440 LEAVES FROM A HUNTING DIARY 



selves, after getting- over the usual preliminary difficulty of the 

 first fence. But now the sun shone out brightly and hotly, 

 tempered by a hot wind, but causing it to be very hot on 

 running down wind, as we mostly did to-day. The ground 

 also was still heavy and sticky in most places from the rain of 

 Saturday. The run was mostly a good hunting run, except 

 the three or four miles from the covert called Bottle Down 

 Hill, where our stag had waited for us, and this was quick and 

 over a cramped country with high narrow banks. 



"Shamrock" acquitted himself very well and cleverly, and 

 was much admired at Pyrgo Park (albeit bearing the traces of 

 the run and heat) by its new owner, Mr. Bray, who appeared 

 to feel still greater interest in him on hearing he was bred there. 

 All the hunting world of Essex are full of the South Essex 

 Steeple Chases, which are to come off at Childerditch on 

 Saturday next, the 21st instant. Most of those who have seen 

 the " Baroness's " * performances with the staghounds this 

 season have wondered at my not entering and riding her, 

 stating their belief that she would win the Hunters' Stakes. 

 Old Webb and Peter Sullins told me this morning that last 

 evening they were talking it all over with the other Sullinses 

 and other hard-riding men in the Roothings, and they all 

 agreed that if I rode 1 must win, and he added, " I said what 

 I say again, that I will back you to win every race you ride 

 in, for you are quick, and a racing gallop of three or four miles 

 across country is what you most excel in." 



I thanked them for the compliment and their good opinion 

 of my powers, stated that I should like nothing better than to 

 try my fortune, but that unluckily being a professional man, it 

 might give rise to ill-natured remarks and distorted conclusions, 

 which it would be unwise to encounter. In reply to others 

 who urged me to enter a horse, even if I did not ride him, I 

 said what I felt, that I could not have the risk run with a 

 favourite horse, unless I could ride him myself, and thus have 

 both the pleasure of the race and prevent my horse from being 

 unfairly treated. 



Season 1860-61. 



A year literally without spring, summer or autumn, nothing 

 but wet dreary, wintry weather, with the land wetter 

 and heavier, during what ouoht to have been the summer 



11 



months, than at any period of the previous winter, though w^e 



* On April 9th, 1863, at the South Essex Steeplechases at Brentwood, Mr. Vickerman 

 steered " Baroness " to victory in the Hunters' Slakes.- -Ed. 



