THE RUSSELLS OF STUBBERS. 285 



loo large, and giving young hounds a chance of seeing 

 their fox. We know large woodlands are useful for cub- 

 hunting, as there is often a good cry in covert which teaches 

 the juveniles to go to the cry, but at the same time we 

 think, unless there is a very good scent they sometimes 

 sicken young hounds, particularly if the weather is hot, 

 whereas in smaller coverts they get a better chance at their 

 fox. Adjoining the Belhus Estate is Stubbers, the resi- 

 dence of Mr. Champion Russell, who often has a fox in his 

 coverts. We may mention, en passant, that the first master 

 of the South Essex (the country mentioned in an early part 

 of this chapter as lying between Dagenham and Norsey 

 Wood) was Mr. William Russell, an ancestor of Mr. 

 Champion Russell's. His huntsman was John Stevens, 

 who afterwards lived at Hornchurch, and dealt a bit in 

 horses, and died at the great age of ninety-three. His son, 

 the celebrated Jack Stevens, whipped in to him before he 

 went to Lord INIiddleton, in Warwickshire, and became so 

 well known with Mr. Osbaldeston in the Ouorn country. 

 As we have mentioned in Chapter I. (p. 44), Mr. 

 Russell's hounds were at (Mie time hunted by the famous 

 Richard I'^airbrother before he entered the service of 

 Mr. Harding Newman. Mr. Champion Russell has 

 kindlv furnished us with the following extracts from 



