36 HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 



December 2nd, 



Was a memorable day in the history of the 

 Essex Union Hunt, and I am convinced of one 

 fact ; no one who was unfortunate enough to 

 be out will ever forget it. It was a pouring wet 

 day; the Meet was at Hockley Bull, and that 

 was the last anyone saw of the Hounds until 

 quite late in the afternoon. No sooner were 

 they in the Bull Wood, than they must have got 

 away at once on the line of a fox, running abso- 

 lutely mute and gone straight through the 

 covert without dwelling a moment. The result 

 was hounds were miles away before it even 

 dawned on anyone what had occurred, and for 

 hours Mr. Carnegie, whips and field and all were 

 riding all over the country enquiring for the 

 hounds. 



The first man to come up with the pack 

 was Tiger Bournes, and the only reliable infor- 

 mation was obtained from a man in a baker's 

 cart. He said he had seen hounds crossing 

 the Leigh Road, and when at last we found 

 them at Hadleigh Castle they had killed and 

 eaten their fox. I see entered in my diary: 

 " Mr. Carnegie's face was a study!' The most 

 vexatious circumstance, besides being wearied 

 out with riding in all directions, without result, 

 was missing such a good run ; it is only about 

 once in a lifetime there is a scent to carry a fox 

 through the Bull Woods. 



December 5th, 



The Meet was at Hadleigh. It was rain- 



