and Newman an indifferent third.
Gale was "distanced;" as already stated, his Jock said his horse
had broken down and he did not like to risk him at the brook, though
competent judges thought otherwise, and that it was a case of funk, and
their opinion was confirmed by the fact that in larking homewards, in
which the Judge was induced to join and surprised himself as much as
he astonished his friends by his unexpected prowess across country, and
especially in riding over the course (with the exception of the brook).
Gale proved himself to be a better fencer than some of the horses who
had beaten him, and quite as sound.

Newman was drawn by his owner after the second heat, and it
being thus left only to the two Blackmore nags, their owners wisely
divided the stakes, contenting themselves with having preserved the
honour of their county, though perhaps not showing so much wisdom in
other respects, for the owner of the favourite was as unreasonably dejected
as "Carlo's" owner was elated at the unexpected issue of the steeple-
chase, especially of the second heat, where there was no fouling. However
a quiet whisper from " Carlo's" owner in the ear of his late opponent soon
put all right, and the larking over the Priory meadows dispelled every
other feeling than those of unalloyed pleasure, and certainly made the old
fellow feel how delightful it was to become a boy again if only for an
hour or two.

A pardonable vanity, perhaps, or rather a pleasurable feeling that the
cares and anxieties of business have not as yet (though I frequently fear

MR. VICKER^TAN S ACTIVITY

595

they have) destroyed all the activity I formerly possessed, though with but
limited opportunities of cultivating it, and that I may perhaps look back
in after years upon a trifling incident like the present with interest, when
the actors are all older, if haply in existence, has induced me to record such
"nonsense" (as many would term it), and in a yet more nonsensical style
(as the same critics would declare). But there is little chance of any eyes
caring to peruse such trifles except my own or those of a few who might
forgive the nonsense* for the sake of the scribbler, that I have ventured
to give it a place in these notes. The same weakness induces me to record
that, equally to my surprise last summer, after a cricket match, I beat
these same competitors, with the addition of Wm. Moss, in a flat race
of loo yards.

Park Wood, Doddinghurst

* There cannot be much nonsense about so graphic and accurate a description even of an
event as simple as the one described. Anyone taking the trouble to read it can picture the
whole scene as clearly as if he had been an onlooker on that merry morning. — Ed.

CHAPTER XIV.

Season 1851-52 — Hunting in Snryey — A Dry Season — Surrey Fences — Season
1852-53 — The Red Lion, Dulverton — Stag Hunting on Exmoor — Mr.
Careiv — Dr. Collyns — The Castle Hotel, Lynton — The Surrey Stag Hounds —
Arthur Heathcote, M.S.H.—A Hunt Breakfast at the Durdans — Essex Stag
Hounds — Petres Four — Russian Deer — The Bishop of Walt ham — Season
1853-54 — H^«?', Pestilence and Famine — A Gloomy Outlook— Mr. Henley
Greaves, M.F.H. — Messrs. Tattersall — A bad Purchase — Blank Days —
Warnings off — The Surrey Deer '^ Snow'storm" — Season 1854-55 — Changing
Residences — Bagginga Subscriber — " The Clipper '' gets aivay— Catch him your-
self, then ! — The Spotted Hind — Sir Charles Smith to the front — Thomas
Mashiter — Old Superstitions — Unlucky Questions — William Honey wood's
Harriers — Boreham House — Mr. Vickerman's Summary of Season 1856-57 —
A Good Run in 1858 — James Stallibrass means Mischief — Season 1858-59 —
Donate's Comet — The Great Drought — Dangerous Going.

Season 1851-52.

FOUND Mr. Vickerman hunting in Surrey and the accounts
of his sport in that country are as fully described and
interesting- as those of his days in Essex when he managed
to steal a day now and then. " Cognac's " name crops up
again in the Journal entry of March 13th: — On the following-
Monday, I called on Lord Milford at the "St. George's
Hotel," Albemarle Street, when to my great surprise his lord-
ship told me that he was daily in the habit of seeing a horse
of mine, a fine looking chestnut, called " Cognac," that it
belonged to his doctor, Mr. Hicks, who drove it, and who
nerved the horse to cure lameness. His lordship went on to
say that he had heard a great deal about the horse and about
my love for hunting, which he thought the best thing possible
for any one condemned to a sedentary harassing profession,
that he himself used to be very fond of hunting, and had
flattered himself could also ride a little.

I had often wondered what had become of " Cognac," and
had not expected to hear of him from such a quarter, and I
was puzzled to know how Lord Milford could have learned
so much of the horse's performance while he was mine, until
he told me that Wilkinson and Kidd were his saddlers, as they
were mine, and no doubt George Kidd, who was always
interested in the horse, had enlightened his lordship about him.

THE BAD SEASON OF I 85 I -5 2

397

On the same day I met James Parker, who told me that the
staghounds had given up hunting in Essex, owing to the hard
and dry state of the ground. _ u r n •

Mr Vickerman sums up the season m the tollowmg
words:— The leading characteristic of the past season has
undoubtedly been its singular dryness, which has kept the

Charles Ranken Vickerman

ground hard, rendered the scent indifferent and generally made
it as bad a season for sport in every country, and with every
pack as the previous season was favourable. Colonel Wyndham
(of Melton), told me that Sir Richard Sutton had declared to
him it was the very worst season he had experienced since
he kept hounds, and the notices from correspondents, articles,
letters, &c.. in the Sporting Magazine and Bell's Life, with

398 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

the concurrent testimony of hunting acquaintances from various
quarters, all prove that Sir Richard was not singular in this
respect, for the want of sport has been universal.

Nor could it be otherwise. The summer was the Exhibi-
tion Summer, long, hot and dry, the autumn dry also.
November, instead of being dry and sloppy, was like a bitter
March, dry, hard and severe frosts, and it was the 20th of
December before we had any rain to moisten and soften the
ground. January and the early part of February, were wet,
with boisterous gales, and sport was generally fair during this
interval, but from the middle of February to the middle of
April (the period ot my now writing), we have not had a drop
of rain except on Monday night, March 29th. The wind
during these two months has been north-east, the days
generally clear and sunny, and the nights most frequently
sharp frosts, until the country is not simply dry but pulverised.

During such a season and in so bad a country for scent as
well as every other hunting requisite as Surrey, it has been a
piece of good fortune to have the opportunity of hunting with
staghounds, as well kept and managed as the Surrey stag-
hounds, by their young easy-tempered master, Arthur Heath-
cote. With them we have had many a gallop which we should
never have witnessed with foxhounds, and in vale countries
far belter (cramped though they be) than the latter can ever
venture into, being generally condemned to pursue their game
where it is chiefly to be found amid the hills and flints.

Like many and indeed most things which we undertake
involuntarily and contrary to inclination, my first season of
Surrey hunting has not proved so much of a blank and dis-
appointment as I had feared and anticipated. Thanks to the
staghounds we have chiefly been in the Vale " below hill "
where there is less of hill, very little if any flint, and where
enclosures are small and fences generally stiff and cramped.
Hence with a tolerable deer and fair scent, there has generally
been plenty to do, and though it has not certainly been at all
equal to the pleasure of sailing over the broad expanse of
" The Roothings," with their flying fences and independence
of action and extent of vision, added to the oreat negative
advantage of absence of roads, lanes, rivers, canals, and rail-
ways, which mar so materially many a good run in Surrey and
other counties, still there has been abundance of work and
impediments to try both horse and rider, and perhaps to
improve the cleverness and skill of both by the extreme
dissimilarity and variety of fences, and the hilly cramped

SURREY FENCES 399

country, thick hedgerows and numerous coverts compeUing
every one who wishes to see the hounds, not to be very far
from them.

In Surrey one gets hill and vale, commons and enclosures,
and heaths and downs, grass and plough. Timber, in the shape
of pretty stiff gates, stiles and rails, hedges and brooks. There
are but few banks, and the ditches generally are small, but
with the exception of walls, you meet with every kind of fence
and country one is likely to encounter anywhere else. In
Essex, on the contrary, the fences are all so similar in style,
and there is so entire an absence of hills,* that though highly
agreeable to ride over, when your horse is accustomed to the
narrow bank and wide ditch, one is apt to feel awkward in
visiting another country, where the fences look high and the
hills steep ; but this disadvantage is to my thinking amply
compensated for by the pleasure I enjoyed for so many seasons
of a gallop over "The Roothings," and of living within easy
reach of them.

Season 1852-53.

The present season has commenced earlier than usual
in consequence of my having carried out an intention of
some standing- to witness the huntino- of the wild red deer,
before they should become exterminated. Combining with
this intention an equestrian tour in North Devon with my
wife, I hired a couple of very good horses of Messrs. Carter
and Lovenbury, of Bath, paying ^50 for the two for a fortnight,
and took them with me by railway to Taunton, on Wednesday,
September 15th, [852, whence we commenced our tide on
a rainy day, proceeding through Milverton and reaching
Wiveliscombe in the evening.

The following day we rode to Dulverton, and quartered
ourselves at the " Red Lion " in the latter place. Our luggage
was conveyed by coach from Taunton to Lynton, we reserving
just as much as filled some capacious saddle-bags lent to me
by Beckington, and it was surprising how much they contained
with good packing ; they are, however, very uncomfortable to
ride with both for rider and horse, and it would be an improve-
ment in an equestrian expedition, to have small portmanteaus
like those carried by the Post Office lads, with pads and
cruppers, which would rest on the horse's quarters clear of the
saddle, and would go equally well with a side-saddle.

* Mr. Vickerman evidently did not hunt much in the Nasing and Galley hill country, which
is undulating enough to try the merits of most horses. — Ed.

400 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

The horse I rode was a very fine shaped bay sixteen
hands high, with fair coat and in good hunting condition,
he looked shaky on his fore legs and wore boots, but was in
truth very safe and a capital hack. He had a singular tumour
or swelling in the inside of the near thigh, caused by being-
staked on Exmoor. The mare, which my wife rode, was a
very good stamp, brown, 15I- hands high, and very compact
and strongly built, a good and safe hack, very quiet and steady
on the road, and a good hunter, though not in condition, having
apparently been recently taken up ; she improved greatly as
did the horse during the fortnight they were in our service. I
liked both well enough to obtain their prices, viz., horse ^28,
mare £42, but their ages and other circumstances prevented
my being taken by either.

Friday, September 17th. A lovely morning, though not
exactly adapted for hunting. The fixture was Berry Hill, only
two miles from Dulverton, the ride to it (and through the wood
while the Tuft hounds were slotting their deer in the wooded
valley below us) was lovely, and recalled to our recollection
scenes in Switzerland, as Dulverton itself struck us as some-
what resembling some of the Swiss villages.

We took our station along with many veterans versed in the
geography of the locality, at a commanding spot overlooking
the further woods of Lord Carnarvon by the summer house
where the Tufters were drawing, and were assured that nine
times out of ten the stag broke in our direction and we should
probably have a good view. However, it was unluckily not to
be, and being thoroughly chilled with waiting an hour in an
exposed spot, it was arranged that my wife should return in
charge of her doughty squire, while I rode to join the hounds.
I had only just reached the bottom when a man rode up with
orders for the whip to bring on the pack, which had been shut
up in a farm house, a stag of the right age having- been found
and moved.

On joining the field, who were decked out in pink and
complete hunting attire, my horse, the bay, was immediately
recognised by Mr. Fred Daniel as having been his property
only a twelvemonth ago, and it w^as satisfactory that he was a
good and safe hack and used to this wild country ; I also
recognised Edward Karslake, who greeted me cordially and
introduced me to several of the leading men of the hunt. The
pack, when laid on, rather overshot their mark and got on to the
track of some hind which had gone away, but were presently
put on the right track and immediately our eyes were gratified

STAG HUNTING ON EXMOOR 4OI

by the appearance of a noble stag, said to be live or six years
old, with full antlers, bounding along the side of the opposite
slope and getting through the underwood with surprising
facility.

How different are the feelinofs in viewino- this wild denizen
of moor and ravine careerino- over his native wild in the full
enjoyment of perfect freedom and liberty, in all the glory of his
unshorn antlers, to those with which we regard the half
domesticated animal turned out of the deer-cart and gazing
around in undecided bewilderment before he determines upon
his course. The wild red-deer, like a fox, knows the country
and therefore makes his point, and sometimes without regard
to wind or impediments. Thus our stag, whom the natives
declared looked a galloper and proved the truth of their antici-
pations, after displaying himself to perfection over the cleared
ground on the opposite side of the ravine, crossed the ravine,
ascended the slope and crossed the road in front of the whole
field and within a few yards of me and went away over a
heathery hill, called Beacon Hill, from the summit of which a
glorious prospect is spread before you.

The ridino- here was sina^ular to a stranger, the heather was
quite as high and frequently higher than the horses' knees and
so thick as effectually to conceal stones, cart ruts and rabbit
holes, and yet we all rode right across it as hard as we could
gallop, making the horses look fine from their high action,
while the perspiration streamed from my brow from the severe
and unusual exercise. Luckily there were very few, if any,
rabbit holes, and so it was not so bad as it looked. There
were very few fences, but very queer places to ride up and
down, requiring the small and cat-like animals of the country to
do them cleverly. The hounds were fast but not verv level,
owing to the old pack having been broken up. These are kept
by Mr. Carew, the Master of the Tiverton Hounds, a good-
natured, well fed and happy, and easy looking and going indi-
vidual, who like most Masters of hounds, seems an enthusiast
on hunting without being a hard rider. The Huntsman is a
surprising instance in favour of hunting as an inducement to
health, activity and longevity. He is 75 years old and yet
rides down these breakneck places and over this very wild,
rough and stony country, and though never, even when young,
much of a rider, yet has always managed to fulfil his prediction
of himself that "He would be with his hounds whenever they
wanted him."

We ran our stag for nearly six hours and finally had to give

26 VOL. II

402 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

him up, the hounds being beaten and the light faihng us at a
spot about a mile below the suspension bridge over the Exe.
In crossing the river at this spot I got into a boggy bit ; the
bay horse was frightened and plunged violently, but I kept
hold of his head and though it was a case of up and down for
some time in the river, I finally rode him out at the opposite
side with the loss of a fore shoe, which took me upwards of an
hour to get replaced, the smith having to make one, which
then did not fit, and afterwards having to make another, and it
was 8 o'clock before I reached Dulverton. A wretched dinner
was provided by Gillard, our host of the " Red Lion." some
fish dry enough to choke one and a joint that it would have
puzzled a shark to get his teeth into, and pear pie — a sorry
production. The bitter beer was good and it being so cold and
their tea so execrable, I took a second glass of beer instead of
tea ; I am thus particular in recording my fare because I know
not whether it was the insufficient food, or the strong exercise
too fatiguing for my weak state of health, or the relaxing effects
of the Dulverton air and the close foul quarters at the " Red
Lion," or all combined, that produced next day the most pro-
longed, troublesome and reducing gastric attack I have ever
been affected with, lasting for three or four weeks, wasting
away flesh and muscle and reducing my weight by nearly
a stone and requiring medical aid both at Lynton and
Saundersfoot.

Saturday, September i8th. A soaking morning, showing
me what rain is in the west. The Harriers were to meet at
Combe, a nice old manor house a mile from Dulverton, recently
taken by Mr. Locke, who has lived chiefly in Greece. The
house, well furnished with stables, gardens, eight acres of
meadows and orchard, a private drive of a mile to the neigh-
bouring church and shooting over 1,500 acres around the house,
is let for only ^70 a year, the landlord paying all rates, taxes,
tithes and other outgoings. Mr. Poole (or Raule ?) the Master
of the Harriers, lives opposite the " Red Lion," and walked
about uneasily during the rain in hydrophalous garments,
surmounted by a hunting cap ; a big burly style of man, looking
like Neptune about to go hunting. At last, his patience being-
exhausted before the clouds, he started with his team, a varminty
looking lot, attended by his whip in the shape of a gaunt old
fellow on foot in shady fustian habiliments and leather leggings
with couples depending from his near side. We received calls
from Edward Karslake and the great sporting authority of that
neighbourhood. Dr. Collyns, a little elderly rotund figure, then

DR. COLLYNS 4O3

in professional sable, but who yesterday was in brown cords
with such a pair of tops as Noah might have worn in the Ark
and had not been fairly well-used since. I then went to see
Karslake's house and was introduced to his brother John, also
a barrister, and both of Devonshire extraction, and liked their
quarters, at the "White Hart," much better than ours at the
" Red Lion. "

On Saturday afternoon we rode to and slept at Exford, a
wild and picturesque village on Exmoor and on Monday had a
very rough, wet and stormy ride over Exmoor, by Brendon to
the comfortable quarters of the "Castle" Hotel at Lynton,
kept by Thomas Baker, where we stayed a week, riding each
day in the picturesque neighbourhood, which we much enjoyed,
and having another day with the stag from Yard Down, after
Barnstaple Fair. The stag was not turned down as is
customary on this occasion, but was found." {Here follows
account of day.)

Mr. Vickerman still continued to hunt with the Surrey Stag-
hounds whose opening meet he thus describes : —

Tuesday, October 19th, 1852, This was the first day's
regular hunting and a breakfast was given by our young Master,
Arthur Heathcote, at his delightful residence for a sportsman,
" The Durdans ; " my neighbour and tenant, Roger Eykyn,
drove me thither, he finding the horse and I the cart. Eykyn
hunted last season with the foxhounds, but I persuaded him to
join the staghounds and we rode over in August to see the
kennels and gladdened the Master's heart by paying our
subscription in advance. The breakfast was a very good one,
great plenty and excellent style, and the affair went off well,
including a subscription for Huntsman and whip for last season
and the present. The presence of the ladies and the red
coats in the dining room quite made the fine old house look
alive, while the park-like scene and fine timber, the continuous
range of stables, riding-school and kennels, and the well-
timbered paddock, leading to the saddling paddock, which
opens on to the racecourse and where they now run in, formed
altogether a very enviable abode. Yet Mr. Heathcote,
apparently not more than 23, lives here as a bachelor, seems to
see very little society and is so diffident that it required all the
persuasion of Simpson and Shaw to induce him to give the
breakfast, which helps to keep up an enthusiasm without which
hunting flags and all the expenses fall on the Master. (Here
follows the run of one honr and forty minutes ivith the " Horley
' Hindf )

404 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING IHARY

(No less than four of the Petres were out on a day Mr.
Vickerman put in with his old favourites, the Essex Stag-
hounds, at Willingale, on November 24th, The Master, Mr.
F. Petre, on his chestnut mare ; his lordship on his black
steeplechaser ; their uncle, Capt. Fredk. Petre, from Leicester-
shire, riding a grey horse of his lordship's, and ^Ir. Arthur
Petre, a heavy weight and younger brother of the Master ; and
a good day it was, too, and fully described in three or four
pages of Mr. Vickerman's neat closely-written diary — as also
the run with the stag on Monday, December 27th, from
Fyfield, with one of the fine white large breed, half Russian,
which bore the name of the " Bishop of Waltham," from
having given them a clipper from Waltham Abbey the previous
season.

The last entry in diary for season 1852- 1853 being-
Tuesday, April 1 2th.) "Tuesday week, East Grinstead. to
finish the season," were the words of melancholy import,
announcing this to be the end of one's healthful and exhilarating-
amusement, and that for months at least sombre work and
wearing anxiety would be unrelieved by these charming oases
of the desert. And yet the feeling was a mingled one, which
arose on reading this announcement, for the troubles, vexations
and disappointments attendant upon the endeavour to obtain
the recreation and yet attend to business and other weighty
matters, and keep unsympathising because unsportsmanlike
partners, in good humour, always makes the end of the season
feel like a sort of relief until it has ended, and one begins to
realise in the altered tone of health and spirits how much one
has lost and how well worthy it was of extra exertion to obtain
a taste of its delights.

Will the day ever arrive when I shall be free to take as
many days as I like without question or difficulty ? * or shall I
then enjoy them as much ? The first question I should have
been inclined to answer more hopefully at the beginning of the
past season than I feel I dare do now at the close of it, and
this consciousness has immensely detracted from the pleasure
of what otherwise has been both a good and fortunate season,
taking it all in all. To the latter question I think I may
safely reply it would be very well worth sacrificing a little of
the keen edge of enjoyment to be spared the heavy conditions
on which it obtained, and that my hope and belief is,
I should really enjoy it more on the whole, in anything like a
decent country.

* It did arrive, but I don't think Mr. Vickerman enjoyed his sport any better for it. "All
things are with more pleasure chased than enjoyed," says the poet. — Ed,

a gloomy outlook 405

Season 1853-1854.

October loth, 1853. A twelvemonth of unexampled wet
weather has elapsed since the opening of last season, and a
new one has besfun without anv intermediate summer. Old
chroniclers declare that there has been no parallel for half a
centurv. while a dav in Tulv during- which two and three-
quarter inches of rain fell in twelve hours, is said to have been
unequalled for a century. As a necessary consequence there
has been a very deficient harvest and failure of the potato
crop, causes of themselves sufficient, without reference to the
imminent risk of war with Russia on the Turkish question
\\hich has kept the world alarmed for six months and now
looks more threatening" than ever, to o-ive reasons for
apprehending" a trying winter ; while as if to complete the
melancholy chapter the cholera has reappeared, making fright-
ful ravages at Marseilles and Lyons, and the weather seers are
predicting a severe winter, which, though it may stop the
cholera, will equally stop hunting.

In regard to horses. I have made some changes since last
season, and having parted with " Peep o' Day " and bought
a brow^n horse called " Lottery " from Follett, which, however,
I do not much like and must let o-o. I have bought also a
splendid little thoroughbred chestnut, named "Topthorn,"
who ran as a stallion under the less euphonious name of
" Martin Chuzzlewit," and a thoroughbred grey gelding named
" The Novice," the winner of some races and steeplechases.
Both belonged to Hopkins last season, though I purchased
neither directly of him, for " Topthorn ' I bought of Charles
Turner, and "The Novice" of Mr. William Whitfield,
" Wide-awake." after a year's rest and treatment looks a
picture, but his keeping sound seems doubtful ; " Daylight,"
after his ineffectual bleeding in the foot by Field, has been
unnerved, and I am still in doubt as to the success of the
operation. " Tipperary " keeps a suspicious cough and seems
of delicate constitution ; " Rocket's " serviceable eye gets
weaker and will, I fear, follow the fate of the other, while he
shies badly in consequence. " Taunton," and a good-shaped
chestnut mare, have both been turned out, and the pony, like
ponies in general, gives least trouble and is most serviceable
(to the ladies at least) of the stud,

I am again tantalised as I was last year by the offer of
Stondon Place, but with the Manor House on my hands, see
no chance of accepting it. The kennels of the new Master of
the foxhounds, Henley Greaves, being at Myless. form a great
additional attraction, &c.

406 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

(The old Surrey foxhounds had their usual opening" day,
being the first Monday after Croydon Fair, at their kennels. A
month later Mr. Vickerman writes) : — Never was I so unlucky
before with a stable full of horses ; after giving two away I am
really without a sound hunter to take me through the season.
So to Tattersall's I went on Monday, November 28th,
and being disappointed in not buying a chestnut horse of
Captain Havilands, I bid for and bought for thirty guineas
another chestnut (97), described as a good hunter and hack, one
of a stud of three, the property of a gentleman, a likely-looking
and well-bred and shaped horse of 15.2. I sent him on by
Beckington this morning, Tuesday, to Godstone, along with
" Tipperary," whom I was going to hunt, and hacked on
"Taunton." On reaching Godstone, Beckington, with a long
face, told me that he had had as much as he could do to get
the horse there. He had lain down twice in the road, and had
to be driven forward by a countryman.

That night Beckington could only get him as far as the
" Half Moon," and was all the next day, Wednesday, in getting
him to Croydon ; and thence by rail to London, but he was
compelled to leave him for the night at Osborne's, the poor
beast being unable to travel further. I then wrote to Tatter-
sall's desiring them to return the money, and the following
day met the horse at Field's, who, after a longish examination
pronounced him to have a disease in the back. His certificate
was brought to me while I was with Edward Tattersall, who
had shown me his horses and given me some lunch, and they
agreed to receive the horse back and do what they could in
the matter.

(Hunting in Essex on Saturday, December 24th. 1853,
Mr. Vickerman writes) : — This morning I was not called until
nine o'clock, and was then told that hunting was practicable,
thouo-h a smart snow-storm durino- breakfast did not seem to
augur favourably. However, it proved to be only a storm,
and at eleven o'clock I started to meet the Essex foxhounds
(Henley Greaves) at the "Axe and Compasses," High Rooth-
ing, at the same hour. This was vexatious, but there being no
help for it I trotted quietly along, solacing myself with looking
at the old country, and speculating that as these hounds had
had so many blank days this season (no less than ten already)
we might be in time after all.

At Leaden Roothing, where the stables are greatly improved,
and the house taken by young William Cassidy, I got infor-
mation from the ostler, whom I was glad to see there still, of

THE SURREY DEER, "SNOWSTORM' 407

the coverts they intended to draw, and rode on towards
Garnetts, hit them off while in full cry, running on to
Dunmow High Woods, and Lord Maynard's Park, and from
there to Prior's Wood, where a leash of foxes were afoot which
saved our hunted fox.

Greaves must have been pleased with the day, for he was
irate in the morning, and with good reason, at the want of
foxes and the warnings off he had encountered in the
Roothings, and was announcing that he must call the sub-
scribers together, and tell them that the country would not suit
him unless there was an improvement in the state of things.

It was very agreeable to see the old country again which
looked as delightfully wide and yet not flat, after cramped and
hilly Surrey; to behold old faces seen only in pleasant meetings,
and therefore calling up pleasurable associations, and to find
every one apparently well pleased to see me again. There
were also many new faces, while the establishment being new,
tended to dispel the charm of having gone back on the dial
some years. The hounds looked well-bred and are said to be
fast, but do not seem very fond of drawing, and the men both
like sinewy Yorkshiremen, and are well mounted, but they do
not get over these peculiar fences like those who have served
a longer apprenticeship to them.

East Grinstead and " Snowstorm " were the fixture and the
stag selected for the finish of the season, as they were last
year, though scarcely half the horsemen mustered this year as
compared with last, probably deterred by the hard state of
the ground.

"Snowstorm" was uncarted in the same meadow and looked
like taking the same line, but presently inclined more to the
left before reaching the noted double fence, and crossed the
turnpike road. Plenty of timber coming in the line rendered
the field so select, that Metcalfe on his grey, and myself on the
" Clipper," were the only two with the hounds, the others forming
a very long tail. I soon found that the " Clipper " had the heels
of the grey, but some road work occurring we pulled back, and
George and a few others came up, as hounds checked at a
pond by a farmyard in which the Deer had taken refuge.

Quitting the pond he again took to the enclosures, over a
line of timber jumps, at one of which Metcalfe kindly carried
away every rail, until we came to a green with a high hedge
and double ditch out of it. Heathcote's white horse refused
and put him neatly over his head. Baily's chestnut did it
cleverly ; the rest went round by the road, and the " Clipper"

4o8 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

wishing to follow them, declined two or three times, showed
temper and reared, but by quiet treatment took the double
cleverly, and his speed soon enabled me to resume my place
before we ran up to our deer in a farmyard belonging to
Surborough Castle.

The stag was eventually taken in the river Eden, at the
identical spot to which he had run on the last occasion of his
being hunted. But then, he had been uncarted at Crawley,
and the run (in which I was most fortunate enough to share)
was one of the best of the season.

Taking farewell of Heathcote, and thanking him for the
capital sport he had shown us throughout the season, I rode
quietly on with an agreeable party, consisting of Nickall,
Metcalfe, A. Warner, Telford, &c., to Limpsfield, when at
the snug little inn, we had a capital luncheon of ham and eggs,
and mutton chops, after grateful ablutions al fresco, as a wind
up to the season ; and our horses were equally fortunate, in
revelling upon white carrots, which the "Clipper" ate as fast as
I could slice them. He and " Repealer," a great bony horse
of Follet's, stood in one narrow stall, and in attempting to pass
between them, they closed together upon me, and it required
all my strength and dexterity to extricate myself, the raw hip
bones of " Repealer " making themselves acutely sensible
between my shoulder blades.*

An easy and delightful ride home up Botley Hill, over
Worms Heath and through Sanderstead, with hedges budding,
birds singing and rejoicing, banks lined with primroses and
violets, finished the day as it finished the season — most
agreeably.

Season 1854-55.

The last twelve months have been as noticeable for a
prevalence of dry weather as those preceding them were
notorious for heavy rains. Wales, however, must be excepted,
for there wet seems to be the normal state, and fair weather
the exception. The past summer has been characterised by
three chief events, which have influenced one's feelings and
actions; (i) contemplated change of residence; (2) opening of
the Crystal Palace ; and (3) war with Russia. The first event
is never an agreeable one either in contemplation or reality,
and was rendered especially awkward and disagreeable in our
case by a combination of awkward circumstances. The chief

* Mr. Vickerman describes these details so graphically, that one can almost picture him
wriggling away from the raw hip-boned brute that was squashing him. — Ed.

CHANGING RESIDENCES 409

of these were the bad character given to Thoby Priory by the
Helmes on the score of damp and unhealthiness, which they
assured us was their sole reason for quitting a place which they
much liked in other respects, and had lived in for ten years.
The comfort and excellence in every sense of the Manor House
where we were residing, the difficulty of finding a suitable
tenant, the distance of the removal, with its attendant incon-
veniences, damages and expenses ; having lived just long-
enough in Surrey to have made some agreeable neighbours
and acquaintances, and having hunted there long enough to
know something of the country and become acquainted with
a good natured set of men in the subscribers to the staghounds ;
the enjoyment derived by the ladies from our proximity to the
Crystal Palace and the attractions of its beautiful site and
gardens, its band and the increasing interest in the contents
of its vast structure.

So much were we puzzled as to the propriety of running the
manifold risks and certain expenses of taking Thoby Priory,
that we paid many a visit to Headley Grove, and were almost
tempted to overlook the drawbacks of a poor house consisting
of a nest of little rooms provokingly placed where no view could
be obtained, for the sake of the picturesque and beautiful
neighbourhood and the quietude of the place ; and were only
deterred from taking it by a consideration of the distance we
should be removed from our relations, which would prevent
frequent intercourse, while at Thoby, we should have them for
neighbours, and this consideration ultimately decided us to
select the latter place.

The second feature, in the opening of the Crystal Palace,
caused us to have our house full of friends during the summer,
that they might have the opportunity of seeing it comfortably,
before we quitted the neighbourhood.

The third event painfully affects the whole country, and its
details are so shocking as scarcely to permit one to attend
willingly to any private affairs however pressing or important.
One feels that our gallant countrymen and allies are over-
mastered by sheer numbers and brute force, and one reproaches
oneself for being at home and enjoying usual comforts, when
we ought to be in the Crimea helping our gallant fellows and
sharing their dangers and privations.

Bagging a Subscriber.

January 3rd, 1855. I was not a little amused at the soft
and insinuating approach of the Hon. Sec. of the Plssex Hunt.

4IO LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Loftus /\rkwrio-ht, in bagging a subscriber. He waited until
after the ameliorating influence of a glass of sherry and a
mince pie at our Master's * had had their clue effect, and then
riding up alongside me began a conversation by remarking
that they had not found in "Your covert" (Thoby Wood)
on Monday, but that it was generally a sure find. Then he
admired my nag and hazarded an opinion that he was good
at water, in which, however, he soon got out of his depth.
This he followed by other polite and agreeable speeches.
Then he remarked upon the excellent way in which "the thing
was now done," but the slowness of subscriptions in coming in,
and his duties as Secretary — and finally hinted a suggestion
whether I would like to subscribe. These delicate approaches
I soon satisfied him were thrown away, inasmuch as I had
subscribed to Conyers' and quite intended to subscribe to
Greaves', and so we soon agreed upon the mode in which
my contribution should be forwarded. This was a contrast
to my first subscription to Conyers', and the story which
attached to the adventures of that day.

(At this time Mr, Vickerman had a horse, a rare good
performer if in the mind, called " The Clipper," which had a
rooted objection to a ditch to him for the first jump. Riding
him to a meet of the staghounds at Willingale on Tuesday,
January i6th, 1855, after having been delayed by importunate
tradesmen at starting, he was led to trv a short cut across
country, however, " The Clipper " resolutely refused the first
fence, but calling up the aid of a lad who was ploughing, he
managed to drive him over ; but he broke away from the lad
anci galloped over the next field, and only waited long enough
at the gate to tantalise them and then made off through a long
line of gateways when Mr. Vickerman had the mortification of
seeing him oro from field to field until he lost si^ht of him.
Let me tell the rest of the story in his own words.)

Despatching the lad in one direction I took another, and
as I toiled over the ploughed fields I was in no amiable mood,
either with my horse or the provoking tradespeople, who by
delaying me had been the cause of my misadventure and
apparently spoiled my last chance of seeing a hound to-day.
Struyfcrlino- on hot, vexed and encumbered, another lad told me
that someone had caught my horse, and to my intense disgust I
saw a drab-coated fellow, who looked like a country tradesman,
mounted on "The Clipper" and galloping him round and

Mr. Henley Greaves was living at Marden Ash then. — Ed.

CATCH HIM YOURSELF, THEN I 4II

round a ploughed held, vainly endeavouring to get him over a
fence and the horse making away with him, I shouted to him
to take the horse into the road and keep him quiet, and the
next I saw of him, just as I reached the road,, was the horse
galloping down it, running away with his rider with one rein
broken and hanging down, and passing me like a shot.

It may be imagined what were likely to be my sensations
at seeing a horse thus treated belonging to me, and which one
was just going to hunt, and especially a horse of a teniper like
"The Clipper," which takes so little to rile and render un-
governable. Shouting to some men to stop the horse, the
fellow managed to turn him and come back towards me. As
he approached me I asked him why he had not attended to my
instructions to take the horse into the road instead of galloping
him over the ploughed fields? "Oh!" said he, "you black-
guard me, do you, for catching your horse, catch him yourself
then," and before he came within reach he jumped off the horse
and turned him loose in the road with his head away from me.
This was agreeable, but calling out to some men to stop him
from passing I dodged the horse and turned him into the stable
yard of the Inn at Willingale. Up came the fellow who had
ridden him, whom I then perceived to be drunk, commencing a
string of abuse and looking pugilistic. Though the fellow
deserved a horse-whipping rather than any other recompense, I
tendered him some pence to get rid of the botheration, telling
him that it would have been a shillino- had he brous^ht me the
horse instead of turning him loose again, but this he indignantly
refused, demanding half-a-crown, to be spent in drink, and
forcibly opposing my orders to take the horse out of the stable,
until his demand was complied wuth.

It was one of those occasions when the greatest self-denial
is requisite to control the feelings which prompted me to pitch
into the rascal, regardless of the two or three stone weight in
his favour and I was disgusted with the man who officiated as
ostler and with some yokels around, who instead of helping me
evidently abetted the drunken scamp in the hope of sharing the
drink. Finding at last that the fellow lied in representing
himself to be the master of the public house, I went round and
summoned the landlord to my assistance and a hunting farmer
riding by at the moment, I requested him to stay and then the
fellow, whom everyone professed not to know, seeing that I
was no lono-er alone, offered no resistance to mv mountino' and
riding away. When next I put my hand in my pocket I found
my handkerchief gone and so I suppose he picked my pocket
for want of extorting the half-crown or getting the sixpence.

412 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Better luck with the "Clipper" on Saturday, March 31st.
The staghound fixture was at Fyfield to-day and the fox-
hounds having" been yesterday at Old Sanford and not out
to-day, there was an unusually large field, comprising most of
the men who hunt with Greaves. They looked also bent on
mischief and I have sometimes noticed that oood men with the
foxhounds who only come occasionally with stag, ride with much
more dash at first than regular staghunters, not being so well
aware as the latter that the run is just as likely to be two or
three hours as one and to extend over ten to twenty miles of
country. We prepared ourselves, therefore, to be cut down, or
at least for an attempt at it. The hind was "the spotted hind,"
a real good one, that gave us the clipping forty minutes from
the "Axe and Compasses" on the 13th March, 1855.

Running at a rattling pace to Long Barns the large held
was scattered far and wide and only a select few with hounds.
Here we ran up to our deer and ran her in view at a racing
pace, Frederick Petre calling out to us to ride as hard as we
could and we took him at his word, the line being by Brick
Kilns and over the High Laver Brook, with some awkward
roads to cross to High Laver Church, where the first check
occurred after thirty-five minutes without a pause or hesitation.
We had now time to look for our foxhunting friends and to
look in vain, for only one man (Willie Davis) was visible and he
goes so frequently with the stag as to be almost claimed by
them. The only men who had ridden to the hounds to this
point were our Master (Frederick Petre), Sir Charles Smith,
Sworder, C. R. V., Tom Mashiter, Soames, William Davis,
Sullins and Stock, nine in all, and the lead was taken alter-
nately by Sworder, Sir Charles Smith, and myself on the
" Clipper ; " but all went right well.

"The Clipper " pulled so hard that I was very glad to leave
my whip at High Laver Hall (Barnard's) and my hands and
arms were so cramped that I had scarcely strength to continue
in the run. Taking up the running we passed Magdalen Laver
and reached Hastingwood Common in an hour and with this
hour ended the good performance of " The Clipper," for a few
fields from Hastingwood Common he resolutely refused to (juit
the road and I took so much time battling with him that I had
to go the road to Thornwood Common, and crossing it to the
right hand corner on reaching the country, the cross-grained
brute behaved as badly as possible, refusing nearly every fence,
eventually reaching Copped Hall after a run of one and a-half
hours, as good, and over as fair a country, as could be desired,

THOMAS INFASHITER 413

with no road work except for those who took it from choice or
necessity.

The water was large and it took half-an-hour before we
captured our hind. I rode home by Theydon Schools, Hill
Hall and Sworder's F'arm at Stapleford, where we refreshed
men and horses, See.

Thomas Mashiter

Thomas Mashiter. known as Thomas Helme when livincr
in Essex — he only assumed the name of Mashiter twelve years
before he died — was father of the present Master of the Essex
Union Hounds. He hunted up to the age of seventy, and
hunted twenty-five years in Essex. On leaving the county he
became Hon. Sec. and Treasurer to the .Surrey Union Hounds
during the Masterships of Captain Barnard Hankey and the
Hon. Francis Scott, and on resigning was presented by the
members of the Hunt with a beautiful picture by Stansfield.
In 1882 he assumed the name of Mashiter, and fourteen years
afterwards died at the ripe old age of 92.

414 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

(Saturday, April 7th, 1855. The last day of the season with
the Essex foxhounds is described at length in the diary, the
meet taking place at Passingford Bridge, while on Thursday,
April I 2th, a similar record of the last day with the staghounds
is given, when they met at the usual trysting place, Ingatestone
Hall. The Surrey staghounds bringing their work to a close
at the usual nieet of East Grinstead, on April 17th and not
before it was time, as the ground was hard and dry enough to
lame any horse, and the extraordinary dry weather lasted up to
the end of the first week in July, the rest of the month and the
greater part of August being very wet.

On September 22nd, 1855, Mr. Vickerman purchased two
horses at the sale of Mr. Robert Field's effects at Pyrgo Park,
one of which by "Gibraltar" he christened " Malakoff," on
account of his coming into his possession so soon after the
taking of the Malakoff on the 8th September, and for his sire's
name being that of another distinguished fort of at least equal
reputation.)

Thursday. January 3rd, 1856. The staghounds met to-
day at Long Barns and our hind was a young untried one and
daughter of our capital hind " The Miller's Maid," unluckily she
was run into and killed at Waples Mill before assistance could
be rendered. She was a promising hind, capitally bred on her
dam's side and would probably have run well had she survived
to-day. So many accidents arise with untried deer that I feel
sure that it would be a good plan to hunt them for the first
time with a few harriers, or even beaoles, to o-ive them a notion
of what was intended with hounds from which they could get
away, but they are blown and overpowered by quick stag-
hounds before they have learned to take care of themselves.

From the Journal, March 7th, 1856.

One's old superstitious feelings formed in one's childhood
and in my case impressed on my mind by a sudden rap on
the head on the ice which rendered me insensible, are some-
times singularly confirmed. Thus the dislike to boast or
exult, or as it is phrased in the old adage, " Not to holloa

before you are out of the wood," and " Not to tell the d 1

too much of your mind," was certainly confirmed by the
experiences of the present week. It happened only last Satur-
day that being a long dragging day and a large field with
the foxhounds there was plenty of opportunity for gossip, and
several people observed upon my exemption from falls as con-
trasted with my earliest performances in Essex. To the latter

UNLUCKY QUESTIONS 415

I had to confess that I had not had one, but with the same
breath declared that the question and confession were ahke
unkicky, that they should not have asked until the end of
the season and that I did not doubt I should now not be long-
without one.

Mark the singular sequel — the very next day of hunting I
had the narrowest escape from a dangerous fall at a gate with
" Malakoff," and the following day I got two falls with my
cleverest and most reliable horse, who has never before made a
mistake. I was quite satisfied, however, as I told Lord Petre,
that my fate had been deferred beyond his for about three
weeks, for it had been a sort of rivalry between us which
would Q-Q on lono:est without a fall.

(Wednesday, April 9th, 1856, found Mr. Vickerman finish-
ing the season, not with stag or foxhounds, but with the merry
harriers at Pleshey Mount.

Reaching Pleshey before there were any signs of the
hounds, he amused himself by a stroll over "The Mount,"
which he notes is well preserved and said to be an old Roman
encampment.)

Presently Du Cane and Bullock drove up and we heard
that the hounds were going to draw towards the Rasters, we
followed and came up with them, and a nicer pack of harriers
in breed, beauty and performance, I never saw. They show the
great care bestowed upon them by their owner, William Hony-
wood, of Marks Hall, who hunts them himself, supported by
two whips whose duties are light. (In addition to the names
already mentioned, the field consisted of Sir John Tyrell, with
two grooms, William Tufnell and his son. Miss IMatilda
Tufnell, young Hardcastle. The enjoyment of the first part
of a capital twenty minutes in the open was rather spoilt, for
Mr. V^ickerman, owing to the literal fulfilment by Sir John's
second groom of his master's instructions to follow Mr.
Vickerman, as long as he could, for the sake of practise
for the promising young thoroughbred he was riding ; but at an
in and out of a cramped lane Mr. Vickerman got rid of his
follower.

The second hare, found near Hig-h Easter, went as straio-ht
as a line for Good Easter, being killed in thirteen minutes
near the mill, Mr. Vickerman saving her from consumption,
neither master or whips being up. After lunching at Mr.
Saltmarsh's hospitable board, they had a capital thirty-three
minutes with another hare, which they also ran into, not before
a ludicrous incident had happened to Mr. Bullock, whose horse
declining a brook pitched his rider over his head to the bottom

4i6

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

of it, when he was lost to sight to mortal eyes for some time,
and presented a funny appearance when he aoain became visible.
Two more runs, and still trying for another hare. Mr.
Vickerman left them at a quarter past five, having to reach
Boreham House for dinner at 7 o'clock — losing- a shoe he had
to do the ten miles to Chelmsford under the hour— but reached
Boreham House at a quarter past seven, before Sir John had
got home. The party consisted of five ladies and eight or nine
trentlemen. The dinner excellent and well served. The
house most comfortable, warm and well furnished, and alto-

Menagerie Wood

gether it was a place and scene worthy ot a country gentleman
and county member. The drive home behind the old "Clipper"
through the soft balmy night, was a good finish to a most
agreeable day, and the day itself was a good finish to a very
good season, marred only by the disappointment of losing the
staghounds.

In addition to giving a detailed account of each day's sport,
averaging about one thousand words up to the present time
{1856-57) Mr. Vickerman gives a summary at the end of each
season, of which the following is a facsimile of 1856-57. With
the commencement of 1857-58 the detailed accounts are not
so long, but the summaries are continued up to 1887-88 and
very interesting they are.)

MR. VICKERMAN's SUMMARY OF SEASON 1 856-57 417

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41 8 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

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RIDING FOR A FALL 425

A Good Run.

February 6th, 1858. The very pattern of a hunting
morning, said I, as I left home this morning, wind south-east,
cool and rather raw, still and cloudy. We went on to Screen's
Wood, found instanter a brace or leash afoot, one broke away
over a fine line, and pointing for a fine country, but to my
chagrin at the moment, hounds stuck to one that looked like
Blackmore and so it proved.

As I galloped down the ride from the far end of the covert
I comforted myself with the reflection that it would be all up
wind with this fox. The (dog) pack streamed over the park
at a great pace, and down to the brook by the little boggy
covert ; here they crossed but ran alongside the brook, James
Stallibrass, big Chafey and myself, then leading and in that
order, hounds having turned to them. "Tipperary" was raking
away and fidgeted by Chafey's horse just before him, and
not sufficiently regarding his fences, so that I naturally ex-
claimed. " Unless I overhaul that old Chafey I shall get a fall,"
and at that moment the hounds quitting the brook and taking
up the running, I turned my gallant horse short to the left,
jumped the brook askew, crossed the next meadow and then
crossed a deep road with very queer fences both in and out,
and found myself alone with the hounds in the next field, and
then had the unexpected lead for the next quarter of an hour.

Never did hounds run better, the fox just a field ahead,
going up wind. No huntsman, whip or master was near, and
they wanted no assistance, they streamed away, running well
together, over the very stiffest part of our country, with blind
and awkward fencing, crossing roads and lanes as straight as
a line without a check ; my gallant little horse was in his glory,
with his eye on the hounds taking every fence with them. It
is not often I speculate upon making a mistake before it has
occurred, but so bad were many places that at least six or
eight, I felt I was riding for a fall ; but there was no help for
it. But my little beauty, as clever as he is gallant and quick,
never made a mistake. The first glimpse I got of any horses
whatever, was not until I was crossing a meadow on Ward's
Farm, with a water course in the middle of it, and turning my
head just as I was jumping it, I saw James Stallibrass, for the
first time since I had quitted him at the brook, putting on the
steam and looking mischievous, as if he were trying to over-
haul me (and so he was, as he afterwards admitted) ; but the
turf was sound for my horse as well as his, and so catching
hold of "Tipperary," and the hounds at the moment getting the

426 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

scent with renewed gusto, I sailed away and increased my
lead ; nor did he join me until within a few fields of the High
Woods, the hounds not going then so quick or so straight, the
fox having evidently dodged and twisted about a little before
reaching the covert. Just before he joined me I had a very
narrow lane to cross, a very wide ditch, and high bank and
hedge into it, and then almost before a horse could collect
himself, a bushy bank and ditch out of it ; either little " Tip."
or myself twisted in accomplishing this, as when I landed in
the next field both feet were out of the stirrup irons, and while
restraining my horse while I recovered them, James Stallibrass
joined me, and then he and I in our several lines had it to
ourselves for the remaining four or five minutes. Just before
reaching the covert the smaller Chafey came up having nicked
in up a lane : the time was exactly twenty-two minutes, distance
a good four miles as the crow flies, country very heavy ; this
gallop was admitted by all to be the sharpest and most decisive
thing of the season, as far as I could learn from concurring
testimony, and especially Dawson, who placing himself last
(having had a fall with Julius Arkwright) was entitled to
credence, the following was the order of the first ten, viz.,
Vickerman (1), James Stallibrass (2), younger Chafey (not
related to the older Chafey, subject to query as to nicking) (3),
Big Chafey (4), Cox (5), Sam Reeve (6), Round (7), George

SuUins (8), ~ (9), Dawson (lo). The first of the

establishment was Charles the Huntsman, who came up by
the road after we had been at the Hiofh Wood some five
minutes. It was amusing in the latter part of the day to hear
the remarks of the field, about the run ; each man of the 1 20 or
130 had his own special reason why he was not first or
thereabouts.

(Mr. Vickerman says that it was not without a tinge of
melancholy that he cast a last look at the staghounds at
Roper's Mill, on April 17th, 1858 (they had met in the morning
at Ingatestone Hall, to finish the season, and had had a very
good run), and he felt he could scarcely realise that six or
seven months must elapse before he could again meet them
with alas! who can say what chance and changes in the interval,
and he records as an unprecedented occurrence for him that he
had not missed one day during the season with the staghounds,
not excepting the first bye-day early in the morning.)

Season 1858-59.

November 9th. This year has been remarkable for drought
and for the appearance of Donate's Comet, whose orbit is

DONATES COMET 427

calculated at the moderate time of 2,000 to 2.500 years. This
has been a real comet with a splendid tail, and allowed to be
finer even than that of 181 r. One night in October, when seen
in apparent close proximity to "Arcturus," the star rendered
more brilliant by being viewed through the comet's tail, the
spectacle was really grand and imposing, and something to be
remembered.

Perhaps the most striking instance of the drought was given
to-day in the fact of the cracks in the ground being so wide and
deep that it was really dangerous riding down some of the hills,
and this in the middle of November, and this remark was made,
not by a timid rider, but by Frank Barker, a bold horseman
and steeplechase rider, who said he was afraid to ride.

November i6th. The last four days have been like bitter
March weather, and this morning the N.E. blast raked man,
beast and vegetation, piercing through the warmest clothing.
The land was as dry as bricks and hard as the roads, and
hunting seemed a farce and almost an affliction ; but comforting
myself with the reflection that it was staghunting, I hacked to
Good Easter, arriving rather late, and found only a small field.
As I rode up, the question "Shall we uncart or not?" was put
to me by our Master, Frederick Petre, to which I replied in the
affirmative, and I was then told that they had been so balanced
in opinion, that as they saw me riding up they agreed to be
determined by my reply.

(Here follows a long account of a splendid run, detailing
how " Evergreen Smoothy " on his bit o' blood got over the
brook, and how Charlie Ind fell at it and got out the right side,
the diary entry finishing up as follows) : — While riding quiedy
homewards, having just dropped Roberts at his own house, I
was overtaken by Beckington with the hacks. It seemed more
like a dream than a reality to have had a clipping run of eight
miles and heaps of fences in the interval, and to reach home in
litde more than four hours after I had quitted it. This is one
of the chief advantages of staghunting, that brilliant sport is
attainable in weather and under circumstances that will render
sport with foxhounds or harriers a simple impossibility.

(On December 2nd, after describing a great run with the
stag to High Easter and Mr. George G. Glyn's singular luck,
rolling into a lane when he had baked his own horse just
in front of his second horseman, he quotes Mr. J. Reeves'
characteristic remarks to his own man, Beckington. " Your
master went splendidly to-day, I could never get up to them,
but I kept on calling out ' Forrard ! forrard ! ' and saying to all

428 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

the Others, ' Forrard on.' Look at Mr. Vickerman, sailing away
in front. There's none on you can't touch him ! " Becking-
ton was, of course, dehghted to hear of "Tip.'s" performance,
and said that Joe Reeve was quite excited talking of it.

If Mr, Vickerman notes his good luck he is equally careful
to relate his misfortunes, so four days later, in a run with the
stag from Norton Heath, thrown out by having to shift his
stirrup leathers, and wrongly directed by a man perched on the
top of Waples Mill, there was nothing for it but to return, sad
and sorrowful, moralising on the inexpediency of trying a raw
horse, chanoino- horses, wrono- directions, &c. Sheffield Neave
lost hounds several times merely from the act of changing
horses, in the days when he kept the staghounds and they
happened to be running straight at the time. Though they
may not appear to be going fast at the time you are with them,
only stop for a minute or two and they literally vanish.

The run was long and straight, the hind an extraordinary
good one ; Mr. Glyn did not reach home (Foot's Cray) before
half-past twelve at night. Called the " Prince of Lightweights "
by Button and Chafey, Mr. V. was always gallant, so we are not
surprised to find him offering his light tweed overcoat to a
young lady, a niece of Mr. Betard's, who on a very stormy day,
December i8th, was riding about with throat exposed and little
turn-down collar, the fashion at that time, but refusing it, she
braved the elements to the end.)

CHAPTER XV.

Season 1858-59 — Resignation of Rev. Joseph AvhuDright — Mr. Vickevman succeeds
Mr. T . Mashiter as Secretary of the Essex Stag Hounds — Boynton Hall
Woods — A Great Run from Canes — South Essex Steeplechases — Season
1860-61 — A Memorable Year — A Mad Gallop — The Sequel — Season 1861-62
— Resignation of Mr. Frederick Pet re — He Sells his Hounds — Mr. D.
Scratton Hunts the Essex Union and South Essex Countries — Season 1862-63 —
Mr. Vickerman ivins Ms first Steeplechase — Season 1863-64 — Mr. Lofttis
Arkwright succeeds his Father in the Mastership of the E.H.— College Wood —
Season 1864-65 — Arkwright has a particularly good one — Season 1865-66 —
Too wet for Stag Hunting — The Collapse of the Grand-Stand at Cheltenham
S.C. — Season 1866-67 — Wet and boisterous — Mr. Frederick Petre Sells his
Hounds again — Season 1867-68 — Stephen Dobson — Dick Christian — ;^2oo
paid to Mr. Scratton to abolish capping — Subscribers to the E.H. in 1867-68
— Season 1868-69 — Changes in Masterships — The Fire at Holbrookes — Season
1869-70— il/r. Arkwright unable to take the Field — Mr. T. Offin succeeds
Mr. Scratton — Arthur Button Cox — Francis Barker's Fatal Accident — Season
1875-76 — Mr. Vickerman bids Farewell to Essex — Sketches in Essex — Hunting
in Wales — Hok' to keep a Hunting Diary — Mr. Vickerman's Secretarial
Experiences — Summing up — Who- Whoop I

From a Leaf of the Journal, February 5TH, 1859.

MEETING of subscribers at " The Bush House," Harlow.
Letter read from the Rev. Joseph Arkwright, stating
his intention of giving- up the hounds at the end of this season.
Drew Latton and Harlow Park and Canes Wood blank, then
went away for six miles to Envilles, drew it, Brick Kilns and
Moor Hall blank. Found at Row Wood at 3.30, and ran to
ground at High Roothing-Bury, &c.

During the day I suggested to Loftus Arkwright that he
should take the hounds, and he was not disinclined to do so
if his father's assent could be obtained. Havino mentioned
this to several and finding it well received, I undertook at the
general request, to propose a memorial or letter for general
signature, and accordingly I sketched it out and sent it on to
Harlow on Monday morning to get the signatures of those who
should meet at Hatfield Heath. With the assistance of
Patmore, John Reeve and Mashiter, I obtained no less than
162 signatures to the duplicate memorials I took charge of,
and there were about 60 to the third copy, making above
200 in all.

430 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

(Having screwed up most of his horses, Mr. Vickerman
would not have hunted on March 17th, 1859, had it not been
for an offer of a mount from his friend, Mr. R. Stevens, of
Witham, for a meet of the staghounds at Black Notley Hall,
Mr. Poole's house, which presented a goodly sight, the festive
board being thronged with red and black coated sportsmen
(" who gave a roar and a cheer as I entered, having been absent
lately "), and there was an immense muster outside.) The stag
went well over a stiffish banking country, and having been
warned by Richard Heatley (who had sold the mare to
Stevens), that I should find her slow after my flyers and the
East Essex Hunt mustering strong in their own country and
bent upon going, I was determined to keep with hounds as
long as I could and not throw away a chance which a slow
one could never recover, but held her head straight.

The first two or three fences she did well, though rather
pitchy in her landing, and the third or fourth being a big-
one with wide ditch towards me and high banks beyond.
I sent her quickly at it, and was delighted while up in the
air to find she did not touch a twig. But my joys were brief,
for having no shoulders and indifferent legs, and a little stupid
Pelham bit, she landed on her head, pitched a complete somer-
sault, falling just short of me, who had been shot forward on to
my face on the hard plough land. Shaken and half stupefied
for a moment I jumped up and instantaneously got hold of
her. Two rustics with open mouths and wondering counte-
nances being fortunately by to catch her, I jumped up and
mopping the blood which flowed from brow, nose, and face
as I rode along, soon caught the hounds, who fortunately had
gone slowly for a field or two, and held my place with the
leaders for some three quarters-of-an-hour over a cramped and
difficult banking country.

The figure I cut was a queer one and excited remark from
the select few who had the chance of seeing my face. But
the pace began to tell, and fall number two (an ordinary one)
was a hint that she had done enough and that I had better
recollect that she was a friend's horse. I decided, therefore,
to ease her to the finish, and while trotting down a cart road
in the middle of a covert called " Man Wood " I suddenly
felt my mare's quarters cannoned behind by a big lubberly
fellow on a chestnut horse, which knocked her forelegs into
the cart rut and then sent her on to her head. Rolling over
she precipitated me on my left (and weak) shoulder, right on
to some stubbs where the underwood had been cut. The

MR, VICKERMAN IS BOWLED OUT 43 1

pain was so intense as to make me feel sick and faint, my
bridle arm was completely disabled and I had as much as I
could do to remount my mare.

The brute, whose name I heard afterwards was of

near Braintree, neither stopped to render assistance

or apologise, nor did he even turn round to see what extent of
mischief he had done. When I reached home and saw my
visage in the glass I found I cut a pretty figure, for the blood
even then still trickled from brow and nose and the skin was
more or less abrased or removed on the whole of the left
side of my face, from above the eyebrows to half way down
my neck, with the promise of a brilliant pair of black eyes.
Thus have I been first stumped out (in my horses), and
afterwards bowled out [in propria persona) and brought my
hunting to a premature end this season.

Never surely was there so mild and dry a winter. Not a
frost since November. No pause for horses or hounds, and
many of the former screwed accordingly as a consequence, and
also because vegetation is so forward, all hounds left off hunting
sooner this season than any other I can recollect.

December 6th, 1859. Riding "Cardigan" in a run with
stag, and coming at a fence near Row Wood, to all appearances
an ordinary " Roothinger," with the ditch towards me, but as
I came up to it it showed a sudden depression in the ground
at the take off. Failing to clear it he came backwards with
me, but clinorino- as well as he could with his forelegs to the
bank. In another instant he must have come quite backward,
for the bank was rotten and giving way, and would have fallen
on me and hurt me seriously ; but seeing the crisis and being
unable to extricate myself as I lay on my own back with my
shoulder against the edge of the ditch, I raised my legs and
planted both my feet firmly against my horse's quarters and
supported him in that position, trying the strength of my
vertebrae not a little for more than a minute, just enabling
him to save himself from coming quite backwards on to me
and gradually to feel his legs and at last to drop down upon
them to the bottom of the ditch, when he scrambled out over
my legs, &c. Thanks to being cool and quick and adopting
an ingenious expedient at the moment, I avoided any ill conse-
quences from one of the most ugly falls that ever occur, for
the results have sometimes been frightful when a horse has
fallen backwards on to his rider, the saddle generally doing
fearful damage.

We had out to-day Col. Greathead an " Indian Notability "

432 LEAVES FROM A HUNTINCi DIARY

(who could not hold his horse, and rode as if he were still
charging the Sepoys) and a cousin of George Glyn's and a
young Peruvian, a friend of Heatleys. I have taken the
office of Secretary to the Staghounds in consequence of
Tom Mashiter relinquishing it, and am determined to do
all I can to prevent Frederick Petre adhering to his declared
resolution that this is to be their last season. It is strange and
mystifying to see how little appreciated is the excellent sport
shown by these hounds, while multitudes go with the fox-
hounds and get no sport worthy the name.

A Graphic Description of a Run with Staghounds.

January 17th, i860. Since the break up of the frost the
ground has been desperately heavy and holding, and with the
exception of the very first day with the staghounds, viz.,
December 28th, when the " Baroness " and one or two other
horses could have over-ridden hounds, the latter have had the
best of it, and it has required no small amount of speed, breed
and condition in the horse, and judgment in the rider, to keep
on terms with them.

To-day from Warren Farm was one of severest runs we
have had. The hind was the clipper of November 22nd, 1859,
who grave us the three miles in seven minutes. The start was
very bad in the deep holding ploughs, down by the brook, and
with biof awkward fencino- to the " Hare and Hounds," Rox-
well. Here we crossed the brook by the bridge and got into
the meadows with a fair flight of rails. Basil Sparrow was of
course ready and eager for them, notwithstanding his ponderous
dimensions. I had never yet tried the " Baroness" at anything
more nearly approaching timber than a hurdle, and Mr. Barker
(her former owner) had told me that he had never ridden her at
any. However, the temptation of a flight of rails between two
crrass fields, was irresistible, and holdino- her well tocrether she
jumped them beautifully, just as timber should be jumped.
Suddenly I heard a cry of distress from the rear, and looking
back, I saw our worthy Master, Frederick Petre, sitting or half
kneelinof on the turf, utterino- loud moans and lamentations. I
thought I had better first catch his horse, which was going
away, bringing him back, I found our Master — who had fallen
off his horse, for the horse did not fall — was more frightened
than hurt, for he was able to remount and go through the run
and enjoy his glass of sherry at Bundish Hall (when all was
over) as well as any of us.

In getting out of the sticky lane by Bush Wood a planta-
tion leading to Barnish Wood, over a wide and blind ditch.

MAKING THE RUSTICS STARE 433

which one had to jump standing, with the disadvantage of
turning one's horse away from those going down the lane, the
" Baroness " blundered, slipped and came down, giving me her
first fall, and looking vastly like going backwards into the
deep ditch, which would have lost us the whole run. Fortu-
nately I managed to light on my feet on the off side, and
keeping hold of the bridle held on so firmly to her head that
she just managed to get up and bring her hind legs up with
some difficulty. As I was remounting with 6 lbs. of clay to each
boot, those in the lane who had witnessed the operation sang
out "that was cleverly done," and away I had to sail at a great
pace for the state of the ground, to catch the hounds, which we
accomplished, and soon afterwards ran up to our deer in the
brook near Waples Mill ; a widish arm of the brook had to
be jumped, which seemed to stop or delay all but myself and
old Smoothy, and we were joined by Wm. Barker, who had
crept through some ford, and away we three raced with the
hounds, the rest of the field far in the rear. At a fastened gate
into a road Lucking, on his capital litde chestnut, joined us,
and then the four kept on to the narrow lane going from
Fy field to Norwood.

Here we lost a little time at a high narrow bank out of the
lane, which Wm. Barker declined altogether, and the pause let
up some two or three others, including Basil Sparrow, who took
W. Barker's place and kept it until he went comfortably into
the middle of an awkward, wide and blind place which " The
Baroness" had just accomplished with some little difficulty;
this left three horses again, viz., " The Baroness," Smoothy's
and Lucking's, and we kept on over the meadows and fields
between Norwood Hall and the Ongar Road, with big awkward
fencing ; one looked a rasper and I saw that Lucking, who
knew the country well, did not like the look of it — a high
bank, bushy with dried grass, and some unknown quality of
ditch the far side. Two yokels were standing on the bank
grinning near two big trees about six feet or eight feet apart.
Notwithstanding the trees I thought that the fence between them
looked the fairest, and so catching hold of " The Baroness " I
sent her at it with a will ; she tried to cut it, first to left and
then to right, as quick as thought (in either case she would have
smashed me against one or other of the trees), but finding it
would not do she raced at the fence and topped the bank most
cleverly, like a deer, and landed well out in the next field,
clearing double the width of the wide ditch which was there,
and making the admiring rustics open their mouths.

28 VOL. II

434 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Either my two companions did not like the place or took a
less successful line after it, for I dropped them and rode alone
up to the river at Shelly, where we. that is to say, the only
companions I then had, F. Barker, Mr. Page, Wood and
Shave, took the deer. They admitted having been all out of
the run along the roads, and made a lucky nick at the finish,
cutting off more than a mile, and bringing up the former just
in time to save and capture cleverly our gallant hind. Alto-
gether it was a brilliant and very severe run, very trying to
horses from heavy ground, sticky through the light frost,
greasy banks, and warm sunshine. Some of our best men and
horses, e.g., Wm. Tufnell, George Sullins, Ridley, Poole,
Reeve and others were entirely out of it, and saw nothing of
the quick part of the run.

(After a very severe day with the Essex Union from Galley
Wood Common, on January 21st, i860, in which Mr. Vickerman
nearly killed his horse, and would have done so had not F.
Barker got hold of a blacksmith to bleed him on the spot, Mr.
Vickerman writes) : — The day was more severe than I sup-
posed at the time, for I found myself stiffer and more fagged
than after the hardest day this season with the stag. It proves
what I frequently affirm, that with the right class of horse in
the right condition, and rightly ridden and handled, stag-hunting
is less trying than foxhunting, for though the runs with the
former are much longer and more trying while they last, the
horse gets to his work at once, and when the run is over his
work is done, and he has nothing more to do than travel
leisurely homewards, mostly in company with hounds and other
horses ; and a horse knows, feels and appreciates this even
more keenly than his master, in the proportion indeed that his
share of the work bears to that of his rider.

But with a pack of foxhounds bent on showing sport you
have no sooner done with one fox than you are trying for
another, your horse in the meantime having time to get chilled
and fagged and lose his elasticity of spirit — and this again is why
a second horse is a real luxury with foxhounds, coming in as it
does for the second fox, while it is comparatively useless with
stao;-hounds, not beino- wanted in an indifferent run, and never
being at hand at the right moment in a good one. Its only
use in a good run is when the owner is a heavy-weight and his
" second horseman " a feather-weight and judicious withal — a
veritable ra7^a avis.

January 31st, i860. Boynton Hall. A cold, clear, fine day,
made for hunting — land soaking wet from heavy rains all

BOVNTON HALL WOOD

435

throug-h January, and so recently as yesterday pouring- down in
torrents. Our hind would not run, and we had only one in the
cart, so not to disappoint what was an unusually good field for
this season, the hounds were trotted from Newney Green to
F. Barker's house, "Westlands," near Ingatestone, where the
deer are kept. There we turned out the young stag which he
had hunted on the last bye- day previous to regular hunting.

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Boynton Hall Wood

At first the stag- seemed as if he would not leave home, and
then trotted down the road by Barker's, turning to right and
then left over the brook, and coming to a cul-de-sac so far as
the road was concerned. Here he waited in the brook, and
went away with the hounds at his haunches, over the heavy
banking- country by Stock Brook, leaving Lilystone to the left,
and going very straight to Rettendon Common, which we
reached in forty minutes from laying on the hounds. " It was
a screamer."

This country is too heavy and deep, in weather like this
present season to ride to staghounds, and the banks are high
and narrow. " The Baroness " had never been used to a
banking country, and I had never ridden her in it, but she
acquitted herself admirably. Glyn, on his clever grey mare,
started off with the lead from the brook, but lost it and himself

436 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

in the second field by holdino- too much to the left, and did
not show again until the check at Rettendon. The first fiight
consisted of Henry Petre on a roan, F. Barker, Capt. Pearson,
Shave, Poole, " The Baroness," Harrison, and William Barker,
up to Rettendon. Basil Sparrow started well and meant going,
but the ground was too heavy and he also, and the pace too
good for his horse to hold his own.

At Rettendon we got the stag into a yard, and thought the
run was over, and in came dropping some of the others, viz.,
our Master, F. Petre, Glyn and George Sullins on their two
greys, Heatley, Firmin, Albert Petre, and Patmore. But our
stag would not be taken, and did not appear to have had nearly
so much as some of the horses, for he jumped the rails out of
the yard, and away he went over a very deep country, grass
and plough both very holding, roadways like quagmires. Big
banks and fences, with a few^ little bogs by way of variety and
relief, until we ran down to a tidal creek or branch of the river
Crouch, with mud banks of unknown depth and tenacity.

The only three horses that lived with the hounds up to this
point were Capt. Pearson's, "The Baroness," and Shave's ; and
these three, after hounds had crossed the creek, persevered
along its sides, jumping some very awkward places until we
came to a sort of ford, which we got over, or rather through,
with a struggle and a scramble. The few other horses in the
rear, seeing us in difficulties at the creek, turned away, making
for some recognised place of crossing. The three of us now
rejoined the hounds, and kept with them to a farm yard, where
our stag took refuge among the cattle and ran with them round
the yard.

Here he was pluckily tackled by Capt. Pearson, who got
hold of his ears, but before Shave and myself could lay hold of
the animal among the cattle, the gallant Cajjtain was knocked
over by a bullock, and the stag jumped (jver the rails and made
away for the river Crouch.

Had we had a line, or could we have induced either of the
two yokels who stood open-mouthed and aghast, one in and
one just outside the yard, to render the slightest assistance, we
should have captured him. The river was within a mile of the
farm yard, and here he took refuge, unreachable by us, for our
horses dare not venture upon the treacherous boggy saltings ;
having run from Rettendon in twenty-five minutes, including
the check there and at the farmyard, a good thirteen miles in
one hour and five minutes, in as heavy and sticky, and in as
deep, dirty, and holding a country as it was possible to be.

A GREAT RUN FROM CANES 437

At the river, besides the three already mentioned, came
up Frederick Petre, F. Barker, G. SulHns, Glyn, Harrison,
Patmore and Albert Petre, and gently descending the last
slope was discovered Heatley on his grey. The others had
had enough at Rettendon. Captain Pearson went well on a
stout clever brown horse, which he had bought of Alfred
Sturgeon.

March 22nd, i860. A good day with Arkwright at last,
and yet the opening was most inauspicious, cold and stormy
day, with hail storms. Drew the large covert of Ongar Park
Woods, 365 acres, and though plenty of foxes afoot, no skill
or cleverness could do any good with them. We got away
with one at last, but the huntsman (Tom) could not ride a
beast of a horse he was on, and so we lost live minutes at one
fence, and of course soon after lost our fox.

The weather improved for an hour or two, and we went on
by Tylers Green towards Canes Wood. But George Hart,
Stallibrass, Cassidy, with myself and two or three others,
went a short cut by the fields, and when near to the little
covert which hounds were drawing, Hart sang out, " Tally-ho."
We looked and pulled up, but saw nothing ; however, he
repeated the cry, and others joined, and soon brought the
hounds streaming towards us, and when only about thirty
yards off he rode forward and whipped up the fox from a little
hollow in the stubble field. The hounds got a view and away
we streamed. The first fence was a big and awkward one,
but my good little filly " Exmoor " did it capitally. Soon after
the start, Hart and I made a wrong turn, which we saw too
late, when we found a plantation and brook between us and
the hounds.

There was no help for it but to have the brook, which
"Exmoor" did capitally. Frederick Petre afterwards fell
backwards with his clever chestnut mare at this spot. Then
I had to push my four-year old filly to catch the hounds.
Fencing excellently with the exception that, when the edge
of the ditch gave way, we rolled together into the next field.
" Exmoor " was up first, but a sharp run of twenty yards enabled
me to catch her. I was soon up with hounds, and we ran
prettily by Moreton and thence to Blake Hall, past the front
of the house over the Ha-Ha, which " Exmoor" made nothing
of, across the Ongar Road and on by Greensted, over a stiff
line of country pointing for Stanford Rivers.

In this part of the run I came foul of the Rev. Master.
I was in the act of balancing my " young 'un " on a narrow

43^ LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

bank before jumping the ditch into a green lane, when he came
galloping by, and looking up to me sung out, " Why don't you
ride now ? " and continued his career down the lane. I jumped
into the lane and soon overhauled him, and as I passed him
reminded him that he had now challenged me to ride, and
therefore must not blame me for going ahead.

Just before the next fence we had a slight check, and on
hitting it off, my little filly jumped it cleverly, and turning
immediately to the right I happened to pass right in front of
our Rev. Master as he was making his second unsuccessful
attempt to get over, and giving him a significant smile rode on,
and was not again troubled with his company.

As we approached the brook at Stanford Rivers, the
huntsnian and the majority turned away from the hounds to
avoid it. I rode down to it with Edward Ind and one or
two others. It was a deep, nasty, treacherous place; Ind and
another got over with difficulty, and I then essayed it with
my filly. She jumped well at it, and I hoped to have got
safely over, but the treacherous bank, weakened already by
the two horses which had landed over it, gave way, and after
a struggle during which I managed to roll myself over her off
shoulder on to the grass and kept hold of her head, she dropped
back into the brook, but the support I gave her enabled her
to keep upon her legs instead of going backwards.

Poor little thing ! her head was far below my feet, and her
eye had quite a piteous expression, as if looking to me for
assistance in her unwonted danger and difficulty. It was
evidently hopeless to get her out on the right side, and I
paused to let her get her wind, when up came George Heatley
and very kindly caught her as she emerged on the wrong side.
I recrossed the brook by means of a convenient tree trunk,
remounted, and then (as usual in such cases) we discovered a
good place barely fifty yards off. Ten minutes after this
mishap the hounds ran into their fox in the open in Navestock
Park. Howard was first up, taking the fox from the hounds.

April i6th, i860. Ingatestone Hall. "Quiet day to finish"
was the significant announcement on the card of the Staghounds,
and the injunction was observed for a moderate and select field
assembled in the quadrangle of the old hall, and the foot
people were not too numerous or obtrusive. The morning had
been cloudy, and I had been out early at Holbrooks, giving
their first lesson at fences to my two two-year olds " Red Deer"
and "Woodpecker," with "Exmoor" to set them a proper
example and beginning, and very well they acquitted them-

440 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

selves, after getting- over the usual preliminary difficulty of the
first fence. But now the sun shone out brightly and hotly,
tempered by a hot wind, but causing it to be very hot on
running down wind, as we mostly did to-day. The ground
also was still heavy and sticky in most places from the rain of
Saturday. The run was mostly a good hunting run, except
the three or four miles from the covert called Bottle Down
Hill, where our stag had waited for us, and this was quick and
over a cramped country with high narrow banks.

"Shamrock" acquitted himself very well and cleverly, and
was much admired at Pyrgo Park (albeit bearing the traces of
the run and heat) by its new owner, Mr. Bray, who appeared
to feel still greater interest in him on hearing he was bred there.
All the hunting world of Essex are full of the South Essex
Steeple Chases, which are to come off at Childerditch on
Saturday next, the 21st instant. Most of those who have seen
the " Baroness's " * performances with the staghounds this
season have wondered at my not entering and riding her,
stating their belief that she would win the Hunters' Stakes.
Old Webb and Peter Sullins told me this morning that last
evening they were talking it all over with the other Sullinses
and other hard-riding men in the Roothings, and they all
agreed that if I rode 1 must win, and he added, " I said what
I say again, that I will back you to win every race you ride
in, for you are quick, and a racing gallop of three or four miles
across country is what you most excel in."

I thanked them for the compliment and their good opinion
of my powers, stated that I should like nothing better than to
try my fortune, but that unluckily being a professional man, it
might give rise to ill-natured remarks and distorted conclusions,
which it would be unwise to encounter. In reply to others
who urged me to enter a horse, even if I did not ride him, I
said what I felt, that I could not have the risk run with a
favourite horse, unless I could ride him myself, and thus have
both the pleasure of the race and prevent my horse from being
unfairly treated.

Season 1860-61.

A year literally without spring, summer or autumn, nothing
but wet dreary, wintry weather, with the land wetter
and heavier, during what ouoht to have been the summer

11

months, than at any period of the previous winter, though w^e

* On April 9th, 1863, at the South Essex Steeplechases at Brentwood, Mr. Vickerman
steered " Baroness " to victory in the Hunters' Slakes.- -Ed.

A MAD ClALLOP 44 1

enouo-h that was. Providence vouchsafed two fine fortnio"hts
of incalculable value, the one for the hay harvest, beginning on
July ist, the other for the corn harvest, beginning on
August 30th.

The year will ever be memorable as the glorious struggle
for Italian Independence, in which Garibaldi displayed such
heroic qualities, and with a handful of men invaded Sicily,
overran Naples and handed both over to his Sovereign, Victor
Emanuel. With us it will be memorable as the year in which
the Rifle Volunteer Corps firmly established themselves as one
of our best native defences, and the first public meeting was
held at Wimbledon Common, inaugurated by our Queen.

Descending to the more immediate subject of these few
rough notes, Horses and Hunting, I may record that I was
unlucky with my brood mares, &c.

On December 8th, i860, I rode " Woodpigeon " with the
first fox, and then sent her home and rode " Exmoor " with
the second fox. It was their first appearance in the Roothings,
and both acquitted themselves very well, and excited favourable
comment. "Exmoor" especially had gone brilliantly for a
young one, in a very quick ring of an hour in the afternoon, the
hounds running until dark and being whipped off

On returning home it rained very heavily, as it had been
doinof on and off all dav, and having^ o-ot as far as Saunders'
Farm, " Little Myless," near Stondon Church, I rode into his
yard and put on a light silk mackintosh cape, without sleeves,
which I carried on my saddle many days but had never before
used. It was pitch dark and raining heavily, and blowing a
gale when I left the yard. All went well so far as Stondon
Church, though I half thought my young mare noticed the
pattering of the rain on the cape, and its rustling and cracking
in the wind.

On crowning the hill by the church and beginning to
descend on the other side into a sort of gully, I met the full
force of the blast, which inflated the cape like a balloon and
made it rustle and crack like a dozen hunting-whips. Before
I was well aware of it my mare had quickened her pace and
started off in a mad gallop downhill, through the black darkness,
with my eyes half blinded by the heavy rain dashing into my
face. Hampered by the cape, to stop my horse was impossible.
All I could do was to endeavour to steer her and keep her on
her legs and in the road, praying that we might not meet
anything in our mad career. Unluckily it was an undulating-
road, but nearlv all down hill. I felt her descending- one of

442 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

the little pitches and sat back in my seat to give her additional
support, when I felt a sudden shy, swerve, and blunder, and
recalled no more.

When I came to I found myself in a cottage surrounded
by rustics who were handing me cold water with which I was
diligently washing my face in a tin bowl. They said I had
been doing this for a long time. I had used two pailsful
and had been talking incoherently, asking about my horse.
My first question on recovering my senses was an enquiry
for my horse, but they could tell me nothing. It appeared
that these cottagers being at their tea had heard a horse gallop
furiously along the road, and had walked out on either side to
their garden gates, but they could see nothing, and having
listened until they could no longer hear the horse's hoofs, had
returned to their evenino- meal. One of them, an old man,
having finished his tea, went across the road to carry some
milk to a neighbour, and in so doing stumbled over my
prostrate body, and shouted out that there was "a dead man
in the road." This brought out all his neighbours, who picked
me up and took me into a cottage and gave me cold water to
bathe my face. I was lying upon my back and upon my round
hat (which was crushed in), with my head towards whence I
had come and my heels whence I was going, having evidently
pitched on to my forehead and performed a somersault. I was
lying thus when they first came out, but the night was so
dark that though my mackintosh cape was of light colour
they had not seen me, and yet the road was so narrow that
no cart could have passed without going over me. And they
told me that within two minutes of getting me into the cottage
a cart had rolled past at a good pace, containing probably some
men returning from Ongar Market.

According to their report, I must haxe lain in the road
some ten to fifteen minutes, and was nearly hall an hour in
the cottage before I became properly conscious, though I was
able to stand and talk all the time, and had spoken when they
lifted me up in the road. I had evidently had a most merciful
and providential escape from an accident which might have
been fatal. Had my foot clung to the stirrup, had I fallen into
one of the many ponds by the roadside, or even into a ditch
in their then flooded state, or had I lain ten minutes longer in
the road, I mioht never have been able to record the misadven-
ture nor would anyone have known the cause. That the cape
must have made a most unearthly crackling in the blast was
evident from an amusing remark of one of the cottagers, who

THK SEQUEL 443

said he had heard a sort of crackhng followed by the fall of
something- heavy, but as he knew that one of his neighbours
was going to have in a sack of coals he thought they had just
been shot down.

As soon as I made out where I was I begged two of the
cottagers to walk with me to Stondon Place, where Philip
Meyer very kindly allowed me to decline all his offers ot
hospitality and ordered out his dogcart and sent me home.
Fortunately I arrived before any ill tidings, for I much feared
" Exmoor " might have galloped home and spread great alarm.
On reachino- home, while my trood wife sent for the doctor.
I sent all my people in quest of " Exmoor. She was tound
tolerably comfortably stabled at Kelvedon Common, having
been found in company with a stray horse at the hay rick of
a man who saw by her appearance that there had been an
accident. She was cut badly and deeply on the off hind-leg in
front of the fetlock joint and in a position where every motion of
the foot opened the wound. It was pretty evident that she had
shied at a light from one of the cottage windows coming across
the wet roacl, and, in the effort to stop, this joint had given way
and come in contact with the gravel road, causing her to fall
or drop down behind, and this sudden check at the tremendous
pace she was going at had cut and bruised the fetlock joint
so badly and precipitated her rider on to his head.

At Mr. Earle's advice I took tea, went to bed and kept
quiet a day or two. I hunted with the staghounds the follow-
ing Saturday, when I was fortunately instrumental in saving a
good fellow and bold rider, David Christy, from an accident
which might have ended worse than mine, for at a brook his
mare fell, and jumping up was making off, dragging her rider
with his head hanging against her heels, when I stopped her.

Some of my friends said, "Well, now, of course you will
give up hunting ! '' I asked, what had hunting to do with my
accident ? It was a road accident, and might have equally
happened riding to and from the railway station. Indeed, more
likely so, for one's horse is then fresh and tidgety, while after
a hard day's hunting and with a tired horse (for "Exmoor"
was tired, too tired, I should have thought, to run away from
any cause, but blood will tell), one could not have anticipated
such a misadventure. My reply was, " I will increase my life
assurance by ^10,000, and continue to hunt so long as the
Fates permit," and I more than kept my word.

Frederick Petre had become very unwell during the season,
and towards its close (in ?^ I arch), while I was away trom home.

444 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

announced his intention of giving up the hounds at the end
of the season. As soon as I returned George Grenfell Glyn*
and others told me of the state of affairs, and we all got round
Frederick Petre and elicited his reason, which appeared to be
chiefly on the score of health and the fatigue of hunting hounds
himself, so that unless we could give him additional assistance
by increasing the subscription of ^400 he could not keep them
on. It also appeared that if we could raise it to ^550 he
would go on another season. However, all negotiations fell
through and he gave up the hounds, but said he would give
the hounds to us if we could go on without him.

Our difficulty was literally only to find a Master, but that
we found to be insuperable, though we had hounds, deer,
country, subscription list, and the good will and good wishes of
all Essex. Mr. Arkwright was heard to express his regrets, for,
said he, it lets the steam off from the hard riders. Everyone
had his reason for declining the honour, and mostly, I must
admit, it zvas a reason. Very nearly I succeeded with Charles
Du Cane, one of our county M.P.'s, for nominal Master, with
Henry Petre and myself as a working committee, but while
matters were just on the balance I had to leave him, and in the
meantime the hounds were sold and went out of the county
into Kent, and there was an end of the affair — and of our hopes
for another season.

December 21st, 1861. Galley wood the fixture, and with
a pattern of a " hunting morning," wind N.E., but little of it,
gray, still and cloudy, causing one's fingers to feel cool and
making one's friends' noses (and doubtless one's own also) look
red. A very large field assembled, quite unlike former times
with these hounds, being as practical a compliment to them as
it is a significant reproach to the black squire.

Moulsham Thrift seemed to show a stale scent only, and
some small coverts on the Lodoe Wood side of the racecourse
not containing a fox, we drew Temple Grove. While I was
well stuck up in a ride behind some awfully slow fellows, having
passed a chance of getting out of the covert, there was a cheery
" view holloa," with the significant addition " gone away."
However, it made me feel at first the very reverse of cheery,
for all my admonitions to those before me to get on produced
but little effect. At length I spied a side path which enabled
me to give theni the slip, and getting out of the covert and
galloping as hard as I could, I overhauled our Master and other

* Afterwards Lord Wolverton.

D. SCRATTON AS M.P\H. 445

good geographers, and getting on to rising ground saw the
hounds and leading riders some fields ahead and a valley
between us. However, I was on my gallant little " Tip," who
was as disgusted as myself and quite as anxious to catch them,
and so we set to work, and o-ettino- clear of the ruck and takino-
a straight line and cutting off all corners, we very soon got up
to them. We then drew up to Blue Hedges, where our fox
made his first and almost only turn backwards, which let up the
ruck again. Thence we went to Cock Wood, and thence at a
better pace and in a straight line, over a brook (which stopped
many),* by Downham Hall, and pointing for Nevedon.

After fording another brook, our fox ran to the left, down a
road, and was seen by the second horseman, so that they were
all comfortably in readiness. Though " Tipperary Boy," who
had been performing brilliantly, was as fresh as ever, yet as he
had had three-quarters of an hour of it and Beckington reported
the fox as looking very fresh, I changed on to " Shamrock,"
chiefly to encourage B. to do the like again, he having
been the only second horseman who did not manage to get up
in time to be of any service last Tuesday. It was well, too,
that I did change, for though the pace was slower, yet we had
the same heavy country about Nevedon as we crossed on
Tuesday ; our fox seemed not to know his way any further, for
he went only a field wide of Offins Grove and ran on to Bowers
Gifford Church, where he was pulled down in a ditch close by
the churchyard.

Every face, up at the finish, was radiant with delight and
Huntsman and whip were rewarded with many a Christmas
box. Distance : 12 miles ; time : one hour twenty-six minutes,
a very good hunting run, affording amusement to everyone and
producing the usual allowance of falls, and some very dirty ones,
though nothing serious. Most Masters of hounds would have
been contented with this, and many huntsnien, too, would have
thought they had had enough, not so Mr. Scratton and
Shepherd, and the order was passed for Nevedon Bushes. I
changed back on to " Tipperary Boy," who was as fresh as
when he came out. xA. large proportion of the field went home,
the gluttons remaining.

We found in the Bushes, and at 10 minutes to 3 o'clock our
fox went away with the hounds close at him. The first fence
away from the covert on that side is a wide one, a fair sound
bank with low hedge and a wide, deep watercourse on the off-

They always do. — Ed.

446 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

side. The only two who charged it were the Hon. Henry
Petre and myself, at the same moment and about thirty yards
abreast. He got over, but only just and with difficulty, and
told me that the effort took away his breath. " Tip." jumped
splendidly in the widest place and with room to spare. I did
not know the place nor had I seen it before, but I recollected a
tradition that it was a wide un, so I put a little extra steam on,
afterwards Edward Ind told me that he had also jumped it in a
much narrower place and his horse swerving he nearly got in.
He knew the place well, but seeing Henry Petre and myself
get over at a wide part he thought he might safely try at a
narrower.

The hounds raced this fox for twenty minutes, giving myself,
Henry Petre and Edward Ind very hard work, for he ran a
circuit and every turn was away from us and the ploughed land
too deep to make it advisable to cross it, except with the aid of
a water furrow, which was not always to be found just when
wanted and going in the right direction. We ran round by
Pitsea Station and Vange Creek, where we had to give it up
and trotted home in excellent spirits with the good day's sport.
Very few, indeed, saw anything of the second run, for of those
who stayed many gave up the attempt after a field or two, their
horses being unable to go the pace, even with the advantage of
a rino-.

The Essex Union and South Essex countries are united
under the Mastership of Mr. D. Scratton, who hunts four days
a week, and with a splendid pack of hounds and such a first-
rate Huntsman as Charles Shepherd and a capital whip like
Joe Bailey, promises to have a good season and show all the
sport which such a country is capable of affording. I have
taken one of his foxhound puppies to walk.

(At end of summary of season 1862- 1863 the following-
notes) : —

N.B. — Singularly mild open season with scarcely a touch of
frost, and that in November. Arkwright had a very good
season, Scratton but a poor one, C. Shepherd having left, and
it being Nimrod Long's first season.

The staghounds were most refreshing after having been
without them for one season. Horses (all mine) went well and
without accident, "Woodpecker " (the youngest) showing great
promise. " The Baroness " won her and my first steeplechase
at Childersditch on April 9th, against a field of ten horses, in
the Hunters' Stakes. In this race one horse was killed and
two riders (huntsman and whip) injured.

THE SUBSCRIPTION IN 1 864-65

447

From Notes, 1863- 1864.

Beautiful open weather without rain, up to December 31st.

Frost set in on January ist, and was on and off in a tire-
some manner all through January and February.

The Essex Hounds had a good season, Scratton's a poor
one. Rev. Jos. Arkwright died on February 29th.

Loftus Arkwright takes the country on a subscription of
;^i,8oo.

The staghounds had a good season and are a very nice

pack. Rode "The Vicar" in the Hunters' Stakes at the

South Essex Steeplechases at Childersditch ; made all the

running, but beaten by three lengths after running half a mile

out of the course, owing to new and insufficient bridle. Youno;
... '-'

J. Tilbury was killed in this race.

College Wood

From Notes, 1864- 1865.
N.B. — Weather very rough and changeable to end of
March. Frequent short frosts spoiling scent. Dry and hard
during early part of season. Much snow and rain in February
and March ; wettest March ever known (hunting stopped by
snow on March 29th until the afternoon), followed by the
warmest and brightest and driest of Aprils, with summer heat.
Very hot summer, 1865, followed by an autumn still hotter.
The hottest and driest September ever known, succeeded by
the wettest of Octobers.

448 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Foxhounds generally, including Scratton's, had but an
indifferent season. Arkwright's was exceptionally good, owing
to the old Thoby fox and other good foxes.

Loftus Arkwright goes on with ^1,800 subscription.

Staghounds had a moderately good season. The hounds
themselves very good and fast, and running well together.
Perhaps the best pack ever owned by Frederick Petre. Killed
seven deer. Goes on with ^400 subscription.

Notes, 1865-1866.

Weather. The wettest season on record, extending, without
intermission, from October ist until after the close of the season
in April. Very high winds, doing great damage to timber and
shipping. Heavy fall of snow on January iith; was also
especially damaging to trees. The land consequently was
always terribly heavy and holding, never giving the horses a
chance of going easily. For staghunting it was too heavy,
since it told both upon deer and horses, while hounds were
comparatively unaffected. It completely spoiled our hunt
steeplechases, which were a fortnight earlier than usual on
April 5th, making the course a quagmire and reducing even
the winning horses to a walk. There was scarcely any frost,
even white frosts, hunting having only been stopped by it on
two occasions, and these together did not extend beyond a
week.

Foxhounds generally had a good season, and a long open
one ; Scratton had an extraordinary good one, better (he thinks)
than even the best with his former good Huntsman, Charles
Shepherd. His present Huntsman, Henry Rees, of Welsh
extraction, is one of the right sort with his heart in his work.
Arkwright had but a poor season, and the shortcomings of his
Huntsman, Tom Wilson, were but too apparent. Parry had
even a worse season than Arkwright. My opening clay with
Lort Phillips was a good one. He had a bad fall (into the
road) about the middle of the season, and was unable to go out
all the rest of the season, never fairly recovered, and died on
October 30th, 1866.

Staghounds. The state of the country too heavy for
pleasurable staghunting and our Master, Frederick Petre, was
a cripple with sciatica and never once went out with his hounds,
which were hunted by F. Barker.

On Friday, April 13th, at the Cheltenham S. C, I was on

the grand stand with G. L , junr., when the whole

centre of it came down with a crash, and 300 people were pre-
cipitated to the ground just at the finish of the first race

MR. FREDERICK PETRE SELLS THE HOUNDS AGAIN 449

Many broken limbs and ribs were the result ; my escape was
a narrow one, for the man who stood immediately behind me,

Mr. Griffiths, of C — • , with his hands on my shoulders,

was nearly killed and is crippled for life.

From Notes, 1866-1867.

Another wet, heavy and boisterous season throughout.
Two severe frosts in January stopped hunting for three weeks.
March, with deep and continuous snow and frost, was like a
second January. December was open but very wet and
stormy. February was a beautiful hunting month. In April
to the end the land was as heavy as in mid-winter. Our
steeplechase course, as late as /\pril 25th, though drier on
surface, was even more sticky and holding than last year,
making examples of most of the horses and giving more falls
than on any previous occasion.

Foxhounds in Essex did not have so good a season as last
year. In Loftus Arkwright's case it was chiefly the fault of
the Huntsman, Tom Wilson, who with the first whip, " Fat
Jim," is leaving at the end of the season. Scratton's Hunts-
man, Harry Rees, is good, quick and persevering, but his
country is very sticky and dirty in such a season as this has been.

Harriers. Except two days with deer, saw no sport with
them.

Staghounds. The deer ran well and strong, and the
country being deep and holding, our horses had enough to do
to hold their own. Our Master, Frederick Petre, hunted them,
and consequently we had longer and more dragging runs than
last season. We hunted on Friday, April 12th, and to the
surprise of all the subscribers, the hounds were sold on the
following Monday and went out of the country, before our
Master had vouchsafed a decided reply to the enquiry whether
he would or not continue them for another season, and without
giving us the chance of buying them.

From Notes, 1867- 1868.

Weather. November and February, ordinarily two of the
wettest months, were the driest on record. December
alternated between frosts and slow dry thaws. January, for
the first half, was continuous frost and snow, and for the latter
half was very wet and stormy, giving me four soakings.
March was mild and moist, therefore it was not a good season
for hunting.

Foxhounds. Arkwrieht havinor a new Huntsman and first
whip in Stephen Dobson and Dick Christian — both bemg great

29 VOT . II

450 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

improvements on their predecessors, the former coming from
Lord FitzwilHam's country and the latter being grandson, and
a not unworthy representative of his renowned namesake — had
a very fair season's sport, above the average. But by neglect
and mismanagement he allowed all my foxes in Thoby Wood
to be trapped and slaughtered by Mills, of Swallows Cross,
of fox-destroying notoriety.

A hunt dinner was given to Loftus Arkwright on March
24th. Scratton had but a poor season, and his temper, never
very good, was certainly not improved on the very last day of
the season, when his supporters had subscribed most liberally,
and had added ^200 to abolish " capping." * He stopped the
hounds and sent them home without any adequate reason, to
the disgust and annoyance of a large field, including several ladies.

Harriers. Tom Bridge's is a very fine pack, and mosdy
have good sport, though their quaint old Master likes to keep
them to himself as much as possible.

Frederick Petre's is a new and mixed lot and will doubtless
be improved, unless, indeed, he gives them up, in consequence
of his wife's decease.

Staghounds. My exertions, aided by the kind and efficient
support of Lord Petre, were successful in re-establishing the
staghounds, Mr. Henry Petre consented to take the Master-
ship on a guarantee from myself and my friends, and arranged
with F'rancis Barker for meeting the hounds and keeping both
hounds and deer, and Lord Petre built kennels at "Westlands,"
consequently I had the advantage of having them in my own
parish. Arthur Heathcote, to whom our old pack had been
sold, let us have back some six or eight couples on my
representation, and other hounds were purchased.

Considering the weather, and that the hounds were strange
to each other and to their business, and all the establishment
new, they had a good season, with very fair sport. The runs,
perhaps, were mostly too long, but that is unavoidable when
scent is deficient, and the deer mostly ran out of the good
country and into the cramped parts about Chelmsford, Ongar
and Epping. But our Huntsman was persevering, up to his
work, and knew every inch of the country, and our Master was
courteous and conciliatory, enjoying the sport and going like a
workman. The fixtures were more widely distributed than of
yore, and the hounds were more popular than ever, better
supported and every one pleased and satisfied.

* This is interesting in view of the tendency of the present day, 1900, for some Hunts to
introduce capping as a means of increasing the Poultry Fund and diminishing the size of the
fields. — Ed.

SUBSCRIBERS TO THE ESSEX HUNT IN 1 867-68 45 1

List of Subscribers to the Essex Hounds, for the
Season, 1867-1868.

The Lord Petre...

;^50

0

0

Mr. H. W. Elder

■■£10

ic

0

Sir C. C. Smith, Bart. ...

52

10

0

,, F. Cornwell

.. 10

10

0

Mr. J. W. P. Watlington

52

10

0

,, R. Letchford

10

10

0

,, 0. E. Coope

52

10

0

,, W. L. Manby

10

10

0

,, H. D. Raincock

50

0

0

„ S. Pole

10

10

0

,, J. A. Houblon

50

0

0

„ W. C. Metcalfe

10

10

0

,, A. Pryor

50

0

0

,, W. Single ...

.. 10

10

0

,, E. Eyre

31

10

0

„ J. Wragg ...

10

10

0

,, S. L. Howard

31

10

0

,, L. Hand

10

10

0

„ D. Mcintosh

31

10

0

„ C. Bedells ...

10

10

0

,, A. Trollope...

31

10

0

,, H. Trollope...

10

10

0

„ C. F. Young

31

10

0

„ W. Willett ...

10

10

0

„ T. Mashiter

31

10

0

,, A. G. Robinson

10

10

0

,, M. Hetherington ...

31

10

0

,, M. W. Corey

10

10

0

„ H. J. Sehvin-Ibbet-

,, C. Cure

.. 10

0

0

son, M.P.

30

0

0

Rev. L. Cure

10

0

0

,, E. Boards ...

30

0

0

Mr. J. Pomeroy...

10

0

0

,, L. J. Doxat...

26

5

0

,, J. Stallibrass

10

0

0

,, A. Caldecott

26

5

0

„ W. M. B

10

0

0

„ W. Block

26

5

0

,, 0. D. Robison

10

0

0

Sir T. F. Buxton, Bart.,

,, T. 0. Springfield

10

0

0

M.P

25

0

0

,, J. Windus ...

10

0

0

Mr. E. N. Buxton

25

0

0

The Hon. F. Petre

10

0

0

„ J. D. Hill

25

0

0

Mr. A. Smith ...

10

0

0

,, R. Cotton ...

25

0

0

„ J. B. Hewitt

10

0

0

,, R. B. Heathcote ...

25

0

0

,, A. C. Murton

10

0

0

,, E. Cunliffe ...

25

0

0

,, A. Arkwright

10

0

0

,, A. Deacon ...

21

0

0

,, A. Chetwode

10

0

0

,, C. R. Vickerman ...

21

0

0

„ H. P. D. Meyer

10

0

0

,, J. H. Smee ...

21

0

0

,, J. T. Foster...

10

0

0

„ T. D. Ridley

21

0

0

,, R. Laxton ...

10

0

0

,, S. Young

21

0

0

Capt, J. Hastie ...

10

0

0

,, H. Champion sad-

Mr. G. C. Finnis

••• 5

5

0

dler, 261, Oxford

,, C. Lee

5

5

0

Street

20

0

0

„ H. C. Lloyd

•• 5

5

0

,, H. Quare ...

20

0

0

,, G. H. Dawson

•• 5

5

0

,, R. Shanks ...

20

0

0

„ W.Alger ...

■ 5

0

0

,, C. L. Hope...

20

0

0

„ J. F. Wilson, V.S.

•• 5

0

0

Sir B. P. Henniker, Bart.

20

0

0

Balance from last ye

ar 14

0

0

Mr. W. E. Gledstanes...

20

0

0

Per Secretary

.. 22

10

0

,, C. J. Bury

15

15

0

,, F. Broughton

15

15

0

^1,670

0

0

,, E. Ind

15
15

15

15

0

,, T. K. Fletcher

0

Guarantee Subscr

iption.

,, 0. Perry

^5

15

0

Sir C. C. Smith, Bart.

10

0

0

Capt. F. Arrow ...

15

0

0

Mr. A. Trollope...

10

0

0

Mr. 0. Hanbury

15

0

0

,, S. Howard ...

10

0

0

,, T. B. Quare

15

0

0

„ H. J. Selwin-lbb€

;t-

,, L. Soames ...

15

0

0

son, M.P.

10

0

0

,, W. Stout

15

0

0

,, T. Mashiter

10

0

0

Capt. A. J. Tufnell

Col. M. Wood

15
15

0
0

0
0

Carried forward

^1720

0

0

452

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Brought forward

^1,720

0

0

Mr. F. A. S. Fane

10

0

0

,, H. Smee

10

0

0

,, M. Hetherington

10

0

0

,, C. F. Young

10

0

0

,, A. Caldecott

10

0

0

Bundish Hall.

£^,770

0

0

Brought forward £i,']']o o o

Mr. J. W. P. WatHngton 10 o o

,, E. Boards ... ... 10 o o

,, W. Block ... ... 10 o o

;^i,8oo o o

Louis SoAMES, Hon. Sec.
NoTE.s, 1868-69.

Weather. November was dry and cold. March was very
cold with snow and keen biting winds. December, January
and February, were mild and moist, with frequent storms.
The whole season was singularly open. Hunting was stopped
for a week only by frost ; our real and only winter was in
March. April and May were seasonable spring weather, some-
times cold, but refreshed with menial showers.

Foxhounds. None of the Essex packs had a good season.
Two (Scratton's and Marriott's) changed their Masters at the end
of the season, and the third (Arkwright's) desired to do likewise,
but could not find a suitable successor. Dick Christian leaves
Arkwright to go back to his native Leicestershire (Tailby's).

Harriers. Saw less sport than usual on the days I went
out with Charlie.* Frederick Petre sold his little pack.

Staghounds had a good season as usual, and increased in
popularity. The fixtures were wider apart, making a fair
distribution of country. Larger fields assembled, indeed too
many towards the close, including some notables from a
distance.

The breakfast at Thoby Priory was a success. It was
proposed to make arrangements for hunting two days a week
next season, but so poor a response was made to my circular
letters, that I advised Mr. Henry Petre to abandon the idea.

Arthur Heathcote, of Durdans, with whose staghounds I
hunted in Surrey three seasons, died of gastric fever in March,
1869.

C. R. V. accomplished the greatest number of hunting days
yet attained by him, viz., ninety-three ; riding 774 miles across
country with only two falls of any consequence, and not hurt
by them.

Fire at Holbrook's. While seated quietly at the dinner-
table at Hean Castle, on Tuesday, August 10th, 1869, at
8 o'clock on a fine summer evening, after a showery day, the
followino- sensational teleoram reached me. " The Ridino-

00 c5

Mr. Vickerman's son. — En.

THE FIRE AT HOLBROOK S 453

School and Sheds at Holbrook's burnt down, ' Saladin ' and
one cart horse burnt to death. Thought to be set on tire.
Discovered about 3 p.m. to-day."

Of course I travelled up as soon as practicable, viz., by
mail train the following evening, and found the disaster even
worse than I was led to suppose ; for the whole of the farm
buildings, boxes, sheds, yards, &c., with nearly all my agricul-
tural implements, poultry, &c., were utterly destroyed, and a
more melancholy scene than the still-smouldering remains and
the charred trunks of the poor horses, without legs and heads,
I never saw, I could scarcely refrain from tears, at the sicken-
ing sight of all that remained of the gallant, handsome
"Saladin," the "pet of the stable," as well as my best and
favourite hunter, bred, reared, and made by myself, and esteemed
all the more from the unusual trouble he had given to be made
into a hunter, and the difficulty of riding him over a country.
"Wideawake" and "Hematite," who were in the two small
yards, were released with the greatest difficulty, and the other
farming horse and young Freddy Beckington, had a narrow
escape at Thoby Priory, just at the same time, by the blowing-
down of one of the lime trees.

There were, however, two crumbs of comfort, (i) that the
poor horses could scarcely have suffered, being suffocated in
less than three minutes by the black stifling smoke ; (2) that
the cause of the fire was satisfactorily proved to have been
lightning, which struck the summer-house sheds at the back, or
moorland side, and the hurricane made the fire rage so furiously
that everything was destroyed in half-an-hour. A field of ripe
standing wheat in the Six x\cres was saved with difficulty.

Notes, 1869-70.

Weather. November, fine and dry ; foliage singularly late
on trees. December, one half wild, wet and stormy ; other
half, frost and snow. January, uncertain and tetchy, occasional
frosts. February, wretchedly bad. frost and boisterous N.E.
winds. March, cold and inclement ; bitter east winds, deep
snow on 26th. April, fine, bright and dry, cold and warm
winds alternating. Cold dry winter, decidedly bad weather for
hunting and very uncertain.

Foxhounds. Loftus Arkwright not strong enough to appear
in the field, Frederick Petre acted as field-master on Ongar
side and Edwin Eyre on Dunmow side. Not a good season,
but in this respect only like the generality of countries. John
Offin succeeded to Scratton's countrv and so far as a liberal

454 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

and even profuse subscription would go did everything well.
He gave ^2,000 for Scratton's hounds, built excellent kennels
and stables at Great Burstead and mounted his Huntsman and
two whips on first-class horses, with a second horse for the
Huntsman ; considering the season, they had quite their share
of sport. These hounds and that side of the country sustained
a great loss in the unexpected death of their liberal and inde-
fatigable secretary, Arthur Button Cox, on April 28th. He
had got up the subscription to ^2,200 per annum.

Staghounds. Scarcely, perhaps, so good a season as usual,
but yet nothing to complain of in the way of sport, the chief
difficulty resting with the unfortunate secretary in his uphill and
invidious task of getting up the moderate guarantee of ^450,
while ^2,000 is subscribed for the Surrey Staghounds.

Francis Barker, of Westlands, Mountnessing. Another
death to record since the close of the season (in addition to Cox
and Marriott), of a well-known Essex hunting man. On Whit
Monday, June 6th, Barker was riding a strange horse called
" Forester," which he had been asked to sell on commission by
his owner, round the ring, at the Horse Show, Islington, when
the brute reared and fell backwards upon poor Barker, inflicting
injuries from which he died at i a.m. on Thursday.

He was buried in Mountnessing Churchyard on Monday,
June 13th, at 4 p.m., in the presence of a large gathering of his
hunting friends. His loss will be severely felt, not only in his
own parish and neighbourhood, where he gave employment to
many, but throughout the county, so far as hunting, racing and
steeplechasing are concerned, for he was a zealous and inde-
fatigable supporter of all three, generally taking some active
and public duty, as Huntsman, starter, clerk of the course ;
while at every horse show he was present, and generally took
prizes. He had established a fine business as a horse dealer
and in late years dealt only in first-class hunters, giving and
realising very high prices, and with his farming, racing, &c., he
was a prosperous man, when his existence was so suddenly
cut short.

It is just about twenty-seven years ago since I let him his
first farm, "Gorrels," near Writtle, soon after his marriage.
The staghound kennels were erected by Lord Petre (his land-
lord) on his farm, " Westlands,'' and he kept and hunted the
hounds, and provided and mounted a whip, and kept the deer,
and found deer cart, horse and driver, in an arrangement with
the Hon. Henry H. Petre. so that his death will necessitate
new arrangements, even if it does not lead to our losing stags

FRANCIS BARKERS FATAL ACCIDENT 455

hunting altogether. Fortunately for the widow and family his
second son, Philip Barker, though only 22, is steady and
capable, and generally liked, and will be able, I hope, to keep
the business together.

Notes, 1870-71.

Weather. November, foggy, raw and thick hoar frosts.
December, cold, raw, foggy, wet, and long and severe frost at
Christmas. January, frost of three weeks, snow, sleet and fog.
February, fine, mild and dry, after rough commencement.
March, fine and spring-like. April, dry until 12th, and then
genial rain and showers. Rough, severe and trying winter,
with six weeks of frost and snow, and very wet and stormy
when not freezing altogether. A bad hunting season.

Staghounds. Though hunted and well ridden to, the
Master, Henry H. Petre, had a season certainly below the
average, both in sport and number of days. I hunted with
them every day they were out but one, when Pitman was
staying with me and as an old M.F. H. desired naturally to
hunt with the foxhounds. The result of a meeting at Boynton
Hall, on March 14th, showed that we can go on for another
season, which appeared more than doubtful on the ground of
finance.

Foxhounds. Generally had but poor sport, the only excep-
tion being Offins, which had an extraordinary good season after
the frost, while Arkwright, Parry and White could do nothing.

Notes, 1871-2.

Weather was peculiar and not very pleasant all over. Frost
came before Christmas, and hunting was stopped a fortnight in
November, and nearly the same period in December. The
remainder of the season was very wet and caused me a
greater number of soakings than I ever recollect to have had
previously.

Notes, 1872-73.

Altogether the worst and most disappointing and unfortunate
season that I have had for many years, and I trust it may be as
many years more before I remember another equally bad.

Weather was too wet, stormy, and bad even for hunting,
the land was too heavy and holding to be fair to the horses, or
aoreeable to their riders. F'rost and snow came at the wrono-
time and marred the best hunting month, February.

Notes, 1873-74.
In point of weather, the very reverse of last season, for last
season was too wet and stormy for comfort, if not for sport, so

456

LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

this season was too dry for sport with foxhounds, though not
unfavourable for staghounds, or rather for the horses. Like
last season, I made but a small number of days' hunting, for the
winter was unusually mild, the little frost and snow we had
seemed always to come on hunting days, and especially affected
our Tuesdays with the staghounds.

Crow's Wood

Notes, 1874-1875.

Weather. Hunting in England was stopped by frost for
seven weeks, chiefly in December and February. January
was unusually open with rough stormy weather. In Pem-
brokeshire they only lost one week's hunting through trost.

Sport not good as a rule with foxhounds. Offin's hounds
had a very bad season. Arkwright's hounds had better sport
than usual. The staghounds had their accustomed sport and
were renovated with fresh hounds. But I had a great mis-
fortune in the death of my excellent and faithful stud groom,
Frederick Beckington, who had been with me for thirty-two
years. My hunting friends were constantly congratulating me
upon the possession of so valuable a servant, and he was
well known to, and much valued by, every hunting man,
whether gentleman or farmer, with any pack in the county.

mr. vickerman bids p^arewell to essex 457

Notes, 1875-1876.

Weather was tantalising in mid-winter, nearly one-half of
December and January was lost to hunting by frost, and yet
the frost was not decided or permanent enough to give much
compensation in skating. November was very stormy in
Pembrokeshire, and yet the last run I saw there was on one of
the most stormy days. Sport was about an average. Ark-
wright had some good days, but I was unlucky, only one good
out of thirteen. The Essex Union (late Offin), under the
Mastership of and hunted by " Captain White," had a very
good season, and I had three good days out of six. The
staghounds showed their usual good sport, and, as usual, I
never missed a chance of joining them, and generally took
charge of the hounds on their homeward journeys.

At the close of the season I resigned the treasurership
and secretaryship, an office which I had filled for just twenty
seasons, having first secured a very good, capable and popular
successor in Charles Paoe Wood. We o-ave a Hunt breakfast
at Thoby Priory on my retirement. Everyone gives me credit
for what is really the fact, that " staghunting " in Essex w^ould
have been defunct but for my exertions and assistance during
that long period. It is to be hoped that now it has struck its
roots deep enough not to be endangered by my retirement
preparatory to leaving the county altogether and bidding
farewell to "old Essex" and its pleasant hunting grounds, "the
Roothings."

From the Chelmsford Chronicle, April 8th, 1876.

Thoby Pnory was on Tuesday last the scene of a most interesting
gathering in connection with the Hon. H. Petre's Hounds, Mr. C. R.
Vickerman making this, the last meet of the Hunt for the season, the
occasion for inviting its supporters to a breakfast at the Priory to mark
his retirement from the position he has held in connection with the Hunt
for the past twenty years as Treasurer and Secretary. This position Mr.
Vickerman has relinquished on account of his intention to give up the
Priory and live altogether at Hean Castle, near Tenby, in Wales, which
is nearly completed.

A goodly company of members responded to the invitation, though
many were unable to be present, among these being Sir Charles Du Cane
and Mr. J. Round, M.P., who wrote expressing regret at their inability
to attend. At half-past twelve Mr. Vickerman led the way into a fine old
room, a relic of the original Priory, which served as a refectory to the
monks, and which is 40 feet long by 26 feet wide and 25 feet high. Among
those present were the Hon. H. Petre, the Master ; Mr. Osgood Hanbury,
Mr. ColUnson Hall, Mr. R. Price, Mr. E. Courage, Mr. A. Trollope, Mr.
Colley, Mr. W. Whitfield, Mr. E. Percy Saunders, Mr. M. W. Crawley,
Mr. R. Cotton, Mr. C. L. Hope, Mr. James Christy, Mr. A. Crush, Mr. R.
Christy, Mr. E. Marriage, Mr. C. H. Vickerman, Mr. Jones, Mr. J.

458 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Sands, Mr. J. Bunter, Mr. R. Patmore, Mr. Joseph Lucking, Mr. J. Caton,
Mr. P. Barker, Mr. W. Havers, Mr. D. Lewis, Mr. W. Rayner, Mr. J.
Walton, Mr. G. Baker, Mr. S. Baker, Mr. Meyer, Mr. H. Lawrence, Mr.
G. Self, Mr. Self, jun., Mr. E. H. Barnard, Mr. G. H. Goodchild, Mr.
Bodkin, Mr. J. Cowlin, Mr. G. Milbank, Mr. R. G. Rust, and many others.

1876-1S77.

Weather was wet and stormy throughout the season and
I was never before wet so often. It was really tiresome always
coming home soaked through, and occasionally it was too
stormy to render sport possible. Sport: "The Essex," Ark-
wright, had an unusually good season, the wet weather causing
a better scent over " the Roothings," which did not suit
the heavy clays of the Essex Union country, and there the
season was a poor one. The staghounds also did not have
their usual good sport, the country being too heavy for the
deer, especially the hinds, so that they were inclined to run
circuitously and take advantage of roads instead of going
straioht. "The Drag" was good fun, and Sir Thomas
Lennard and his wife and family very pleasant and agreeable,
though there the extremely wet state of the ground was trying
to horses as well as farmers.

Hay was a serious item for so many horses. Owing to the
loss by fire of all my hay, old and new at least 150 loads,
I was compelled to purchase, and had to give as much as £"] ys.
a load for old hay. The fire occurred from spontaneous
combustion. From non-appreciation and forgetfulness of the
effect of the average clause in my policy, I proved to be
uninsured practically, since I only received (and with going to
arbitration) ^90 towards a loss amounting to nearly ^900.

1877-1878.

A complete change of country and style of hunting and
ridino- from what I have for so many seasons been accustomed
to. Anything more dissimilar than "the Roothings" of Essex,
with their low, wide and deep fences and ditches, and but little
removed from a flat surface and fair-sized fields for a gallop,
and the steep, cramped, rocky and boggy country of Pembroke-
shire and Carmarthenshire, with their small enclosures, high
banks, precipitous hills, boggy and impracticable bottoms and
rocky narrow lanes, can scarcely be imagined, though since
they lie at the extreme east and west of England, at nearly the
widest place, there is room for dissimilarity.

But it is rather a trial, not only to one's nerve and reso-
lution, but also to one's fondness for hunting, to make so great
and complete a change, especially when all the change is for
the worse and the victim a sexagenarian. However, acting on

ESSEX SKETCHES

459

Bush Wood

Copped Hall

460 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

the sensible maxim of " making- the best of the inevitable,"
and thanks to the goodness and cleverness of "Sailor" and
" Cigarette," who were " at home " in the country, I got on very
well, holding my own with the natives, and, with the exception
of one day, November 23rd, 1877, when "Sailor" was over
fresh, in a slow dragging run over a boggy, trappy country, I
escaped coming to grief.

One of the great drawbacks has been the enormous
distances one has had to travel in order to get to hounds, and
the weary journeys homewards, with too frequently but little
sport to repay one for all the time, trouble and exertion, and
wear and tear of horseflesh, saddlery, and harness. At Thoby
Priory, placed between two packs of foxhounds, hunting four
days each per week, with the staghounds in one's own parish,
and within reach of the "drag," it was easier to get four days'
hunting per week than two days here (Hean Castle), and with
less distance and road work to encounter. Had one not had
the aid of two good and well-bred mares, " Hematite " and
"Winnie," with very light wagonette and sulky, I could not
have reached the distant meets, for our railway arrangements,
unfortunately, are anything but convenient.

The South Pembroke Hounds, which are now my pack, as
hunting the locality, have had a wretchedly bad season, killing
literally only four foxes since regular hunting commenced.
The Pembrokeshire and Powell's (Carmarthenshire) Hounds
have both had good sport, killing respectively about thirty and
forty foxes, and on the five days I have been able to join them,
owino- to their oreat distance from Saundersfoot, I have seen
some good sport, but over a terribly rough country.

(Of Mr. Vickerman's sport and experiences to 1887 in Wales
with the following packs, his diary fully deals : South Pem-
broke, Mr. Powell's, Laurenny Beagles, Pembrokeshire,
Scotchwell Harriers, Hon. Geoffrey Hill's Otter Hounds,
Newnham (Mr. R. Thomas) Harriers, Tivyside P^oxhounds,
Basset Harriers; the last entry in the journals he lent me being
as follows) :— Riding- home from hunting, the season before last
(1887-88), with Col.'^W. S. Maunsell, R.A. (my good neighbour
and tenant at St. Issel's House), he was recounting the different
packs he had hunted with, numbering nineteen in all. This
reminded me that I had never reckoned up my experiences
during my forty-five years and upwards, during which I had
kept a hunting diary (with the exception of the first three or
four years before I started a diary), and I referred to my record,
with the result that I found I had hunted with no less than fifty-
two different packs of all descriptions, made up as follows : —

now TO KEEP A HUNTING UIARY 461

Hounds — fox, 23; stag-, 9; drag, 3 ; hare, 15 ; otter, 2 ;
total, 52 in 23 counties in England and Wales, never having
hunted in Ireland or Scotland.

Hunting Diary.

While laid up on the sofa from the effects of a fall into a
bog with " Brunette" on 4th March, 1887, I occupied some of
my spare leisure in reading some of my earliest notes, com-
mencing in 1844, when I used to write a detailed record of the
day's proceedings. Very interesting I found them ; many an
event and adventure, and many a brilliant hunter, good fellow,
and o-Qod run which had faded from recollection came back as
vividly as if it had only happened a few months ago instead
of forty years and upwards. My experience is that in any
favourite pursuit it is well worth the slight trouble of keeping
a diary ; only, to be of any utility and accuracy, it must be
recorded regularly, and at the moment, and not postponed and
entered up from recollection. — Hean Castle, October 28/^//, 1888.

Mr. Vickerman lent me his hunting journal in October.
1896, at which time he was in full enjoyment of all his faculties.
On January \^th, 1897, ^^i"- Vickerman wrote to me as
follows: — "You are welcome to make as copious extracts as
you please from my diary. I quite agree that the publicity thus
given will be more likely to benefit than injure any future
publications."

On January 26th, 1897, Mr. John V. Longbourne wrote to
me: " ]\Iy uncle \^ickerman hunted on the 15th, played golf
on the 1 8th, got a chill on the i8th or 19th, took to his bed
on the 20th, and died (of gout in the head) on the evening of
the 2 1 St. His death was indeed sudden, but he was in his
eio-htieth vear."

Those who have perused Mr. Vickerman's hunting journals,
or who read the following biographical sketch which I have
taken from the Tenby Observer, of January 28th, 1897, ^^''^^^
know that hunting in Mr. Vickerman's case did not interfere
with his leading a very active and very useful career, but rather
that the health and vigour which he derived from the pastime
enabled him to do twice as much as he could otherwise have
done.

" The late Mr. Charles Ranken Vickerman was born in the
year 18 17, and during the earlier period of his life practised as
a solicitor, his father, Mr. John \^ickerman, being a well-known
member of the legal profession at Gray's Inn, London. His
father was solicitor to the late Lord Milford, who was then in
possession of the Picton Castle Estate. Through Mr. C. R.

462 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY

Vickerman being a member of his father's firm he became
connected with colHeries and ironworks, and about fifty years
ago took up an interest in the Kilgetty ColHery, which is now
in good working order and producing the finest coal. In con-
junction with Lord Milford and other influential gentlemen he,
between fifty and sixty years ago, built the present Saundersfoot
Harbour, so that proper facilities might be obtained for the
shipping of the coal from the collieries. Previous to this it
used to be shipped on the beach, which was both slow and
expensive, not to mention the difficulties connected with so
primitive a method. Now, as then, the harbour is private
property, and one of the chief commercial advantages of the
village. In 1863, Mr. Vickerman purchased the well-known
Bonville's Court Collieries, which, together with the Kilgetty,
are now in full working order, and giving constant employment
to between 300 and 400 men. For a very long time the
Vickerman family have been associated with Saundersfoot, the
deceased gentleman's mother having resided at Netherwood
sixty years ago.

" Up to the year 1865, Mr. Vickerman and his family were
in the habit of spending the summer months at Saundersfoot,
the winter being passed at Thoby Priory, Essex. In 1863,
Mr. Vickerman, for whom Saundersfoot and its surrounding
neighbourhood had an irresistible charm, purchased the Hean
Castle Estate. He also acquired the Moreton, Trevane, and
Vatson Estates, well-known properties in the neighbourhood,
all of which have been much improved under his administra-
tion. During the year 1876, Mr. Vickerman decided upon the
rebuilding of Hean Castle throughout, an undertaking which
involved the expenditure of an immense sum of money, and
occupied two years in its completion. It was then that
he and his family took up their permanent residence at
Saundersfoot.

" But it was as a sportsman that he excelled. Throughout
the whole of his long life he took the keenest interest in every
kind of sports and pastimes, and during his younger days was
regarded as par excellence the finest and pluckiest rider with
the Essex Hounds. As illustrating his position as a huntsman,
the following extract from Bailys Magazine for May, 1876, will
be of interest : —

'" Mr. Charles Ranken Vickerman, of Thoby Priory, Essex,
entertained the Hunt at breakfast at the beoinnino- of last
month, on the occasion of his retirement from the office of
honorary secretary and treasurer of the Hon. H. Petre's Stag-

MR. VICKERMAN's SECRETARIAL EXPERIENCES 463

hounds. A large party, consisting of the leading men of the
county (including the Hon. H. Petre), and good and true
huntsmen, assembled to do justice to the breakfast, and more
especially to recognise the merits of a real and true sportsman,
Mr. Vickerman had held his office for twenty years, and during
that time has bred as many good horses and ridden them as
straight as most men. Upwards of a third of a century ago
Mr. Vickerman, as a junior partner in a well-known firm of
solicitors, commenced his career as — what would have been
called in those days — a cockney sportsman, i.e., he employed
his leisure in hunting, and applying a good business mind to
sport, he acquired a thorough knowledge of horses, hounds,
and of the noble art of hunting, and became a great proficient
in the sport, and, moreover, a substantial supporter of it.
Accordino- to the statement of Mr. Oso-ood Hanburv, who
proposed the host's health, it appears that Mr. Vickerman
never applied to the guarantors of the Hunt for any subsidy —
in other words, he balanced the accounts from his own purse,
paying for the "spongers '' sooner than increase the expenses of
the Hunt to liberal subscribers. Mr. Vickerman's experience
as honorary secretary and treasurer to the Hunt is very much
the same as the experience of very many others who promote
sports of all kind, and who are " lived upon," in instance whereof
we will quote a few words from his farewell speech : — " They
had been well supported by some, but he complained that some
hunting men with means had not the heart to subscribe, and
it was then the stern duty of the Hunt Secretary to be down
upon them, and try first what a little softness and persuasion
would do, and, if that did not answer, to o-ive them to under-
stand that they were not wanted. It was very unfair that
people should seek to enjoy their sport at other people's
expense, (Hear, hear.) ^lany farmers rode with them, to
whom he should not think of applying for subscriptions, for
they rode over their fields and crops, and they would not allow
them to meet at their places without providing breakfast, and
yet many were liberal enough to give subscriptions unsolicited."
(Applause).'

" Although a huntsman of the hiohest order, he did not
follow this pursuit to the exclusion of the many other branches
of English sport. Yachting, golf, cricket, lawn tennis, and
boating, found in him an ardent patron, and he was ready to
give a helping hand in the furtherance of these national
pastimes. At the rear of Hean Castle he laid out a large
cricket ground, which was regarded as one of the finest pitches

464

LEAVES EROM A HUNTING DIARY

in the county, whilst the \'ie\v it commanded M-as unequalled in
the whole country round. Very often, after a hard day's
hunting, he would adjourn to the racket court, and enjoy a
vigorous game. Amongst the members of the Pembrokeshire
Hunt he was not only the oldest, but the most experienced,
having in his time hunted with between forty and fifty packs.

" The late Mr. Vickerman was also a keen yachtsman, and
the owner of the Ranee, a well-known boat, which was formerly
in the possession of Dr. Hughes, of Carmarthen. This craft,
it will be remembered, won a first prize at last year's Royal
Regatta at Swansea. He had latterly taken a great interest
in small-boat sailing, and in his fortnightly races of the Minima
Yacht Club (Saundersfoot branch) his boat, which he steered
himself, was usuallv well to the fore."

" Who- Whoop : "
(Richard Baker, for 32 years a runner in Essex).

APPENDIX.

In a letter to the author, dated Curraghmore, September 24th, 1896,
the late Duke of Beaufort wrote : — " I called the horse ' Parson,'* and rode
him from the second week of November, 1867, and every hunting season
until hunting ceased in the spring of 1879. He was a marvellous hunter,
could have carried twenty stone hunting, always had a spare leg. I don't
remember that we ever parted company, or that I ever lamed him. His
only fault was that his feet were flat and that I had to be very careful about
his shoeing. I wish I had a dozen like him, but I fear that I shall never
be able to hunt again. The ' Parson ' was much more of a bay than a brown,
a dark bay. But Chapman the day he brought him for me to look at was
galloping at the fence to jump into the field where I was sitting on my
horse. The fence had been cut and plastered and laid back into the field
where he was. I held up my hand and stopped him, saying, ' Any fool of a
horse can jump twenty feet when you gallop him fast enough. Walk him
up to it and see what he does.' He jumped the fence standing on to the
bank, took one step and then jumped the ditch, which was a very broad one.
I said, ' Now you have sold your horse.' " (See page 311, vol. II.)

In a letter from Frank Gillard, dated April 12th, 1899, George Hotel,
Oxford, in answer to one from me asking if he had any mention of my
father in his hunting diaries, as he was a contemporary of many of the
hunting parsons alluded to in his " Belvoir Reminiscences," he wrote : —
" I very much regret your father's name was omitted in my book. He was
passionately fond of participating in ' the King of Sports.' No doubt you
would remember that the Bishop was adverse to his Clergy going hunting.
In connection with this, I remember a very amusing incident. Your father
used to say, if he went for a ride hounds invariably ran up against him.
One day, when we were running a fox from Aswarby Thorns in the
direction of Quarrington, we observed him watching the hounds from the
Sleaford and Willoughby road. To avoid getting mixed up with the
followers of the chase, he galloped away.f One of the whips, thinking Mr.
Yerburgh had the fox in view, set off after him. Your father then rode all
the harder, getting clear away and out of sight. I recollect what beautiful
chestnuts he used to ride, his own breeding, were they not ? Your brother,];
too, used to go very well on a very fine chestnut, but I have forgotten the
name of the animal. § I have a good photograph of your brother, Mr.

* My father called him " Big Head." Evidently Chapman did not think this euphonious
enough to pass on. — Ed.

t This must have been in the season of Lent. — Ed.

I Rev. O. P. Wardell Yerburgh. He occasionally, before he took orders, contributed
" Accounts of Days with the Belvoir," under the name of "Scout."— Ed.

§ "Scout," half-brother to " Pathfinder," who won the Grand National, could jump his
own height over timber or walls ; eventually went to Rome and won a lot of steeplechases with
the Roman Hounds. He was a beggar to refuse, but he never got his own way with O. P. V.
on him.^ED.

30 VOL. II.

466 APPENDIX

Robert Yerburgh, who was a fine horseman, and I have every reason
to feel grateful to him for preserving foxes in the Belvoir Hunt. We
seldom drew a covert of his without finding two, three, or more foxes."

A Morning with the Belvoir. (See page 311, vol. II.)

Tuesday, the 3rd of December, 1878, being a hunting day with the
Duke's, it was with no little satisfaction that I saw the trysting-place was
at the seat of that sporting Baronet, Sir John Thorold. In due course,
owing to the kindness of a confiding relative, I mounted the pigskin,
though with some slight misgivings as to scent (and still more considerable
ones as to the quad), the day being cold and snow threatening. A hunting
trot soon brought us to the meet, where I was pleased to see a select and
well-mounted field, though I am sorry to have to record the absence of
Sir John, and also of Frank Gillard, the (much-enduring) huntsman.
However, among those present I was glad to observe Sir Thomas
Whichcote (looking as hearty as ever). Col. Reeve, Col. Fane, Captain
Willson, Mr. Micklethwaite, Mr. Brook-Turner, and his hard-riding
nephew, Algernon Turner. I noticed the militia was ably represented
by two gallant captains. Among the ladies I had the gratification of
observing Mrs. Franklin and her daughter. Miss Thoroton, and the two
Misses Willson. With regret I have to record the absence of a well-
known bruiser, the Hon. M. E. G. Finch-Hatton, who I hear is suffering
from the effects of an immersion in the Brant, which his horse failed to
clear with its overflowing banks. A word as to the hounds. It would be
superfluous to praise this beautiful pack, which for colour, contour, and
levelness are equal, if not superior, to any hounds in England. With the
usual " Hounds, please, gentlemen," the beauties moved off, and we soon
found ourselves at West Willoughby Gorse, which was drawn blank — an
unusual occurrence. Hence we trotted to Spare o' Gorse, which happily
was not spare o' foxes, one of whom was soon afoot, and, finding the covert
too hot for him, boldly faced the open. He was quickly followed by a
heavy man on a large horse, assisted by some half-a-dozen others,
apparently very keen on jumping (?) the gate and obtaining the brush
before the hounds got away. An indignant holloa from a gallant colonel
stopped this unsportsmanlike proceeding, and the hounds fortunately had
the opportunity given them of getting on Reynard's line, not having to
pick the scent out, as they often have, between the horses' legs — a circum-
stance which nips in the bud many a promising run. We might be
lenient to gentlemen who have " osses to sell," but we can show no
sympathy either to stout or other parties who scarcely ever jump a fence.
The hounds viewing the scent, crossed the road, and soon hit off his line,
rattling him along at an average pace towards Normanton Hill top.
Here the hounds dipped below the cliff, and brought the line to the
Windmill Farm ; and the hounds being slightly at fault, a judicious cast
brought us to the Honington road, where a flock of sheep crossed the
scent. A holloa back in the direction of Sparrow Gorse brought the
hounds round, and we proceeded at a smart gallop ; and, hitting the line,
the hounds ran magnificently, sterns down, scent breast high. Leaving
the gorse on the left, we crossed the High Dyke, making as if for North
Rauceby Wood, swinging round in the direction of Brauncewell ; however,
at this point the scent failed, and after wide and patient casts, without any
good results, they trotted off to the wood adjoining Byard's Leap (a place
where it is said that a horse of that name, ridden by a witch, jumped the
incredible distance of forty yards). Consulting the enemy, I was obliged to

APPENDIX 407

tear myself away, having enjoyed a good hunting run with one of the
pleasantest packs I know. Tlie fencing throughout the day was of a
moderate character, but amongst those who negotiated the fences in good
style, I noticed a Mr. Hossey, Captain Willson, and his sisters (one of
whom had a nasty fall, fortunately without sustaining any injury), and also
the brother" of the Master of Brecknockshire Hounds, on a well-bred
mare.

MacAdam.
Capital Run with the BELvoiR.f

With the barometer very low last Tuesday, and a mild atmosphere, I
started for the meet at Swarby Lane End, where was a goodly assemblage
of horsemen intent on gratifying themselves, now that stern winter has let
loose his icy bonds. Among those present I noticed Sir Thomas Which-
cote, two Misses Willson, Lord Burghley, Col. Reeve, Mr. Cecil Fane,
Miss Heathcote, the Hons. M. E. G. and H. Finch-Hatton, Captain
Tennant, Mr. A. Cross, Mr. Couturie, and Captain LongstafFe, Punctually
at 11.30 a start was made for Burton Plantations, where a fine fox, after
ringing round the wood for some little time, was run into. Money's Gorse
was the next move, and a successful one, as a find was soon proclaimed by
the music of the hounds in their thirst for blood. Working the scent
carefully, and carrying the line with great accuracy through Aswarby
Thorns, over W^illoughby Brook — which, by the way, was very full of
water, but still cleared by the huntsman in his eagerness to be with his
darlings — by Baker's Farm, they brought us on to the Scredington road,
where a slight check ensued. However, it gave us a chance of taking a
pull, and once more we were in pursuit across some heavy digging.
Captain Tennant, apparently, was on a flyer, as his horse preferred
jumping the gates instead of waiting to have them opened. Reynard now
attempted to sneak back to Aswarby, so that soon we were speeding
en route for the Thorns, but, thanks to the acuteness of a lynx-eyed
sportsman, a gallant bundle of fur was viewed stealing along a fallow
in the direction of Caswell's Plantations. Immediately the hounds were
on his line, racing over the grass for Osbournby. The ground now began
to tell, but the fences even more so, as they loomed larger and larger in
the distance. The field was getting more select. Threekingham Church,
with its gothic spire, nestling amidst a cluster of cottages, is viewed as we
race along, each vieing to be first, and reminding one of the well-known
line —

When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war.

Clattering through the Three Kings' yard like a regiment of cavalry, we
sped along the Swaton Road, where the road-riding brigade put in an appear-
ance, not having been favoured previously, as is their wont, by their friend
the high road. Sir Thomas Whichcote went like a bird, and made many a
younger heart flutter as he charged some high wattle, with its deceptive
companion, a broad drain. Leaving the road, we made for Stow Mill ; but,
Reynard having been headed on the road, or fearing the Horbling rustics,
skirted the village. After crossing the Bourn and Sleaford railway, we
dipped into the fens instead of making Folkingham Gorse, as some wily
sportsmen I know of thought that he would, and acting accordingly found
themselves riding a wild-goose chase. Only one flyer managed the rails by
the Bourn railway, namely, the Hon. Henry Finch-Hatton, clearing them
in fine form. Mr. AUcard, and also " a dragon ossifer," managed a nasty

Mr. B. Dickinson. t From Field, February 5th, 1879.

468 APPENDIX

fall over some posts and rails ; however, I am glad to hear that the gallant
dragoon is none the worse, and that Mr. AUcard has only sustained a slight
sprain. Picture to yourselves a country flat as a pancake, interrupted only
by willow-trees and a high bank, and you have Horbling Fen in your
mind's eye. Riding up the bank, only to find a wide drain, with banks
like the side of a house, and a bottom like a quicksand, and the hounds
crossing it steaming away at right angles to the opposite side. No horse
could possibly cross, and no bridge for miles. The field was pounded. I
thought that Gillard had a woeful expression, like Jorrocks on his memorable
bye-day. However, it is very gratifying to know that Frank found his
hounds after considerable trouble, as they returned with wonderful sagacity
to the place from which they had parted company with the huntsman. Up
to the rupture of hounds and field, one hour and fifty minutes, with only
one slight check, and pace such as Leicestershire might envy ; the distance
as the crow flies being about eight miles. It would be very ungallant of
me not to mention Miss Laura Willson, who rode throughout with great
pluck and judgment at the tail of the hounds; and among the sterner
portion the huntsman and both whips rode in splendid form. Mr. Cross,
Capt. Tennant, Mr. Rhodes, '•' Mr. Couturie, and Mr. Rudkin rode to
hounds as good horsemen in the prime of youth and vigour should.

Scout.

The Belvoir Hounds.!

Never has it been my lot to witness a larger or better-mounted field on
this side of the country than the one which met my gaze as I stood facing
the residence of Col. Reeve at Leadenham on Tuesday last. Conspicuous
among them were Lord Brownlow, Sir Thomas Whichcote, Col. Reeve,
Mr. and Lady Florence Chaplin, Lord Burghley, the two Misses Willson,
Sir John and Lady Thorold, the Hon. Evelyn Pelham, Mr. Mickle-
thwaite. Captain Tempest, and that enthusiastic sportsman, Mr. William
Jackson, of Sleaford.

The coverts in the park and vicinity having been drawn blank, we
jogged along in anything but a contented frame of mind as the flakes of
snow fell every now and then as if to mock the keen sportsman. At length,
having arrived at a very well-grown gorse, with a bed of willows on the
east side of it, I asked a friend the name. " Colonel Willson's," he replied,
"and as sure a find as any in the Belvoir country." My informant — I
rejoice to say it — spoke truly ; for almost before the words were out of his
lips the mellow music of the hounds broke upon my ear. My heart throbbed
within me as Reynard dashed into the open with a whisk of his brush at
some fifteen couple of hounds who were following in his wake. Crossing
some very heavy fields, we hit the road, and racing along for first place, left
the high road in the direction of Hough ; but the fox meant us to have a
ducking in the Brant, as this was his point. This Brant is a well-known
stream, corresponding to the Whissendine in the Cottesmore country, with
the exception that in the latter case the take-off is grass, while in the former
plough over your horse's fetlocks. To give you a slight idea of what it is
like, a man who charges it and fails to get over is termed " a Brant goose,"
but if he sails over in safety is considered a flyer from that day, even for
ever. As luck would have it, we espied a bridge, and thus avoided the
chance of ignominy or eternal fame. Several falls, unaccompanied by

* Colonel Frank Rhodes, Royal Dragoons. - Ed.
t From The Field, February 22nd, iJ^79.

APPENDIX 469

serious results, occurred at this early period, and after the recent downfall
of rain, when these tumblers were once more reinstated in their saddles,
the words of the Roman bard came across me, " Quam mutatns ah illo."
Stubton was now in front of us. The fencing and heavy state of the
ground had told their tale, as the field when the first check ensued was
very limited. This temporary check, followed by a judicious cast, took us
in the direction of Stragglethorpe, where the scent over some grass land
was very good. Skirting Brandon, and re-crossing the Brant again by a
bridge, we ran once more in a line for Hough, swinging up the cliff, finding
ourselves on the beacon at Caythorpe. While Frank was making a cast
in a grass field, in which \vere some ewes, attended by some man — whether
owner or not I was unable to ascertain, who used very violent, not to say
unparliamentary, language — one remark struck my fancy, " If yar wants to
exercise yar dawgs, go to t'other side o' close, and not among these yeaws."'
I think that great credit is due to Gillard for the diplomatic way in which
he treated this irate rustic. The cast was successful, and rattling along,
we picked our fox up in the Beacon Plantation, from which the huntsman
and whip alone got on terms with the hounds, and after skirting Shield's
Gorse, a whoop from a well-known flyer announced that Reynard's " earthly
course was run," and I arrived just as this gallant sportsman, who had
killed the fox with a couple of hounds, was dismounting to save the brush ;
need I say it was Mr. John Welby ? Time, from find to finish, one hour
and forty minutes, with only two slight checks, and I may say, without
o'erstepping the bounds of veracity, over the heaviest going and stiffest
fencing in the Belvoir Hunt.

After this satisfactory termination of an excellent run, we tried Hough
Gorse, which proved blank, as also did Barkstone Gorse. However, Bark-
stone Plantation, or fox covert, proved a find, and away went a select field
— some dozen all told, as the sun was beginning to decline, and the stillness
of nature denoted the waning of the day. Carlton Ashes were passed as we
flew along for Normanton. A nasty drop near the Ashes caused more than
one horse to come on his nose, but still without unshipping their riders.
Striking off at a tangent, we ran by Gelston, dipping below the hill for
Hougham ; but Reynard meant Barkstone Gorse, which he made, and the
shades of night compelled me reluctantly to leave, contented with the day's
sport, my horse and self. With feelings of great satisfaction I saw Lady
Florence Chaplin once more in the saddle, and, as usual, well to the fore.

I am not naturally of a covetous disposition, but if ever anyone was jus-
tified in being so, your humble servant is the man, when he sees a thorough-
bred chestnut with

A head like a snake, and a skin like a mouse,
An eye like a woman's— bright, gentle, and brown,
With loins and a back that would carry a house,
And quarters to lift him smack over a town,

coming past him like a flash of lightning, ridden by a fair equestrian. But
hands are everything, and even if I were the happy possessor of this noble
steed, my place might be even worse than now, and my coat even more
besmeared with the splashes from eager riders passing me in their flight for
glory. Scout.

The Belvoir Hounds.'''

I awoke last Friday morning with the discordant notes of my bosom
friend ringing in my ears as he bellowed forth : —

From 77ie Field, .March ist, 1S79.

470 APPENDIX

'Tis a fine hunting day, 'tis as balmy as May,
And the hounds to the village will come.

" I fear not," said I, anxiously watching the flakes of snow as they fell
on the window panes. Breakfast over, and the sky somewhat brighter, I
mounted my hack and soon reached the meet, admiring the fine trees in
the park and the architectural beauty of Haveholme Priory, the seat of the
Hon. M. E. G. Finch-Hatton. Before the dissolution of the monasteries,
this Tudor mansion was owned by the Gilbertine monks of Seperingham,
eventually passing into the hands of the late Earl of Winchilsea. A very
small sprinkling of the fair sex and the great preponderance of overcoats
did not tend to enliven this usually pretty meet. The great lack of pedes-
trians showed, without a doubt, that the day was anything but an inviting
one. " We can't possibly run to-day," 1 muttered between my teeth, as a
north-easterly wind pierced me through and through. At 11.30 we moved
off for Evendon Wood. "Give me a southerly wind and a cloudy sky,"
says the sportsman, " and we shall run like smoke." But I, with chatter-
ing teeth, murmured, " Tcmpova muiantuv, et nos mntamuv in illis," if we run
on a miserably cold day like this. A chorus of holloas on the Kirby side of
the covert broke my soliloquy and sent the hounds pell-mell out of the
wood. Frank having capped them on the line, they ran over the grass
right merrily for Evendon village, and Reynard, after crossing the old river,
ran for the Sleaford canal, with the evident intention of swimming; but,
fearing to cross the foaming tide, swung round, running parallel with the
canal into the park, and, after ringing round the decoy near Cobbler's
Lock, was run into opposite the front entrance of the Priory. I wonder
what those old monks would have thought of Gillard could they have seen
him as he held high above his head the mangled remains of Reynard,
with a whoop that roused the echoes of the distant woods.

Once more we tried Evendon Wood, and again, miyabilc dicta, a find, and
the hounds, with a start of everyone, past the church, direct for Kirby
Mount, crossing the Sleaford road. Reynard ran for shelter into the gardens
of Mr. Charles Sharpe, but, finding the place too hot for him, made for the
old place, slinking among the farm buildings, and was chopped by " Rupert "
as he came swinging round the corner eager for the worry. This was the
second fox Gillard had accounted for.

At this juncture a great discussion arose as to the advisability of draw-
ing Sleaford Wood or Money's Gorse. The lot fell on the wood. Fortune
favours the brave, for, ere the last hound had entered the covert, a shrill
holloa announced the departure of a mangy dog fox (not, however, one of
your ringing brutes, but a regular straight-ahead fox, as the roadsters found
out). Crossing Leasingham Moor, with its wide drains and honeycombed
banks (over one of which Will got a nasty fall, and is now, I'm sorry to say,
laid up), we hit the Ruskington road, when two foxes were viewed, one in
the direction of Roxholm and the other in the direction of Haverholme.
However, the Roxholm fox was ours, and away we went pounding along
like so many locomotives. Leaving the Roxholm lordship, we crossed the
Dorrington road in a straight line for Blockholme Gorse, and hitting some
grass land — which was hailed with great joy both by second and one-
horse men — speedily over the park, the hounds dashed into the gardens
with magnificent bursts of music. Here a most unfortunate catastrophe
occurred. Reynard undoubtedly had jumped the wall (a very high one,
by the way) which bounds the gardens of the Lady Mary Hamilton, and,
the hounds following suit, smashed innumerable frames of glass, doing
upwards of one hundred pounds of damage in as many seconds to plants

APPENDIX 471

and glass." This unfortunate fiasco bears a marked resemblance to James
Piggs' adventure in the melon frame. Lady Mary's gardener appreciated
the simile, much as he was annoyed by the damage to the property en-
trusted to him. I feel sure that all members of the Belvoir Hunt will
sympathise with Lumsden for the damage done to the garden, and with the
duke for the injuries received by the hounds, some of which were rather
severe. We have forgotten pug all this time. It is needless to say they
killed him in the gardens. A capital run, one hour and four minutes ; not
fast, by any means, but one of your nice old-fashioned runs.

Tuesday, the 25th, the meet at Rauceby. As was expected, a sharp
frost, but still quite good enough to hunt. At Belvoir, I believe, they had
three inches of snow ; and both whips being ill was, I think, sufficient
excuse for their non-appearance.

Scout.

Sir, — Will you allow me to supplement " Scout's " description of the
famous Aswarby run in last week's Field by saying that the run was not
ended when the hounds crossed the Billingboro' drain, as many supposed,
but lasted nearly an hour longer. Most of the field, seeing the almost im-
possibility of crossing this drain, gave it up and went home; however, a
few galloped round by the bridge (two miles off), and got on terms with the
pack again near Parker's farm. The fox then retraced his steps and re-
crossed the drain, when the second whip pluckily tried his luck in scram-
bling down the steep bank, and, successfully fording the stream, showed
the way to some half-dozen other venturesome spirits. Then all went
merrily again for a time until the fox was changed again at Bridge-end,
when some slow hunting followed up to within a field of the Forty-foot,
and nothing more could be made of him. Besides the huntsman and
second whip, only five — viz.. Colonel Reeve, Captain de Burton, and
Messrs. Godson, Tomlinson and Heathcote — persevered to the end. Time,
nearly three hours ; distance from kennels, twenty-six miles.

Tally-ho.

With The Belvoir.!

Sport during the last week has been at a very low ebb, and had it not
been for the eight-and-twenty minutes at Goadby last Wednesday, I should
have said quite at a standstill. We must be contented, however, for after
the excellent runs of the previous fortnight, a slight calm ought to be not
unexpected.

A blazing sun, hotter by far than on an ordinary English summer day,
does not tend to create sport, irrespective of March winds roaring like a
lion and hurling along clouds of dust, like so many diminutive simooms.
Top hats in a gale of wind are, to say the least of it, uncomfortable, and,
were it not for the sake of personal appearance, would immediately be
discarded by me for the more comfortable hog-hunter.

If you don't know Byard"s Leap, take my advice and go when next
the hounds meet there on a sultry day like last Tuesday, and a pretty sight
will greet you as you canter your hack along the greensward of the old
Roman road, designated by the names of Ermine Street and High Dyke.
Your curiosity being aroused, you picture, undoubtedly, to yourself a
yawning precipice covered by brushwood and brambles. Nothing of the
kind ; merely a sHght ascent on a road, where, as the legend says, a horse,

* See also Frank Gillard's " Hunting Reminiscences." By Cuthbert Bradley. I'age 131.
—Ed.

t From 7'ke Field, March 15th, 1879.

472

APPENDIX

by name " Byard,'' with his terrified rider, in escaping from a witch who
haunted this locahty, jumped forty yards (up hill). Believe it, if you Uke.
The footprints, thanks to Colonel Reeve, have been preserved by the fixture
of eight enormous shoes at the place of beating off and landing. It is
acknowledged on all hands that this meet attracts very large fields, and
especially at this time of year. Being situated on the borders of the
Blankney country, it lures away many a follower from that charming hunt.
Among those present were Lord Brownlow, Sir Thomas Whichcote, Mrs.
Franklin, Colonel Reeve, the two Misses Willson, Hon. Evelyn Pelham,
Colonel Willson, Mrs. Hornsby, Colonel and Miss Fane, Mr. F. Rhodes
and Mr. Welby, Sir John Thorold and Lord Burghley being conspicuous
by their absence. Will, the first whip, was laid up with a broken leg,
which unfortunate accident occurred while jumping the Holdingham Beck,
near to Sleaford Wood, when the meet was at Haverholme Priory. He
pluckily, but, as I think, unwisely, rode the remainder of the run over
some four miles of stiff fencing, afterwards riding back to the kennels, a
distance of something like twenty miles.

Byard's Leap Plantation was the first draw and a find, as Reynard went
away at the Caythorpe end without any hesitation, and for some time the
hounds could make nothing of hmi. After many futile casts, the uplifted
hat of an old habitue of the hunt sent us along over Burt's farm, where there
was a burning scent, and we rattled back right merrily to Byard's Leap,
where a vixen jumping up was unfortunately worried. Old Sol was evi-
dently too benign and gracious, as the uplifted hats and many handkerchiefs
at work bore undoubted testimony. Brauncewell Woods were drawn blank,
but Lord Bristol's covert proved more successful, as a fine dog fox was
viewed running for Cranwell, and away he went for that ilk ; but, swinging
round, we hit the line, simply racing past Brauncewell Wood to the High
Dyke, where the scent failed. Happily, Robinson's covert was close at
hand, and Reynard made a bold but unsuccessful attempt to cross the road,
but, of course, was headed; and, after many hairbreadth escapes of losing
his brush, once more tried the road, and, to the horror of all, a solitary
horseman on a bay horse was seen exactly in the right place for heading
the fox, but sixteen couple of hounds in his wake instilled more fear than
this solitary horseman. Smiles took the place of frowns immediately, and
away we went past Sir John's coverts, skirting Kirk's little coverts through
Rauceby Thorns, and still no check, and on the hounds ran with magnifi-
cent peals of music and clouds of dust. A check ensued, letting in the
ruck ; but " Forrard on " was the cry, and, rattling to the left of Rauceby
Hall, ran to Rippon's Plantation, the property of Colonel Willson. From
this covert some half-dozen foxes went away, this not being at all an
unusual occurrence, Rauceby being famous for the great abundance of its
foxes. Gillard having capped his hounds on the line, and after running
past Holdingham Plantation, over Foster's farm, we skirted the rectory
grounds at Leasingham, past the Hall, and, leaving the village, ran,
apparently, for Roxholm, but, swinging to the left, lost our fox at Kirk's
Plantation. A charming gallop, considering the time of year, the wind and
the sun. Time, about fifty minutes. A nice line of country, not too hard
for jumping, except into roadways, where the turf was anything but soft.
Running the hounds through Sir John's neighbouring coverts and making
nothing out, we jogged along to Rowley's Covert at Rauceby, running our
fox to the Cliff Wood.

Ancaster Gorse was tried on the road home, whether successfully I
knew not, my horse having had enough when we checked at the Cliff.

APPENDIX 473

The two Misses Willson were at the tail of the hounds throughout the
whole of the run, as they invariably are ; still, I should like to see Miss
Laura once more on the dark chestnut. Mr. F. Rhodes and Mr. A. Cross
need no words from my pen to describe how well each rode, for all know
they are fine performers in any country and in the best company. Colonel
Willson, Mr. Kirk and Mr. Maudesley also rode extremely well to hounds.

Scout.

The following interesting letter is from a son to a father, both Essex
men and both members of the Essex Hunt, written from South Africa during
the Boer War, and is a pretty good proof, if any were required, of the spirit
that animates the majority of those who follow the hound and horn :^

" Wakkerstroom Camp,
'^Apyil 2yd, 1900.

" My dear Father, — At last the long-looked-for event has come off
and we have got fairly up to the enemy, while at the same time ' yours
truly ' has been under a good hot fire and come out safe and sound.

" On Friday we joined a column under General Rundle, at Edenburg,
and marched here, past the place where the Irish Rifles distinguished
themselves ; we formed the right out-flank of the advance guard, and had
gone about four miles when our scouts were fired at, so up the rest of us
galloped, ' offed ' horses and rushed up a kopje, and got to the top just in
time to see about eight or nine Boers, the rearguard of their force, disap-
pearing over the next.

" Our orders were to draw the enemy's fire, if possible, so we pushed
on as soon as our horses came up, mounted and galloped after the Boers
for about two miles, when we came to a long range of kopjes, up which we
climbed, and there the enemy was, right in front of us, about 1,500 yards
away.

" Then the fun began, and didn't the bullets whizz around ; they make
you feel funny at first, but very soon all you think about is to try and get
one as near to them as they put theirs to you. We had been at this for
about a quarter of an hour when the Boers turned a gun on us, and we had
orders to move, so we crept back to our horses and were off ; but as soon
as we mounted the Boers turned two more pom-poms on us, and we had to
gallop as hard as we could ; the beggars had the range exact and pitched

their shells all amongst us ; one fell right between and me, and,

although it covered us both with dirt, neither us nor our horses were hit.
We had about half a mile of this, and the only casualty on our side was
one horse wounded. These Boers seemed to be rank bad shots ; still, I
mustn't brag, as we have got to get through a lot more hot work, and we
are only waiting now for French to come up w'ith the cavalry.

" Two of the scouts who are with us have been with Buller since the
beginning of the campaign, and they say that they have not been in a hotter
place than they were in when out with us on Friday, so we were lucky. It
is an experience, and, provided one comes out all right, worth going through ;
the whistle of the bullets makes you duck at first, but that is of no use
really, for the bullet has passed miles away by the time that you have
ducked your head.

" I had one awful close shave. We were advancing at the double, when
a bullet struck my haversack and tore it open, and sad to say, all my grub

and the sleeping cap that mother made me and the ' housewife' that •

made fell out, and I couldn't possibly stop and pick them up, as the bullets
were coming much too thick, but I am very sick at losing them, as they are
all I have, and I can get no others.

474 APPENDIX

" I have just had a temporary rise from the ranks. At least, I suppose

it is intended for a rise, as I have been made General 's orderly.

Saturday was my first day, and most of it I spent well up in the firing line
holding the General's horse and mine, and didn't the bullets come. But,
thank God, neither I nor the horses were hit. Sunday was fairly quiet,
except for a little sniping. But this morning I had it hot again.

" I had to take an order to the O.C. one of the firing lines, and mounted
as I was, and galloping hard, made a fine mark for the Boers, and coming
back, they turned a pom-pom full on me. I had about 500 yards of it, and
quite enough, thank you. One shot hit my mare, and although it cut her,
it fortunately did not stop her galloping. The General saw it all from
where he was standing, and looked awfully pleased when I got back safe,
and told me that he thought both I and my horse ' must have charmed
lives.' I don't know how it was that we both came through so well. I
hope my luck will last !

" I am off duty just now for dinner, but as that only consists of one
' dog ' biscuit and water it doesn't take long ; but I am very fit, and never
felt better in my life. I am writing this to catch the mail closing at 4 p.m.,
and while I write the shells keep whistling overhead from a big gun our
artillery can't get at.

" The Boers are wily beasts, they shift their guns about every half-hour,
so we can't get much of a ' sitting ' shot at any of them, but they get it
hot when our shells do get home. I saw six Boers and their horses
knocked over by a shell on Saturday, and not one of them got up again.
Hunting is all over now, I suppose, and you will just be getting ready for
cricket. I almost wish sometimes that I was at home for it, and I am sure
that at night I often wish I was in a nice warm bed, for we get it awfully
cold now after sundown. A shell has just landed fair in the camp and
stampeded a lot of our mules and waggons, and although the niggers
are after them, it looks very much as if the whole lot had gone for
good ! ''

INDEX.

Adams, S., 320, 324, 325, 327, 328, 362.

Adams, Mr. (Epsom), 80.

Aikman, Major, 269.

Alder, Mr. Brooke-, 233.

Alder, Mrs. Brooke-, 233.

Alexander, Mrs., 251.

Alexander, Captain (2nd Life Guards), 327.

Alger, W., 451.

Alger, Corporal, 371.

Alva, Duke of, 38.

Aikwright, Mr., 390.

Arkwright, A., 451.

Arkwright, Colonel, 2.

Arkwright, Rev. Joseph, 78, 429, 437, 438,

444. 446, 447-

Arkwright, Loltus W., 72, 409, 410, 429, 447,
448, 449, 450, 452, 453, 455, 456.

Arkwright, Mrs. Loftus \V., 193, 206.

Arkwright, L. J. W., 9, 11, 12, 15, 27, 34,
39, 40, 47. 54- 56. 57, 5^, 60, 62, 63, 66,
67, 78, 84, 85, 88, 90, 91, 92, 97, 100, loi,
102, 112, 113, 115, 120, 121, 123, 125, 127,
133, 141, 144, 147, 152, 165, 167, 168, 181,
185, 189, 193, 196, 198, 201, 202, 203, 212.
220, 224, 225, 226, 229, 233, 234, 236, 238,
240, 242, 243, 244, 246, 260, 269, 272, 273,
276, 277, 278, 279, 2S0, 282, 284, 292, 294,
295. 296, 300, 303, 306, 307, 309.

Arkwright, Mrs. L. J. W., 22, 47, 54, 90, 91,
94, 97, 121, 183, 189, 192, 193, 226, 240,
260, 273, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 282, 284,
292, 296, 300, 303, 309.

Arrow, Mr., 84.

Arrow, Captain F., 451.

Ashton, Mr. (M.F.H.), 86.

Askwith, Captain, 15.

Avila, F., 23, 32, 34, 39, 43, 47, 55, 58, 62,
90, 92, 93. 97, 99, 110, III, 112, 113, 114,
115, 123, 127, 128, 144, 150, 152, 174, 175,
176, 189, 192, 193, 196, 200, 215, 216, 219,
220, 230, 233, 234, 235, 250, 252, 260, 266,

273, 276, 278, 279, 2b2, 284, 290, 292, 294,
290, 298, 299, 300, 302, 304, 306, 307, 309.

B
Baber, Mr., 240.
Baddeley, W. H., 27, 47, 54, 93, 147, 210,

215, 227, 249, 250, 260, 261, 273, 292, 300,

309-
Baddeley, — , jun., 27, 112. 260.
Bagot, Harry, 55, 81. 158.

Bagot, Miss, 55, 67, 158, 273.
Daily, Mr., 407.

Bailey, J., 3, 9, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 23, 26, 33,
35. 39, 63, 64, 65, 66, 79, 84, 85, 87, 90,

91, 92, 98, 99, 100, 132, 104, 106, 113, 122,

129, 130, 133, 141, 144, 147, 150. 153. 154.

158, 176, 177, 183, 192, 196, 197, 198, 209,

211, 220, 225, 229, 231, 236, 238. 242, 244,

246, 249, 254, 255, 257, 259, 276, 282, 294,

295. 296, 298, 299, 300, 301, 303, 304, 306,
307.

Bailey, Joe, 446.

Baker, Dr., 86.

Baker (Cross Keys), 222.

Baker, G., 458.

Baker, Richard, 142, 162, 464.

Baker, 8., 458.

Baker, T. (The Castle Hotel, Lynton), 403.

Balfour, J. (Moor Hall), 279, 292. 294. 296,
300.

Ball. E. A., 15, 27. 34, is, 36, 47- 54- 7i. 93.
97, 102, 112, 113, 114, 115, 125, 144, 174,
203, 219, 232, 234, 240, 248, 270, 275, 276,
278, 284, 292, 294, 296, 300, 302, 303.

Ball, R. F., 15, 44, 47, 54,' 87, 93, 112, 147,
152, 165, 189, 193, 194, 195, 198, 215, 219,
224, 227, 233, 245, 248, 259, 260, 26j, 273.
274, 275, 277, 282, 284, 291, 294, 296, 300,

303, 305, 309-

Ball, Mrs. R. F., 45, 54, 93, 97, 147, 152,
165, 174, 193, 194, 195, 197, 198, 215,220,
221, 227, 233, 245, 248, 260, 264, 275, 284,
291, 296, 300, 303, 309-

Ball, W., 248.

Ballard, Mr., 370.

Balloch, A. C, 48, 193.

Balloch, Mrs. A. C, 193.

Banbury, Mr., 382.

Banks, Mr., 81.

Barclay, E., 22, 46, no, 127, 263, 268, 269.

Barclay, Ford, 10, 11, 15, 22, 39, 40, 47, 54,
56, 62, 65, 66, 93, 100, 112, 113, iiS, 120,
127, 147, 165, 166, 174, 207, 212, 213, 219,
220, 222, 224, 227, 232, 233, 236, 240, 242,
246, 255, 260, 277, 278, 280, 284, 290.

Barclay, Mr., 49.

Barker, Francis, 361, 362, 372, 376, 377, 378,

434. 435, 436, 437, 454. 455-
Barker, P., 51, 73, 74, 455, 458-
Barker, James, 377, 378.
Barker, William, 377, 378. 433, 436.
Barlow, Mr., 378.

476

INDEX

Barnard, E. H., 458.

Barnard, Markland, 50.

Barnard, Mr. (High Laver Ilall), 412.

Barnard, Mr. (Little Canfield Hall), 372.

Barnes, A. O., 229.

Barnes, Miss, 220, 222, 227, 229.

Barraud, Wm., 313, 315, 316, 329, 330.

Barraud, Hy., 313, 315, 316, 329, 330.

Barron, R., 112, 153, 189, 192, 213, 220,
240, 260, 273, 278, 296.

Barron, Mrs. R., 220, 230, 233, 240, 251,
273, 276, 278, 284, 299, 300.

Barrow, Mr., 93.

Basham, P., 15, 47, 55. 9°, 93, 97, 98,
165, 168, 169, 185, 220, 226, 227, 234,
277, 292, 300, 302, 303.

Bateson, Captain, 335, 353.

Bawtree, Mr., 151.

Beale, W. (Gill's Farm), 64.

Bean, Jim, 359, 360, 362.

Beaufort, Duke of, 312.

Beckington, Frederick, 313, 315, 317,
329, 330, 332, 333. 336, 3i7^ 341, 358,
365, 366, 367, 380, 383, 384, 456.

Bedells, C, 451-

Benbow, 366, 371, 372.

Bennett, The Misses, 232, 240, 263, 309.

Bennett, Mrs., 47, 55, 92, 93, 97, 112,
134, 135, 147, 153, 174, 193, 197, 220,
233, 240, 25s, 263, 274, 276, 278, 282,
300, 309.

Beresford, Captain, 23, 24, 26.

Beresford, Lord Charles, 72, 98.

Berri, Duchesse de, 325.

Bestall, Mr., 90, 233.

Betard, Mr., 428.

Bevan, R. Y., 4, 5, 8, 12, 20, 21, 34, 55
80, 84, 90, 93, 97, 104, 112, 113, 118,
125, 132, 133, 134, 136, 143, 147, 170,
187, 189, 190, 192, 202, 233, 207, 209,
220, 227, 230, 232, 233, 234, 240, 243,
246, 274, 275, 276, 279, 282, 284, 292,
300, 303, 307, 309.

Bevan, Greville, 240.

Biss of Cheltenham, 367, 369.

Bligh, Mr., 51.

Block, VV., 451, 452.

Block, Sam, 72, 78.

Blomt^eld, Mr. (Ditchleys), 375, 377, 378,

Blyih, Audley, 55, 58, 60, 61, 62, 93,
286, 289.

Blyth, H., 227, 238, 240, 277, 279, 292,

295-
Blyth, Hubert, 62
Blyth, Sir James, 289.
Blyth, Rupert, 93, 185, 240, 287, 289.
Blyth, Mrs., 174.
Blyth, Miss Ida, 15, 47, 55.
Blyth, Miss, 15,47,55, 97, 107, I47, 213,

300.
Blyth, Miss G., 93.
Blyth, Miss M., 93.
Blyth, W., 290.

Blyth, — , jun. (Sturgeons), 290.
Boards, E., 451, 452.
Bodes, Mr., 322.
Bodkin, Mr., 458.
Berwick, J., 15, 72.

Borwick, — , jun., 15.
Bosley, Thomas, 99, 221.
Bowlby, Arthur S., 10, 55, 93, 97, 147, 165,
185, 189, 212, 219, 224, 226, 260, 269, 275,
277, 27S, 279, 282, 292, 300, 303, 309.
Bowlby, E. S., 47, 54, 62, 88, 91, 97, no, 112,
123, 147, 189, 202, 212, 233, 245, 260, 269,
270, 277, 292, 300, 303, 305, 309.
230, ' Bowlby, Mrs. E. S., 47, 54, 91, 97, 107, no,
118, 147, 165, 167, 168, 183, 189, 192, 193,
260, I 212, 233, 240, 245, 260, 275, 279, 284, 292,
294, 295.
Bowlby, Miss E., 47, 93, 97, no, 212, 213,
n6, 225, 226, 236, 245, 260, 270, 275, 277, 278,

60, 279, 284, 292, 300.

Bowlby, Miss L., 180, 282, 292, 300, 305.
Bramston, Harry, 367.
Bramston, John, 320.
Brand, Mr. (M.F. H. Southdown), 26.
Bray, Mr. (Pyrgo Park), 440.
Bridge, Mr., 324.
18, Brindle, Mr., 15, 95, 147.
359, Bristow (Basingstoke), 72.

Broke, Lord Willoughby de, 214, 266.
Bromskill, Mr., 235.
Brooke, Lady, 81.
Broughton, F., 323, 451.
118, Brown, George, 15, 45, 54, 56, 147, 234, 243,
232, 259, 270, 276, 284, 296, 298, 300, 305, 306.

84, Brown, Mr. (Ditchleys), 153.
Brown, Miss, 174.

Browne, Captain Percy (M.F.H.), 253.
Bruce, Major C. D., 15, 18, 22, 27, 28, 34,47,
60, 93, 97, 99, III, 112, 113, n4, 121, 132,
133, 141, 144, 166, 168, 178, 180, 189, 190,
213, 219, 220, 222, 224, 226, 227, 228, 298,
62, 307.

123, Bruce, Mrs. C. D., 15, 47, 93, 97, n2, 132,
174, 133, 166, 167, 168, 189, 213, 219, 227,

212, 260.

45, Buckmaster, W., 15, 54, 62, 93, 94, 97, 98, 144,
299, 146, 183, 185, 200.

Buckmaster, Mrs. W., 93, 94, 97, 98, 147, 181,

183, 185, 189.
BuUer, Sir Redvers, 279, 287.
Bullock, Mr., 415.
Bunter, J., 458.
Burchell, Mr., 294.
379. Burder, Mr., 361.
71, Burge, John, 320, 322, 323.

Bury, C. J., 27, 47, 55, 129, 130, 131, 132, 274,
294, 451.

Bury, Ralph, 47, 227, 230, 278, 279, 280, 282,

303, 309-

Butler, Dr. (Brentwood), 370.

Butler, Dr. Harris, 274.

Buttle, 324.

Button, Mr., 388, 428.
240, Buxton, Sir T. Fowell, 245,. 263, 282, 451.

Buxton, T. Victor, 147, 220, 245, 282.

Buxton, Miss, 263.

Buxton, E. N., 273, 451.

Buxton, Henry, 303.

Buxton, G., 15, 35, 55, 66, 72, 94, 97, 106,
108, 120, 132, 144, 181, 189, 193, 198, 208,
215, 220, 221, 224, 233, 246, 259, 260, 263,
264, 266, 267, 273, 275, 278, 279, 282, 292,
299, 300, 303, 304, 306, 307, 309.

INDEX

477

Buxton, Mrs. G., 15, 54, 93, 97, 108, no, 112,

144, 1S9, 192, 193, 220, 259, 260, 309.
Buxton, Miss C, 47, 55, 227.
Buxton, Miss M., 15, 24, 55, 64, 93, 127, 134,

153. 193. 197, 21 S, 220, 222, 227, 233. 259,

260, 273, 275, 278.
Buxton, Miss T., 15, 55, 97, no, 153, 165,

167, 168, 174, 193, 212, 215, 220, 227, 233,

243, 244, 263, 273, 275, 278, 279, 282, 284,

292, 309.
Buxton, L., 257, 259, 260, 261, 264, 270, 279,

294.

Caine, Hall, 136.

Cairns, Captain Hon. W. D., 15, 55, 62, 63,
112, 183, 219, 230, 270.

Caldecott, Andrew, 77, 45 r, 452.

Caldwell, Seymour, 47, 55, 57, 62, 79, 80, 81,
90, 93, 102, 104, 106, 120, 150, 153, 154,
186, 212, 228, 238, 248, 251, 252, 270, 271,
273, 274, 277, 278, 280, 282, 292, 296, 300,
301.

Campbell, ]\Ir., 320.

Carew, Mr., 401.

Carew, Sir Walter, 349.

Carnarvon, Lord, 400.

Carnegy, Captain, 87, 172.

Carr, C. K., 4, 55, 62, 169, 174, 189, 238,
240, 247, 282, 296.

Carr, L. T. , 119, 121.

Carr, L. R., 62.

Carr, Thomas, 121.

Carr, W. S., 15, 55, '93, n2, n4, 115, 146,

153. 174-
Carroll, Mr., 59.

Carter and Lovenbury (Bath), 399.
Carter, Major, 12, 44, 47, 55, 57, 58, 62, 65,

93, 97, 100, 107, 136, 153, 187.
Carter, Mrs., 12, 47, 54, 93, 97, 98, 120, 121,

122, 153, 187.
Carter, Dr., 51.
Cassidy, J., '317, 326, 367, 374, 3S8, 389^

437-
Cassidy, William, 406.
Caton, Abraham, 370, 375.
Caton, Mr., 103, 240, 243.
Caton, T-, 458.
Caton, William, 330.
Cave, Mr., 50.
Cecil, 99.

Chafey, Mr., 372, 373, 376, 425, 426, 428.
Chafey, — , jun., 426.
Champion, H. (261, Oxford Street), 451.
Chapman, Mr., 55.
Chapman, Mr., 64.

Chapman, — , jun. (Hollyfield Hall), 279.
Chapman, Robert (Cheltenham), 312.
Charrington, II., 208.
Charrington, C. N. , 205, 206.
Charrington, E. , 213, 219, 224, 227, 230,

260.
Chartres, Duke of, 199.
Chesham, Lord, 277.
Chesterfield, Lord, 371.
Chetwode, A., 451.
Childs, Messrs. (Temple Bar), 317.
Christian, Dick, 449, 452.

Christian, Dick, 72.

Christie, Mr. (Nasing), 67.

Christie, Mr., 97, 280.

Christie, Mr. (Hoddesdon), 371.

Christy, David, 6, 16, 17, n2, 1S9, 219, 248,

296, 443.
Christy, David, jun., 3, 4, 6, 7, 55, 95, 149,

I53> 174, 177, 219, 230, 296, 304, 307.
Christy, E. , 62.
Christy, James, 68, 69, 71, 73, 107, 230, 240,

24S, 378, 387,. 457-
Christy, fames, jun., 290.
Christy, R., 457.
Christy, Theodore, 7, 58, 62, 162, 240, 248,

271, 272, 277.
Churchill, Winston, 288.
Clarke, Mrs. W. R., 233, 251, 263, 273, 284,

292, 300.
Clifton, Mr., 371.
Clowes, St. George, 2S9.
Cockayne, Jim, 147, 1S5.
Cockett, E. E., 15, 55, 93, 120, 147, 149,

150, 153, 209, 220, 233, 234,240, 260, 264,

274, 282, 284, 292, 300, 303.
Cockett, Mrs. E. E., 240.
Coleman, J., 271.
Coleman, T. (Netteswell), 167.
Coles, Captain, 349, 350.
Colley, Mr., 457.

Collin, Chaffey, 16, 55, 180, 181, 224.
Collins, Mr., ^21.
Collyns, Dr., 402, 403.
Colvin, B. B., 329, 330, 331, 332, 354, 365,

372, 381, 382.
Colvin, Lieut. -Col. R. B., n, 67, 147, 153,

189, 190, 192, 193, 198, 207, 2d8, 2IO,

215, 224, 260, 269, 276, 277, 288.
Colvin, Lady Gwendoline, 153, 193, 208,

215-

Colvin, Miss B., 47, 55, 67.

Conyers, H. J., 7, 314, 317, 320, 321, 322,

325, 327, 329, 335, 347, 354, 357, 360, 361,

366, 373. 374, 375> 380, 383, 384, 385. 386,

389, 391, 410.
Conyers, Mrs. H. J., 386.
Cook, Colonel, 170, 171.
Cook, W., 36, 55, 64, 67, 93, 144, 150, 153,

174, 193, 232, 260, 273, 274, 278, 282, 292,

300, 303.
Coope, O. E., 326, 327, 357, 374, ^77, 379,

451- .
Cooper, Mr. (Hatfield), 93.
Corey, VV., 451.
Cornwell, F. , 451.
Corser, Haydon, 49.
Costerton, Mr., no.
Cotton, R., 451, 457.
Cox, Arthur Button, 426, 454.
Courage, Edward, 49, 457.
Courage, Raymond, 49.
Courage, Miss, 49.
Coverdale, Mr., 49.

Cowee, T. 16, ^i],, 112, 114, 116, 189, 296.
Cowlin, J., 458.
Craig, A. VV., 49, n2, 147, 174, 240. 248,

284, 305.
Cramphorn (Keeper), 163.
Crane, Sam, 252.

478

INDEX

Crawfurd, Stirling, 316, 353.

Crawley, Charles, 104, 198.

Crawley, W., 457.

Crespigny, Sir Claud de, 79-

Crocker, Weston, 16, 55, 90, 93, 97, 104, 147,
183, 1S5, 203, 225, 227, 233, 240, 243, 260,
274, 277, 279, 292, 300, 304.

Crocker, Mrs. Weston, 16,54, 90, 93, 97, III,
219, 243, 260, 274, 279, 292, 300.

Crossnian, D., 66, 84. 93, 97, 112, 114, 123,
133, 138, 144, 153 154, 165, 166, 174, 176,
179, 183, 185, 1^9, 193, 196, 198, 207. 211,
213, 219, 220, 221, 222, 225, 227, 228, 229,
232, 233, 236, 238, 240, 243, 244, 246, 248,
260, 270, 276, 277. 278, 279, 280, 282, 284,
286, 304, 306, 307, 309.

Crossman, Mrs. D., 81, 93, 94. 97, 98, 112,
118, 123, 144, 153, 165, U6, 174, 176, 177,
179, 183, 189, 192, 193, 196, 209, 210, 211,
212, 219, 220, 222, 225, 228, 232, 233, 235,
236, 240, 242, 246, 247, 248, 259, 271, 276,
277, 278, 279, 282, 284, 304, 309.

Crouchman, Mr., 362.

Crush, A., 457.

Cummins, K. R., 263.

Cummins, Mrs. E. R., 263, 267.

Cunard, Captain Gordon, 71.

Cunliffe, E. , 451.

Cure, Capel-, Arthur, 159, 160.

Cure. Capel-, Rev. L. , 93, 224, 230, 234, 240,

304, 451-
Cure, Capel-, Mis.s, 93, 234, 240, 305.
Cure, Capel-, Mr., 16, 93, 174, 240,276, 309.
Cure, Capel-, Mr. (Blake Hall), 359, 451.
Custance, Mr. Greensted, 17.

D

Dalton, Mr., 21.

Dallon, W., 51, 55, 62, 68, 228, 229, 278.

Daniel, Fred, 400.

Darby, A., 27, 51, 53, 84.

Darby, Mrs A., 86.

Darby, J. (Rugby), I, 147.

Davis, H., 365.

Davis, W., 331, 412.

Dawson, Captain (R.A.), 243, 244.

Dawson, George Hogarth, 55, 93, 94, 112,

116, 180, 181, 203, 224, 227, 233, 234, 235,

243, 245, 426, 451.
Dawson, Nevill, 16, 55, 93, 106, 240.
Day, 351.
Deacon, A., 451.
Denman, Chief Justice, 388.
Dent, F., 97, 147.
Dent, W. R., 16, 132, 133, 147.
Dewey, C, 280.
Disney, Colonel, 2, 229.
Dobson, Si^ephen, 72, 449.
Docwra, Mr., 240.
Docwra, Mrs., 240.

Docwra, E., 40, 41, 45, 55, 93, 189, 240.
Docwra, Miss A. N., 42, 45, 55, 227, 230,

240.
Doxat, Mr., 233, 234, 264, 267.
Doxat, L. J., 451.
Du-Cane, Captain, 137, 138.
Du-Cane, Sir Charles, 388, 389, 415, 444, 457.

Duff, Captain, 388.

Dunlop, R. J.. 16, 17, 18, 189.

E
Earle, Mr., 443.
Easterby, H., 26, 34, 63, 84, 92, 95, 99, 118,

162, 167, 198, 272.
Ede, Mr., 72.
Edwards, A. J., 11, 80, 90, 104, 112, 113,

120, 147, 153, 174, 175, 189, 193, 212, 215,

216, 217, 219, 220, 224, 227, 229, 282.
Edwards, Guy, 121, 215, 217, 218, 278, 282.
Edwards, N"el, 121, 215, 217, 218, 278, 282.
Elder, Mrs. H. H. 141, 143.
Elder, H. H., 141, 142, 143, 451.
Ellison, Miss Carr, 278.
Evans, P. M., 28, 47, 54, no, in, 153, 189,

203, 215, 219, 234, 240, 250, 251, 300.
Evans, Mrs. P, M., 54.
Eykyn, Roger, 403.
Eyre, Edwin, 451, 453.
Exeter, Marquis of, 317.

Fane, Colonel, 84, 94, 95, 96, n8, 123, 153,

174, 190, 220, 240, 248, 252, 260, 276, 278,

282, 284.
Fane, Mrs. , 94, 96. 112, 123, 174, 240, 247,

248, 276, 278, 284.
Fane, Mi.«s, 54, 94, n8, 123, 153, 174, 220,

230, 305.
Fane, Rev. F., 96, 370, 375, 380, 391, 452.
F^ardell, H., 300, 305, 309.
Farquharson, F. , 257.
Fearon, General, 372.
Field, Mr. (V. S.), 406.
Field, R., 329, 414.
Finch, Mr. (M.P.), 334.
Finnis, C. C, 451-

Firman, Mr. (Bishops Stortford), 360.
Firmin, Mr., 436.
Fitch, Cornelius, 43, 123.
Fitch, C. F., 222, 240, 252, 276, 292, 299,

302, 303, 304, 306.
Fitch, Sam, 16, 36, 44, 47, 55, 84, 92, 93, 97,

102, 138, 147, 189, 203, 227, 230, 233, 234,

273, 276, 278, 282, 284, 294, 296, 305.
Fitzwilliam, Loid, 450.
Fletcher, T. K., 451.
Flint, A., 54, 220, 233, 240, 303.
Flint, Mrs. A., 54.
Flux, E. H., 303.
Follet, Mr., 377, 388, 405, 408.
Forrester, Lord, 353.
Foster, Hervey, 124.
Foster, J. P. T., 451.
Foster, Mr., 93.
Foster, William, 274.
Fowler, Howard, 16, 19, 47, 55, 97, 102, 106.

224.
F'owler, Mrs. Howard, 47, 55, 93, 97.
Fox, Mr. (Wyvendon), 364.
Fox, C. Lane, 303.

Freeman (Stanford Rivers), 26, 43, 192, 309.
Freke, Mr., 345.
French, General, 277.
French, Mr., 24.

INDEX

479

Frere, Mr., 351.
Fulcher, Mrs., 174.
Furze, Mr., 90, 93, 97.
Furze, L. J., 274.

Gale, Mr., 383.

Gale, Mr., 391, 392, 393, 394, 395.

Galloway, W . M., 47. 220. 222. 236.

240, 300.
Garden, Miss. 51. 174.
Gardiner, \V.. 51.
Gardner, Lord, 316, 341. 349, 352.
Gardner, Col. A.. 22.
Garibaldi, 441.
Garland, 359, 360. 362.
Garrod, Mr., 251.
Garth, Mr., 77.

Gascoigne, Mr. (Somerby), 352.
Geary. Frank, 316, 364.
Gee,'H. P., 292, 3CX), 305, 307.
Gibbs, C. Armstrong, 52.
Gibbs, D. C., 49, 50.
Gibson, Mr., 4.
Gibson, Mr., 45.
Gilbey, Sir Walter, 17, 56, 213.
Gilbey, C. N., 279, 280.
Gilbey, Miss E. , 55, 93. 94, 240, 300.
Gilbey. Guy, 34, 55, 62, 93, 97, 99, 106,

212, 213, 227, 229, 240, 270, 300.
Gilbey. Newman, 12, 16, 22. 34, 36, 40

55/65, 92, 93, 120, 127, 132, 133, 147,

188, 193, 198, 213, 219, 225, 227, 235,

238, 240, 243, 244, 260, 273, 277, 280,

292, 296, 300.
Gilbey, Mrs. Newman, 54.
Gilbey, Tresham, 87, 97, 98, 144, 146,

194, 212, 219, 227, 236, 240, 260, 292,

300.
Giles, A., 112, 127, 133, 188, 189, 192,

232, 235. 238, 240, 243, 244, 246, 261,

282, 296, 302, 305, 306, 309.
Gill, Mr., 575-

Gillard (Red Lion, Dulverton), 402.
Gillard, Frank, 31 1.
Gilling, Mr., 172

2^8.

147,

,47,
185,
236,
282,

147.
295,

230.
280,

Gilmour, Little, 316,

564.

Gingell, Daniel, 18S, 276,

Gingell, ]., 235.

Gingell, \V., 282.

Ginger, F. H., 36, 276, 302.

Gledstanes, W. E., 451.

Glyn, C. L., 270.

Glyn, George G., 427, 428, 432, 435, 436,

444-
Glyn, Miss M., 99.
Glynn, Major, 24, 26, 112, 153, 174.
Goddard, Rev. T. W., 208.
Goddard, 49, 50, 52, S3, 230.
Gold, Archie, 97.
Gold, Chnrles (M.P.), 289.
Gold, Gerald, 16, 19, 47, 55, 62, 147,

240, 285, 289, 292, 294, 300.
Gold, Mrs. Gerald, 226, 240.
Gold, Philip, 47, 189, 212, 219, 227, 277,

289.
Gold, Miss, 213, 219, 300.
Gold, Miss A., 240, 292.

437>

226.
285,

Goodall, William, 337, 33S, 339, 353.

Goodchild, G. H. , 458.

Goosey, Old. 335.

Gorlon, Lindsay, 177.

Gosling, 4, 236.

Gosling, Alfred, 289.

Gosling, Seymour, 289.

Gould, G. S., 264.

Gower, Miss Mary, 305.

Graham, Sir Beliingham, 318.

Graham, Mr. . 323.

Grain, Rev. E. H., 276.

Grammont, Duke de, 199.

Greathead. Colonel, 431, 432.

Greaves, Henley, 316,403,403, 407, 410,

Green, Arthur, 153.

Green, C. E., 9, 10, 15, 17, 47, 65, 66,
80, 90, 93, 94, 97, 98, 99, 102, 112,
114, 119, 120, 125, 127, 129, 133, 136,
147. 153- 154. 157, 162, 187, 207, 212,
220, 224, 226, 230, 232, 233, 23^, 236,
243, 244. 246, 248, 251, 234, 255, 201,

272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 278, 2bO, 282,
292, 294, 296, 299, 300, 301, 303, 305,
307, 309-

Green, Mrs. C. E., 54.

Green, Charlie, 121, 277, 278.

Green, Frederick. 16, 24, 25, 54, 90, 91
100, loi, 118, 203, 212, 219, 220, 224,
233, 234, 236, 240, 243, 244, 246, 248,
274, 276, 277, 278, 2S4, 286, 292, 296,

303, 306, 307> 309-
Green, F., jun., 309.
Green, Major G., 133.
Green, Mi-s Lucy, 278, 309.
Green, Miss M., 9, 16, 54, 55, 99. loi,

174, 219, 220, 229, 236, 240, 248, 274,

2S0, 284, 292, 296, 300, 305, 309.
Green, James, 16, 39, 47, 55, 97, 126,

167, 168, 189, 193, 212, 226, 235, 261,

300, 303.
Green, Walter, 142.
Green, Sydney, 220, 221, 233, 236, 244,

412.

79.
113.
141,
219,
240,
269,
284,
306,

. 99,

229,

273,
300,

277,

147,
279,

'■77,

Greene, Mr. (Rolleston), 333, 341.

Gregory, D., 47, 64, 65, 97, 134, 147, 153,

174, 203, 212, 240, 263, 2S2. 300.
Griffiths, Mr., 449.
Griffiths, M., 325, 326.
<"'riggs, 195-

Grimstone, Hon. the Rev. Edward, 327.
Gripper, G. Bell, 78, 79.
Grosvenor, Miss B. , 256.
Grubb, Dr.. 132, 165.

H

Hall, Collinson, 457.
Hames (Leicester), 70. 80.
Hamilton, Sir W. BaiUie, 261.
Hanbury, Osgood, 451, 457, 463.
Hand, L., 451.

Hankey, Captain Barnard, 413.
Hardcastle, .\Ir., 415.
Harenc, Miss A. B. , 256, 257.
Harenc, Neil, 257.
Harrington, Lord, 310.
Harris, G. , 164, 165, 1S5.

48o

INDEX

Harris, G., jun.. 93. 97. 99, 147, 164. 165,

167, 227, 305.
Harris, J., 93, 97, 147, 193.
Harris, 296, 303.
Harrison, T. H., 16, 47, 55, 93, no, 147. 181.

183, 224, 230, 296, 436, 437.
Hart, Charlie, 55, 97, no, 259.
Hart, George, 12, 13, 46, 47, 54, 55, 56, 58,

§5' 93> 97> 99> io9' iiO' "i' n^; i^9> 216,
219, 224, 225, 230, 259, 261, 269, 300, 437.

Hart, Hugh, 16, 35, 47, 55, 97, no, 166, 259,
282.

Hartopp, Mr., 344.

Harvey, Miss, 376.

Harvey, Bridges, 356, 358.

Hasiie, Captain J., 451.

Hastings, Admiral, 193.

Havers, W. , 458.

Havilands, Captain, 406.

Head, 243, 245.

Headfort, Marquis of, 278.

Heathcote, Arthur, 398, 403, 407, 408, 450,

452-
Heathcote, Sir Gilbert, 334.
Heathcote, R. B., 451.
Heatley, George, 438.
Heatley, Richard, 430, 432, 436, 437.
Helme, E. T., 49, 53,85,86, 87, 94, n8, 137,

174, 230, 231.
Helme, Robert, 381.
Helme, Thomas, 366, 372, 374, t,7T, 378, 379,

380.
Henley, Lord, 347.
Henniker, Sir B. P., 451.
Hepburn, Mr., 95.
Heseliine, Mr., 49.
Heseltine, Mrs., n2, 174.
Hetherington, M., 451, 452.
Hewitt, J. B., 451.
Hicks, Mr., 396.
Hill, E., 233.
Hill, I. D., 451.
Hill, R. D., 55, 56, 62. 92, 93, 97, 157, 158,

1 59, 224, 226, 282.
Hill", Mrs. R. D., 55, 93, 97.
Hilliard, Mr., 190, 277, 284.
Hilton, Mr., 51.
Mine, Mrs., 93, 94, 213, 292.
Hoare, Mr., 249.
Hobson, Mr., 328,360, 361.
Hodges, Rev. James, 375.
Hodgkins, William, 294.
Hodg'on, John, 375.
Hodgson, Thomas, 325, 354, 367.
Hollebone, Miss, 153, 174.
Hollebone, Mr., 4, 153, 240, 290.
Honeywood, William, 389, 415.
Hope, C. L., 451, 457-'
Hopkins (Essex Union), 50, 52.
Hood, T., 380.
Hornby, Colonel (M.F.H.), 49, 50, 53, 87,

231.
Horner, W. Sims, 14, 16, 21, 24, 26, 47, 104,

no, 128, 144, 153, 165, 193, 219, 240, 252,

259, 263, 282, 292, 300, 303, 309.
Horner, H. W., 16, 47, 55, 93, 97, 128, 129,

212, 219.
Horton, Mr., 49.

Horton, T. H., 231.

Houblon, John Archer, ^J, 355, 357, 451-

Houblon, Miss Archer, 54.

Hnublnn, Colonel Archer, 87.

Houblon, Captain, 3S5, 364.

Household, Mr., 372, 374, 376.

Howard, Colonel, 28, 307, 438, 451.

Howard, T. J., 93, 97, no, 177, 178, 179,

230, 234, 243, 244, 279, 292, 296, 301, 305,

306, 309.
Howard, Mr. (Ivylands), 264, 303.
Howth, Earl of, 314, 346.
Hughes, Dr., 464.
Hull, T. R., 84, 93, 97, 174, 175, 234, 240,

248, 261, 278, 280, 303, 305.
Hull, — , jun., 55, 174, 248.
Hull, Miss, 278!^
Hurrell, W. , 237.
Hurrell, Bill, 237.
Hussey, Mr., 100.
Hutchinson, Horace, 100.

I

Ibbetson, Sir H. Selwin, 26, 78, 79, 451.

Ind, Charlie, 427.

Ind, Edward, 173, 438, 446, 451.

Ind, Miss, 174.

Ingersole, Mr., 320, 323.

J

James (Magdalen Laver), 14, 21.

Jeffreys, Colonel, 165, 168.

Jennings, Mr., 361.

Jerrard (Woodside), in.

Jerrard, Walter, no, nr.

Jessopp, Mr., 371, 376, 3S1.

Joddrell, Mr., 374.

Johnson, 290.

Johnson, Miss, 51, 174.

Johnson, H. F., 290.

Johnstone, Mr, (Little Belvoir), 353.

Johnstone, R. E. , 300.

Joinville, Prince de, 199.

Jones, Colonel, 331.

Jones (Kelvedon Hall), 176.

Jones, Miss Ethel, 16, 22, 24, 45, 54, 55, 99,
n2, n8, 123, 125, 134, 153, 174, 175, 212,
219, 220, 232, 234, 240, 243, 248, 276, 277,
278, 284, 296, 300, 305.

Jones, Frank, 16, 21, 45, 277.

fones. Miss IL, 54.

Jones, H. E., 16, 19, 20, 21, 27, 34, 40, 55,
56, 58, 62, 64, 65, 73, 93, 97. 98, 116, 125,
127, 136. 138, 146, 147, 179, 183, 188, 189,
193, 196, 212, 219, 224, 234, 240, 243, 246,
248, 276, 277, 278, 279, 282.

Jones, Mr., 457.

Jordan (Coopersale), 233, 277.

"jump, T-, 189.

Jump, Mrs. J., 54, 189.

K

Karslake, Edward, 400, 402, 403,

Karslake, John, 403.

Kemble, Mr., 49.

Kemble, Captain Horatio, 50, 87.

Kemble, Mr., 230.

INDEX

481

107,
207,

243,
284,

240,

Kemp, Alfred, 8r, 82.

Kemp, G., 81.

Kemsley, A., 63.

Kennedy, E. S., 292.

Kennett, Mr., 300.

Kelts, W., 309.

Kidd, George, 396.

Kidd, Horatio, 318, 323, 324, 325.

Kirkby, J., 300.

Kortwright, Captain (3rd Hussars), 16, 114,

144, i53> 174, 175' 219.
Kortwright, \V., 367, 370, 372, ^js^ 377,378,

379-

Lawrence, Edward, 171.

Lawrence, Henry, 84, 85, 93, 458.

Laxton, R., 451.

Lee, Arthur B. . 72.

Lee, C. , 451.

Lee, G. H., 71, 72. 73, 84, 92, 93, 97,

112, 113, 144, 147, 150, 153, 179, 193,

208, 212, 213, 215, 220, 227, 233, 240,

244, 259, 261, 274, 276, 278, 279, 282,

296, 300, 303, 307.
Lee, H. W., 16, 47, 55, 147, 153, 233,

274, 276.

Lee, P. S., 4, 5, 16, 55, 67, 84, 259.
Legard, Rev. Cecil, 90.
Leigh, Mosley, 80.
Lennard, Sir T. B., 70, 458.
Lennard, Lady, 458.
Lenny, Mark, 299.
Lescher, Mr., 329.
Leslie, Mr., 353.
Letchford, R., 451.
Lewis, D., 458.
Lines, H., 93.
Littler, Mr., 270.
Littler, Mr., 323, 328.
Livimore, Mr., 370.
Lloyd, H. C, 451.

Lobb, Mrs. (Woolston Hall, Chigwell), 2
Lobb, E., 47, 54, 93, 216, 259, 274, 276,

287, 292, 300.
Lobb, G.,47, 54, 150, 153, 240, 278. 287,
Lobb, Godwin, 287, 290, 292.
Lobb, Gordon, 135, 287, 2S9.
Lobb, Miss, 54.
Locke, Mr., 402.
Lockwood, Col., 9, 15, 24, 25, 54, 62,

III, 114, 118, 152, 222, 224, 240, 242,

253, 274, 275, 277, 278, 284, 286, 300,
Lockwood, R., 54, 282.
Long, Nimrod, 446.
Longbourne, J. V., 84, 320, 323, 356,

358, 359, 362, 383, 391, 392, 393, 394,
Longbourne, William, 330, 331, 332.
Lonsdale, Lord, 74, 98. '
Love, Dr., 27, 47, 55, 93, 97, 98, 127, i

144, 198, 199, 213, 280.
Lowndes, A., 93, 325.
Lowther, Hon. Hugh, 74.
Loyd, F., 47, 93, 97, 147, 1S9, 190, 204, 2

213, 224, 282.
Lucking, Joseph, 458.
Luecke, Von, 50.

87.

284,

288.

80, 91,

357,
461.

31

Lyall, R. C, 33, 34, 47, 55, 93, 97, 123, 147,
151, 152, 174, 220, 224, 225, 227, 276, 280,
282, 292, 305.

M

McGildowney, Mr., 349.

Mcintosh, ^[rs., 54, 94, 100, 107, 108, 112,

118, 147, 174, 189, 220, 240, 274, 291, 300,

301.
Mcintosh, Mr. D., 451.
McKenzie, F"., 264, 282.
McKenzie, Mrs. F., 282.
Maguire, Col., 49.
Maiden, no, 264, 267, 272, 276.
Maitland, Digby, 55.
Maitland, Miss, 54.
Manby, W. L., 451.
Mansel, Colonel, 256.
Marriage, E., 457.
Marriage, J., 189, 219, 234.
Marriage, Lawrence. 3.
Marriage, L., jun., 3, 4, 174, 243, 248, 284,

302.
Marriage, Mr., 95.
Marriott, R. (M.F. H.), 77, 361, 371, 390,

452, 454-
Marsh, G., 60, 271.
Marsh, S. Chisenhale, 116, 203, 204, 278,

2S2.
Marsh, Miss Chisenhale, 240, 273.
Marsh, H. Chisenhale, 90, 121, 282.
Marter, Major Maurice (K.D.G. 's), 16, 26,

97, loi, 104.
Marter, Major-General, 282.
Martin, Mr. (Stapleford), 24.
Maryon-Wilson, Rev. G. , 93, 219, 239, 240.
Maryon- Wilson, Miss, 239, 240.
Maryon-Wilson, Sir Spencer, 239, 240.
Maryon-Wilson, Major, 16, 19, 20, 23, 34,

40, 55, 65, 83, 85, 93, 94, 97, 98, ir8, 120,

122, 123, 129, 132, 144, 147, 153, 165,

168, 189, 217, 257.
Maryon-Wilson, Mr?., 55, 153, 165, 167, 16S.
Mashiter, Edward T., 86, 87.
Mashiter, T., 375, 389, 390, 412, 429, 432,

45 1;
Mashiter, Thomas, 413.
Mashiter, W. , 3S9, 390.
Mason, 256.

Mason, William, 339, 343, 344, 353.
Mason, Jem, 319.
Matthews, Porter, 94.
Maunsell, Col. W. S.. 460.
Maynard, Hon. Captain, 316, 364.
Mavnard, Viscount, 327, 379, 407.
Meiles, J. W., 309.
Melles, Miss, 309.
Meshech, 360, 362.
Metcalfe, Mr., 407, 408,
Metcalfe, W. C, 451.
Meux, Sir Henry, 357.
Meyer, James, 357.
Meyer, Philip, 443.
Meyer, H. P. D., 451.
Michell, H. B., 240.
Miles (Beacon Hill), 174, 177.
Miles (Owlett's Hall Farm), 26.
Milford, Lord, 396, 461, 462.

VOL. II

482

INDEX

Millbank, G., 458.

Millbank, T., 16, 58, 59, 62, 122, 200.

Millbank, Thomas (Bobbingworth), 46.

Miller, Frank, 92, 93.

Miller, Jack, 92, 93, 150, 153, 233, 276.

Miller, James, 299.

Miller, Mr. (Rugby), 147.

Miller, H. J., 47, 53, 55, 90, 93, 150, 153,

166, 174, 233, 264, 266, 270, 274, 301, 309.
Miller, Thomas, 299.
Mills, T. J., 220.
Moody, Tom, 337.
Mordaunt, Sir Charles, 2.
IMorgan, Miss E., 16, 24, 28, 36, 39, 55, 84,

93. "2, 113, 118, 147, 153, 174, 189, 210,

220, 230, 233, 234, 248, 277, 282, 294.
Morgan, Miss M., 55, 93, 118, 174, 189, 230,

234, 2S2, 284, 287, 305.
Morgan, Goddard, 322.
Morgan, Jim, 314, 320, 321, 327, 335, 354.
Morgan, John, 335, 346.
Morgan, Ben, 335, 345.
Morgan, Sam, 324.
Morgan, Tom, 335.
Morris, W., 47, 55, 84, 93, 105.
Moss, Joe, 254.
Moss, William, 395.
Mugleston, Mr., 9.
Mumford, Mr., 189.
Murton, A. C, 451.
Myfield, Mr., 22.

N

Nansen, Mr., 255.

Nathan, Mr. (Thornwood Common), 35.

Neave, Sheffield, 428.

Neave, Sheffield, 361, 367.

Neave, Captain Digby, 49, 51.

Neave, Sheffield (M.S.H.), 16, 19, 20, 40, 43,

44, 45, 95, 207, 219, 227, 228, 230, 231,

234, 248, ^269, 272, 307.
Neave, Sir Digby, 367.
Neill, Mrs., 16, 55, 90, 93, 97, 112, 147, 153,

165, 167, 168, 174, 189, 219, 220, 227, 240,

248, 261.
Nevill, Hon. Ralph, 79.
New, A. J., 9, 12, 24, 55.
New, — , jun., 16, 55.
Newman, J., 62.

Newman, S. S., 391, 392, 393, 394, 395.
Nicholls, Thomas (Parvills), 39, 66, 235.
Nicholson, W. , 16, 38, 55, 67.
Nicholson, Mrs. W., 54.
Nickall, Mr., 408.
Nickalls, Vivian, 274, 279, 280, 300.

O

Offin, John, 453, 455, 456, 457.

Oldham, A. C. , 11, 16, 55.

Oliver, Rev. Austin, 226, 227, 245.

Oliver, Endon, 227.

Oliver, Richard, 335, 342, 348.

Orvis, William, 321, 372, 373, 374, 376, 380.

Osbaldeston, Mr., 51, 346.

Osborne's, 324, 406.

Owen, Mr., 114.

Paget, Major, 137.

Paget, Colonel (C.B.), 257.

Palmer, Captain, 371.

Palmer (The King William), 366, 367.

Palmer, Lynwood, 2, 3.

Palmer, Ralph, 196, 294.

Parish, William, 126, 209, 301.

Parker, James, 376, 387, 388, 397.

Parkes, R., 54.

Parkes, Mrs. R., 54, 223, 264.

Parry, N. (M.F.H.), 72, 354, 448, 455.

Patchett, W. (Q.C.), 47, 93, 112, 148, 150,

151, 174, 208, 233.
Patmore, R., 429, 436, 437, 458.
Payne, George, 316, 347.
Payne, 350.
Pearse, Brice, 386.
Pearson, Captain, 436, 437.
Pearson, W., 54, 265.
Pearson, Miss, 54.
Pease, Mr., 47.
Pease, A. E., 108.
Pease, J. A., 108.
Pegrum, Alfred, 276.
Peel, Archibald, 27, 38, 47, 55, 66, 67, 97,

102, 132, 133, 146, 193, 196, 210, 233, 236,

261, 277, 279, 292, 294, 295, 300.
Peel, Miss, 47, 55, 66, 67, 97, 132, 133, 210,

212, 233, 261, 279, 280, 292, 300.
Pelly, A., 153.
Pelly, Miss C, 16, 93, 97, 222, 223, 284, 296,

305-
Pelly, E., 14, 39, 54, 65, 129, 130, 133, 144,

147, 163, 193, 197, 198, 219, 224, 227, 240,

243, 244, 279, 292, 294, 295, 300.
Pelly, Miss, 193, 261, 263, 276, 278, 279, 284,

29s. 300, 303, 309.
Pelly, Eustace, 121.
Pelly, J. G., 16, 24, 25, 26, 39, 47, 55. i47,

153, 174, 193, 208, 225, 261, 263, 270, 278,

279, 282, 284, 292, 296.
Pelly, L., 16, 55, 93, 118, 136, 147, 153, 174,

219, 230, 245, 276, 284, 303, 306.
Pelly, Mrs. L., 16, 39, 47, 55, 104, 147, 153,

223, 259, 296.
Pelly, P. ]., 291, 295.
Pelly, Vivian, 121, 278, 279, 282.
Pemberton-Barnes, 15, 22, 39, 43, 47, 55, 56,

62, 93, 99, 147, 240, 269.
Pemberton-Barnes, Mrs., 55.
Pemberton, Rev. J., 153, 174.
Peters, Mr., 328, 360, 361, 362.
Perry, O. , 451.
Petre, Albert, 436, 437.
Petre, Arthur, 404.
Petre, Captain Frederick, 404.
Petre, Hon. Frederick, 68, 372, 376, 378,

380, 386, 387, 388, 404, 412, 415, 427, 432,

436, 437, 443. 444. 44^, 449, 45°. 451. 452,

453-
Petre, Hon. Henry, 31, 68, 69, 319, 436,444,

446, 450, 452, 454, 455, 457, 462, 463-
Petre, Lord, 54, 68, 69, 329, 386, 387, 389,

390, 450, 451, 454.
Petre, Lady, 389.
Phelips, C, 97.
Phillips, Miss Faudel, 278.

INDEX

48.

Phillips, Lort, 448.

Pigott, Mrs. Wellesley, 170, 171, 174, 240,

242.
Pilgrim, C'aptain, 38S.
Pitman, Mr., 455.
Playne, Mr., 276.
Pole, S., 451.
Pomeroy, J., 451.
Poole, Mr. (Black Notley Hall), 430, 434,

436.
Poole, Alfred, 197.

Pctchin, Mr. (Barkby Hall), 344, 345.
Prance, Miss, 274.
Prance, Miss D., 232.
Price, H. J., 4, 9, 16, 24, 44, 55, 56, 58, 62.

65, 84, 88, 89, 91, 93, 100, 112, 118, 153,

165, 166, 174, 219, 220, 224, 225, 229, 233,

235, 238, 240, 244, 245, 248, 252, 261, 274.

276, 279, 280, 289, 290, 296.
Price, Mrs. H. J., 54, 84, 89, 93, 220, 229.

233> 235, 240, 261, 276, 296.
Price, R., 457.
Prince Albert, 330.
Prince of Wales, 312.
Pryor, Arthur, 229, 451.
Puckeridge, Mr., 152, 154.
Pyni, Alan, 344.
Pym, Francis, 344, 345, 346.
Pyne, C. II., 213, 215, 216, 282.

Quare, E., 16, 55, 93, 109, no, 136, 163, 186,
187, 206, 208, 215, 227, 230, 233, 234, 254,
259, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269,
272, 305-

Quare, H., 451.

Quare, Miss, 55, 93, 227, 230, 233, 259, 305.

Quare, Miss E., 243, 259, 305.

Quare, T. B. , 451.

Queen Victoria, 441.

R

Raby, Mr., 95, 174, 305.

Radford, Arthur, 97, 112, 147, 153, 174, 189.

Radford, Miss, 153.

Radford, Mrs., 55, 153, 174, 216, 220.

Raincock, 11. D. , 451.

Randall, Mr. (Abridge), 153.

Raphael, H. H., 240, 252, 255, 278.

Raule, Mr., 402.

Rayner, W., 458.

Redwood, Mrs., 47, 97, no, 259, 263.

Rees, Henry, 448, 449.

Reeve, John, 429.

Reeve, Joseph, 427, 428.

Reeve, "Sam, 323, 376, 377, 378, 379, 387,

426.
Reeve, Joe, 374, 378, 379.
Ricardo, Major, 4, 16, 40, 55, 56, 62, 85, 93,

97, 112, 147, 153, 174, 189, 193, 201, 202,

220, 230, 259, 263, 264, 274, 276, 279, 282,

284. 292, 299, 300, 301.
Ricardo, Mrs., 4, 16, 54, 230, 259, 276, 279,

282, 284, 292.
Rickett, Thomas, 222.
Rickett, Thomas, jun., 196.
Rickett, Mr. (Rundells), 259, 264, 309.

Ridley, C. E., 16, 55, 83, 84, 85, 99. I37, 138,
139, 140, 149, 153, 174, 180, 189, 198, 219,
224, 225, 234, 240, 243, 245, 248, 261, 277,
282, 284, 292, 296, 30Q, 303, 307.

Ridley, T. D., 388,434, 451.

Ridley, W. , 140, 219, 240, 277.

Ritchie, Mr., 16.

Robb, Mr., 372.

Roberts, Lord, 292.

Roberts, Carlton, 135.

Roberts, Owen, 153.

Roberts, Mr., 32S.

Robinson, A. G., 361, 451.

Robison, O. D., 451.

Robson, John, 204.

Roddick, A., 55, 153, 215, 220.

Roftey, — , 363.

RoUeston, Captain Lancelot, 288.

Rolt, — , 374.

Rookwood, Lord, 14, 54, 55, 78, 79, 91, 93,
94, 148, 224, 269, 300.

Rose, James (Leamington), 266.

Ross, Captain H., 5i'

Round, Edward, 374.

Round, J., 426, 457.

Rouse, Mr., 391, 392, 393, 394, 395.

Rush, Mr. (Elsenham), 357.

Russell, Rev. A. F., 216, 282.

Russell, Rev. Jack, 226.

Rust, R. G., 458.

Rustic us Ex pec tans, 136.

Rutland, Duke of, 336.

S

St. Maur, Lord Archibald, 353.

Saltmarsh, Mr., 415.

Sands, J., 22, 34, 154, 189, 190, 229, 458.

Sargeaunt, Mr., 174.

Saunders, Rev. G. Ward, 36, 48, 179, 181,

233, 234.
Saunders, P., 51, 73> 74. 457-
Savill, Alfred, 154.

SaviU, C, 26, 55, 93, 94, 233, 240, 255, 303.
Savill, E., 230, 278, 279, 284, 292.
Savill, Harry, 55, 24a, 296.
Savill, L., 292, 309.
Savill, Miss, 54, 220, 233, 263, 284, 292, 303,

309-
Saward, Jacob, 91, 276.
Scott, Hon. Francis, 413.
Scott, Rev. R. L., 97, 147, 148, 227, 292.
Scratton, D. (M.F.H.), 445, 446, 447, 448,

449, 450, 452, 453> 454-
Scruby, Mr., jun., 93.
Seal, C, 240, 248, 264, 309.
Self, G., 458.
Sellar, David P., 284.
Sewell, Arthur, 47, 55, no, ni, 147, 153,

193, 198, 215, 225, 227, 233, 236, 240, 246,

252, 261, 263, 278, 282, 292, 300, 303.
Sewell, MissD., 91, no, 121, 153, 154, 155,

165, 167, 193, 208, 215, 232, 233, 274, 276,

2S2, 292, 299, 300, 323.
Sewell, G., n, 14, 16, 17, 35, 36, 39, 40, 44,

47, 55, 62, 63, 65, 66, 203, 238, 240.
Sewell, Miss J., 54.
Sew^ell, Miss M., 154, 155, 156, 263.

484

INDEX

Sewell, W., II, 16, 28, 36, 44, 47, 55, 65, 66,
90, 147, I53> 155' 156, 165, 166. 193, 198,
203, 208, 215, 233, 246, 259, 263, 274, 276,
278, 282. 292, 295, 298, 299, 300, 303, 304,

309-
Sewell, Mrs. W. , 12, 44. 47, 55, 66, no. 112,

113, 115, 116, 156, 232, 264, 276, 27S, 292.

299, 300, 303, 309.
Sewell, Miss Winifred, 154, 155.
Shackles, Mr., ^^^.
Shanks, R. , 451.
Shave, Mr., 434, 436.
Shaw, Mr., 403.

Shepherd, C, 349, 350, 445, 446, 44S.
Sheppard, E., 229, 248, 278.
Sheppard, Mrs. E., 229, 248, 278.
Sheppard, Mr., 247.
Short, 272, 275, 276, 279, 282, 292, 303, 306,

.307-
Simonds, H. F., 271.
Simonds, T. , 28, 193.
Simpson, R. , 354.
Simpson, Mr,, 403.
Single, S., 292, 300.
Single, W., 24, 55. 74, 75, 76, 77. 93, 112,

135' I74> 451-
Singleton. Mrs., 212.
Smart, Tom (Cricklade), 321, 366.
Smee, II., 452.
Smee, J. H., 451.
Smith, A., 451.
Smith, C. (Ongar), 189.
Smith, Sir C, 33, 103, 105, in, 116, 148, 152,

190, 220, 252, 255, 276, 278, 284, 296, 298,

301, 375, 386. 387, 412, 451.
Smith, D. C, 16, 55, 93, 112, 118, 124, 134,

147, 148, 153, 1S9, 220, 229, 240, 276, 278.

284, 300, 309.
Smith, E. , 234, 302.
Smith, James, 233.

Smith, R. C, 16, 152, 153, 220, 248, 257, 284.
Smith, Mrs. R. C. , 92, 93, 174.
Smith & Co., Piccadilly, 371.
Smoothy, Evergreen, 427, 433.
Snow, • — , 358.

Soames, L., 322, 328, 387, 388, 451, 452.
Sorrell, A. B., 300.
Souter, Mr., 319.
.South (Coopersale Hall). 44.
Sparrow, Basil, 388, 432, 433, 436.
Springfield, T. O., 451.
Stacey, Mr., 98, 183, 185.
.Stane, Bramstone, 322, 323.
Stane, John, 389.
Stallibrass, Jas., 322, 358, 359, 362, 376, 387,

425, 426.
Stallibrass, John, 359, 389, 451.
Stansfield, Mr., 413.
Steele, A. R., 16, 47, 55, 90, 93, 97, 102, 147,

165, 213, 215, 227, 233, 235, 236, 240, 255,

261, 270, 277, 292, 296, 300, 301, 305, 309.
Steele, Rev. J., 16, 47.

Steele, A., jun., 93, 97, 213, 227, 236, 240.
Steele, Miss, 55, 90, no, 121, 147, 215, 235,

236, 240, 245, 261, 277, 292, 301.
.Stephenson, iNIr. , 331.
Stevens, R. , 430.
Stiell, Mr., 43, 192.

Stokes, Miss Mildred, no.

Stone, 358, 383.

Stout, W., 451.

Strathmore, Earl of, 316, 334, 347, 348, 3151

371-
Stratton, Jack, 254.

Stubbings, Mr. (Tawney Common), 113.
Styles, Thomas, 36.
SuUens, Mr. (Hatfield), 355.
Sullins, George, 426, 434, 436, 437, 440.
SuUins, Peter, 440.
Surtees, Mr., 351.
Sutton, Sir Richard, 77, 316, 334, 335, 344,

345' 346, 364' 397, 398.

Sutton, Dick, 349, 350.

Swire, J., 47, 55, 62, 90, 93, 97, 98, 100, loi,
124, 134, 165, 16S, 180, 189, 224, 225, 234,
261, 276, 277, 279, 280, 282, 296, 298, 299,
300, 303, 304.

Swire, Mrs. J., 234.

Swordei, Harry, 27, 40, 42, 43, 44, 47, 49, 54,
55, 62, 66, 67, 84, 85, 91, 93, 112, 113, 115,
Ii7> "8, 123, 134, 141, 144, 147, 150,
153' 174, 175' i88> 189, 193' 196, 198, 207,
210, 212, 219, 220, 224, 225, 230, 233, 235,
240, 252, 261, 263, 264, 273, 274, 276,

30 1 > 309-
Sworder, Mr., 193.
Symes, W. , 35.
Symonds, Wm., 76, 77.

Tabor, J. E., 55, 156, 157.

Tabor, T. , 62.

Tabor, J., jun., 62.

Tabor, Mr., 361.

Tailby, Mr., 452.

Tail, Major, 148.

Tait, Miss Haltie, 233, 276.

Tattersall, Edward, 406.

Tatlersall's, 86, 158, 406.

Tawke, Miss, 50.

Tegg, W. F., 72.

Telford, 408.

Temperley, Mrs., 51.

Temperley, Miss, 51.

Thorneycroft, C. V. ,301.

Thynne, Lord William, 335.

Tilbury, J., 447.

Tilling, R. S., 16, 47, 55, 95, 97, 100, 102,
T38, 147, 203, 221, 230, 233, 234, 245,
^75^ 279. 282, 291, 292, 296, 301, 305.

Tippler, P. R., 16, 59, 74, 271, 272.

Tippler, Miss, 84, 95.

Tod, Captain, 234, 238, 240.

Todhunter, B. E., 186, 19S, 236, 292, 295,

296, 30 1 > 3^5' 309-
Todhunter, J., 47, 97, 106, 147, 165, 213, 220,

235, 261, 279, 2S0, 292, 294, 300, 301, 303.
Tomlin (of Billesdon), ;^;^;^, 342, 345.
Tosetti, M., 55, 147, 193, 212, 233, 259, 263.
Tower, C, 249.
Tower, Harvey, 388.
Tower, Captain, 367, 376, 377, 378, 379.
Tower, Captain \V. Maitland, 55, 62, 158,

159-
Tritton, Mr., 266.

INDEX

485

TroUope, Anthony, 72, 451, 457.

Trollope, H., 451.

Tucker. Joseph, 34.

Tufnell, Captain A. ]., 45 r.

Tufnell, Captain G. M., 49, 62, 83, 84. 174.

235, 248.
Tufnell, E., 73.
Tufnell, Joliffe, 357.
Tufnell, .Miss Matilda. 415.
Tufnell, William. 415, 434.
Tufnells (Three Generations of), 367.
Turner, Charles, 405.
Turner, J., 3, 12, 22, 38, 64, 66, 84, 124. 136,

185, 196, 236, 240, 245, 272.
Turner (Huntsman Enfield Slag Hounds), 303.
Tweed, A. J., 59,62, 104, 174, 219, 230, 277.
Tweed, H. R., 51, 55, 59, 60, 219, 229.
Tyrell, Sir J., 374, 415, 416.
Tyrrell, C, 355, 357, 373.
Tyrrell, Rev. Charles, 321.
Tyser, Mr., 148, 153.
Tyser, Mrs., 153, 174.
Tytler, Mrs. Eraser, 174.

U

Upton, Mrs., 4, 16, 21, 43, 46, 174.

Upton, Miss, 16.

Usborne, T., M.P., 16, 93, 174, 176, 248,

277, 284. _
Usborne, Miss, 93, 174, 277.
Usborne, E. F., 93, 174, 248.

V

Vallon, Count de, 199.

Verney, Hon. and Rev. W. R., 2.

Vertue and Co., ico.

Verulam, Lord, 327.

Vickerman, C. R., 103, 106, 107, 173, 313,

e/. seq.
Vickerman, C, 452.
Vickerman, Frank, 332, m, 369.
Vickerman, John, 383, 461.
Vickers, J. M., 238, 240, 243.
Victor, Emanuel, 441.
Vigne, Henry, 77, no, 131, 237, 263.
Villiers, Lady, 347.
Vivian, Lord, 386.

W

Wahab, E., 54, 181, 309.

Wake, Mr., 388.

Wake, Sir C, 3S8.

Walmsley, J. V., 143, 240.

Walmsley, Miss, 174.

Waltham', R., 16, 21, 39, 43, 47, 55, 84, 85,

112, 118, 148, 153, 154, 174, 176, 189, 190,

207, 210, 220, 222, 251, 252, 255, 284, 299,

300.
Warburton, Egerton, 124.
Ward, Bob, 72.
Warner, A., 408.
Warner, T. C. T., 160.
Warter, 357.
Warwick, Countess of, i, 2, 3, 252, 291, 295,

316.

I Waters, A., ir, 16, 55,93, 162, 189,214,

i 240, 243, 244, 248, 274, 277, 278, 282,

I 292, 294, 299, 301, 305, 309.

! Waters, Mrs. A., 16, t^, 47, 55, 83, 94:

III, 147, 153, 165, 166, 174, 1S9, 193,

215, 216, 219, 220, 227, 230, 232, 233,

1 240, 247, 248, 259, 261, 274, 276, 277,

279, 282, 284, 292, 299, 300, 301, 309.

Waters, Miss G., 36, 42, 55, 82, 91, I2r,
213, 215, 216, 219, 220, 227, 230, 232,
243, 261, 276, 279, 282, 284, 292, 301,

Watkins, Mr., 364, 366.

Watlington, J. W. P., 451, 452.

Watson-Farnell, Colvin, 273.

Watson (George Hotel, Melton), 346.

VVeatherby, Messrs., 75.

Webb, John, 318, 355, 440.

Webster, Charles, 40, 66.
j Wederell, A. H., 94.

Wellington, Duke of, 387.

West (Keeper), 153.

Whichcote, Sir Thomas, 316, 337.

Whitaker, Percy (M.F.H.), 137, 139,
289.

White, A. J., 34.

White, G. (Westmeath), 107.

White, Tyndale, 4, 9, 10, 20, 45, 93, 94,
104, 112, 113, 115, 118, 120, 123, 147,
174, 175, 183, 189, 192, 193, 196, 197,
212, 219, 220, 222, 224, 229, 231, 232,
240, 242, 246, 248, 251, 255, 273, 27S,
2S2, 284, 292, 294, 295, 296, 303, 305.

White, John, 16, 44, 45, 94, 104, 112,
120, 153, 174, 177, 189, 193, 207, 2'l2,
220, 227, 230, 234, 240, 243, 245, 248,
273, 274, 276, 277, 278, 280, 282, 284,
294, 296, 303, 306.

W'hite, Maurice, 10, 16, 121, 248, 271, 27

White, W. H., 31, 72, 87, 98, 457.

White, W., 298.

Whitefield, Wm., 321, 322, 405, 457.

Whitehead, T. D., 305, 309.

Whitmore, Mr. (M.H.), 51.

Whyte-Melville, 223, 229.

Wilkinson and Kidd, },t,i, 371, 396.

Willett, C. W., 240.

Willett, W., 451.

Williams, Captain, R.ILA., 80.

Williams, Phillpotts, 28, 67, no.

Williams, Mr. (Row Wood), 374.

Williamson, ?.Ir., 388.

Willis, G., 227, 259, 290.

Willis, Mrs. G., 259.

Willis, R., no.

Willis, Mr., 55.

Willis, Mr., 378.

Wilson, J., 77, 78, 451.

Wilson, 322.

W'ilson, Mr. (Canfield Hart), 324, y:,^

Wilson, John (New Hall), 239, 240.

W'ilson, Tom, 448, 449.

Wilson, Mr., 330.

Wilton, Earl of, 316, ly^, 364.

Winder, Mr., 217.

Windus, J., 451.

Wolseley, Hon. Frances, 144.

Wolverton, Lord, 444.

Wood, Charles Page, 31, 434, 457.

284,

97.
213.

234,
278,

309-

217,

100,
148,
207,

234,
280,

117,
219,
261,
292,

4-

486

INDEX

Wood, General Sir Evelyn, V. C. , i6, 29, 30,

3h 47, 55, 93, 112, 113, "8, 132, i44, I53,
174, 176, 180, 189, 192, 193, 212, 219, 220,
227, 229, 240, 251, 254, 261, 301, 305, 306,

309-
Wood, Lady, 31.

Wood, Col. G. W., 49, 171, 172, 173, 174.
Wood, Mr., 49.

Wood, General Mark, 172, 451.
Wood, Captain H. W. W., 259, 263, 274.

276, 282, 284. 301, 307, 309.
Wood, Mr., 327, 328.
Woodbridge, Edward, 324, 327, 372, 373.
Woodhouse, A. L. , 277.
Woodhouse, Mrs. A. L. , 277.
Woodhouse, Miss, 174, 304, 307.
Wragg, J., 451-
Wright (Keeper), 124, 263.
Wyndham, Colonel, 316, 346, 397.
Wythes, E. J., 215.
Wythes, Mrs. E. J., 210, 215, 245, 255, 259,

261.

Yerburgh, Rev. Richard, 311, 312.

Yerburgh, R. A., i.

Yerburgh, H. B., 54, 62, 85, 301.

Yerburgh, W. H. B., 103, 121, 126, 127, 252,

253, 278, 279, 282.
Yerburgh, Miss M. S., 259, 261.
Yerburgh, Miss M. E., no.
Yerburgh, R. R., 282.
Young, C. F., 451, 452.
Young, E. W., 279, 292, 301, 303, 304, 305.
Young, H. , 62.
Young, S., 62, 451.

SUNDRY REFERENCES.

Aldridge's, 186.

Baily's Magazine, 147, 319, 462.

Bar Point-to-Point, 88, 151.

Bath and West of England .Show, St. Albans,

7-
Bell's Life, 397.
Bycullah Park, Enfield, 76.
Canadian Wolf Hounds, 245.
Chain Pier, Brighton, no.
Chantilly Race Stud, 199.
Chartist Riots, 365.
Chelmsford Chronicle, 457.
Cheltenham Steeplechases, 448, 449.
Cholera, The (1853), 405.
City Imperial Volunteers, 292.
Coventry Steeplechases, 371.
Croydon Fair, 406.
Crystal Palace, 408, 409.
Deacon's Vale of White Horse Repository,

Swindon, 204.

Donate's Comet, 426, 427.

Dublin Horse .Show% 7, 204.

Dungevan Castle, The, 61.

East London Waterworks Co., 242.

Epping Golf Links, 152.

Epping Hunt, The, 380, 38 1, 382.

Essex Fox Hounds, History of, 194.

Essex Hunt, Point-to-Point Races, 58, 59, 60,
61, 62, 81, 88.

Essex Agricultural Show, Chelmsford, 72 ;
Harlow, 70, 108 ; Ilford, 70 ; Romford, 70;
Waltham Abbey, 74.

Galleywood Races, 59, 60.

Harlow Bush Fair, 90.

Harlow Golf Links, 152, 168.

Hendon Steeplechases, 319.

Holborn Restaurant, 114.

Hon. Artillery Company, C. I.V. , 287.

House of Commons, Point-to-Point, 108.

Islington Horse Show, 454.

Leyton Cricket Ground, 114.

Minima Yacht Club, 464.

Moonlight Steeplechase, Windsor, 314,

Nasing Golf Club, 208.

Norfolk Show, 71.

North Somerset Election, 1892, 160.

Old Club, Melton, The, 348.

Ongar Market, 442.

Orient Line, 277.

Post Office Lads' Portmanteaus, 399.

Romford Golf Links, 100.

Royal Epping Forest Golf Club, 82.

Royal Counties' Show, Tunbridge Wells, 70.

Royal Regatta at Swansea, 464.

Rundell's Races, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 75, 77, 81,
82.

Russia, War with, 405, 408, 409.

South Essex Steeplechases, 440, 447.

Spectator, 255.

Sporting Magazine, 397.

Staft College Point-to-Point, 202.

Standard, The, 206.

Stansted Polo Club, 44, 147, 156, 290.

Stock Exchange Point-to-Point, 81.

Suffolk Show, 70, 71.

Tattersall's, 314.

Volunteers, The, 441.

Warwickshire Hunt, History of, 266.

West Essex Polo Club, 44, 82, 88, 156, 203,
214.

Wimbledon Common, The First Public Meet-
ing at, 441.

Windsor Magazine, 136.

Yeomanry, Duke of Cambridge's Own, The,
61, 285, 286, 287, 289.

Yeomanry, The Duke of York's Own Loyal
Suffolk Hussars, 277.

Yeomanry, Hertfordshire, The, 372.

Yeomanry, Imperial, The, 277.

Yeomanry, Montgomeryshire, The, 287.

Yeomanry, West Essex, The, 371.

INDEX

487

COVERTS, &c.

Abergavenny, 171.
Abridge, 153, 380.
Albyns, 149, 255.
Albyns, A kill near, 293.
Allford Bridge, 389.
Apes Grove, 24, 25, 242.
Ascot Lawn, Meet at, 330.
Ashby Pasture, ^^^.
Ashdon, 87, 275.
Aston Abbotts, 422.
Aston Clinton, 422.
Aswarby Park, 334, 336, 338.
Aylesbury, Union, 423.
Aylesbury, Vale of, 318.
Aythrop, Roothing, 389.
Axe and Compasses, 30, 161, 162, 305, 406,
412, 420.

Badminton Lawn, Meet at, 330.

Ball's PliU Wood, 38, 64.

Bamborough Springs, 374.

Barbers, 115, 142, 233, 242, 253, 276.

Bardfield, 275.

Barkby Hall, 344.

Barking, 390.

Barnsley's, 21, 132, 181, 235, 261, 279.

Barnstaple Fair, 403.

Barnston Brook, 361.

Barrington Park, 185.

Bassildon Church, 418.

Bassingbourne, 183. 227.

Bath, 399.

Battle's Hall, 44.

Bay's Grove, 97, 167, 273, 279.

Beachett's, 44, 113, 120, 123, 124, 142, 143,

273, 276.
Beacon Hill, 176, 401.
Beauchamp Roothing, 103.
Bedford's, 100, 307, 389.
Beech Hill Park, 89, 200, 215, 282.
Belgium Springs, 21, 28, 34, 93, 94, 122,

245-
Belhus, 70.
Bell House, 171.
Bendish, 80.
Bentley Church, 301.
Bentley Mill, 207, 248, 253.
Berners Wood, 104, 188, 189, 219, 275, 278.
Berry Hill, 4C0.
Berwick Farm, 33.
Berwick Lane, 113.
Berwick Wood, 26, 190.
Bigood's House, Dunmow, 327.
Billericay, 388.
Billesdon, 333, 342, 349.
Billesdon Coplow, 351.
Birch Hall, 220, 263, 264, 307.
Bird Hatch, 244.
Birmingham, 347.
P>ishop's Hall, 24, 172, 255, 274.
PJishops Stortford, 324, 325.
Black Bush Farm, 24, 153.
Blackmore, 2, 3, 82, 83, 85, 94, 354, 362, 387,

391-

Blackmore High Woods, 75, 83, 84, 175, 245,

246, 248, 249, 369.
Blackmore Priory, 314, 320.
Black Notley Hall, 430.
Blake Hall, 19, 20, 45, 119, 274, 276.
Blue Gates, 239.
Blue Hedges, 445.
Bobbingworth, 44.

Bobbingworth Hall Farm, 21, 45, 122, 243.
Bobbingworth Wind Mill, 44, in, 112, 282,

298.
Bobbingworth ^^ ood, 20.
Booking, 362.
Bois Hall, 43, 176, 207.
Bonville Court Collieries, 462.
Boreham House, 416.
Botley Hill, 408.
Bottledown Hill, 440.
Bottledown Hill Wood, 51.
Bower House, 99, 118.
Bower Wood, 99, 100, 240.
Bowers Gifford Church, 445.
Bowes, 223.

Boynton Hall, 68, 376, 386, 387, 434.
Boynton Hall Woods, 435.
Braintree, 362, 431.
Brendon, 403.
Brentwood, 83, 84, 251, 329, 332, 358, 370,

440.
Brick Kilns, 78, 94, 104, 178, 243, 244, 245,

278, 295, 304, 321, 325, 429.
Broadley Common, 106.
Brockles Farm, 167.
Brockleys, 22.
Bromsted, 374.
Brook House, 233, 278.
Broomiields, 294.
Broomstick Hall, 144.
Broom Wood, 100.
Broughton Farm, 422.
Broughton Hills, 353.
Broxljourne, 372.
Buckhurst Hill, 380.
Bullock Wood, 159.
Bundish Hall, 432.
Burley on the Hill, 334, ^^S-
Burrow, 339.
Burton, 339.
Bury Farm, 48, 303.
Bushetts, 283.
Bush House, Harlow, 429.
Bush Wood, 115, 276, 324, 325, 432, 459.
Butts, The "Gaynes Park," 141.

Campbell's Grove, 418.

Canes, 54, 99, no, iii, 259.

Canes Wood, 429, 437.

Canfield Church, 375.

Canfield, Great, 378.

Canfield Hart, 183, 189, 219, 239, 324, 360.
, Cantield Mount. 219, 378.
j Canfield Thrift. 138, 219. 238, 239, 274.
I Canterbury Springs, 84.
\ Carmarthen, 464.
I Carmarthenshire, 458.

488

INDEX

Castle Hotel, Lynlon, 403.

Chalford, 423.

Chambers' Farm, 63, 306.

Champion Lodge, 108.

Chelmsford, 28, 31, 132, 324, 416, 450.

Cheltenham. 312.

Chignall, 275.

Chigwell, 154, 380.

Ciiigwell Grannnar School, 154.

Childerditch, 440, 446, 447.

Chipping-Ongar, 359.

Church Wood, Doddinghursl, 174, 175.

Cirencester Woods, 334.

Claveringbury Farm, 198, 210, 280.

Clawson Thorns, 353.

Clajbury Asylum, 154.

Cleddan River, 383.

Cobbin Brook, 63, 66, 98, loi, 382.

Cobbin End, 144.

Cock Hotel, Epping, 267, 383.

Cock Hotel, Waltham Abbey, 371.

Cock Wood, 445.

Cold Ashby, 364.

College Wood, 447.

Coombe, 402.

Coombe Lodge, 173.

Coopersale, 124, 141, 232, 272.

Coopersale Bridge, 141.

Coopersale Church, 234, 276.

Coopersale Hall, 44, 233.

Coopersale House, 302.

Coopersale Vicarage, 44.

Copped Hall, 11, 39, 64, 100, loi, 106, 209,

215, 246, 255, 282, 314, 332, 412, 459.
Copped Hall Green, 66, 198.
Copped Hall I-odge Gates, 250, 303.
Copped Hall Park, 27, 382.
Coptfold Wood, 418.
Cottesbrook, 90.
Courtfield, 260.
County Carlow, 314.
Coventry, 371.
Crawley, 408.
Cream Gorse, 333, 364.
Crick, 346, 347, 364.
Crick Gorse, 347.
Crook's Farm, 372.

Cross Keys, Thornwood Common, 222.
Crouch, The River, 436.
Crows Wood, 456.
Croxton Park, 336, 353.
Culverthorpe Hall, 38, 337.
Curtis Mill Green, 24, 26, 80, 116, 148, 152,

242, 252, 255, 257, 276, 284, 300.

Dagnams, 8, 22, 23, 206.
Deer Park, 9, 11, 39, 65, 66, loi, 106, 107,
144, 145, 147, 195, 197. 224, 226, 233, 278.
Devil's Dyke, 418.
Dewley Wood, 122, 298, 322.
Ditchleys, 375, 389.
Dobbs' Wood, 162, 237.
Doddinghurst, 30.

Down Hall, 5, 14, 40, 93, 94, 136, 185, 376.
Down Hall, Running for, 185.
Downham Hall, 445.
Dublin Horse Shoe, 61.
Duck Lane, 99.

Duck Wood, 23.
Dudbrook, 43, 192, 284.
Dulverton, 399, 400, 402.
Dun Cow, Ongar, 19.
Dunmow, 80, 324, 327, 360.
Dunmow High Woods, 138, 320, 407.
Durdans, The, Epsom, 403, 452.

Eagle, The, Rugby, 347.

Earls' Colne, 159.

East Grinstead, 404, 407, 414.

East Hanningfield, 418.

East Norton, 339.

Eastwick Wood, 375.

Eden, The River, 408.

Edney Wood, 418.

Egremont Ford, 383.

Elmdon Lee, 391.

Elsenham Hall, 183, 328, 357.

Envilles, 243, 325, 389, 429.

Epping, 44, 47, '97, 104, 132- 136, 151, 265,

267, 3'^3^ 30S, 314, 371, 3^5, 450-
Epping Brewery, 47.
Epping Bury Farm, 274.
Epping Church, 106, 274.
Epping Forest, 11, 44, 97, 98, 99.
Epping Green, 9, 11, 38, 62, 63, 72, 98, 143,

193, 245, 277, 303.
Epping Plain, 48, 137, 277.
Epping Union, 36.
Eton, 356.

Exe, The River, 402.
Exford, 403.
Exmoor, 400, 403.

Felstead, in.

Felstead Common, 387.

Felstead I'ark, 387.

Fern Hills, 102, 166, 167.

Fiddlers, The Merry, 189, 302.

P"inchingfield, 80.

Fingrith Hall, 375.

Fitz Johns, 275.

Filz Walters, 84, 209.

Foot's Cray, 428.

Forest, Epping, 27.

Forest of Hallate, 199.

Forest ILall, 17, 18, 19, 28, 45, 132, 187, 230,

321, 385, 389.
Forest, The Lower, 36, 48, 245, 253, 302.
Frisby Station, 364.
Fryerning, 2, 3, 84.
Fyfield, 14, 15, 38, 103, 186, 253, 322, 354,

376, 385. 3S7, 389. 412,418.

Galby, 349.

Galley Hills, 11, 22, 27, 39, 43, 65, 66, 67,
100, loi, 106, 107, 127, 128, 144, 147, 192,
193, 194, 196, 197, 198, 202, 209, 224, 233,
246, 274, 278, 280, 282, 295, 304, 307, 309,

354-
Galley wood, 444.
Galleywood Common, 434.
Gardener's I'^arm, 303.
Garnetts, 138, 219, 237, 238, 407.
Garnish, 28, 189, 219, 234, 259.
Garnish Hall, ^z, 44, 244.

INDEX

489

189.

202, 224, 225, 269,

Gaynes Park, 44, 99, 112, 116, 119, 123, 124,

125, 141, 203, 204, 253, 301.
George Hotel, Grantham, 337.
George Hotel, Melton, 346.
Gill's Farm, 64, 282.
Gilston Park, 375, 386.
Glasgow, 45.
Glen Gorse, 349.
Gloostone, 340.
Godstone, 406.
Goldings, 307.

Good Easter, 189, 254, 377, 415, 427.
Gorrels, near ^V'rittle, 454.
Gosfield, 361.
Grantham, 318, 336, 337.
Gravel Lane, 154.
Gravel Pits (Lower Forest)
Gravel Pit Wood, 97.
Grays, 356.
Gray's Inn, 365, 461.
Great Burstead. 454.
Green Man, Harlow,

270, 300.
Green's Farm, Galley Hills. 27.
Greensted, 17, 122, 359, 437.
Greensted Hall, 89.

Greensted House, ^^, 189, 191. 276, 298.
Greensted Wood, 45, 122, 298, 299.
Grithn's Woods, 303, 306.

Hagmore, 123, 124.

Haileybury College, 126.

Hainault Forest, 24, 390.

Hainault Lodge, loi.

Hallingbury, 324, 419.

Hallingbury Place, 32, 38, 355.

Harboro' Hotel, Melton Mowbray, 332, 353.

Hare and Hounds, Roxwell, 386, 432.

Harlaxton, 336.

Harlow, 6, 235, 429.

Harlow Bury, 14.

Harlow Common, 90, 97, 166.

Harlow Park, 33, 34, 47, 97, 123. 132, 166,

235. 309. 429.
Harold's Park, 65, 102, 195, 233.
Haslingwood Common, 33, 97, in, 358, 3^9,

412.
Hatfield Broad Oak, 163, 274, 325, 355.
Hatfield Grange, 104, 185, 274.
Hatfield Heath, 6, 13, 104, los, 136, 182, 183,

202,321,357,418.
Havering-atte-Bower, 99, 107.
Plavering House, 38.
Havering Park, 107.

Hean Castle, 452, 457, 460, 461, 462, 463.
Heathen Wood, 106, 181.
Henham, 328.
Herons' Farm, 296.
High Beech, 381.

High Easter, in, 137, 259, 415, 427.
High Easter Brook, 275.
High Easter Bury, 365.
High Laver, 245.
High Laver Church, 323, 412.
High Laver Hall, 245, 412.
High Roding Bury, 139. 269, 271, 389, 429.
High Roding Street, 12, 220, 237, 291, 387,

406.

Hill Hall, 413.

Hill Hall Park, 115, 276.

Hobbs' X., 21. 233.

Hockerill, 38S.

lioddesdon, 97, 371.

Hogg Hill, 118.

Hoglands, 372.

Holbrooks, 438, 452, 4^3.

Hollyfield Hall. 19S, 295.

Honey Green Lane, 278.

Honey Lane, 198.

Hornchurch, 383.

Horsefrilh Park, 3, 229.

Horse Shoe Farm, 222.

Hotel Continental, 199.

Houghton-on-the-Hill, 349.

Houndon, 172.

Hewlett's Hall Farm, 299.

Hubbard's Ilall, 21, 132, 168.

Hunters' Hall, 64, 65, 102, 304.

Hunts' Wood, 419.

Hutton Checkers. 49.

Hyde Hall, 3S0. '

Hyde Hall Springs, 87, 183, 376.

Hylands, 229, 284.

Ice House Wood, 113.
Ilford, 390.
Ingatestone, 435.
Ingatestone Hall, 426, 438.
Ingrave Hall Wood, 51.
Ingrave Thrift, 419.
Israels, 275.

Jacobsdal, 292.
Jericho, 175.
Jock, The, 328.

Kennels, The Harlow, 21, 105, 165, 202.

Kennels, The Myless, 405.

Kelvedon, 95.

Kelvedon Common, ^^, 43, 169, 301, 443.

Kelvedon Hall, 177.

Kelvedon Wood, ^^, 176.

Kettlebury Springs, ^^, 45, 122, 189.

Keythorpe, 339, 340.

Keythorpe Hall, 339.

Kilgetty Colliery, 462.

King William, 29, 162, 324, 35 S. 359.

King Wood, 2S4.

Kingsmores. 301.

Kings Norton, 349.

King's Oak, High Beech. 282.

Kirby, 343.

Kirby Gate, 94, 3^^.

Klondyke, 247.

Knightsland, 26,43, "jj 120, 121, 190.

Knowles Hill, 100.

Lady Grove, 2, 229, 245.
Lady Grove, Roxwell, 284.
Ladysmith, 294.
Laindon Hills, 53, 329.
Lambourne, 77.
Lambourne End Church, 24.
Lambourne Rectory, 24.
Lampett's Farm, 296.
Lancaster Springs, 104, 183.

490

INDEX

Land View House, 189.

Langham, 354.

Langley's, 230.

Latton, 28, 34, 35, 102^

Latton Park, 28, 90, 96,97, 98, 166, 256, 272,

277, 279, 294, 304.
Latton Priory, 35, 279, 294.
Latton Rectory, 226.

Leaden, 28, 162,219, 238, 244, 258, 278, 325,

367. 369, 374, 388, 406.
Lea Valley, 126.
Lea Wood, 2S4.
Lees Priory, 387.
Leicester, 2, 70, 80, 342, 344.
Lillystone, 422, 435.
Limpsfield, 408.
Lincoln Minster, 353.
Little Belvoir Hill, 353.
Little Cantield Hall, 372, 375, 378.
Little Dalby, 339.
Little Dalby Hall, 344.
Little Laver, 296.
Little Laver Hall, 243.
Little Laver Mill, 133, 178, 242, 304.
Little Saling, 361.
Loddington, 339.
Lodge Farm, Nasing, 235.
London, 296, 307, ^i^, 406.
Londonthorpe, 337.
Long Barns, 412.
Long Marston, 423.
Lords, 28, 162, 163, 219, 234, 23S, 259, 275,

278, 324, 325.
Loughboro', 350.

Loughton Shaws, 9, 100, 116, 286.
Low Hill, 12, 280.
Luffman's Earths, 11.
Lutterworth, 342.
Lynton, 399, 402, 403.
Lyons, 405,

Magdalen, Laver, 14.

Magdalen, Laver Hall, 21, 34.

Maine Hill, Hogston, 422.

Man Wood, 40, 93, 104, 136, 163, 178, 179,

243, 244, 245, 278, 305, 306.
Marden Ash, 21, 33.
Margaretting, 229, 419.
Market Harborough, 2015, 342.
Mark Hall, 21, 132, 166.
Mark Hall Wood, 166, 203.
Mark's Hall, 415.

Maries, 22, 63, 72, 98, 213, 222, 292, 306.
Maries Farm, Little, 63.
Marseilles, 405.
Marshalls, 390.
Mashbury Mill, 275.
Matching Green, 91, 92, 93, 143, 179, 211,

269, 295, 325, 386, 418.
Matching Hall, 96, 177, 179, 307.
Matching Park, 14, 40, 93, 94, 122, 132, 136,

245, 297, 305, 418.
Melton Mowbray, 314, 332, 335, 339, 342, 344,

346, 351, 352, 353. 354. 364-
Menagerie Wood, 416.
Mentmore, 422.
Merryweather's Farm, 203.
Mill Green, 83, 95.

Milverton, 399.

Milwall's Plantation, 147.

Monkham's, 67, loi, 106, 107, 134, 144, 196,

197, 19S, 275, 330, 331.
Moor Hall, 105, 106.
Moor Wood, Roxwell, 3.
Moors, The, 207, 248.
Moreton, 28, 234, 295, 296, 304, 437.
Moulsham Thrift, 418, 444.
Mountnessing, 454.
Mucking, 388.

Myless Lodge, 255, 260, 384.
Myless Park, 389.

Naples, 441.

Nasing (or Nazeing), 11.

Nasing Bury, 27.

Nasing Common, II, 27, 98, 100, 106, 123,

134, 233, 278, 282, 295.
Nasing Coppice, 9, li, 38, 65, 66, loi, 102,

106, 147, 195, 196, 278, 280, 282, 295.
Nasing Park, 280, 282.
Nasing Schools, 278.
Navestock, 26, 43, 192, 367, 380.
Navestock Common, 252.
Navestock Green, 3S9.
Navestock Hall, 43, 192.
Navestock Heath, 207, 252.
Navestock Lake, 190.
Navestock Park, 207, 385, 438.
Neston Brook, 349.
Nether Hall, Moreton, 45, 126, 127.
Netherwood, 462.
Netteswell, 96.
Nevedon, 445.
Nevedon Bushes, 445.
New Farm, 306.
New Hall, High Roding, 239.
New Lin, Waltham, 371.
Newney Green, 435.
Newport-Pagnell, 423.
Nine Ashes, 318, 375.
Noak Hill, 251.
Normanton, 334.
Northbrooks, 294.
North Kilworth, 334.
Northlands, 113, 120.
North Ockendon, 387.
North Weald, 12, 40, 43, 77, 118, 123, 124,

137, 140, 418.
Norton Plall, 17.
Norton Heath, 296, 418, 428.
Nor Wood, 104, 242, 243, 244, 321, 325.
Norwood Plall, 433.

Obelisk Wood, il, 100, 144, 197, 245, 274,

304-
Offins' Grove, 445.
Old Park, 387, 388, 418.
Old Rye House, 372.
Old Sanford, 380, 412.
Olives, 238, 418.
Ongar, 45, 189, 295, 450.
Ongar Park, 26, ^^, 113, 118, 119, 120, 123,

124, 125, 189, 190, 256, 274, 276, 299, 321,

437-
Ongar Park Farm, 124.
Ongar Park Hall, 358.

INDEX

491

Orange Wood, 11, 62, 63, 143, 233, 274, 2S2,

303-
Osiers, The, Bourne Bridge, 242.
Osiers, The, Forest Hall, 103.
Osiers, The, Passingford Bridge, 116, 152,

242, 255.
Ouston, 339.
Ouston Woods, 345.

Paris, 328.

Park Hill Wood, 53.

Park Wood (Essex Union country), 53.

Park Wood, Doddinghurst, 84, 395.

Parndon Church, 203.

Parndon, Great, 277, 291.

Parndon Hall, 132.

Parndon Woods, 22, 34, 35, 72, 97, 98, 102,

106, 123, 166, 167, 213, 245, 292, 294.
Parson's Springs, 229.
Passingford Bridge, 117, 134, 149, 152, 380,

414.
Passingford Mill, 117.
Passmores, 167, 213, 301.
Patch Park, 276.
Pembrokeshire, 456, 457, 458.
Peterboro', 268, 269.
Pick well, 339, 344.
Picton Castle Estate, 461.
Pilgrims' House, 170.
Pinnacles, 148, 203, 294.
Pipers, Harlow, 290.
Pishobury, 423.
Pitsea, 420.
Pitsea Station, 446.
Pleshey, 99, 169, 283, 284, 388, 415.
Pleshey Church, 275.
Poles' Wood, 274.

Pont Street, Grosvenor Square, 329.
Poplars, 139, 219, 274, 389.
Priors' Wood, 323, 407.
Pudding Lane, 154.
Punch Bowl, 344.
Pyrgo Lodge, 300.
Pyrgo Park, 23, 100, 414. 440.
Pyrgo Wood, 23, 25, 100, 117, 1 18, 252.
Pyt House, 256.

Quarrington, 337.
Quenby, 349.
Quendon Woods, 328.
Quick Wood, 13, 14.
Quinn Brook, 237.

Radstock, 340.

Radwinter, 79.

Ranksborough Gorse, 354.

Rayleigh, 422.

Redgrove, Epping, 265.

Red Lion, Dulverton, 399, 402.

Rettendon, 436.

Rettendon Common, 435.

Ridden's Grove, 66.

Ridley's Gorse, 99, 138, 140.

Rochetts, 257.

Roden River, 117.

Roe Buck, Buckhurst Hill, 380, 381.

RoUeston, 333, 339, 341, 349.

RoUeston Spinney, 339.

Rolls' Park, 154.

Romford, 135, 390.

Rook Wood, 172.

Rookwood Hall, 244.

Roper's Mill, 426.

Rose Hall, 26.

Rowsham, 422.

Row Wood, 40, 94, 163, 180, 185, 245, 259,

274, 321, 322, 366,429, 431.
Rough Talleys, 99, 141, 166, 189, 220, 221,

299.
Roxwell, 284, 3S7, 420.
Roydon, 206, 294.
Roydon Grove, 2S0.
Roydon Park, 127.
Roydon Station, 127.
Rugby, 1,346,347,348.
Rundells, 97, 1 11, 221, 271, 272.
Rutland, 334.
Rye Hill Common, 35, 98.
Rye House, 126.

St. Anne's Castle, 387, 390, 391.

St. George's Hotel, Albemarle Street, 396.

St. Issel's House, 460.

St. Leonard's, 280.

Sanderstead, 408.

Saracen's Head, Uunmow, 259, 290, 324.

Saundersfoot, 402, 460, 462, 464.

Sawbridgeworth, 360.

Scotland, 344.

Screens, Coming away from, 187.

Screens Park, 3, 28, 104, 189, 219, 234, 275,

278, 322, 418, 425.
Shaftesbury, 256.

Shalesmore, ^^, 40, 44, 113, 114, 120, 123, 273.
Shalford, 361.
Shatter Bushes, 9, 39, 66, 144, 147, 197, 278,

282.
Sheering Street, 106,
Shelly, 389, 434.
Shenfield, 207.
Shonk's Mill, 192, 299, 439.
Sicily, 441.
Six Hills, 352, 364.
Skefihngton, 339, 346.
Skinner's Farm, 276.
Smalley Hall, 179.

Smith's Wood, below Bower Wood, 241.
Somerby, 339, 344, 352.
South Hanningfield, 422.
South Weald, 171.

Spains' Wood, 3, 188, 234, 275, 277, 278.
Spion Kop, 2S6.
Spratt's Hedgerow, 39, 66, 235.
Stanford Rivers, 437, 438.
Stanford Rivers Hall, 6, 26, 121, 189, 420.
Stansted, 227.
Stanton Wyville, 339, 340.
Stapleford, 253.
Stapleford Hall Farm, 24, 150.
Stapleford Tawney Hall, 413.
Stebbing, 361.
Stew Green, 44, 276, 303.
Stewkley, 422.
Stirling Castle, 31.
Stock, 229.
Stock Brook, 435.

492

INDEX

Stonard's Farm, 276, 302.
Stcndon, 228, 229, 358, 359.
Stondon Church, 441.
Stondon Place, 143, 405, 443.
Stone Hall Farm, 300.
Sturgeons, 290.

Sun and Whalebone, 167, 317, 328.
Surborough Castle, 408.
Suttons, 40, 103, 263, 273.
Swallows' Cross, 107, 230, 450.
Swansea, 464.
Swarby, 337.
Syston, 333.

Takeley, 389.

Takeley Forest, 38, 87, 163, 165, 183, 184.

Takeley Gate, 328, 418.

Tattle Bushes, 126, 127, 203. 280.

Taunton, 399.

Tawney Hall, 40, 42, 113, 116, 134.

Temple Bar, 317.

Temple Grove, 444.

Tenby, Wales, 457.

Terling, 422.

Thaxted, 91.

Theydon Garnon Rectory, 233.

Theydon Grove, 143, 276, 302.

Theydon Hall Farm, 32, 99.

Theydon Schools, 413.

Thoby Priory, 164, 247, 313, 409, 452, 453,

457, 460, 462.
Thoby Wood, 2, 21, 84, 86, 246, 247, 255,

410, 418, 450.
Thorley, 91.
Thotnwood Common, 46, 109, no, 322, 323,

412.
Thorpe Burrow Hill, 344, 345-
Thorpe Trussels, 333.
Thrushes' Bush, 33, 132, 278.
Thrussington, 169.
Thundersley Hall, 217.
Tilton, 339, 346, 351.
Tilton Woods, 345, 346.
Todd's Brook, 126, 294.
Toot Hill, 113, 120, 275, 302.
Tottenham, 75.
Trevane Estate, 462.
Tiing, 423.

Truant School, Fyfield, 45, 103.
Trueloves, 248.
Tumours, 154.
Twyford, 349.
Tyler's Green, 383, 437.
Tyler's X., 212, 245, 278, 279.

Vanderplanks, 348.
Vange Creek, 446.
Vale of Langar, 364.
Vatson Estate, 462.

Vicarage Wood, 21, 131, 132.

Wake Arms, 282.

Wales, 319, 383.

Waltham, 362.

Waltham Abbey, 43, 107, 132, 372, 404.

Walton's, 282.

Waple's Mill, 219, 234, 244, 277, 428, 433.

Warlies, 27, 40, 65, 66, -j^, 144, 147, I97.

198, 226, 307.
Warren, The, Copped Hall, 11, 27, 39.
Warren Farm, 432.
Warwick Castle, i.
Water-End Farm, 20, 45, 276.
Water's Gorse, 321.
Water's Grove, 321, 374.
Waterworks' Wood, 174.
Watford, 347.
Weald Brook, 14.
Weald Hall Coppice, 9, 28, ■J'S,, 99, 124, 166,

221, 273.
Weald Church, South, 251.
Weald Park, South, 84.
Weatherfield, 361.
Weir Hatches, 132.
Welby, 337.
Well Eves, 299.
West Haddon, 347.
Westlands, 435, 450, 454.
Westmeath, 107.
Whaddon, 422.
Whitechajiel, 124.
^Vhitechurch, 423.
Whitehall, Chigwell, 234.
White Hart, Brentwood, 369.
White Hart, Dulverton, 403.
Widford, 375.
Widmerpool, 343, 364.
Willingale, 16, 187, 234, 277, 366, 404, 410,

411.
Wilson Springs, 219, 239.
Windsor, 314.
Winslow, 423.
Wintry Wood, 35.
Witham, 430.

Witney Wood, 17, 104, 186, 188, 234.
Wiveliscombe, 399.
Worms' Heath, 408.
Wood End, 325.
Woodford, 77.
Woodside, 302.
Woolston Hall, Chigwell, 2S7.
Writtle, 69, 362, 370, 454.
Writtle Park, 2, 229, 275, 2S4, 380.
Writtle Race Course, 387.
Wynter's Grange, 34, 357.
Wyvendon, 364.

Yard Down, 403.

INDEX

49:

PORTRAITS.

Baker, Richard, "The Runner"
Blyth, Corporal Audley, D.C.O.
Blyth, Trooper Rupert, D.C.O.
Bury, Charles

Caldwell, Seymour
Capel-Cure, Arthur
Coope, Octavius E.

Gilbey, Guy
Gilbey, Tresham ...

Gold, Guy, D.C.O

Gold, Philip, D.C.O

Green, Sydney

Harris, George

Houblon, John Archer ...

PAGE. PAGE.

464 Ind, Edward ... ... ... ... 173

286

287 ' Lobb, Lance - Corporal Godwin .St.

130 John, C.I.V. ... ... ... ... 290

Lobb, Lance-Corporal Gordon Horak ... 289

80 Lobb. Lance-Corporal Guy Errington... 288

159

326 Maryon-Wilson, Rev. G. and Miss ... 239
Mashiter, Thomas ... ... ... 413

146 Oliver, Rev. Austin ... ... ... 226

2S5

285 Tabor, J. E. ... ... ... ... 136

221

Vickerman, Charles Ranken ... ... 397

165
37 Warner, T. C. T. (M.P.) 160

EQUESTRIAN PORTRAITS.

Baddeley, W. H., on " Magic "...
Ball, Richard Francis
Ball, Mrs. Richard Francis
Balloch, A. C, on " Cockie" ...
Barclay, Ford
Basham, F. T.

Beckington, Frederick, with "Chan-
cellor"' ...
Bennett, Mrs., on " My Treasure "

Bevan, R. V

Blyth, Audley, on " The Actress "
Bowlby, Arthur S., on " Piccadilly" ...
Buxton, Mrs. G., on " Phroso "

Carr, Leonard Thomas ...
Carr, C. K., on " Twilight "
Charrington, Cyril Norman, on his

favourite hunter, "Bullfinch"'
Charrington, Henry, on " The Swell "
Christy, David
Christy, David, jun.
Christy, James, on " Narcissus"'
Christy, Theodore, on "Schoolmaster '
Cowee, Thomas, on " The Rebel '"
Grossman, Douglas, on " Sweetmeat " ..
Grossman, Mrs. Douglas, on " Ruth" ...

Dalton, W., on " The Clown "...
Dalton, W., on "The Clown,"' jump-
ing a hurdle
Docwra, Miss A. N., on " Larry "
Dunlop, R. J

Edwards, A. J., on " Cheeky"...
Edwards, Arthur Noel, on " Bob "
Edwards, Guy, on " Nellie Grey "
Elder, PL PL, on "The Miller"

'.\GE.

P.\GE.

249

Elder, Mrs. H. H., on "Sweep"

141

194

i Evans, P. M., on " Katie"

250

195

193

Fane, Colonel F. J., on " Royal Chief-

10

tain "

95

168

Fane, Mrs. F. J., on •' Ruby"

96

315

Gregory, Donald, on " Kathleen "'

64

135

Green, .Miss ^L, on " Comet "...

lOI

4

61

224

Gripper, G. Bell, on " Romeo"

79

Harene, Miss Amy Beatrix, on " Robin "

256

108

Harris, George PL (driving)

167

Hart, George, on " The Knight "'

13

119

169

Hill, R. D., on "Business"

157

Horner, PL W. , on " Rupert "

128

206

Howard, T. J

178

208

7

6

69

271

i'4

Jones, Miss Ethel M

125

Kemp, Alfred

82

Lee, G. H., on " Rosabelle "

71

211

Lee, P. S

5

210

Longbourne, J. V. (driving)

356

Lovd, F., on " Rosamond "

205

228

Lykll, R. C

151

68

Marsh, S. Chisenhale, and " Wheel of

42

Fortune"

204

16

Mashiter, Edward T. (M.F.H.), on

" Rylstone "

86

216

Milbank, Thomas, on "Sir Frederick"'

59

218

218

Neill, Mrs., on " Dainty "

90

142

494

INDEX

Oliver, Endon, and his favourite hunter

" Bob" 227

Pari<es, Mrs. R., on "Gay Boy" ... 223

Patchett, W., Q.C 150

Pelly, Miss C, on " Bishop " ... ... 222

Pelly, E. (The Admiral), on his good

black hunter ... ... ... ... 129

Pelly, J. G., and " Snowstorm " ... 25
Piggott, Mr.s. Wellesley, on " The

Saint" 170

Price, Howel J 88

Price, Mrs. Howel J. ... ... ... S9

Ricardo, Major, and "General Banks" 201

Ridley, C. E., on " Doneraile "... ... 139

Ridley, Walter, on " Fly by Night " ... 140

Saunders, Rev. G. Ward, on "Cockle" 48

Scott, Rev. R. Leslie, on "Joan" ... 148

Sewell, Miss Dorothy, on "Hotspur" 155
Sewell, Miss Marjorie, on "Vanity" ]

Sewell, Miss Winifred on " Coco " ...) -''^

PAGE.

Single, Washington, on " May Morn"... 75

.Smith, Sir Charles Cunliffe ... ... 105

Symonds, William ... ... ... 76

Tower, Capt. W. M., on "Boomerang" 158

Upton, Mrs., and "Fairyland" ... 46

^'ickerman, C. R. , on " Carlow " ... 3(5

Wahab, Edward (driving his " Fantail"

Team) 181

Waters, Arthur ... ... ... ... 214

Waters, Mrs. A 215

Waters, Miss G., on "Gipsy" ... ... 122

Wood, General Sir Evelyn, V.C. ... 29

Wood, Lieut. -Col. G. W., on " Sequah " 171

Yerburgh, Rev. Richard, on "Rufus"... 311
Yerburgh, W. H. Beauchamp, on " Lis-

carton "... ... ... ... ... 127

COUNTRY SEATS, COVERTS, &c.

Albyns, A kill near
Aswarby Park

Barbers, Running for
Barbers

Barrington Hall ...
Bays' Grove

Beech Hill Park

Berner's Wood

Blackmore High Woods, Near ..

Blake Hall, Full cry past

Bower Wocxl (Smith's Wood below)

Boynton Hall Wood

Brick Kilns, Running for

Bushetts

Bush Wood

Church Wood, Doddinghurst
Church Wood, Doddinghurst ...
College Wood
Copped Hall
Crows' Wood

Deer Park...

Dewley Wood

Down Hall, Running for

Duck Wood, Dagnams ...

Epping, in summer dress
Epping, Outside the Cock Hotel
Epping, en roiiie to Birch Hall...

Fitz- John's

Fitz- Walter's

Forest Hall

293
336

"5

253

I

273
200
188

83

20

241

435
244

2S3
459

174
175

447
459
45^^

145
298

185
23

2G5
267
308

Forest Hall, Wood near...

Galley Hills

Garnish
Greensted Wood ...

Hallingbury Place
Hyde Hail Springs

Kelvedon Hall

Kelvedon Hall Woods ...

Knightsland Wood . .

Langleys ...
Leaden Wood

Man Wood

Mark Hall Wood

Mark Hall Wood, A ride in

Matching Park

Menagerie Wood...

Monkhams

Myless Lodge

Navestock Lake ...
Norwood ...

Ongar

Ongar Park, Running for

Osiers (Forest Hall)

Park Wood, Doddinghurst
Parndon Woods ...

275
209
18 Quick Wood

I'AGE.
19

192
219
299

32
183

177
176
121

230
258

179
203
166

297
416

134

260

190
243

295
281

17

395
35

14

INDEX

495

Ridley's Gorse

Rochetts, Running past ...

Row Wood

Screens, Coming away from
Shenfield, Going towards
Suttons

Takeley Forest ...

PAGE.

138

257
180

187
207
103

184

Tattle Bushes
Thoby Priory
Thoby Priory
Thoby Wood and Priory

Vicarage Wood ...

Wilson Springs
Witney Woods

r.\GE.
126
164

313
247

131

220
186

MEETS.

Abridge ...

Axe and Compasses, A Meet at the

Axe and Compasses, A Meet at the

Blackmore, A Meet at, in 1896
Bobbingworth Mill

Epping Long Green

Essex Union, A Meet at \^ineyards

1896

Essex Union, A Meet at Vineyards

1896

Fiddlers, The Merry
Fyfield

Good Easter
Green Man, Harlow
Green Man, Harlow
Greensted House, A Meet at

PAGE.

153 ! Hatfield Heath ...

161 , High Easter

305 I High Roothing Street

85 I King William
1 12

Matching Green, A Meet at, in il
Moreton ...

63

Passingford Bridge
52 Pleshey Mount

PAGE.
182
137
237

162

92
234

149
283

^°~ Qu are, Mr. E., Harriers, A Meet of, at
'5 Mr. Hart's Farm, 1896

Shonk's Mill

254
225
270
191 Tyler's X.

109

439
212

PORTRAITS OF HORSES.

Athboy (Lady W^arwick's)

Baroness (A. J. Edward's)

Berserker ...

Bright Light (Audley Blyth's) ..

Comet (J. Christy's)

Evolution (Mr. Poole's) ...

Goldfinch (Lady Warwick's)

Maquet (Mrs. Mclnto.sh's)
Moonstone (Mr. A. B. Giles') ..

217

310

60

70

197

107
232

P.^GE,

Needle Gun (Mr. P. Saunders') ... 73

Paddy (Mr. E. Docwra's) ... ... 41

Paddy (Mr. S. Caldwell's) Si

Ripley 291

Solomon (Mr. R. Cunliffe Smith's) ... 152

Spitfire (Major A. Carter's) ... 57

Vagabond (General Sir Evelyn Wood's) 30

Varnish (Lieut. -Col. G. W. Wood's) ... 172

Volunteer (Mr. Wilson's) 78

PORTRAITS OF HOUNDS.

Stormer

PAGE.
262

496

INDEX

HORSES.

Ace of Spades, 8i.
Actress, The, 6i.
Arbutus, 370.
Ascetic, 3.
Athboy, I, 3.
Austerlitz, 77.

Bairath, 271.

Baroness, 113, 217.

Baroness (Mr. Vickerman's), 433, 435, 436,

440, 446.
Bay Boy, 62.
Beau, The, 230, 249.
Beefeater, 62.
Bellerophon, 169.
Benica Boy, 78.
Berserker, 17, 28, 136, 163.
Bessie, 153.
Bishop, 222, 223.
Black Fox, 80.
Bob, 218, 227.
Bomerang, 158, 159.
Bonny Charley, 96.
Bookworm, 1 7 1.
Brian Boru, 7.
Bright Light, 58, 60, 62.
Brilliant, 71.
Brown Tony, 272, 277.
Brunette, 461.
Buccaneer, 62.
Bullfinch, 205, 206.
Business, 157.
Buttercup, 61.

Candidate, 211.

Candy, 211.

Cardigan, 431.

Carlow, 313, 314. 3iS> &c.

Cat, The, 27, 53, 84.

Catapult, 61, 62, 196, 197, 201, 229.

Cavendish, 77.

Cedric, 243.

Champagne, 318, 319, 329, &c.

Chancellor, 315, 317, 321, &c.

Cheeky, 216.

Cheltenham, 81.

Cheque Book, 62, 271.

Chetwood, 6.

Chinaman, 58, 62, 272.

Chit Chat, 71.

Cigarette, 62.

Cigarette (Mr. Vickerman's), 460.

Circe, 318, 332, 336, 337, &c.

Clipper, The, 4C7, 410, 41 1, 412.

Clown, The, 68, 228, 229.

Cockie, 36, 48, 193, 233.

Coco, 154, 155, 156.

Cognac, 313, 318, 319, 320, &c.

Colonel, The, 56, 62, 189, 243, 282.

Comet, 69, 70, 71, 72.

Comet (Miss M. Green's), loi.

Conquest, 62.

ConundruiT;, 62.

Crow, 62.

^00.

Cypriot, 62.

Daffodil, 69.
Dairymaid, 228.
Dandy Dick, 157, 158.
Daylight, 405.
Delight, 107.
Doctor, The, 271.
Dolly, 298, 307.
Dolly (A. Kemp's), 82.
Doneraile, 139.
Duchess, 55, 56, 62.
Dutch Sam, 90.

Eastern Lady, 61, 62, 97.

Elevator, 80.

Evolution, 60, 197.

Exmoor, 437, 438, 441, 442, 443.

Fairyland, 46, 47.
Fancy, 159.
Farnley, Baron, 201.
Fetherlock, 5.
Flirt, 169.
Fly by Night, 140.
Flying Dutchman, 90.
Forester, 454.
Frisky Jane, 81.

Gaston Light, 60.

Gay Boy, 223.

General Banks, 55, 62, 201, 202,

Gibraltar, 414.

Gipsy, 122.

Gladiateur, 66, 211.

Gladys, 5.

Goldtinch, i, 2.

Greta, 81.

Grimaldi, 330.

Gunboat, 58, 73.

Harlequin, 81.
Haymaker, 61, 107.
Hermatite, 453.
Hermit, 171.
Hesper, 155.
Hotspur, 155.

Jack, 36, 66, 112, 113, 115, 208, 303.
Jack, Little, 249, 250.
Jannock, 211.
Joan, 61, 147, 148.

Katie, 250, 251.
Killarney, 81.
King, Ebor, 1 13.
Knappgelt, 135.
Knight, The, 13.

La Mascotte, 135.

Lamlast, 78.

Larry, 42.

Liscarton, 127, 149, 176, 177.

Little John, 388.

INDEX

497

Lord Melbourne, i.
Lottery, 405.
Lucy, 76.

Magic, 249.

Mainstone, 69.

Malakoff, 414, 415.

Maquet, 107.

Marquis, 62.

Martin Chuzzlewit, 405.

Matching, 299.

Maybelle, 6, 7.

May Morn, 74, 75.

Meteor, 62.

Midshipmite, ill, 175.

Miller, The, 142, 143^.

Miller, The (Mr. Potchin's), 346.

Mistletoe Bough, 217.

Moonstone, 232.

My Treasure, 135.

Narcissus, 68, 69, 70.
Needlegun, ^2:^ 74-
Nellie Grey, 218.
Norton, 186.
Novice, The, 405.

Once too Often, 74, 76.
Osric, 157.

Paddy, 41, 79, 81.

Pearl, The, 143.

Pedometer, 17, 56, 196.

Peep o' Day, 367, 370, t,-jt„ 375.

Peggy, 16, 17.

Peter, 141, 183, 296.

Phroso, 108.

Piccadilly, 224.

Pig, 62.

Pinafore, in, 153, 175, 189.

Pitlockie, 62.

Play Actor, 61.

Ploughboy, 62.

Polestar, 58.

Polly (Mr. G. H. Lee's), 72.

Priestess, 62.

Princess, 196.

Queen, The, 357.
Quits, 58.

Rackrent, 106.

Rafter, 62.

Randolph, 128.

Rebel, The, 114, 116.

Red Deer, 438.

Repealer, 408.

Reveller, 128.

Ringleader, 69.

Robin, 256.

Rocket, 329, 331, 371, 384, 405.

Romeo, 78, 79.

Rosabelle, 71-

Rosamond, 205.

Roscoe, 62.

Rosebery, 272.

Rosicrucian, 6.

Roy, 226.

Royal Chieftain, 95, 276.

Ruby, 62, 96.

Rufus, 311.

Rupert, 128.

Ruth, 81, 209, 210, 211, 212, 228, 247, 271.

Rylstone, 86.

Sailor, 460.

Saint, The, 170.

Saladin, 453.

Schoolmaster, 271, 272.

Sequah, 171.

Shamrock, 300, 440, 445.

Sheila, 12, 65, 66.

Sir Frederick, 58, 59, 62.

Snap Shot, 10, 62.

Snowstorm, 25, 26, 193, 208.

Solomon, 152.

Speculator, 62.

Spitfire, 20, 57, 61, 62, 98, 187.

Sprig of Shillelagh, 95.

Squire, 62.

Stella, 74, 77.

Success, 185.

Sweep, 141, 143.

Sweet-bird, 271.

Sweetmeat, 211.

Swell, The, 208.

Switcher. The (Lord Strathmore's), 347.

Tap, 62.
Taunton, 405.
Tinker, 190.
Tipperary, 405, 425.
Tomboy, 374.
Topthorn, 405.
Torpedo, 58, 157.
Trap, 358, 383.
Twilight, 61, 169.

Vagabond, 30, 31.
Vanity, 154, 155, 156.
Varnish, 171, 172.
Vicar, The, 447.
Victim, The, 371.
Volunteer, 77, 78.

Wakefield, 204.

Warpaint, 266.

Waterproof, 62.

Wheel of Fortune, 203, 204.

Whitehaven, 271.

White Roothing, 239, 240.

Wide-awake, 367, 370, 373, &c.

Woodpecker, 438, 446.

Woodpigeon, 441.

Yokohama, 62, 159.
York, 62.

Zouave, 58.

VOL. II

498

INDEX

PACKS OF HOUNDS (FOX, STAG AND HARE.)

Adams' Stag Hounds, 324.

Basset Harriers, 460.

Beaufort's, Duke of, 350.

Belvoir, The, 312, 334, 337, 338, 339, 347.

Blackmore Beagles, 370, 371, 387.

Blackmore \'ale, 256.

Blankney, The, 312.

Bramham Moor, 272.

Bridge's, T., Harriers, 422, 450.

Brighton Harriers, 418.

Canadian Wolf Hounds, 245.
Cottesmore, The, 334, 335, 347.

Devon and Somerset Stag Hounds, 400, 401,
402, 403.

East Essex, 77, 3S7, 390, 422.
Essex Stag Hounds, 313.
Essex and Suffolk, 77.

Essex Union, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 86,
87, 172, 387, 418, 422, 457.

Finchley Staghounds, 359.

Hill's, Hon. Geoffrey, Otter Hounds, 460.

Laurenny Beagles, 460.

Meynell, The, 158, 211.

Oakley Hounds, 217, 289.

Pembrokeshire Hounds, 460.

Petre's, Hon. Frederick (Harriers), 370, 372,

376.
Portman's, Lord, 254.

Powell's, Mr. (Carmarthenshire Hounds), 460.
Puckeridge, The, 147, 183, 237, 242, 289, 328,

354, 360, 375, 391.
Pytchley, 49, 334, 346, 347, 364.

Queen's, The, 77, 151, 319, 324.

Quorn, 77, 169, 253, 333, 334, 349, 352, 364.

Rochdale Harriers, 81.

Rothschild's, Baron, Stag Hounds, 319, 362,

363, 422.
Rounding's, 381.

Scotchwell Harriers, 460.
Southdown, The, 26.
South Essex, 387, 418, 420.
Southampton's, Lord, 422.
South Notts, 310.
South Pembrokeshire, 460.
South Wilts, 253, 256.

Surrey, Old, 406.

Surrey Stag Hounds, 319, 398, 399, 403, 407,

414, 454.
Surrey Union, 413.

Thomas's, R., Harriers, 460.
Tiverton Hounds, 401.
Tivyside Fox Hounds, 460.

Warwickshire, The, i, 214.
West Kent, 79.
West Norfolk Harriers, 77.
Whaddon Chase, 172.

HOUNDS.

Artless, 52 (Essex Union).

Belvoir, 116 (E.H.).
Belvoir Gordon, 116 (E.H.).

Caroline, 52 (Essex Union).

Damper, 189 (E.H.).
Dancer, 268 (Mr. Quare's).
Dareful, 52 (Essex Union).
Dartaway, 52 (Essex Union).
Dasher, 268 (Mr. Quare's).
Dauntless, 52 (Essex Union).
Daylight, 45.

Dexter, 268 (Mr. Quare's).
Dexter, 300 (E.H.).
Duchess 52 '(Essex Union).

Folly, 52 (Essex Union).
Fortress, 52 (Essex Union).
Foundling, 52 (Essex Union).
Fuchsia, 26S (Mr. Quare's).

Gaiety, 52 (Essex Union).
Gameson, 52 (Essex Union).
Gandy, 52 (Essex Union).
Gleeful, 52 (Essex Union).

Lovely, 268 (Mr. Quare's).

Notable, 52 (Essex Union).

Paradox, 49.

Reason, 52 (Essex Union).
Refuge, 268 (Mr. Quare's).

Saintless, 49.

Sanguine, 52 (Essex Union).

Scalper, 268 (Mr. Quare's).

Segment, 52 (Essex Union).

Signet, 268 (Mr. Quare's).

Snap, 332 (Mr. Vickerman's Fox Terrier)

Songstress, 268.

Stormer, 262, 269.

INDEX

499

Streamer, 268.
Sylvia, 268.

Testy, 52 (Essex Union).
Tragedy, 52 (Essex Union).
Tremor, 52 (Essex Union).

Warbler, 268 (Mr. Quare's).
Wilful, 52 (Essex Union).
Windsor, 268 (Mr. Quare's),

DEER.

Chief Justice, 388.

Lucy Long, 387, 388.

Snowstorm, 407.

The Bishop of Waltham, 404.

The Horley Hind, 403.

The Miller's Maid, 389, 41^

ERRATA- Vol. II.

Fov Dagenham in these " Leaves " read Dagnams. (See note re Errata
Vol. I.)

Fov Lankester Springs, p. 104, read Lancaster Springs.