THE ESSEX UNION COUNTRY. 26/ 



a jJ'eographical description of the Essex Union country. It 

 is bounded on the north by the mail-coach road from 

 London to Colchester/ on the south by the River Thames, 

 on the east by the Blackwater River and an arm of the 

 German Ocean, and on the west, we wen^ ,?oing to say by 

 London, for the western end ot the country extends to 

 Barking, which is within five miles of the metropolis. A 

 glance at the map shows that it is a long narrow country, 

 as it is no less than forty miles in length from the eastern to 

 western extremity. Though not such a fine open 

 country as the Essex, the Union is, nevertheless, a very 

 sporting one. It has always been known as carrying a 

 good scent, and being well stocked with good wild 

 foxes. Of late years, in consequence of the wretched 

 price obtainable for wheat, the area of grass has con- 

 siderably increased. We doubt if the grass carries as 

 good a scent as the plough. We can quite hear some 

 of our readers e.xclaim at this remark ; still, that is our 

 experience, and though, of course, there are some days 

 when hounds drive along better over the grass, we 

 think, take the season through, particularly should it be 



' We believe thai it is now agreed that for the fuluie the Essex country 

 is to extend to the railway hne, so far as it runs south of the coach road. 



