HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 9 



helping hand or to tell one which way the 

 hounds have gone. 



I think I have finished with the field. We 

 one and all discuss the huntsman ; and I am 

 sure there is not one person who does not think 

 in his heart how much better he could do the 

 job himself, and what a mess he would make of 

 it if he only had the chance. Then again we 

 are all inclined to offer the Huntsman advice. 



BY A LOCAL SPORTSMAN. 



May all good sportsmen use their endeavour, 

 Hounds, horses and foxes in plenty be found, 

 And fox hunting- flourish for ever. 



ESSEX UNION FOXHOUNDS. 

 (Taken from The Field). 



January 4th, 1879. 



On Wednesday these Hounds opened the 

 New Year very hopefully. The fixture was at 

 Rayleigh, one of the highest and most charm- 

 ingly situated of Essex villages. Animated by 

 a desire to make the most of open weather, or 

 perhaps influenced by forebodings of coming 

 storms, as conveyed through the excessive dis- 

 turbances of barometrical records, the men and 

 women of the south came in unusual numbers 

 to swell the gathering in the quiet High Street ; 

 and all were evidently bent on enjoying such 

 sport as might be offered to the utmost. Of 

 the bitch pack which the Master had out this 



