THE LIBRARY FOXES. 1 35 



these bright moments in a time of considerable dulness, 

 the first gallop, of (anuary 2Sth, was one lasting lor two 

 hours and twenty-five minutes, the io.\ having run a big 

 ring, and returned to Canes Wood, where the hounds 

 were whipped off in the dark. The second and third 

 runs were not of such long duration, but were straighter 

 and faster. 



During the latter part of Mr. Joseph Arkwright's 

 mastership the records ot the sport falling to the share 

 ot the Essex Hountls are scanty ; but it would appear 

 that the stock of foxes, and the number and quality of 

 the runs, improved as time went on. The Down Hall 

 Coverts, in particular, proved hospitable strongholds, and 

 on this subject Lord Rookwood writes : " My father took 

 a real pleasure in a find in the coverts, and so tully had the 

 vixens realised that Down Hall was a sanctuary that I 

 remember coming down during that time one spring with 

 my father from London to look after some work he had in 

 hand, and sitting in the evening reading in the library, 

 when we were disturbed by a game of romps, accompanied 

 by squealing untler the floor, which made niy father order 

 me to have the boards taken up and terrets put in the next 

 morning, as he and I both believed a whole colony of 

 rats had in our absence taken possession ; but when I 



