PREFACE. 



We desire to preface this book with some words of acknow- 

 ledgment — brief, but sincere — to the kind friends who have aided 

 in its compilation. 



We are greatly indebted to Lord Rookwood for his recol- 

 lections of hunting, and to Mr. Loftus Arkwright and Mr. 

 Sheffield Neave for diaries kept by their fathers, each of whom 

 held a Mastership of hounds, which has now passed to his 

 son. 



Accounts of notable runs in the last quarter of a century 

 have been furnished bv Stephen Dobson, the former hiuitsman 

 of the Essex Hounds, and James Bailey, his successor ; and 

 much valued help has been given by Mr. R. Y. Bevan, who 

 has added some finishing touches to his spirited hunting 

 poems on their reappeai'ance in our pages. 



Amongst many other contributors, special mention is due 

 to Mr. H. R. G. Marriott, Mr. George R. Greaves, Mr. E. T. 

 Helme, Lt.-Colonel S. L. Howard, Mr. Frederick Green, Mr. 

 Todhunter, Mr. Leonard Pelly, Mr. Harding Newman, Mr. 

 George Hart, and Dr. Clegg. Messrs. John Ridley, C. E. 

 Ridley, and E. A. Ball have furnished information from diaries 

 kept by the late Mr. T. D. Ridley and R. C. Ball, and other 

 sources. Miss Collin and Miss Jones have taken part in the 



