HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 



59 



Summan Grove, then bearing left over the road 

 and through RatcHff Grove, skewed across the 

 barren farm on to W. Water Common, when 

 hounds hunted uncommonly well, and went 

 away on the Little Baddow side, up the hill 

 through Long Wood into Blakes, when we got 

 beat, having changed foxes on to W. Walter 

 Common. Time, one hour twenty minutes. 

 Later on we found in Woodham Hall, and 

 started as if for the Lodge Gorse, but bearing to 

 the right, took a line across Libcracks and over 

 the brook to Danbury Common, where we had 

 some slow hunting, but went on, leaving Gay 

 Bowers on our left, again over the brook, when 

 one noted sportsman on a grey had a thorough 

 ducking, up to Denmain's farm, then doubled 

 back towards Chapman's Gorse, and lost after 

 a good hunting run of fifty-four minutes. 



February 27th. Saturday. Billericay. 



Fine morning, white frost, easterly wind, 

 clouded over in the afternoon, and snowed 

 coming home. Did not start from home till 

 1 1 a.m., thinking it too hard. Met the hounds 

 at one o'clock, just moving off to dray Norsey ; 

 did not find till we got to Little Bishops, and 

 had a slow hunting run with a catchy scent to 

 Blue Hedges, on to West Hanningfield, then 

 Pandon, back to Bishops and Forty Acres, then 

 to Ramsden, and marched to ground under a 

 wheat-stack on the south side of the village, one 

 hour fifteen minutes. Trotted off to Kemble's 

 found three foxes in the Gorse, one of which we 



