COLONEL cook's RETIREMENT. 6 1 



his pack to Mr. Archer Houblon, and bade farewell to 

 the Essex country in the following letter : — 



" To the Noblemen, Gentlemen, and Farmers in the 

 District of the Essex Hunt. 



" Being: obliored to retire from the manao-ement of 



the Essex Foxhounds, 1 think it no more than common 



gratitude to return you my sincere thanks for the civility 



and support I have received from you during the five 



seasons I hunted the country. My hounds I have sold 



to Mr. Houblon, although very reluctantly, but my friends 



wished it, and I did not feel comfortable at the idea of 



taking away my pack from a country, I, as a stranger, 



have received so much kindness in. The manager, Mr. 



Conyers, jun., told me at Tattersall's he would do the 



thing as it ought to be done, and I sincerely hope he 



will perform his promise. 1 take my leave with wishing 



you all health and happiness, and prosperity to the County 



of Essex. 



" I remain, 



" Your very obedient and obliged humble servant, 



"J. Cook." 



It is said that some three years after his retirement 

 Colonel Cook was out with the Essex, and some of his 



