HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 63 



only hope is that he has left some of his race in 

 the land of the living. The pace from Blounts to 

 Rayleigh was simply appalling for any fox, let 

 alone horses ; but our Essex men and horses are 

 bad ones to beat, as was proved by Messrs. A. 

 and C. Tabor, M. Baker, a gentleman from 

 Vange, and others. 



A better day in the Rochford country we 

 have not had this year ; and if we can only get 

 Mr. White down here oftener, our joy will be 

 complete. We have already signs in the neigh- 

 bourhood that the foxes do not mean to retire 

 into private life (at all events without providing 

 a place of shelter for the " missus ") as the earths 

 are drawn in several places ; so all we want for 

 next season are the hounds. A subscription to 

 foxhounds is better than a doctor's bill, and you 

 must have one or the other : so choose for your- 

 selves which it is to be, says " Squills." 



1877. 

 ESSEX UNION FOXHOUNDS. 



On Monday, February 12th, these hounds 

 met at the Lawn, Rochford. 



To say the least of it, the Clerk of the 

 weather was anything but accommodating, as 

 befitted his high office, and the day was not very 

 bright, but like the eel in the frying pan — this 

 kind of weather is nothing when you are used 

 to it, and as we are not made of salt or sugar 

 we do not melt very easily. 



There were present of the field proper: — 



