IQO THE ESSEX FOXHOUNDS. 



which I got very fond of my hounds, and managed to get 

 together a very good stable of horses, in which task I was 

 most ably supported by Bailey, Dobson, and their staff. 

 No man could have had better servants, and I believe their 

 work was thoroughly appreciated in the country. Nothing 

 could exceed the kindness I received from all the farmers 

 and owners of coverts in the hunt. They love sport, and 

 many of the farmers, when hounds are running, willingly 

 shut their eyes to any damage that may be done to their 

 fields. I remember especially one instance in the Friday 

 countrv, when many jumped into a lane, and the opposite 

 field being wheat, I turned to get to hounds by a fence 

 higher up, when a man opened the gate of the wheat 

 field, and on my saying ' No, thank you ; I won't ride 

 over the wheat,' he said, ' Dang it, sir, come on ; it's 

 mine.' Needless to say, I rode along the headland, but 

 it showed a real love of sport which, to a master, makes 

 hunting very pleasant." 



