lOO THE ESSEX FOXHOUNDS. 



The presentation was then made amid shouts of 

 " Yoicks " and "Tally-ho," which were renewed when Mr. 

 CoNVERS rose to reply. He said : Mr. Chairman and 

 Gentlemen, I call this the very proudest day of my life. 

 That in the capital town of the county to which I belong" 

 I should be so received — in so enthusiastic a manner — with 

 such kind compliments, and with everything done in so 

 superior a manner, is a circumstance so extremely gratifying 

 that if I had not the nerves of a fo.xhunter I should not be 

 able to speak. But, gentlemen, I can assure you. with the 

 most unaffected sincerity, that I do not remember, at any 

 period of my life, to have experienced such gratification as 

 I now feel ; and I do tell you, upon my honour, that my 

 heart is as full as the brimming glass in which I have the 

 honour of now drinking all your good healths. I can 

 only say that I most sensibly appreciate your kindness, and 

 that, as I have already stated, I feel that this is, beyond 

 comparison, the proudest and happiest day of my life. I 

 consider that the kindness you have bestowed upon me is 

 more than I deserve. But I do assure you that I most 

 entirely coincide with your excellent Chairman in his ad- 

 miration of foxhunting, and that I cordially concur with 

 him in the opinion that (31d England is the only nation in 

 the world which properly enjoys, and is capable of properly 



