EPPING FOREST. 39 



locality of the commencement of the chase. It was in a 

 vast variety of conveyances that the anxious and impatient 

 mobs wended their way to that beautiful spot in the forest, 

 Fairmead Bottom, to see the deer let loose from the cart, 

 and join in the labours of his re-capture or death. There 

 was a pleasing diversity of vehicles employed, and in 

 motion from day-break, and long before the rosy-fingered 

 morn unbarred the turnpike of Phoebus. There were 

 then to be seen in long and rapid succession the Corinthian 

 teams of the noble and rich, the 'heavy drag' of the more 

 bulky and less opulent sportsmen, the four-in-hand, and 

 the hackney-coach ; the ' go-cart' and the cart that was 

 'no-go;' the capacious omnibus of modern interpolation 

 was then not known, or in its neophytic state as a fly- 

 waggon, rolled heavily over Lea Bridge with a load of 

 foresters anxious for the chase and the sylvan honours of 

 the glades. 



' Some pushed along with four-in-hand, 



Whilst others drove at random, 

 In curricle, dog-cart, whisky, one- 



Horse chaise or tandem.' 



The Eagle at Snaresbrook presented at an early hour a 

 busy scene. The large pond in the immediate neighbour- 

 hood was well calculated to quench the thirst and cool the 

 flanks of the 'locomotives,' and the fluids supplied by the 

 landlord added fresh vigour to the drivers and riders of 

 the same. This was a half-way rendezvous of the engines 

 and engineers, and here all having recruited their strength, 

 and confirmed their resolution of being in at the 'take,' 

 proceeded to the well-known Bald-face Stag, the 'where- 

 abouts ' of ' Thomas Rounding,' Esq., huntsman in ordinary 

 and also extraordinary of the day. Here Torn was to be 

 seen in all his glory. His hunting-cap and coat, his 

 buckskin-breeches and top-boots, mounted on the horse 



that had borne him through the toils of many a busy day. 



He was for alas ! he has been gathered to his fathers and 



grandfathers for some time a famous fellow in his day. 



His acquaintance with the forest was as intimate as the 



