MR. IIERVEY FOSTER. 253 



iSiS;. Mr. Foster had lived all his life at Theydon Garnon 

 Rectory, near Eppin^-, with his father, the Rev. Sir Caven- 

 dish Foster, who did not lono- survive his loss. He was 

 born in 1S51, and, like many another Essex boy, he took 

 his first lessons in riding to hounds with Mr. Henry Vigne's 

 harriers. On cominsf of aire in 1872 he undertook the 

 secretaryship of the Esse.x Hounds, in succession to Mr. 

 Soames. Ten years later, on the formation of the Essex 

 Hunt Club, he was made secretary of that also, and he con- 

 tinued to hold both offices until his death. After his first 

 experience of race riding at Childerditch, near Brentwood, 

 he became devoted to this form of sport. As we have 

 already seen, it was due to his efforts, in conjunction with his 

 life-long friend, Mr. Robert Wood (now Lockwood) that 

 the Rundells Meetings were started, and he was a constant 

 competitor there as long as he could ride. He was of very 

 light, almost fragile, build, and in Mr. Lockwood's opinion 

 he was "a much better man to hounds than between the 

 flags. Though a very neat rider, with beautiful hands and 

 inin nerve, he lacked the strength to make a bad horse go. 

 He hatl a good eye to hounds, and as long as he stood up 

 he was there ; l)Ut his judgment failed him, and so he 

 generally came to grief." He had Irish blood in his 

 veins, and he rivalled the heroes of Lever's novels in 



