MR. THOMAS KEMl'.LE. 287 



Essex country, has a laroe extent of land and some 

 excellent coverts at Woodham, between Danbury and 

 Maldon. The chain of woodlands at Danbury, about 

 five miles from Chelmsford, are the property of the Fitz- 

 walter family. In the Dengie Hundred country, which 

 lies between Danburv and Southminster, a crood deal of 

 the land belongs to some of the London Hospitals. Sir 

 Henrys Mildmay, Lord Petre, and Mr. Christopher Parker 

 are also landowners in these parts. Mr. Kemble, of Run- 

 well Hall, whom we have mentioned above, is another land- 

 owner. His gorse covert at Runwell planted in May, 1872, 

 answered to the call when drawn in the following December. 

 "A seven months' old covert to hold a fox!!" Hounds 

 drew his coverts twenty-two times in three years and found 

 in them twenty times. Xo mean record. Mr. Kemble 

 knows every inch of the country, and though, as he has 

 often told the writer, he never jumps a fence, he is always 

 at the end of the fastest and straightest run, and can 

 generally tell you which hounds have been cutting out the 

 work, and every field they have gone into. His old friend, 

 Arthur Cox, of whom we have spoken above, made the 

 following- riddle of his friend, " W'hv is Mr. Kemble the 

 most good-natured man in the hunt?" " Because he never 

 takes offence (a fence)." May he yet see many a good 



