56 HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 



indeed they all covenant to do so; and instant 

 dismissal would be the fate of any keeper 

 against whom the M.F.H. might lodge a com- 

 plaint. If other great landholders were to 

 follow this excellent example we should not hear 

 so much of the scarcity of foxes or of actions for 

 trespass against pursuers. 



Sir Thomas Lennard, in the south, is 

 another good friend to fox hunters, whose 

 coverts, however well stocked with game, are 

 always a sure find. In fact, nearly every part of 

 the country can show a plentiful supply of the 

 red rascals, some coverts being even too well 

 stocked for sport; but this is a fault that will 

 soon be remedied if Mr. White's pack continue 

 to rattle them about as merrily as they have 

 done thus early in the season. Owing to the 

 fact that very httle cub hunting could be got, 

 foxes still run short in some of the more wood- 

 land parts, and those who prefer a long run and 

 a merry one would naturally prefer a day in the 

 open country about Maldon to one among the 

 denser coverts on the home side. Between 

 Hazeleigh and the Marshes is the cream of Mr. 

 White's country, if such a term can be apphed 

 to any hunting ground where there is scarcely 

 an acre of pasture to be found and all is deep 

 plough. [How very much surprised the writer 

 of this article would be to ride over the Union 

 country and find at least half of it grass. I am 

 sure of one thing, scent has not improved 

 through the change, and we ran better over the 

 ploughs when the place was in a high state of 

 cultivation than is the case in the present day. 



