300 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



Wood, scarcely entering it, and tan as if for Dagnams, and came to a short and acceptable 

 check in a grass field. Bailey was casting down the lower end of it, next the Dagnam Road, 

 when we noticed a hound, 'Dexter,' cast up the field by himself, and hit it off quite close to 

 where we were standing. It was a grand sight to see him. A hand up to Bailey, failing a 

 hat, and at it again hammer and tongs, and to notice how well Bailey's horse, tired as he was, 

 jumped the next fence, a quickset with a rail through. 



"We next ran by Pyrgo Lodge, and leaving Bedfords on the right went to Stone Hall 

 Farm, where we were obliged to leave this good fox to live for another day, as Bailey's horse 

 refused to try any more, and being past six and sixteen miles from the kennels, it was quite 

 time to stop hounds. Those who were at the finish were the huntsman, Mrs. Waters, on an 

 excellent stayer, bought from a gentleman who has gone out to fight for Queen and country ; 

 Major Ricardo on his good grey ' General Banks ; ' and my four-year-old Irish nag ' Shamrock,' 

 who was none the worse for his gruelling, Mr. Waltham on his game chestnut mare, but he 

 had got to the bottom even of her. 



" We all repaired to Mrs. Mackintosh's (on the way I managed to secure a cap), who most 

 hospitably entertained us all. Hounds were placed in a loose box with plenty of straw, and 

 were glad of the rest before jogging home, getting to kennels at 9.40. Mr. Buxton came up 

 when it was all over, having found a second horse, and Short, the first whip (who had stayed 

 at Curtis Mill Green with one of the hounds who had run so hard that he had brought on a 

 fit) got up. The rest, with the exception of Mr. Swire and Mrs. Barron, who came as far as 

 Pyrgo, could not get any further than Curtis Mill Green, where the scene was described to 

 be like a battle field." 



The Annual Meeting was held at the Green Man, Harlow, on 

 Saturday, March 10th, Lord Rookwood presiding. Mr. Bowlby, to the 

 great regret of all present, said that he should be unable to act as Master 

 next season. The meeting, on the proposition of Mr. G. Buxton, seconded 

 by Mr. C. E. Ridley, was adjourned ; a small committee, consisting of the 

 Chairman, Col. Lockwood, Mr. L. Arkwright, Mr. Ridley, Mr. Bevan, 

 Mr. Green, Mr. Buxton, and Mr. J. Todhunter, being appointed to confer 

 with Mr. Bowlby and report to the next meeting. 



Mr. Tyndale White resigned the post of Hon. Secretary, which he had 

 held with Mr. Bevan, who was re-elected. Lord Rookwood, in proposing a 

 vote of thanks to the Farmers (which was seconded by Mr. Bowlby), 

 alluded to the loss of their great friend Mr. George Hart,* at the same 

 time moving, on behalf of the members of the Essex Hunt, a vote of 

 condolence to Mr. Hart's sons on the great loss they had sustained in their 

 father's death. 



Among those present during the day were : — Mr. E. S. Bowlby, Mr. 

 Arthur Bowlby and his two sisters, Mr. F. Avila, Mr. and Mrs. L. J, W. 

 Arkwright, Mr. W. H. Baddeley, Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Ball, Mr. E. A. Ball, 

 Mr. R. Y. Bevan, Mr. F. T. Basham, Mrs. Bennett, Mr. G. Brown, the 

 Misses Blyth (2), Mr. Balfour, Mr. G. Buxton, Mr. S. Caldwell, Mr. Carr, 

 Mrs. W. R. Clarke, Mr. E. Cockett, Mr. Walter Cook, Mrs. Weston 

 Crocker, Mr. Weston Crocker driving (he had unfortunately broken a small 

 bone in his leg a few days previously, the result of a hunting accident), Mr. 

 P. M, Evans, Mr. W. M. Galloway, Mr. H. P. Gee, Mr. Guy Gilbey 

 driving, Mr. Newman Gilbey, Mr. Tresham Gilbey, Miss E. Gilbey, Mrs. 

 Hine, Miss Gold, Mr. G. Gold, Mr. F. Green, Miss M. Green, Mr. C. E. 

 Green, Mr. James Green, of Todds Brook, Mr. D. Gregory, Mr. H. Fardell, 

 Mr. R. E.Johnston, Mr. W. S. Horner, Miss E.Jones, Mr. Kennett, Mr. J. 

 Kirkby, Mr. G. H. Lee, Mr. Lobb, Mr. V. Nickalls, Mr. A. Peel, Miss 

 Peel, Mr. J. G. Pelly, Miss E. Pelly, Mr. E. Pelly, Major Ricardo, Mr. 

 C. E. Ridley, Mr. and Mrs. W. Sewell, Miss D. Sewell, Mr. A. Sewell, 

 Mr. S. Single, Mr. A. B. Sorrell, Mr. D. Cunliflfe Smith, Mr. A. R. Steele, 



* Mr. Hart was within three weeks of attaining his seventy-sixth birthday, when, after a 

 short illness of a week, he passed away on February 17th, quite peacefully in his sleep; so 

 peacefully that one of his sons who was present with him did not know when sleep ended and 

 Life began. — Ed. 



