OCTAVIUS E. COOPE 327 



present generation. Mr. Coope had always a pleasant word 

 and greeting for everyone, and was one of the most cheerful 

 men I ever came across in the hunting field. He was a liberal 

 supporter of the Essex Hounds, whose fortunes he followed for 

 more than forty years. — Ed.) 



On Saturday, January 3rd, 1846, at a Dunmow meet 

 Adams was as usual loud in his regrets at having parted with 

 "Carlow," and with a Mr. Wood (who at one time possessed 

 him) was as loud in his admiration. Morgan, the Huntsman, on 

 hearing them turned round in his saddle and exclaimed, " Two 

 wise men, you ! to have a good horse and not know it." 



Saturday, January 24th. A perfect spring-like day, the 

 fixture Bigood's House, Mr. Edward Woodbridge's, two miles 

 beyond Dunmow. The field rather small for a Saturday, but 

 included two strangers who looked like going, the Hon. the Rev. 

 Edward Grimston (brother of Lord Verulam, a noted cricketer) 

 and Captain Alexander of the 2nd Life Guards. We drew 

 Bigood's. A brace a-foot, one breaking just by old Conyers, 

 who holloaed and blew until he brought the hounds and 

 Morgan. Before they came, however, he indulged in a tirade 

 against myself, most unfairly and unjustly, as to over-riding ; no 

 doubt from the report of IXIorgan* on Saturday, who has been 

 more liberally treated at my hands than at those of nearly all 

 the other members of the Hunt, and generally at a check begins 

 bellowing out instead of thinking what has caused the check 

 and acting accordingly, and consequently frequently makes the 

 most absurd casts possible. 



Conyers followed up this attack by a request that I would 

 increase my subscription, choosing a very fitting opportunity 

 for making such an appeal. (Here follows a long description of 

 the run in which Captain Alexander, mounted on a fine bay 

 horse, distinguished himself, and Grimston rode like a thorough- 

 bred sportsman, always near the hounds and in his place and 

 going well and quietly, while (sic) " Viscount Maynard went very 

 well to-day and generally goes well for an elderly man. He 

 certainly rides better this season than he did last.") Conyers' 

 Hunt is very much indebted to his lordship, for his coverts are 

 some of our best and the country around excellent. It is a pity 

 that he does not dress a little differently, for his dark trousers, 

 with long antigropelosf always loose and unbuttoned at the 

 thigh, look very seedy and are rendered still more unsightly by 

 being surmounted by a red coat. 



* Riders beware, the Master may not see you, the Huntsman does, he generally tells him, 

 and we have heard of many a lost fox being put down to certain parties. — Ed. 

 t What are antigropelos ? — Ed. 



