16 



fox handy, but they drew the covert a blank ; then they drew Mx. 

 Beard's covert just by, when there was a halloa gone away for Tels- 

 combe Tye ; the hounds were quickly taken to the scent, and they soon 

 told us it was a spicey one, but the foot people had headed him about, 

 and the hounds were as wild as willicks. Press held them on to the 

 straight line when they all settled together, laid down their sterns, 

 and away they went at a most tremendous pace across Telscombe 

 old lands, over Church furlong, and into Crocksdean bottom, climb- 

 ing to the top of Southease hill, dipping into the cricketting bottom 

 like lightning, up IMr. C. Saxby's hill, over Highdool, and by North- 

 ease link bushes ; now they dipped into the Iford green flats, 

 *' Gossip and Governess " taking the lead, as if coupled together, 

 over the sweet brows, and through the green flats they went, at a 

 most rapid pace ; now climbing to the top of Iford hill, taking the 

 side coombs in front of Iford, Swanborough and Kingston, coming 

 up by the sheep ponds, and dipping into the awful cold coombs, 

 crossing the deep bottom below ; now climbing again, leaving New- 

 market plantation to the left, circling round this sweet tiirf for the 

 top of Falmer sheep down, but ere he could reach that, the fleet 

 hounds were pressing fast upon him ; he verged his line, sunk the 

 hill, and bolted into Falmer great ploughed lane ; here the hounds 

 soon got view of him, and it was a complete course all down this 

 great lane into the hedge beside the tui-npike, crossing the turnpike, 

 and back into the hedge again ; what -^ath the cracking of the 

 hedge, the shrill chirrup of the hoimds, and every one of the field 

 that was up, throwing a little of their dog language, made the place 

 quite in an uproar ; but reynard beat them all like a game fox, out 

 into the road he came, bolting up the cutting for Falmer village a 

 view, but here he could reach that, the hounds ran into him, and put 

 an end to this splendid chase. The excitement of the fox -hunter 

 was raised to the highest pitch, men scarcely seeming to know what 

 to say to each other ; the horses were sobbing and panting, you 

 might look round and see horses coming over the hills for two miles 

 back ; the distance was eight miles in the open, through a very hilly 

 country, but all on turf, except Falmer ploughed lane ; time, 37 

 minutes. I cannot say too much in praise of this excellent chase ; 

 it was admitted by all to be the most complete thing from beginning 

 to end (taking the distance) they ever saw, it was a complete race 

 with the hounds, but the ladies had it, and they always will ; give 

 me the lady pack, they touch and go on, while the dogs are think- 

 ing about it ; horses had no chance to live with them. ]\Ir. Monk, 

 on his beautiful grey, singled himself out by riding away from the 

 -whole field. 



As this staunch little pack is now to be laid down in consequence 

 of the venerable owner having numbered the years of three -score and 

 ten, and his health not being good enough to follow his hounds, it 

 cannot be expected he can keep them for the amusement of others. 

 For my own part, as a fox-hunter for this, and many other good 

 days sport I have had with his hounds, I most sincerely thank him ; 

 more so as he was the first to establish a pack of fox hounds in East 

 Sussex, and the last to lay them down. 



