The Essex Foxhotmds, 1 69 



favourite amusement. Then diverging from the road 

 to cover, I have a look at the " old house at home," 

 or what was once home, regarding it with mingled 

 feelings of pleasure and sorrow, and trot away again 

 until Pirgo Park lodge is reached. 



After waiting a few minutes, I rode in the direction 

 of Harlow, in order to meet the hounds, and soon 

 came up with the pack, which was taken into Pirgo 

 Park, where I had an opportunity of observing them. 

 Seventeen and a-half couples were out on this occa- 

 sion, and a strong, useful lot of hounds they are, 

 fit for the severe country they have to hunt. In 

 capital condition is this pack, doing credit to their 

 huntsman, S. Dobson, who is a sporting-looking and 

 business-like man, well-mounted, as were his whips, 

 R. Yeo and E. Firr, and a third, whose name I did 

 not learn. The master, Mr. L. W. Arkwright, was 

 not present, but Mrs. Arkwright well fulfilled the 

 duties in his absence. When I first remember this 

 lady, she was the boldest and best horsewoman of 

 her day, riding quietly, but with rare courage, discre- 

 tion, and determination ; and memory recalls a run 

 with the Fitzwilliam from Catworth Gorse, in the 

 days of poor old Tom Sebright, when she cut down the 

 field at a terrific bullfinch, causing George Carter, 

 then first whip, and now successor of old Tom, to 

 exclaim, " Well, I am blessed ! " or some such word, 

 expressive of his astonishment at seeing a young 

 lady do what he dare not even try to accomplish, 

 hard as he was across country. 



It was a tremendous run, at racing pace, and being 

 mounted on a favourite horse. Timber Merchant by 

 name, so called from his habits of negotiating gates, 



M 



