i6 HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 



nient drain, known of amongst foxes), but Mr. 

 Offin was determined, if possible, to catch the 

 one in front of him that day, and, as luck came 

 in his way, a maid servant was standing at the 

 door to see the hunt, so he shouted to her to 

 prevent the fugitive from turning into the wel- 

 come shelter of the yard, with the result that 

 he was headed, jumped the opposite fence, ran 

 for two fields and was rolled over. Yet one 

 more of Mr. Offin's exploits I must tell you of. 

 A fox came out of Gusted Hall Wood and went 

 away across the big pasture at the back of the 

 Lawn, making for Potash Wood. Said Mr. 

 Offin to Mr. Kemble, " Shall I catch him before 

 he gets to the covert ? " and he galloped away, 

 caught the fox between his horse's fore legs 

 and up went the fox high into the air. 



MR. SCRATTON 



was born October 2nd, 1819, and he lived with 

 his parents at Milton Hall (which is now a large 

 Roman Catholic Institution for the reception of 

 destitute persons). Mr. Scratton was the only 

 son, he had two sisters, both of whom died un- 

 married. Educated at home and at Exeter 

 College, Oxford, on the death of his father, 

 John Baynton Scratton, Mr. Daniel Robert 

 succeeded to the property, including Milton 

 Hall, Prittlewell Priory, and several other 

 estates around Southend which was at that 

 time a watering place much patronised by the 

 select county families and even by Royalty. 

 Princess Charlotte spent a great deal of time 

 there, and I have often heard my grandmother 



