114 HUNTING RECOLLECTIONS. 



and I therefore rely on the note suppHed by 

 friends. 



THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT. 



The following account of a very im- 

 portant event in the history of the Essex Union 

 Hunt, and which ought not to be omitted, has 

 been sent to me by Mr. Fred Wood, and I give 

 it in his own words. 



Mr. John Ofhn had the honour of " blood- 

 ing " his Royal Highness the Duke of Con- 

 naught, who was then Prince Arthur, and who 

 was quartered at Woolwich. He kept four cobs 

 at the Essex Arms, Brentwood. 



The Meet was at the Dog and Partridge, 

 Stifford. A fox was found in Fourteen Acres, 

 and there was a good hunting run of about forty- 

 five minutes, terminating in a kill near Warley 

 Barracks. While the fox was being broken up, 

 His Royal Highness asked Mr. Offin to blood 

 him, as he had been informed it was the custom 

 to do so, this being the first fox he had seen 

 killed. Mr. Offin at first demurred, asking to 

 be excused, but His Royal Highness would take 

 no denial. Consequently the ancient ceremony 

 was duly performed. Prince Arthur then left, 

 and went to Brentwood Station, caught the first 

 train to London, and went straight home with 

 his face smeared with blood. 



Mr. Wood goes on to say: — His Royal 

 Highness was most affable and agreeable to all, 

 and not above speaking to any one. He was a 



