HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 15 



killed on Hull Bridge Marshes. 



Mr. Offin had a horse named " Don," bred 

 from a mare, belonging to Sir Charles Smith, 

 the sire was the property of Frank Barker, 

 winner of twenty-eight steeplechases. Don took 

 some riding. One day, when hounds were run- 

 ning hard, he jumped smack into the river west 

 of Battlesbridge. It was a toss up if either man 

 or horse would land in safety. Both scrambled 

 up the bank unharmed (to the initiated the 

 feat will be appreciated. Two or three times 

 I have managed to cross the river, and very 

 horrid it was. One must have a thoroughly 

 confidential animal. To negotiate it he slides 

 down on his tail and crawls up the opposite 

 bank on his stomach. To-day, thanks to 

 Colonel Kemble, we have the good causeway, 

 which he had made, and a very great comfort 

 it is, and we never fail to thank him in our hearts 

 when the necessity arises to cross the river). 



Another of Mr. Offin's runs will I give you. 

 The find was in Roper's Shaw, and after taking 

 four rings round Laindon Hills, Mr. Offin 

 having jumped the Stanford brook, came upon 

 his fox quietly sitting in a furrow. Our gallant 

 sportsman galloped alongside of the fox up to 

 the high road ; there he roared to some men to 

 stop him, but without effect, so on they flew, till 

 they reached the Rookery (where Mr. Asplin 

 lived). Hounds had frequently thrown up in the 

 same place before (doubtless there was a conve- 



