34° THE ESSEX FOXHOUNDS. 



any man I ever met. He was strict with us, but never 

 swore. His strongest expression was ' By Gad,' and that 

 I can hear him saying now ; generally, ' By Gad, that's 

 pretty,' as his little hounds streamed away." 



Mr. Vigne's mastership lasted for about sixty years. 

 He died after a lingering illness on July 20th, 1892, at the 

 ripe age of eighty-seven. For many years before his 

 death he was the oldest master of hounds in England. 



Since his death his country has been hunted with 

 much success by Mr. Edward Barclay, of Roydon Lodge, 

 who spares no pains to keep down the number of his 

 "field " and to avoid damage to the farmers.^ 



' For the contents of the above chapter we are largely indebted to Baily's 

 Magazine, also to articles in the County Gentlemati and W'oodjord Times, 

 kindly placed at our disposal by the Editors. 



