144 THE ESSEX FOXHOUNDS. 



A turn or two round the wood, and he died as a fox ought 

 to die, after a run of three hours and seven minutes. 

 Those who persevered to the end, and their name was not 

 legion, liad thus a most satisfactory finish to as good a 

 day's sport as man need wish to see. 



" Not the least pleasant part of the sight was the ex- 

 pression of satisfaction which overspread the face of the 

 worthy master as he watched his pets struggling for the 

 dainty morsels while the shades of evening fell fast around. 

 The distance gone over was not far short of twenty-four 

 miles, and great credit must be given to Tom Wilson for 

 his perseverance in the face of a not very brilliant scent." 



Within a few davs of this oreat run takinof 

 place — a run which had stirred the pulses of the Essex 

 sportsmen, and caused them to hold in more esteem 

 than ever the venerable master — the annual meeting of 

 the Hunt was held. With it came the bad news that 

 Mr. Joseph Arkwright had tendered his resignation ; and 

 that a reconsideration of his determination was not to be 

 looked for was made patent by a letter, penned by his 

 son to Bell' s Life, in which the writer stated the country 

 would be vacant at the end of the current season. 



Here was something of a poser for the Essex Hunt. 

 As the intelligence of Mr. Joseph Arkwright's with- 



