1871] CHAELES ORVIS. 331 



The following- letter, written to the Eev. W. K. Verney, 

 will doubtless be of interest to the friends and admirers of 

 this keen huntsman and good servant : 



Sidleseombe, Battle. Sussex. 



Any list 8th. 1895. 

 Rev. Sir, 



111 answer to your letter, my father, the late Charles Orvis, was twenty- 

 three years and eight mouths with John Conyers, Esq., Copt Hall, Epping, 

 Essex, as whipper-in and hnutsman. When Mr. Conyers died, he went as 

 liuntsinan to the York and Aiiisty, under Sir Charles Slingsl)y, of Scriven 

 Park, Knaresborough, Yorkshire, where he remained until he Avas drowned 

 with Sir Charles Slingsl)y,* Mr. Loyd. and Mr. Robinscm. in crossing the river 

 Ure, when himting. I was born at Epping. I started first with Sir Charles 

 Slingsby, riding second horse. Then I started whipping in to the Badswoi-th, 

 under Lord Hawke, three years ; and then two years under Lord Middletou, 

 of Birdsall, Yorkshire ; and then to the Bicester, under T. T. Drake. Esq., of 

 Shardeloes, Bucks, with Worrall as kennel huntsman. When Mr. Drake 

 sold his hounds, I went as first whip to the Vale of White Horse, uiuhn- 

 W. Wilson, Esq., for one year, and tlien to the Bedale. under Mr. W. J. 

 Booth, for one year ; but. anxious to lietter myself, I went to the Craven, 

 under Mr. Wells. Having the Warwickshire place open to me. I accepted it, 

 and remained there twelve years. On leaving there through his lordship 

 hunting his own hounds, I went to the Holderness, which I hunted for three 

 seasons ; from there to the East Sussex, under C. A. Egerton, Esq., for eight 

 years. Leaving there, I went to the Badsworth for two seasons. Very 

 ])leased to hear Mr. Verney got in at Rugby. 



I am, Sir, 



Your obedient servant, 



Charles Orvls. 



From Sir C. Mordaunt's diary : 



On Tlnn-^^day, November 2Sth. 1871, the hounds met at Harlmry Station, 

 on a Ijeautifnl himting morning. A large field assembled at this favourite 

 meet, and Mr. Lucy gave the word for Ladbroke Gorge. A fox was found at 

 once, and the way in which the bitches ran him in the coA'ert showed that 

 there was a scent. In ten minutes time he was viewed away, and Orvis got 

 his hoimds away close to him ; they ran without a check by Hodnell. Lower 

 Radbourn. and Wills Pastures, and thence over the Watergall Brook, which 

 at the place the hounds crossed it was wide and very full of water. After 

 crossing it I could see no one with the hounds except Mr. Spragget, of 

 Gaydon, and Charles Orvis, and we remained alone with them to the finish. 

 The hounds ran ou at their liest pace over the Oxford Canal, and passed 

 l)etween Wormleighton and Priors Hardwick, over Hardwick Hill, and then 

 d()\vu the Vale, leaving Boddington Gorse on the right. Here a slight check, and 

 the only one during the run, took place ; the bitches were running ou both sides 



* The horse ridden on that day by Sir Charles Slingsby was called Salt Fish because- 

 he was good on a fast daij. 



