66 THE ESSEX FOXHOUNDS. 



the knowledge of the master. He advocates Hunt Club 

 Dinners and Balls, to please the ladies, being convinced 

 things cannot go on right unless they are in good humour. 

 Reference is also made to the importance of gaining the 

 goodwill of the farmers by giving Hunt Cups for races 

 for their horses. 



With regard to the pack when in the field, he points 

 out that the practice of hunting at daybreak had become 

 unnecessary in consequence of the improvement in the 

 breed of hounds. He insists on the necessity of keeping 

 hounds " in blood " and gives instances of their extraordi- 

 nary scenting powers. 



The latter part of the work contains allusions to fo.x- 

 hunting in Ireland, Wales and France ; remarks on hunting 

 accidents; anecdotes of Mr. Meynell; suggestions for further 

 improving the breed of hounds and providing for old hunt 

 servants, and estimates of the cost of hunting establish- 

 ments. The book concludes with lists of the various packs 

 of foxhounds in England and of the hounds in some of 

 the principal kennels. The Essex packs named in the list 

 are those of Lord Petre, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Charles New- 

 man, and Mr. Hanbury. Lists are given of the hounds in 

 each of these packs, with the strange exception of that of 

 Mr. Conyers, in which the writer must, one would think, 

 have taken a special interest. 



