']2 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



Also champion prize for best hunter in the show. 



1890, at the Essex Show held at Chelmsford, ist prize in 

 14 stone hunter class ; ist prize in 13 stone hunter class. 



Also champion for best hunter in the show. 



Mr. Lee's experiences date back from the year 1867-68 

 at a time when Wilson was just giving up the horn to Dobson 

 and Dick Christian, who, in his capacity as first whip, was 

 almost as keen and good a rider as his celebrated namesake. 

 Then Bob Ward's voice was making the Hertfordshire wood- 

 lands ring with its musical notes, and Mr. Parry, said to 

 possess the ugliest hunter and best hounds in England, was 

 holding sway over the Puckeridge country. 



Mr. Lee was present — in fact, riding just behind — when the 

 late Mr. Arkwriorht, walkino- over the ditch leading out of the 

 covert now belonging to Mr. Gerald Buxton, near Theydon 

 Green, met with the unfortunate accident from which he never 

 recovered. 



Mr. Lee recollects how, from 1868 to 1872, Mr. Sam Block 

 used to cut out the work, especially over timber, being ably 

 seconded by Mr. Ede, a thorough wntleman and trentleman 



, I'll 00 o 



rider ; while the memory of many a long hack home with his 

 eldest brother Arthur B. Lee, the celebrated Anthony Trollope 

 and Mr. Borwick, who had not then become so enamoured of 

 salmon fishing— yrt;f/7/> est descensus — comes back to him as we 

 discuss old times. That I cannot reproduce a portrait of Mr. 

 Lee's well known mare " Polly," is a matter for regret, for she 

 has a history worth recording. Bought, in 1885, from Mr. 

 Bristow, the well-known dealer, of Basingstoke, and an "honest 



Mil O ' 



one at that, she was nearly thoroughbred, a quick and clever 

 fencer that did not know how to refuse : and though a delicate 

 feeder, she hunted, if occasion required, as often as four times 

 in eight days. At the end of March, 1886, in a sharp fifteen 

 minutes from Parndon Woods to Maries, when Lord Charles 

 Beresford and " Billy White" (who jumped the hand gate out 

 of Parndon Woods) were going very strong, Mr. Lee had the 

 misfortune to land on the stump of a tree as he jumped out 

 of a small paddock near Epping Long Green, and over- 

 reached his mare so badly that a week later tetanus (then 

 very prevalent) set in, and for five weeks the mare hung in 

 slings, being fed on malt wort, raw eggs and milk. Though 

 the spasms relaxed for a time every thirty-six hours, she 

 was constantly given up by the veterinary, Mr. W. F. Tegg ; 

 once the knacker was sent for; but being a sensible man he was 

 taking a holiday like other good folks on Easter Monday, and 



