SURREY FENCES 399 



country, thick hedgerows and numerous coverts compeUing 

 every one who wishes to see the hounds, not to be very far 

 from them. 



In Surrey one gets hill and vale, commons and enclosures, 

 and heaths and downs, grass and plough. Timber, in the shape 

 of pretty stiff gates, stiles and rails, hedges and brooks. There 

 are but few banks, and the ditches generally are small, but 

 with the exception of walls, you meet with every kind of fence 

 and country one is likely to encounter anywhere else. In 

 Essex, on the contrary, the fences are all so similar in style, 

 and there is so entire an absence of hills,* that though highly 

 agreeable to ride over, when your horse is accustomed to the 

 narrow bank and wide ditch, one is apt to feel awkward in 

 visiting another country, where the fences look high and the 

 hills steep ; but this disadvantage is to my thinking amply 

 compensated for by the pleasure I enjoyed for so many seasons 

 of a gallop over "The Roothings," and of living within easy 

 reach of them. 



Season 1852-53. 



The present season has commenced earlier than usual 

 in consequence of my having carried out an intention of 

 some standing- to witness the huntino- of the wild red deer, 

 before they should become exterminated. Combining with 

 this intention an equestrian tour in North Devon with my 

 wife, I hired a couple of very good horses of Messrs. Carter 

 and Lovenbury, of Bath, paying ^50 for the two for a fortnight, 

 and took them with me by railway to Taunton, on Wednesday, 

 September 15th, [852, whence we commenced our tide on 

 a rainy day, proceeding through Milverton and reaching 

 Wiveliscombe in the evening. 



The following day we rode to Dulverton, and quartered 

 ourselves at the " Red Lion " in the latter place. Our luggage 

 was conveyed by coach from Taunton to Lynton, we reserving 

 just as much as filled some capacious saddle-bags lent to me 

 by Beckington, and it was surprising how much they contained 

 with good packing ; they are, however, very uncomfortable to 

 ride with both for rider and horse, and it would be an improve- 

 ment in an equestrian expedition, to have small portmanteaus 

 like those carried by the Post Office lads, with pads and 

 cruppers, which would rest on the horse's quarters clear of the 

 saddle, and would go equally well with a side-saddle. 



* Mr. Vickerman evidently did not hunt much in the Nasing and Galley hill country, which 

 is undulating enough to try the merits of most horses. — Ed. 



