17 



As a pack of fox hounds in East Sussex is now quite extinct, to 

 those who read my pamphlet, I must bid adieu ; there are no more 

 of those meetings where you see one of the finest packs of hounds, 

 some of the noblest of the horse kind, and some of the greatest 

 nobles and gentlemen of our land, all meeting together, — who can 

 deny but this was a delightful scene. I much regret to lose sight 

 of the scarlet coat, that beautiful scarlet coat is now no more to be 

 seen, but is now turned to the bottled green. Only just take a little 

 piece of scarlet, about the size of a gentleman's coat sleeve, hang it 

 round a lady's shoulder, and see what a beautiful bloom it will put 

 on her cheek. 



Brookside Harriers, Jan. 11, 1836. — In consequence of the snow 

 on the ground on Monday last, these harriers did not go to their 

 meeting place [Newmarket Hill], but threw off at Rodmell, where 

 they found an old sporting hare at the back of the village. She took 

 away to North-bank, through Southease village, up the lanes crossing 

 Southease Sheep-down to the Hodden Heathy Brow, from thence to 

 Bearshide-gap, along the cliif to Portobello to Bannings and RodmeU 

 Heathy-brow ; here she headed, and skirted the back of Telscombe 

 village across the Old Lands, down Hockhani Bottom, takijig the 

 Old Road at the back of Deans, and on to Southease Stump Bottom ; 

 — here she got up in view, and the hounds went of coiu'se at the top 

 of their speed by Notch Bushes through the Cricketting Bottom, 

 crossing Rodmell and Northease hills, dipping the Iford Green Flats, 

 touching Swanburgh Hill, the hounds still running at a rapid pace, 

 with Liberty and Newsman taking the lead ; she then skirted the 

 side hill in front of Balsdean, and on to Harveys Stone, where the 

 pack ran into her and killed in fine style. This was the best run 

 these harriers have had dui-ing the season, or, perhaps, for many 

 seasons before. The field was much beaten and the cold iron was 

 frequently tried on, but many of the steeds could not answer the 

 demands and it was not without difficulty that others arrived at the 

 killing point. Owing to the inclement weather, the field was but 

 small, but those who were there will long remember the day. This 

 was a famous old sporting hare, which had been hunted for several 

 seasons before by the same pack, but never could be overtaken. 

 She was named the Old Court-ham Hare, in consequence of her 

 always being to be found on the land called the Court-barn Lands, 

 belonging to Mr. C. Saxby, who jocosely used to say to the hunts- 

 man, " Ah, you cannot kill my old Court-ham hare,^^ but alas ! the 

 time was come for poor Puss to die — the pack with triumphant voices 

 seeming to proclaim " the victory is ours." 



Charley Wilkins's Fox Chase. — Being on a visit at a friend's and 

 out of my own county, he invited me to have a day's hunt with the 

 fox hounds, as they would meet within a few miles of his residence 

 the next day. I had been much used to road riding, but not in a 

 chase, and thought I should like to see them ; but neither I nor my 

 horse, I thought, would be able to follow them. My friend said, 

 ** I have two good hunters, and as you have never seen a fox chase 



